In 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 country are vying to keep the hoops spinning as they sway their torsos. The experts, who achieve that title after only a few hours of practice, can spin the hoop around their waists, necks or knees and from one part of the body to another."