Vol. 4 #2 (April 1962) Hawaiian Handstands and Trampolines

Another month of exciting activity for everyone at the
Nissen Trampoline...oops! now, known as the Nissen Corporation!

Take a close look at how many trampoline frames are stacked up behind my father and Franklin Pejchl in the photo below and you'll have a hint at just how well sales are going. The 1960s marked the decade when new schools were being build across America, in response to increasing enrollments thanks to the Baby Boom generation. Of course, every Physical Education instructor wanted a trampoline in their new gymnasium!

Glen Sundby, editor of the Modern Gymnast magazine accompanied my father to Hawaii where they paid a visit to several local trampoline clubs who together held a state-wide gymnastic clinic. Naturally, the trip had to include a day of acrobatics and trampoline on Waikiki Beach, which resulted in my father's photo on the front of the magazine. I put the magazine cover next to Page 2 below and you can use this LINK. to read the entire magazine online.

In 1945, Larry Anderson bought his first trampoline to become Hawaii's first trampoline & tumbling teacher. Fiver years later, with the addition of two more trampolines he opened the Larry Anderson Trampoline Club. Larry coached well into his 90s and is recognized as one of the distinguished pioneers of the sport. His original club still exists in 2013, but now under the name: Hawaii Academy. Each year they host the Larry Anderson Classic & Elders Exhibition. Note the term "Elders," in that the Hawaii Academy continues to follow Larry's philosophy of fitness for all ages. They have a thriving 55+age student enrollment! I encourage you to take a minute to check out these two links 1: LINK  for their web site and 2: LINK for scheduled events.

Mac McKinney joined the Nissen Trampoline Company in 1948! Congratulations Mac!
I remember my father's new secretary Marlis well. Fluent in four languages and with a sweet smile she was a master of coordination; deftly keeping tabs on my father's where-abouts no matter where he landed on the globe.

More trampolines for schools means another opportunity to provide a film on safety. Here local students from Washington High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, get to be stars in a movie written and produced by the great trampoline instructor/coach, Rich Harris.

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories/comments in the comment box below.

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"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"