Noah Anderson Flagpole Sitting

Flagpole sitting was an important part of the 1920s. This fad was started by Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, a former boxer. Kelly was hired by a theater to draw crowds around it. This perculiar stunt showed how in the 1920s, advertisments and publicity were becoming popular. Flagpole sitting is also a great example of a fad. Fads typically are short-lived, and not particularly rational. Flagpole sitting didn't last past the 1920s, and was very irrational. It was a publicity stunt, originally, after all. The 1920s were full of fads, and flagpole sitting was one of them. finally, flagpole sitting was important because it symbolizes all of the unexpectedness and change in the 1920s. The 1920s were a time of spontaneousness and fads, and flagpole sitting was exactly that. To conclude, flagpole sitting was an important part of the 1920s because it was a popular fad, was originally a publicity stunt, and showed the overall spirit of the era.

Flagpole Sitting

Why was this popular?It was a publicity stunt that gradually evolved into a fad. People liked it, and thought it was interesting, like any other fad.

How did people do it?There was a small disc to sit on and stirrups for balance. The sitter drank only liquids, which were sent up by pulley, and took five minute naps each hour.

Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, notorious pole-sitter

Who was it popular with?Pole-sitting was mainly popular with people in their late teens or early twenties.

There were flagpole siting tournaments, too

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Noah Anderson

Pole-sitting could be dangerous