Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
This episode explores the bizarre, enduring history of flagpole sitting and other endurance fads in 1920s America. The hosts trace the phenomenon back to Alvin Shipwreck Kelly, an orphan turned stuntman who launched the craze in 1924 by sitting atop a flagpole in Hollywood for over 13 hours. What started as a quirky publicity stunt evolved into a massive cultural fad, with competitors enduring weeks or months on poles, alongside simultaneous dance marathons that pushed human limits during the Great Depression. The discussion details the ingenious and grueling tactics sitters used to survive, such as drilling holes in poles to grab onto while sleeping and using rope systems for food and waste. Ultimately, the hosts examine how these absurd feats reflect a fundamental human desire for celebrity and a much-needed break from cold, cerebral reality.
- Alvin Shipwreck Kelly is widely credited as patient zero of the flagpole sitting craze, starting the trend in January 1924 as a movie promotion. 8:32
- Flagpole sitters devised clever survival methods, including drilling holes into the pole to wedge their thumbs into for waking up while sleeping. 34:23
- The longest flagpole sit on record reached an astonishing 439 days, achieved by H. David Werder to protest gas prices. 54:19
- Dance marathons emerged around the same time, growing increasingly grueling during the Great Depression as desperate participants sought food, shelter, and prize money. 23:41
Chapters
- 0:00Podcast Intro and Host Greeting
The episode opens with the iHeart Radio branding and a brief host introduction before segueing into the main topic.
- 1:17Episode Theme Announcement
The hosts announce the episode’s focus on the flagpole sitting fad, setting the stage for the historical exploration.
- 2:22Hosts Introduce Show
Josh and Chuck welcome listeners to Stuff You Should Know and introduce themselves and the episode’s premise.
- 5:50Flagpole Sitting Fad Intro
The conversation pivots to the flagpole sitting fad, linking it to the song “Flagpole Sitta” and the episode’s title.
- 8:03Origins of Flagpole Sitting
The hosts delve into the 1920s origins of flagpole sitting, identifying Alvin Shipwreck Kelly as the first known participant.
- 9:33Defining Flagpole Sitting
A concise definition of flagpole sitting is given, explaining the basic premise of the fad.
- 11:39Shipwreck Kelly Biography
The hosts explore Shipwreck Kelly’s colorful life, career, and the myths surrounding his flagpole stunts.
- 15:06Flagpole Sitting Goes Viral
Discussion of how the fad spread across America, fueled by media coverage and the public’s appetite for record‑breaking stunts.
- 53:43Record-Breaking Flagpole Sitting History
The hosts recount the longest flagpole sitting records, highlighting Kenneth Gedge and H. David Werder's impressive durations.
- 54:47Motivations Behind Flagpole Protests
Discussion shifts to why individuals, such as the 1980s protester, chose flagpole sitting as a form of activism.
- 55:24Comparing Sitting and Standing Stunts
The hosts compare the physical challenges of flagpole sitting versus standing, referencing David Blaine's 35‑hour pole stunt.
Highlights
- 8:32
Patient Zero of Flagpole Sittingstory
Alvin Shipwreck Kelly kicked off a national fad in January 1924 by climbing a flagpole in Hollywood to promote a movie and sitting there for over 13 hours.
- 14:14
Boxer Adrift and Ready to Sinkinsight
Alvin Shipwreck Kelly earned his famous nickname not from surviving shipwrecks, but from his struggling boxing career where reporters noted he was always adrift.
- 20:37
Alma Cummings Kicks Off Marathonsstory
A 32-year-old dance instructor named Alma Cummings danced for 27 hours straight with six partners in 1923, sparking a nationwide dance marathon craze.
- 23:41
Depression Era Enduranceinsight
During the Great Depression, people entered grueling dance marathons and flagpole sits just to secure food, shelter, and a chance at prize money to avoid foreclosure.
- 34:23
Sleeping on a Flagpolestrategy
Sitters avoided falling off by drilling holes in the pole for their thumbs, which pinched their skin to wake them slightly whenever they began to lean forward.
- 54:19
The Ultimate Gas Price Protestdata
H. David Werder set the ultimate flagpole-sitting record by remaining atop a pole for 439 days between 1982 and 1984 to protest gas prices.
Quotes
“People would sit at the top of flagpoles for as long as they could, and it was a part of a weird time in American history.”
Unnamed speaker · 1:59 “Shipwreck Kelly was so named because he survived 32 different shipwrecks at sea, which is where shipwrecks tend to happen.”
Josh Clark · 12:48 “The other criteria is that people have to want to topple that record. And that was very widespread at the time, too, because the 1920s were actually really big into fads.”
Josh Clark · 15:29 “And he said, the men usually asked if he sleeps and how he goes to the bathroom and then women asked if he was lonely, which I find very sweet.”
Josh Clark · 53:49 “He stood atop a 90-foot pole for 35 hours in Bryant Park in New York.”
Unnamed speaker · 55:33
Sponsored segments
- Lowe's 0:45–1:09
- Odoo 1:19–1:35
- Toyota 16:36–17:20
- YouTube Premium 17:39–18:20
- Wayfair 43:01–43:42
- iHeartRadio 57:55–58:01
- Toyota 58:08–58:41
- Voices of VivGart 58:45–59:00
- Empower 59:18–59:42
About this episode
The 1920s were just absolutely nuts. People got into weird fads really intensely and one of the strangest of all was flagpole sitting. It’s just what it sounds like – sitting on top of a flagpole for as long as you can. One man sat above them all. Learn all about him and many of these wild fads in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
9,995 words · 7 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Flagpole Sitting
- Reading
- Harvey
- Harvey Danger
- New York
- AT&T
- Atlas Obscura
- Los Angeles
- What We Do in the Shadows
- New York City
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