Joan Anderson isn’t a name you know, but she was an Australian woman who helped change the entire trajectory of the beloved toy forever. She died ironically at the remarkable age of 101. Her journey from Sydney to the United States marked significant cultural contributions, yet she faced challenges in receiving due recognition for her work.
Born Joan Constance Manning, December 28, 1923, in Sydney, she was the daughter of Claude and Ethel Manning. Anderson’s early aspirations led her into modeling at the age of 14, where she captivated audiences and harbored dreams of becoming a film star. By December 1941, she had already graced the cover of Pix magazine, earning the title of “a typical Australian holiday girl.”
As shown in this uniform, confirmed by Anderson’s son, during World War II, Anderson helped the war effort by knitting socks and writing home. In a turn of fortune, she met her future husband, Wayne Anderson on Bondi Beach in 1945 while swimming. Their passionate courtship rushed out of the gates before marrying only four months after they met.
In January 1946, Joan Anderson became one of the hundreds of other war brides who boarded a ship to America. Little did she know, her life was about to take a surprising pivot. Fast forward several years to 1956 when, on a visit back to her native Australia, she noticed children playing with big bamboo hoops. Intrigued with their playfulness, she sent her discovery to fellow artist Wayne Anderson, who saw the potential and became hooked.
Wayne called up Arthur “Spud” Melin, co-founder of the Wham-O toy company. In fact, Joan’s mom even sent a bamboo hoop to Joan, which Melin recognized as a potential toy product. The hula hoop’s name was coined during a dinner party when a guest likened Joan’s movements to those of a hula dancer.
Wham-O had secretly manufactured more than 100 million hula hoops in the process. Sadly, Joan Anderson was not credited or paid her due as the driving force that brought the toy to America. Reflecting on this lack of recognition, she remarked, “I think that bugged me more than anything.”
In 2018, Joan Anderson’s story was shared with the world, and she finally got her due credit for making the hula hoop popular. At 95 years old, Rose was the subject of a short documentary film called “Hula Girl”.
“Mom was pretty happy that she got the recognition in the end and that she was able to bring so much joy to people around the world,” – Loralyn Willis
Anderson had a sunny disposition since early childhood. She often stated, “Why be angry with something you can’t change? The world isn’t fair but life goes on. I had a great life.” Even at this moment of grief, her resilience blossomed, particularly as she spoke about her wonderful 61-year marriage to Wayne, who passed at 87. “My husband lived to be 87 and we had 63 wonderful years together. Happiness is the best revenge,” she said.
Joan Anderson’s legacy is not limited to the hula hoop. It is rooted in joy and happiness. She once expressed, “How can you hula hoop without being happy?” Her capacity for wonder, joy, mischief and fun deepened connections with everyone around her.
The hula hoop craze brought happiness to children and adults alike. Anderson recounted a memorable experience where laughter surrounded her: “Everywhere I would go, everybody was giggling and carrying on and when I asked what was going on they said, ‘Oh, everyone’s doing the hoop.’”