Hula Hoop Craze valentines-2026 on assignment for The Times

on assignment for The Times

"overtaken by oystermania

Front pages are available from the first published issue in 1851 to the present

Penguin Random House

Hula Hoop Craze valentines-2026 on assignment for The TimesIn 1958, a "plastic hoop" craze was taking over New York's children, and the city was spinning under the impact of spontaneous "hoop spinning" contests, like this one at the 62nd street playground in Central Park taken by Times staff photographer Eddie Hausner. We attempted to explain the hula hoop phenomenon: "Some of the hoops are small, some big, but most are about three feet in diameter. Children in playgrounds and on sidewalks throughout the