Tooting Through Time: When Flatulence Paid the Bills

We explore the smelly side of history by examining professional farters through the ages, from medieval court entertainers to modern-day performers.

• Roland the Farter, employed by King Henry II, performed a yearly Christmas routine of jumping, whistling, and farting in exchange for land and a manor
• Medieval Irish professional farters called "braggatori" performed for nobles and were paid in meat
• Joseph Pujol (Le Pétomane) was a famous 19th century French performer at the Moulin Rouge who could control his flatulence to make music and blow out candles
• Modern performers like Mr. Methane continue the tradition, even appearing on Britain's Got Talent
• Throughout history, flatulence served as a reminder that everyone, including royalty, shares the same bodily functions

Keep history weird and wonderful by joining us for more unexpected historical journeys on Grandpa Is Him.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 3 (00:07):
Welcome to Grandpa Is Him the podcast that digs into
the smelliest, funniest and mostunexpected historical moments.
I'm your host, lynn Dimmick,and joining me today are my
three brave guests Luke Blakeand McCoy.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Thanks for having us Grandpa, ready to make history
sneak here.
You know I thought podcastswere supposed to be classy, but
I'm here for it.
I'm still processing that I amon a podcast about farts.
Let's do this.

Speaker 3 (00:34):
All right, let's jump in, starting with medieval
England and Roland the Farter.
Ever heard of him?

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Wait, Roland the who.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
Roland the Farter, officially hired by King Henry
II for one specific performance.
Every Christmas he'd do a jump,a whistle and a fart.
In return, he got land and amanor.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
So you're saying this guy farted his way into real
estate.
That's one way to put it in theZobberty ladder estate.
That's one way to put it in thesovereignty ladder.

Speaker 3 (01:07):
Exactly, and Roland was not alone.
In medieval Ireland they hadprofessional farters called
braggatori.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Those guys performed for nobles and got paid in meat
Like literally steaks and roasts.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yep, impress the chieftains with your gas, and
dinner was served.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Honestly, medieval life sounds both simpler and way
stranger.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Alright, that's the circle of life.

Speaker 3 (01:36):
Moving forward in time, we meet Joseph Pujol,
stage name Le Pentelmange.
This 19th century Frenchentertainer was famous for his
precise let's just say rear-endcontrol.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
Oh, what kind of control are we talking about
here?

Speaker 3 (01:52):
All right, just listen to this for a minute.
He could inhale air into hisbathside and then expel it
musically, imitate animals andeven blow out camels.
He performed at the MoulinRouge to sold out crowds.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
That sounds like something good.
That's impressive.
It's a really weird power Kindof sounds like a superpower.
I'd pay money just to see howconfused the audience was, for
real Of course you would.

Speaker 3 (02:27):
Speaking of superpowers ever heard of Mr
Methane.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Is this a Marvel hero ?
I missed.

Speaker 3 (02:33):
Almost.
He's a modern performer whowears a superhero costume and
farts classical music.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
He even appeared on Britain's Got Talent.
Imagine telling your parentsthat you're a career choice, and
now people even sell theirfarts online in jars.
Talk about gas.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
Historically farting wasn't just humor.
It reminded everyone, includingkings, that we're all human.
Philosophers even discussed it.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Remember you are immortal and occasionally gassy.
I think we found our nextinspirational quote.
Please no.

Speaker 3 (03:15):
To wrap it up, arts have earned people manners, meat
and massive popularity.
Any thoughts on today'sWinfield History Tour guys?

Speaker 1 (03:24):
Um no, this is like overall.
Why would people pay for that?
I'm mostly impressed by thecareer paths available if you're
willing to get creative.
I think that we just provedhistory doesn't have to be
boring.
It can also be hilarious and abit smelly.

Speaker 3 (03:44):
I could not have said it better myself.
Thanks to Luke Blake and McCoyfor joining, and thanks to
everyone listening.
Until next time, keep historyweird and wonderful.
This is Grandpa's Hymn.