CARLSBAD, Calif. — Carlsbad's famous 'Hula Girl' is celebrating her 'Centennial Birthday' and sharing the untold story behind one of the biggest fads in modern American history. In this Zevely Zone, I headed to the La Costa Glen Retirement Community in Carlsbad for a party to remember.
In 1956, Joan Anderson spotted a fun looking hoop in Australia. In 1957 she introduced that hoop to the United States. You may think the 'Hula Hoop' is a young person's game, but don't tell Joan Anderson that. "I feel like a hundred, ha, ha, ha," laughed Joan at her 100th birthday celebration.
Born and raised in Australia, Joan brought the hoop to America almost 70 years ago and named it the Hula Hoop. "It was the hottest item ever in toys in the world," said Joan. She pitched her Hula Hoop to the toy company Wham-O. Her daughter Loralyn says a handshake deal left her mom empty-handed.
"I think the biggest thing that bugged me for all of these years was that my mom never got the credit for bringing it to America and putting smiles on faces throughout the world," said Loralyn.
That changed in 2018, when Amy Hill and her husband produced a short documentary called Hula Girl to set the record straight. "She's a fabulous woman, she had a fabulous life and didn't let something really rough and bad take her and her husband and her family down," said Amy. Joan's children say their mother's happiness was the best revenge.
Six years ago, when I first met Joan, after she showed me how it was done, I failed miserably. But I was determined to redeem myself on her 100th birthday. "I've been practicing," I yelled during 15 seconds of success.
Next up came a Hula Hoop professional hired to entertain the birthday party crowd. Hillia Hula thanks Joan for changing her life. "I found one at a yard sale 10 years ago, started playing around with it and now travel the world hula hooping," said Hillia.
It just feels right to see the Hula Girl finally get the credit she deserves. "I think I went and asked Siri who brought the Hula Hoop to America and it actually says Joan Anderson and so I'm like we've made it!" said Loralyn.
I asked Joan how much money she thinks she missed out on. "Millions, they made 100 million in the first year and the handshake meant nothing," said Joan with a smile. "You win some, you lose some, we lost, but I made a lot of people happy," said Joan.
Although Joan says Wham-O only gave her a six-thousand-dollar settlement, she says having the documentary set the record straight was priceless.