The Famous Alvin Kelly...!

Well, he probably isn't remembered by many of us today, but he was quite famous in his day. He had a very unusual occupation, you see. Here is his story.

Alvin Kelly

Alvin Kelly was a stuntman who decided in 1924 to climb a flagpole and sit on it to promote a nearby Hollywood theater. He stayed there for an amazing 13 hours and 13 minutes, launching a fad that required him to repeatedly break his own record. His final victory was a seemingly impossible 49 days.

Kelly kept his balance by placing his feet in stirrups while he was perched upon his seat, which was 33 centimeters (13 in) wide. He consumed only liquid nourishment and urinated through a tube in his pants, which directed the stream down the pole to the ground below. The stunt earned him $100 per hour for six years until the fad died out at the onset of the Great Depression.

It may have been a strange job, but it seemed to pay pretty well. That was a lot of money back in those days, for sure!

Coffee in the kitchen again this morning!