RIP: Richard Knerr. . .inventor of the hula hoop & frisbee. . .

[NewtonMP2100]

. . .thanks for the hours of fun. . .


Hula Hoop and Frisbee inventor dies

. . .The toymaker who invented the Hula Hoop and Frisbee has died.

Richard "Rich" Knerr and his partner Arthur "Spud" Melin co-founded the Wham-O company which specialised in fun products like Silly String and the Super Ball.

Knerr, who retired when he and Melin sold Wham-O in 1982, died this week at the age of 82 after suffering a stroke at his home in California. . .


MISSING LINK to full story and thanks for the memories. . .

[MacArtist]

I didn't have the hip action for hoola-hoop but I did throw many a frisbee.

Rest in Peace, Rich.

[BigGuynRusty]

My favorite Wham-O stuff.:
"Monster Magnet"
http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedi...item/2431/
"Air Blaster"
http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedi...item/2405/

"Super Ball"
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/invent...erball.htm
Also the "Wheelie Bar", and the "Water Wiggle":
The "Water Wiggle" was deadly.:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml78/78020.html

Videos.:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4D_WdavMuKs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtBoETwl5Co&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pErbVm-LGI&feature=related

BGnR
Not Wham-O, but cool stuff from the 1950's.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EYZYQtus08&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIWLnjn1LXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Su1c9jph0&feature=related

[cbelt3]

A well spent life that brought enjoyment to millions, possibly billions of children and adults. We can only hope for this sort of legacy.

[SeattlePhotog]

You know...for the kids!

[voodoopenguin]

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, "Bridge on the River Kwai"

Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
Starkweather, homicide, children of thalidomide

Buddy Holly, "Ben-Hur", space monkey, Mafia
hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no go

U2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy
Chubby Checker, "Psycho", Belgians in the Congo