SYSK's 12 Days of Christmas… Toys: Hula-Hoops: The Toy That's A Shape | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
This piece explores the history and cultural impact of hula hoops, detailing how they became a popular toy and social phenomenon in the 20th century. It combines humor and personal anecdotes to illustrate the joy and challenges of hula hooping, emphasizing the toy's significance in play and performance art.
Key Takeaways
- Hula hooping predates most world religions—it's ancient fun with a modern twist.
- A stick and hoop was early gaming—challenging friction and physics far before video games.
- Egypt's kids rocked grapevines for hoops—no plastic toys, yet just as fun.
- Ancient Greeks upped hooping with bells—a historical nod to playful excess.
- Hooping's fitness secret: it exhausts you like real exercise, so grab a beer instead!
Who is mentioned in this episode?
10 people come up, including Emile Jaques-Dalcroze, Arthur "Spud" Melin, Keith Gordon.
- Emile Jaques-Dalcroze (Person)
- Arthur "Spud" Melin (Person)
- Keith Gordon (Person)
- Sideshow Bob (Person)
- Jennifer Jason Leigh (Person)
- Kim Coberly (Person)
- Paul "Dizzy Hips" Blair (Person)
- Tony Whitecloud (Person)
- Marisa Tomei (Person)
- Sigalit Landau (Person)
Mentioned in this episode
- hoop rolling (Concept)
- hula hoop (Product)
- Stuff to Blow Your Mind (Company)
- Journal of Biological Cybernetics (Company)
- The White House (Company)
- US Open (Company)
- Periscope (Company)
- ancient Greece (Location)
- Georgia Bar (Location)
- polyethylene (Product)
- bubble gum (Product)
- leather helmet (Product)
- tractor tire (Product)
- LED hula hoops (Product)
- Kill the Hoop (Concept)
- chunkey (Concept)
- Eurhythmics (Concept)
- physical education (PE) class (Concept)
- angular momentum (Concept)
- axis (Concept)