June 13, 2024 • 15 mins
Flagpole sitting is exactly what it sounds like: a person climbing on top of a towering pole, usually in the middle of a city, and testing their endurance by sitting atop it for as long as their body holds up. It began in Hollywood in January 1924, when a former sailor, boxer, steelworker, and stuntman named Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly was hired by a local theater to sit on a pole outside of the building for as long as possible to drum up publicity for a new movie.
But why did this fad come into fashion? What's the longest time spent on a flagpole? And how did they go to the bathroom? In this episode, Kelly and Alex explore the trend of flagpole sitting in the 1920's and beyond.
Drop us a quick text and we’ll reply in the next episode!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Kelly (00:06):
Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of dirt nap
dirt nap city dead end wherewe talk about things that used
more some still exist. Someare completely gone. And I'm
that the one I'm going to talkabout if it's not already
(00:29):
should be.
Alex (00:29):
I like these. I like these. These are fun.
Kelly (00:32):
Let's go back to I'd say around 1924 their man. His
had been a sailor, butprobably not a very good one
shipwreck. And he started afad that kind of went on for
(01:01):
died out in every place exceptthe Netherlands still exists
actually. But everywhere elseit's not really a big thing.
to ever sit atop a flagpole.
You've heard of flagpole
Alex (01:19):
Oh man, I hear it's one of those things you hear about
Kelly (01:23):
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Alvin shipwreck Kelly. Not tohere. Your host. He set the
very first record of flagpolemovie theater as a promotion
for the movie theater.
attention. He was hired by themovie theater owners so maybe
(01:46):
it. Guess how long the firstflagpole sit was?
Alex (01:49):
So first of all, I want to know what it is you climb
sit Yep. You just put yourbutt on where the top of the
Kelly (01:59):
No, no, they they put a chair there put it there. I
there's actually a flatsurface that's erected on the
harnesses so that you don'tfall out but this was the
have been a lot cruder forthis one.
Alex (02:16):
Right so you're balancing a chair. are you
hard? No,
Kelly (02:23):
there's nothing difficult about it other than
of it but but actually, you'reliterally just sitting there
slightly bigger than your your
Alex (02:32):
if you're scared of heights, it might be Yeah, but
David Blaine stuff where it'sdangerous.
Kelly (02:39):
Oh no, no, this is literally flagpole sitting.
first time does this topromote this movie theater in
think he sat up there? Andkeep in mind that this was the
maybe they didn't have aplatform? Maybe he did sit on
Alex (02:58):
That would change my answer, though. I don't know.
Kelly (03:03):
13 hours and 13 minutes and then what he got bored.
probably had to pee right? 13hours and 13 minutes at a top
movie theater. Well, thisdesert for
Alex (03:18):
a promotional deal, like voting a movie or some.
Kelly (03:23):
I don't know if it was a specific movie or if it was
theater to get more people tocome to the theater. And it
hold of it. Remember, this is1924. So you know, this was
people started copycatting itand doing it in other cities
(03:47):
flagpoles to try and getattention on things. So three
actually shattered the recordat the time. So after he did
copycats emerged and outdidhim, you know, did longer and
again in 1927. Went from 13hours to guess how long?
Alex (04:12):
Now I'm gonna say over a day, eight days. Now we're
don't even want to know whathappened when they had to pee.
Kelly (04:22):
That well. And then and then it went back and forth.
days. And then 49 days Kellykept battling with all these.
challenge him break hisrecord, and then he would go
Alex (04:38):
they literally wouldn't get down or would they take
wouldn't get down for 49 days.
Kelly (04:44):
Yeah, so So a guy named Penfield went 51 days in Iowa,
front of 20,000 onlookers likehow to people all around him,
cornfield or something. And
Alex (04:57):
then like you say, so and then what it's like The
Kelly (05:02):
so So first of all, an answer to your question about
know, shipwreck Kelly was wasinterviewed a lot of times
said to have had a tube thatwent from his body down the
(05:22):
he also smoked a lot ofcigarettes. He drank a lot of
hoist it up to him. That seemsto be they weren't drones at
up the stuff. But he wouldstart he started charging
watch this. Yeah, yeah. If youwanted to get up close and see
(05:44):
And at one point, theyestimated he was making $100
flagpole.
Alex (05:49):
You go and you look at him and then you go, yep,
Kelly (05:55):
Don't think one person you know, you had to have lots
right?
Alex (05:59):
I mean, then But then you go, how long are we going
Like there's no risk that hemight fall off? Well,
Kelly (06:06):
they didn't have TV.
They didn't have the internet.
was going on. I
Alex (06:10):
think this wasn't Eugenius time though. This was
him. But he had to wait forhim to come around to your
Kelly (06:19):
Yeah, yeah. Well, well, so you and I have been to New
spent 80 hours at the JongHotel on Canal Street in 1928.
for 100 hours but was blowndown by severe weather and had
(06:41):
1927
Alex (06:43):
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you glossed over. Somebody
weather was a UK. How tall arethese flagpoles?
Kelly (06:53):
Standard flagpole height SMH offender flag
Alex (06:58):
is that 20 feet 50 feet 80 feet.
Kelly (07:01):
i Let's take it 25 feet probably
Alex (07:04):
Alright, so if you got blown off of one by severe
Kelly (07:08):
don't mean he fell. I mean, he had to climb down.
force forced him to retire.
Now in Kansas City. He did 146That was more than six days.
And the temperatures went downAnd so that was that was
(07:28):
definitely a tough one in St.
by doing 169 record that 169continuous hours.
Alex (07:39):
And at this point, shipwreck Kelly is like, what
eight hours as a joke. And nowthese people are doing this
think he was proud of himself?
Or was he mad that people kept
Kelly (07:54):
He was making money. He didn't care. He made the
mean, I'm sure he shared itwith whoever owned the
have the flagpole rental. Butyeah, he was getting famous.
was often satirized in in thenewspapers and magazines at
(08:16):
Kelly was a pretty big deal.
Back in the 20s. For free, I'm
Alex (08:19):
gonna start calling you that, by the way.
Kelly (08:23):
I'll take it, I'll take it if I can make 100 bucks an
use rope stirrups to keep hisfeet balanced, and also had
him from falling off. But hedidn't sleep, he would just
said he didn't really eatsolid food. He mostly drank
(08:46):
of cigarettes. And basically,you know, went went through a
down to the ground. That'sdisgusting. Now, do you know
flagpole Sitta and a polesitter?
Alex (09:00):
Well, a pole sitter. I mean, in like, literal pole
because in auto racing, youhave a pole
Kelly (09:12):
sitter. Now. That's what I meant. That's what I
position. Right, right. Right,right. Also in horse racing,
know, best position to startfrom is right,
Alex (09:24):
right. Right. Right, right. It's the person who's
Kelly (09:28):
Yeah, you don't want to get those two confused,
Alex (09:32):
definitely not, especially if you have to put
tube.
Kelly (09:37):
So so this did start in, you know, 1924 and it
the 1930s. had about a 10 yearrun of popularity during the
I guess so. I mean, you know,it's what people were doing.
(09:58):
decade in The 40s 50s 60s 70ssomebody would come and break
current record of flagpolesetting cities was set in
current record. Don't Googleit. I guess.
Alex (10:21):
It's one of those things that I don't care enough to
days, 90 days, something like
Kelly (10:28):
that. 439 days, 11 hours and six minutes by three
er D er, yep. And
Alex (10:38):
he wasted a year of his life up on a flagpole.
Kelly (10:43):
Not well, we're talking about him right now. He's
Alex (10:46):
David. So just so two podcasters can talk about him.
wasted a year of his life.
Kelly (10:54):
Well, there's also there is actually in in the
sport called politician, whichmeans pole sitting. Now it's a
happens is they actually siton wooden poles with a little
poles aren't flag poles.
They're lower. And they'rethey do it in the wintertime
(11:17):
when it's really cold and thewhoever can sit in there on
the flagpole are on the polethat's still done in the
Netherlands today.
Alex (11:33):
Just doesn't seem like a spectator sport to me.
Kelly (11:35):
I think we should go to the Netherlands and go to the
Alex (11:42):
Man I can think of a lot more fun things to do in the
doesn't seem like something. Iwant to watch it. Where's the
Wow, man.
Kelly (11:53):
I mean, I think what you're doing is just drinking
Alex (11:57):
We're How long do you think you could sit on a pole?
because what you'd be bored.
Other things to do? I have to
Kelly (12:07):
Feel like I was wasting my time. Yeah, I would
annoyed. It just it justanything. That's that sort of
have my sleep like I do not dowell without sleep. So I don't
long enough to Miss Miss. Youknow, one night of sleep.
Alex (12:28):
Do you think you would fall if you fall asleep? Would
Kelly (12:32):
You know, here's Okay.
Here's there's two weirdgoing to tell you real quick
is that the record for Paulson92 hours compared to 400 and
something days?
Alex (12:45):
Yeah, that must be a lot more difficult. I wonder how
is involved? Are you reallybalancing up there? Are you
which case then it's just likethe world record for sitting
Kelly (13:01):
Well, I think there's probably a little bit of
pictures of these people,there's not anything behind
there. They're on a flat pieceof wood. So this is always
me is if you do you ever worryabout falling out of your bed
(13:21):
your bed was 25 feet in theair with no guardrails on the
you had to go to sleep?
Alex (13:27):
Yeah, absolutely. I don't like heights. Isn't that
Kelly (13:31):
Because you can go to sleep confidently every night
you're not going to fall outof bed. Yeah, but but if it
would be like Oh, I'm gonnaroll out for sure. Yeah,
Alex (13:44):
you ever see these pictures of these hammocks
mountains? Yeah, just over1000s of feet. Yeah, it gives
Kelly (13:55):
I'm gonna leave it with the 80s or 90s hit by the band
song bowl certain it's calledflagpole setup
(14:22):
I have visions I was in themind was clear the rocks in
forget the currency and bodyand when I run it up the cycle
Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of dirt nap
dirt nap city dead end wherewe talk about things that used
more some still exist. Someare completely gone. And I'm
that the one I'm going to talkabout if it's not already
(00:29):
should be.
Alex (00:29):
I like these. I like these. These are fun.
Kelly (00:32):
Let's go back to I'd say around 1924 their man. His
had been a sailor, butprobably not a very good one
shipwreck. And he started afad that kind of went on for
(01:01):
died out in every place exceptthe Netherlands still exists
actually. But everywhere elseit's not really a big thing.
to ever sit atop a flagpole.
You've heard of flagpole
Alex (01:19):
Oh man, I hear it's one of those things you hear about
Kelly (01:23):
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Alvin shipwreck Kelly. Not tohere. Your host. He set the
very first record of flagpolemovie theater as a promotion
for the movie theater.
attention. He was hired by themovie theater owners so maybe
(01:46):
it. Guess how long the firstflagpole sit was?
Alex (01:49):
So first of all, I want to know what it is you climb
sit Yep. You just put yourbutt on where the top of the
Kelly (01:59):
No, no, they they put a chair there put it there. I
there's actually a flatsurface that's erected on the
harnesses so that you don'tfall out but this was the
have been a lot cruder forthis one.
Alex (02:16):
Right so you're balancing a chair. are you
hard? No,
Kelly (02:23):
there's nothing difficult about it other than
of it but but actually, you'reliterally just sitting there
slightly bigger than your your
Alex (02:32):
if you're scared of heights, it might be Yeah, but
David Blaine stuff where it'sdangerous.
Kelly (02:39):
Oh no, no, this is literally flagpole sitting.
first time does this topromote this movie theater in
think he sat up there? Andkeep in mind that this was the
maybe they didn't have aplatform? Maybe he did sit on
Alex (02:58):
That would change my answer, though. I don't know.
Kelly (03:03):
13 hours and 13 minutes and then what he got bored.
probably had to pee right? 13hours and 13 minutes at a top
movie theater. Well, thisdesert for
Alex (03:18):
a promotional deal, like voting a movie or some.
Kelly (03:23):
I don't know if it was a specific movie or if it was
theater to get more people tocome to the theater. And it
hold of it. Remember, this is1924. So you know, this was
people started copycatting itand doing it in other cities
(03:47):
flagpoles to try and getattention on things. So three
actually shattered the recordat the time. So after he did
copycats emerged and outdidhim, you know, did longer and
again in 1927. Went from 13hours to guess how long?
Alex (04:12):
Now I'm gonna say over a day, eight days. Now we're
don't even want to know whathappened when they had to pee.
Kelly (04:22):
That well. And then and then it went back and forth.
days. And then 49 days Kellykept battling with all these.
challenge him break hisrecord, and then he would go
Alex (04:38):
they literally wouldn't get down or would they take
wouldn't get down for 49 days.
Kelly (04:44):
Yeah, so So a guy named Penfield went 51 days in Iowa,
front of 20,000 onlookers likehow to people all around him,
cornfield or something. And
Alex (04:57):
then like you say, so and then what it's like The
Kelly (05:02):
so So first of all, an answer to your question about
know, shipwreck Kelly was wasinterviewed a lot of times
said to have had a tube thatwent from his body down the
(05:22):
he also smoked a lot ofcigarettes. He drank a lot of
hoist it up to him. That seemsto be they weren't drones at
up the stuff. But he wouldstart he started charging
watch this. Yeah, yeah. If youwanted to get up close and see
(05:44):
And at one point, theyestimated he was making $100
flagpole.
Alex (05:49):
You go and you look at him and then you go, yep,
Kelly (05:55):
Don't think one person you know, you had to have lots
right?
Alex (05:59):
I mean, then But then you go, how long are we going
Like there's no risk that hemight fall off? Well,
Kelly (06:06):
they didn't have TV.
They didn't have the internet.
was going on. I
Alex (06:10):
think this wasn't Eugenius time though. This was
him. But he had to wait forhim to come around to your
Kelly (06:19):
Yeah, yeah. Well, well, so you and I have been to New
spent 80 hours at the JongHotel on Canal Street in 1928.
for 100 hours but was blowndown by severe weather and had
(06:41):
1927
Alex (06:43):
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you glossed over. Somebody
weather was a UK. How tall arethese flagpoles?
Kelly (06:53):
Standard flagpole height SMH offender flag
Alex (06:58):
is that 20 feet 50 feet 80 feet.
Kelly (07:01):
i Let's take it 25 feet probably
Alex (07:04):
Alright, so if you got blown off of one by severe
Kelly (07:08):
don't mean he fell. I mean, he had to climb down.
force forced him to retire.
Now in Kansas City. He did 146That was more than six days.
And the temperatures went downAnd so that was that was
(07:28):
definitely a tough one in St.
by doing 169 record that 169continuous hours.
Alex (07:39):
And at this point, shipwreck Kelly is like, what
eight hours as a joke. And nowthese people are doing this
think he was proud of himself?
Or was he mad that people kept
Kelly (07:54):
He was making money. He didn't care. He made the
mean, I'm sure he shared itwith whoever owned the
have the flagpole rental. Butyeah, he was getting famous.
was often satirized in in thenewspapers and magazines at
(08:16):
Kelly was a pretty big deal.
Back in the 20s. For free, I'm
Alex (08:19):
gonna start calling you that, by the way.
Kelly (08:23):
I'll take it, I'll take it if I can make 100 bucks an
use rope stirrups to keep hisfeet balanced, and also had
him from falling off. But hedidn't sleep, he would just
said he didn't really eatsolid food. He mostly drank
(08:46):
of cigarettes. And basically,you know, went went through a
down to the ground. That'sdisgusting. Now, do you know
flagpole Sitta and a polesitter?
Alex (09:00):
Well, a pole sitter. I mean, in like, literal pole
because in auto racing, youhave a pole
Kelly (09:12):
sitter. Now. That's what I meant. That's what I
position. Right, right. Right,right. Also in horse racing,
know, best position to startfrom is right,
Alex (09:24):
right. Right. Right, right. It's the person who's
Kelly (09:28):
Yeah, you don't want to get those two confused,
Alex (09:32):
definitely not, especially if you have to put
tube.
Kelly (09:37):
So so this did start in, you know, 1924 and it
the 1930s. had about a 10 yearrun of popularity during the
I guess so. I mean, you know,it's what people were doing.
(09:58):
decade in The 40s 50s 60s 70ssomebody would come and break
current record of flagpolesetting cities was set in
current record. Don't Googleit. I guess.
Alex (10:21):
It's one of those things that I don't care enough to
days, 90 days, something like
Kelly (10:28):
that. 439 days, 11 hours and six minutes by three
er D er, yep. And
Alex (10:38):
he wasted a year of his life up on a flagpole.
Kelly (10:43):
Not well, we're talking about him right now. He's
Alex (10:46):
David. So just so two podcasters can talk about him.
wasted a year of his life.
Kelly (10:54):
Well, there's also there is actually in in the
sport called politician, whichmeans pole sitting. Now it's a
happens is they actually siton wooden poles with a little
poles aren't flag poles.
They're lower. And they'rethey do it in the wintertime
(11:17):
when it's really cold and thewhoever can sit in there on
the flagpole are on the polethat's still done in the
Netherlands today.
Alex (11:33):
Just doesn't seem like a spectator sport to me.
Kelly (11:35):
I think we should go to the Netherlands and go to the
Alex (11:42):
Man I can think of a lot more fun things to do in the
doesn't seem like something. Iwant to watch it. Where's the
Wow, man.
Kelly (11:53):
I mean, I think what you're doing is just drinking
Alex (11:57):
We're How long do you think you could sit on a pole?
because what you'd be bored.
Other things to do? I have to
Kelly (12:07):
Feel like I was wasting my time. Yeah, I would
annoyed. It just it justanything. That's that sort of
have my sleep like I do not dowell without sleep. So I don't
long enough to Miss Miss. Youknow, one night of sleep.
Alex (12:28):
Do you think you would fall if you fall asleep? Would
Kelly (12:32):
You know, here's Okay.
Here's there's two weirdgoing to tell you real quick
is that the record for Paulson92 hours compared to 400 and
something days?
Alex (12:45):
Yeah, that must be a lot more difficult. I wonder how
is involved? Are you reallybalancing up there? Are you
which case then it's just likethe world record for sitting
Kelly (13:01):
Well, I think there's probably a little bit of
pictures of these people,there's not anything behind
there. They're on a flat pieceof wood. So this is always
me is if you do you ever worryabout falling out of your bed
(13:21):
your bed was 25 feet in theair with no guardrails on the
you had to go to sleep?
Alex (13:27):
Yeah, absolutely. I don't like heights. Isn't that
Kelly (13:31):
Because you can go to sleep confidently every night
you're not going to fall outof bed. Yeah, but but if it
would be like Oh, I'm gonnaroll out for sure. Yeah,
Alex (13:44):
you ever see these pictures of these hammocks
mountains? Yeah, just over1000s of feet. Yeah, it gives
Kelly (13:55):
I'm gonna leave it with the 80s or 90s hit by the band
song bowl certain it's calledflagpole setup
(14:22):
I have visions I was in themind was clear the rocks in
forget the currency and bodyand when I run it up the cycle
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