What 1920s fad involved people sitting on top of flagpoles for extended periods?

During the exuberant era of the 1920s, a peculiar and captivating craze swept across America, involving individuals perching atop towering poles for extended durations. This phenomenon was known as flagpole sitting, a test of endurance and a unique form of public entertainment. It began in 1924 with Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly, a former sailor and stuntman, who was initially hired for a publicity stunt to sit on a flagpole outside a theater in Hollywood. He remained there for over 13 hours, captivating onlookers and igniting a nationwide fascination.

The appeal of flagpole sitting stemmed from its sheer novelty and the public's appetite for spectacle in an age before widespread television. People gathered in crowds to watch these daring individuals, who would often stay aloft for days or even weeks on narrow platforms. Food and supplies were typically hoisted up in buckets, and sitters often used canvas tents for minimal shelter (Review) against the elements. "Shipwreck" Kelly became the most famous flagpole sitter, touring numerous cities and breaking his own records, including a remarkable 49 days perched on a pole in Atlantic City. He famously claimed to subsist on coffee and cigarettes during his feats.

The fad also spread to ordinary people, including teenagers who sought local notoriety by attempting their own pole-sitting records. However, the public's fascination with flagpole sitting began to wane with the onset of the Great (Review) Depression in 1929. As economic hardships gripped the nation, the appetite for such frivolous spectacles diminished, and the unusual endurance challenge gradually faded from the mainstream. While its peak was brief, flagpole sitting remains a memorable and eccentric chapter in the history of American fads.