The Drive Home Muse

I heard this on my drive home…

NPR : Co-Creator of Frisbee and Hula Hoop Dies at 82

All Things Considered, January 17, 2008 ·

Richard Knerr, co-founder of the company responsible for turning the Hula Hoop, Frisbee and many other ingenious creations into iconic toys died Monday at age 82.

A sad day for all of us who grew up in the 50’s and the 60’s. I remember my first Hula Hoop. And the Frisbee…We came of age in the 70’s with a Frisbee our constant companion. I cannot remember the number of times each summer we would be banned from the Pavilion at the store at Huntsville State Park because of our constant Frisbee contests…

A series of equally ingenious toys – including Slip ‘N Slide, Silly String, the Hula Hoop and the insanely bouncy Superball – would soon follow.

All Knerr’s creations had a way of bringing out the most mysterious aspects of physics, Chuck Knerr says.

“Superball was such a great one. I remember being so proud when that toy was banned from my school. Kids would just throw it on the ground and it would just take off to the ceiling, into lights.”

Follow the link above for the audio. Or check out the company link: Wham-O, Inc.