This Exercise Ornament is 2½ inches tall by 3¼ inches long. It shows an aerobics exercise stair stepper with a workout towel lying under it. On top of the stepper are, a pair of pink hand weights, a yellow portable radio and a sneaker. The front of the stair stepper says “Feel the Burn!” Select this link to view our Sports Ornaments.
History of the Hula Hoop.
The hula hoop is a toy hoop, usually made of plastic, that is twirled around the waist, limbs, or neck. Select this link to view our People and Profession Tree Ornaments.
Although the exact origins of hula hoops are unknown, children around the world have played with hoops throughout history. Traditional materials for hoops include grapevines and stiff grasses. Select this link to view our Christmas Stockings.
In 1957 the hula, or "hoola", hoop was reinvented by Richard Knerr and Arthur Melin, founders of the Wham-O toy company. The idea came from an Australian who told Knerr and Melin about children twirling bamboo hoops around the waist in gym class. The new Hula Hoops were made of Marlex, a recently invented durable plastic. Select this link to view our Music Boxes.
Knerr and Medlin were unable to patent their vastly profitable "re-invention", as it had been in use for thousands of years; making the device out of a new material did not meet patent requirements of originality. They were able to protect their invention by trademarking "Hula hoop". Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcracker Village People.
After the hoop was released in 1958, Wham-O sold over 100 million in two years. As the fad ran its course. Select this link to view our Decorated Country Holiday Garland.
To relaunch the Hula Hoop in the late 1960s, Wham-O staged a national competition in the US in conjunction with the National Parks & Recreation Network. The National Hula Hoop Contest, re-named the World Hula Hoop Championships, grew in scope from 500 U. S. cities in 1968 to over 2,000 cities in 1980, with 2 million participants. Competitors were judged on their performance of compulsory maneuvers such as, Knee Knocker, Stork, Hula Hop, Wrap the Mummy and Alley Oop, as well as freestyle routines set to music, establishing the roots of the contemporary freestyle Hula Hoop movement. Select this link to view our Christmas Books.