Fads: And Now the Shoop Shoop

Nothing is deader than yesteryear's fad, or so at least moan merchants who have been stuck with unsalable stocks of Yo-yos, Davy Crockett hats and Batman costumes. Until six weeks ago, the same could have been said of Hula Hoops, which in a profitable six months in 1958 racked up worldwide sales of 70 million. But Wham-O Manufacturing Corp., which started the first craze, had a hunch that hoops were good for another twirl. The novelty that was needed was noise. So Wham-O put half-a-dozen ΒΌ-in.-diameter ball bearings inside each hollow hoop to give it a whirry sound, brightened...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!