Overview

• Anderson sent a bamboo hoop from Sydney to Los Angeles in 1956, setting Wham-O on course to mass-produce a plastic version.
• Wham-O co-founder Arthur “Spud” Melin secured a handshake deal with the Andersons but neglected to credit or compensate them as sales surged into the tens of millions.
• The Andersons sued Wham-O in 1961 over design and marketing contributions, settling out of court for about $6,000.
• Her story remained buried until 2016, when her daughter’s anecdote led to the 2018 documentary “Hula Girl” that restored Anderson’s authorship.
• Obituaries this week have finally recognized Anderson’s overlooked role in what became one of the biggest toy fads of the 20th century.