Joan Anderson, Who Brought The Hula Hoop To The U.s. And Named It, Dies At 101

Joan Anderson, nan female who introduced nan hula hoop to nan United States and gave it its iconic name, died past period astatine property 101.

Anderson’s daughter, Loralyn Willis, confirmed her decease to NBC News connected Friday and said her mother passed distant connected July 14 astatine a nursing location successful Carlsbad, California.

Anderson’s communicative was mostly chartless until nan 2018 documentary “Hula Girl,” which premiered astatine nan Tribeca Film Festival. Filmmakers Chris Riess and Amy Hill brought her communicative to ray aft Hill’s mother overheard it successful a restaurant.

Born Joan Constance Manning connected Dec. 28, 1923, successful Sydney, Australia, she met her husband, U.S. aviator Wayne Anderson, astatine Bondi Beach successful 1946. They joined 4 months later, moved to nan U.S. and yet settled successful Hollywood, wherever Joan worked arsenic a model, according to a biography connected a website for “Hula Girl.”

Joan Anderson.Courtesy Chris Riess and Amy Hill.

After visiting family successful Australia successful nan 1950s, Anderson noticed a artifact hoop craze sweeping nan country. Curious, she asked her mother to nonstop her one. When it arrived, moreover nan deliveryman questioned why it had travel truthful far. According to nan documentary, Joan and Wayne played pinch it for months earlier showing it to friends. At a meal party, personification commented that it looked for illustration doing nan hula, to which Joan replied, “There’s nan sanction — hula hoop.”

The mates introduced nan hoop to Arthur “Spud” Melin, nan co-founder of Wham-O. The gathering was informal — nary paperwork, conscionable a handshake, according to Anderson.

“We were very naive,” Anderson said successful “Hula Girl.” Wham-O went connected to make millions. The Andersons sued and settled successful 1961 for nether $6,000 aft ineligible fees.

“They ne'er acknowledged who gave them nan hula hoop,” Anderson said successful nan film. “I deliberation that bugged maine much than anything. That’s astir nan biggest dishonesty I’ve ever heard.”

Despite nan outcome, Anderson and her hubby utilized nan colony money to commencement a successful manufacturing business.

“We fto it spell and conscionable went connected pinch our lives.” Anderson said successful “Hula Girl.” “Why beryllium angry pinch thing you can’t change.”

Joan Anderson.Courtesy Chris Riess and Amy Hill.

Hill, nan filmmaker who co-directed “Hula Girl,” said Anderson’s communicative resonated acold beyond nan toy’s origin.

“We usage nan connection ‘revenge’ because she says that successful nan film,” Hill said, referring to a infinitesimal successful nan movie erstwhile Anderson said happiness is nan champion revenge. “But it’s much than that. It’s conscionable a life good lived. It’s surviving your champion life successful spite of a setback.”

Anderson is survived by her daughter, 2 sons and six grandchildren.