On October 4, 1958, 135 contestants competed in a Jaycee Hula Hoop Contest on the grounds of the Nodaway County Courthouse. They were divided into age groups of 0 to 9 and 10 to 100. The endurance contest was called after 4 hours and 7 minutes for supper. This view is northeast of the courthouse. The A&P market is visible across the street. It and the neighboring Maryville lumber yard would burn in 1962 (and the lumber yard is not clearly identifiable in this image.
The October 8, 1958, issue of the Forum has this caption.
Hula Whoopers Hoop It Up. A number of contestants surrounded the county courthouse Saturday in a hula hoop endurance trial that lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes before sponsoring Jaycees and judges called ‘quits’ at 6 p.m. Pictured above are a few of the 135 twirlers entered in the under-10 years group. Only six contestants were left swinging their plastic hoops when the game was called for supper Saturday evening.
The Forum on September 29, 1958, has this write-up:
The Hula Hoop Contest and Benefit Dance were developed by JC’s. More than $50 in cash prizes, plus merchandise contributed by Maryville merchants, will be awarded to 16 winners in a Jaycee-sponsored hula hoop endurance contest on the courthouse lawn Saturday. In a Junior Chamber of Commerce board of directors meeting at Tucker’s Cate this morning, it was decided that the “hooper” contest will be held at 2 p.m. for two age groups of “kids.” One group will be made up of children from “anywhere” to, and including, 9-year-olds. A second group of 10- to 100-year-olds will compete at the same time, with Jaycee members serving as contest judges. Contest rules on Saturday are simple. Anybody may enter, but is requested to be at the courthouse by 1:30 p.m. in Order for the judges to arrange the two age groups. Approximately 30 seconds will be allowed for each person to get his hoop going, but after this period, he will be disqualified if he touches the hoop with his hands or if the hoop touches the ground. At last report, these merchants and businessmen have contributed money and merchandise to the prize money set aside for the contest by the Junior Chamber of Commerce: Superior Cleaners, Tivoli Theater, Gray Insurance Co., B & W Sports, Brown Shoe Fit Co., and Gerald Foster. Cushman Tire & Appliance, KNIM, and James Dalton. Tickets for the Beal Park Shelter House Benefit Dance on Oct. 10 will be available soon from Jaycee members. The dance, sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce to raise funds for building a picnic shelter house, will feature a three-band contest at the Armory from p.m. until 1 a.m. Local bands headed by Pat Growney, Skidmore, and Bob Greer, college, and Hugh Lyle, Graham, will each play for 50 minutes. The winner. Those who will be indicated applause to win the cash prize, will play the last hour for the dance. Tickets are $2 for a couple. Table reservations are available for 50 cents per person.
AI Jokes About the Event
- They said the 1958 Jaycee Hula Hoop contest had two age groups: 0–9 and 10–100. That’s not an age bracket — that’s a family reunion policy.
- The endurance round lasted 4 hours and 7 minutes. It ended when the Jaycees announced, “We’ll award the prize—right after supper.”
- Maryville, 1958: kids came to show off their moves, grandparents came to remind everyone which way is clockwise.
- The 10–100 category was the most competitive — mostly because several contestants didn’t want to give up their dentures for the halftime photos.
- When the contest hit hour four, contestants started negotiating: “If I stop now, do I at least get a sandwich?”
- They timed the contest down to the minute: 4 hours and 7 minutes. Precision matters when you’re scheduling pie after prizes.
- The winner in 1958 got a hula hoop, a sash, and the eternal respect of anyone who’d ever been asked to “hold your hip like this.”
- After hour three, the MC reminded everyone, “Keep hooping — the Jaycees are doing a casserole run!” Motivation works in mysterious ways.
- The 0–9 division was adorable; the 10–100 division was just adorable with a side of aspirin.
- In Maryville they don’t stop a contest for rain or injury — they stop it when the kitchen bell rings.
- The rulebook said “no outside assistance.” Apparently that didn’t include sympathetic nods and emergency coffee.
- Four hours in, one contestant whispered, “Is this a hula hoop contest or a stealth audition for retired aerobics?” The crowd cheered anyway.