Selects: Flagpole Sitting: A Real Fad
Summary
Hosts Josh Clark and Charles Bryant explore the bizarre 1920s fad of flagpole sitting, sparked by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly. They detail Kelly’s rise to fame, his extreme endurance techniques, and his tragic decline during the Great Depression. The episode also covers related crazes like dance marathons and later record-holders, including the fatal fall of Dixie Blandy and H. David Werder’s 439-day protest sit.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and intro to flagpole sitting
Harvey Danger song and podcast banter
Alvin 'Shipwreck' Kelly and the origin of the craze
1920s fads and dance marathons
Record-breaking sits and survival techniques
Kelly's decline, arrest, and death
Other flagpole sitters and modern records
Listener mail and closing sponsors
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