Hula Hoop

Put it around your waist, give it a spin, and try to keep it going! It looks ridiculously easy - right up until the hoop hits the ground.

Sometimes the simplest toys create the biggest crazes. The Hula Hoop was basically a big plastic ring, but in 1958 it seemed like everybody wanted one and wanted to show off how long they could keep one spinning.

People have played with hoops for centuries (think ring toss games, barrel hoops, etc.), but the Hula Hoop as we know it arrived in the United States in the late 1950s, when Wham-O introduced a brightly colored plastic version. The company promoted it heavily, kids started spinning them, and by 1958 the country had a full-fledged Hula Hoop craze. Tens of millions were sold within months.

Part of the appeal is its simplicity. There are no batteries, instructions, game boards, or complicated rules. You just need a hoop and enough room to swing it around without knocking over a lamp (probably best to take this one outside). Put the hoop around your waist, give it a good spin, start moving your hips, and try to keep it from falling. That was pretty much the entire idea, and it was a lot harder than some people made it look.

And once you figure out the basic waist-level spin, there are plenty of other things to try - spin it around your arm or your neck. Walk while keeping it spinning. Try two hoops at once. Or compete with somebody else to see who can keep theirs spinning the longest.

I remember lining up with the other neighborhood kids to get a chance to try out my skills and see who could actually keep the Hula Hoop going the longest. Unfortunately, my hooping skills left quite a bit to be desired. But it was still a fun time, and everyone was outside enjoying the day and the sunshine - something that seems to be a woefully lacking skill these days.

Eventually, like most great toy crazes, the original Hula Hoop frenzy cooled off. But the toy never really disappeared. In addition to the original, Hula Hoops are still around, with some modern variations, including lighted hoops that create a really fun visual effect at night, and even weighted hula rings for even better exercise than the original. Regardless of the variation, the challenge hasn't changed much since 1958: give it a spin, start moving, and see how long you can keep it moving.