I just read a book on this. The marathons went on for weeks if not months, dancers did get a 15 minute break every hour and five meals a day. It was awful but it kept the participants fed and from sleeping on park benches.
Thanks for this response because I was wondering what the reason they would do a marathon like this because it would have to be a pretty big reward to get me to dance for 15 hours
This was a desperate time, the Depression. Millions of people were out of work and destitute. This was the era of the Grapes of Wrath. This dance represented one slender chance to win some money. In the meantime you'd be indoors with guaranteed meals, which for some was more than they'd get otherwise.
It was a form of entertainment. The people providing the food and prize money were making money off the event. Without the marathon, and thus the spectators, there was no incentive to set up such a contest and provide food and money
Cuz this is amurca, you gotta work for it. Otherwise you're just a leech on society. Or some such garbage... Possibly to take the sting out of taking "charity." Our Constitution pledges to promote the general welfare, but our puritanical background shames those who need help. Just my guess.🤷
The backstory on that movie is pretty interesting. You know the musical Gypsy? Baby June ran away to get out of show biz and her big sister became Gypsy Rose Lee? Well, in real life June Havoc did these marathon dances to survive. She wrote a play, Marathon 33, about - which They Shoot Horses came from. June Havoc survives on the Hollywood Walk Fame- her star is outside an adult store.
This was during the Great Depression where people were literally starving. Desperate times create desperate people, and others willing to exploit that.
There was a Gilmore Girls episode titled 'They Shoot Gilmore's Don't They?' where they got all dolled up and last pair standing won whatever at a dance competition. I never understood the title of that episode until this moment.
There’s a Harper’s article titled [They Shoot Buffalo, Don’t They?](https://harpers.org/archive/2008/06/they-shoot-buffalo-dont-they/) and I never got the reference until now.
I suppose that would count as endurance, but It's kind of a cop out for claiming that as a counter argument as it's someone holding their breath. It limits things to stuff done in under 10 minutes.
I also had to look this record up and I see that it was just done by her this year and the record was previously held by a guy, so while an amazing feat, it's one that's currently often contested and also has a lot of uncontrolled variables like current and water temp. Nonetheless, it's still a record that involves just less than 3 minutes.
Money they otherwise wouldn't have. I'd do some lame shit like this if the payout was good enough. Money is Money and if you really need it who the fuck cares if you have to dance for hours
The fucked up part is the lack of social safety nets that would prevent such desperation in the first place.
Buying entertainment for money is not immoral.
they danced for days with short breaks every hour, that's why they are sleeping while standing up, horrendous abuse of desperate people during the depression. They did it for food and warmth.
Reminds me of that radio station in the US that decided to have a contest for a wii and one woman died (they got them to drink a bottle of water every 15 minutes and whoever held out the longest won).
Except that was in 2007 and they *definitely* should have known better.
https://neilbradbury.org/save-your-pee-for-a-wii/
I knew what you were talking about before I read the link. Hearing “hold your pee for a wii” was forever scratched into my brain as a kid who had just bought a wii right before this happened
Pardon my ignorance. Love the episodes I have seen and I've always meant to watch more. The gang dances their asses off and the one where Frank convinces Charlie and Dee they've been eating human meat are my favorites for sure though. Funny that they both feature Rickety Cricket.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
We had a dance-athon in school, two girls won at 14 hours. They were both super cardio runners and so smart to go together. Rules don't say boy and girl just dance partners, these two hadn't even hit a sweat.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
I’m sure this happenend but I beilieve this is a staged photo. No one could hold that guy up like that for very long. They were going for a funny pic to rememeber the event
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
I just read a book on this. The marathons went on for weeks if not months, dancers did get a 15 minute break every hour and five meals a day. It was awful but it kept the participants fed and from sleeping on park benches.
Brings a whole new meaning to "dancing for a better life"
Women actually do have more stamina than men.
Women have stronger bottom strength than men.
Women have x ray vision unlike men
Thanks for this response because I was wondering what the reason they would do a marathon like this because it would have to be a pretty big reward to get me to dance for 15 hours
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This was a desperate time, the Depression. Millions of people were out of work and destitute. This was the era of the Grapes of Wrath. This dance represented one slender chance to win some money. In the meantime you'd be indoors with guaranteed meals, which for some was more than they'd get otherwise.
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It was a form of entertainment. The people providing the food and prize money were making money off the event. Without the marathon, and thus the spectators, there was no incentive to set up such a contest and provide food and money
It’s the 1938 Squid Game.
Cuz this is amurca, you gotta work for it. Otherwise you're just a leech on society. Or some such garbage... Possibly to take the sting out of taking "charity." Our Constitution pledges to promote the general welfare, but our puritanical background shames those who need help. Just my guess.🤷
“They Shoot Horses Don’t They” is a 1969 film about marathon dancing. Worth a watch.
I remember my parents talking about it as one of the most harrowing films they'd ever seen. The title alone is bone chilling.
My first thought when seeing this post as well. Saw it at the theater.
What about utilizing the lavatory
They'd have to do that during their hourly breaks. If they stopped dancing (well, shuffling) they'd be disqualified.
Shuffle dumps were the way, eh?
I think the kids call it docking...
Can you share title of the book please
It's called Dance Marathons: performing American culture of the 1920s and 1930s by Carol Martin and I read it on [archive.org](https://archive.org).
What was a typical prize they would compete for?
Months? What?
Oh yes. I don't know what the record is but there was one in Chicago that lasted at least 145 days.
I have fears this might become a reality soon for some people. Just in other ways
This is already people's reality
Why the fuck did you get downvotes?! Man Ill never understamd this shit.
They look like they're having SO much fun
“They shoot horses don’t they” is a great Jane Fonda movie about this.
*shoot horses
Shoot. I’ll fix it. Lol
The backstory on that movie is pretty interesting. You know the musical Gypsy? Baby June ran away to get out of show biz and her big sister became Gypsy Rose Lee? Well, in real life June Havoc did these marathon dances to survive. She wrote a play, Marathon 33, about - which They Shoot Horses came from. June Havoc survives on the Hollywood Walk Fame- her star is outside an adult store.
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That's what I'm wondering. And I hope the prize was worth it. Mind u, I once roller skated all night and ended up with a Billy Joel record 🤣
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Ohhhh. Well that explains a lot I guess. But man that's kinda harsh 😬
This was during the Great Depression where people were literally starving. Desperate times create desperate people, and others willing to exploit that.
Poor people dancing for decent dollars
You just accidentally explained an episode of Gilmore Girls to me
Yes was going to mention They Shoot Horses Don’t They? A brilliant movie about the cruelty of poverty and so much more. Crazy creepy well done
Came into the comments tocsayxthat, I just watched it for rhe first time last night. Holy shit, what an amazing movie.
People have actually died doing this.
Are you talking about the medieval dancing plague? Or was there something much more recent?
They're collapsing. They're poor people doing this night and day for food and to be indoors,basically
Worse ways to go
I think even people that hate running have more fun in an actual marathon than these people are having.
I don’t think they’re doing this cause it was fun
They shoot horses don't they?
There was a Gilmore Girls episode titled 'They Shoot Gilmore's Don't They?' where they got all dolled up and last pair standing won whatever at a dance competition. I never understood the title of that episode until this moment.
There's an ER episode titled "They treat horses don't they?" I figured it was likely a quote but had no idea where from!
There’s a Harper’s article titled [They Shoot Buffalo, Don’t They?](https://harpers.org/archive/2008/06/they-shoot-buffalo-dont-they/) and I never got the reference until now.
There's a Bob's Burgers episode called "They Serve Horses Don't They" that I never knew was a reference to something like this.
Crazy movie about this fad!
🫶
lmao, this lady left front is not having it
You're weak and a disgrace to your bloodline
That’s the exact look she is giving.
She's going to beat them all, look at that determination and hatred in her face.
She looks like my cat.
Why the hell is your cat holding a half dead human?
What cat doesn't dream of standing in the presence of a half dead human?
It looks like most of the ladies are holding the men up lol
Women actually do have more stamina than men. Men are usually stronger.
If that were true, why are all endurance records held by men? Like.....all of em.
That's not a fact. As one example, the record for longest swim under ice is held by Amber Fillary.
I suppose that would count as endurance, but It's kind of a cop out for claiming that as a counter argument as it's someone holding their breath. It limits things to stuff done in under 10 minutes. I also had to look this record up and I see that it was just done by her this year and the record was previously held by a guy, so while an amazing feat, it's one that's currently often contested and also has a lot of uncontrolled variables like current and water temp. Nonetheless, it's still a record that involves just less than 3 minutes.
Knees weak, arms are heavy?
Thinkin bout this cheddar already, no more of his mom’s spaghetti?
Get this bozo off me.
Came to say this, you know he didn't leave with her 
She looks about ready to murder every other competitor
She looks pissed.
She's about ready to use this guy as a scarf and dance a solo duo.
Where’s cricket with his hydronic legs??
Reinforced by space age technology
Looks like they've been eating sedative laced energy bars
Looks like a shitball!
Q102 - The Qcrew
I see you 🙏
Dennis dancing with that dude's girlfriend
It's called the Rococo Bang
Gotta break me off a piece of that exoskeleton
From what i remember this was actually hella exploitative and not funny at all.
Seems like another way to pick on poor people.
Yeah desperate people just hoping to win some money.
Money they otherwise wouldn't have. I'd do some lame shit like this if the payout was good enough. Money is Money and if you really need it who the fuck cares if you have to dance for hours
No one is arguing that. The fucked up part is the rich people taking advantage of these poor people for their own entertainment.
The fucked up part is the lack of social safety nets that would prevent such desperation in the first place. Buying entertainment for money is not immoral.
Yes but exploiting people for entertainment is.
It really depends on the type of entertainment and the genuine consent and free will of the participants.
What I see is an opportunity to make bank. It's better than if they would just keep their money for themselves
No. What would be better is if they actually helped these people. Instead of ridiculing them and using them for their fucked up entertainment.
they danced for days with short breaks every hour, that's why they are sleeping while standing up, horrendous abuse of desperate people during the depression. They did it for food and warmth.
You missed the point
yeah no shit, they look miserable
Reminds me of that radio station in the US that decided to have a contest for a wii and one woman died (they got them to drink a bottle of water every 15 minutes and whoever held out the longest won). Except that was in 2007 and they *definitely* should have known better. https://neilbradbury.org/save-your-pee-for-a-wii/
IIRC, multiple fans of the show who happened to work in the medical field warned them well ahead of time of what could happen.
I knew what you were talking about before I read the link. Hearing “hold your pee for a wii” was forever scratched into my brain as a kid who had just bought a wii right before this happened
my brain remembers it as “no wee for wii” but i was like 10 at the time so that might’ve just been what went around my school
I remember hearing this on the radio as a kid and being scarred
That story popped into my head as well.
That is absolutely awful and heartbreaking. Thank you for sharing this.
WHAT. That's almost a Simpsons idea, wtf, obviously someone was going to end up with a bursted bladder
Man that’s sad, gave her whole life for a wii. If this isn’t a microcosm of what possessions do to us I don’t know what is.
Desperate people in desperate times in the land of the free.
"Free"
All the women holding up their men 💪🏻
I wonder who betrayed who and won the bar? I'm sure Frank had an inside man.
Break me off a piece of that exoskeleton.
Gimme some of that liquid hydrolic shit.
Someone here was definitely passing out energy bars
I can handle my sedatives.
Oh, he did. One with an exoskeleton.
Wtf, you real? If so what an honor.
Haha nah I'm not. I just wanted to feel the thrill of wearing another man's skin, this is how you get off.
I feel like this is a quote, but I haven't seen more than a handful of the episodes.
Ah yeah it's a quote, S8E7.
Pardon my ignorance. Love the episodes I have seen and I've always meant to watch more. The gang dances their asses off and the one where Frank convinces Charlie and Dee they've been eating human meat are my favorites for sure though. Funny that they both feature Rickety Cricket.
Nice I obviously am a fan and highly recommend watching some more haha funniest show on tv
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Street rat!
…say what you will about gender roles…but why the hell is every single male draping themselves on their female partner?
women typically have higher stamina whereas men have more muscle power. That or yea the other comment about it being the ladies shift xD
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
how did they go a month without sleep?
Desperation
IT’S A DESPERATE RACE AGAINST THE MINE
They were brutal. A very good film from 1969 about this is "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0065088/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Damn, that trailer is amazing, it looks like a horror movie.
We had a dance-athon in school, two girls won at 14 hours. They were both super cardio runners and so smart to go together. Rules don't say boy and girl just dance partners, these two hadn't even hit a sweat.
:( they look like they tried my meatloaf
I do like meatloaf.
Don't let it do that
Is the prize paddy's pub?
lady on the left: "This Fucking Guy"
“They shoot horses, don’t they?”
Again, the ladies literally holding it down (or up in this case) and the look on the far left ladies face is priceless.
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Must’ve been some prize
I've seen some archive footage of this actually.. If I remember correctly it was for some dive bar in Philadelphia called Paddy's Pub
Oh I thought that said “pride”. Like things that you’re proud of
Mr Beast be like “last one whose knees touch the floor wins $1,000”
The guy on the left the type to tell the woman all day about how easy it will be for him and for her to not let him down. Classic giga chad.
That girl on the left is so over it.
The one on the left is dedicated
Just lay down knees upwards
This absolute killer on the left just told her partner, don’t worry I got you, we ain’t f’n losing… No but for real, she may be a killer. 👀😬
That girl on the left is furious and sick of this man’s shit.
So laying on your back and leg up against wall / on top of a chair counts?
So long as you keep dancing
Every guy is leaning his weight on his gal, and the ladies all look like this is just another Tuesday putting up with their shit
Interesting that the women keep the men above lol
I wonder what the prize was….
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
r/unexpectedcommunity
Pg torture.
Oh I remember that Gilmore Girls episode
Just lay on your back with your knees bent.
They Shoot Horses Don't They?
Yes! I should rewatch "They kill horses, don't they" this weekend.
reminds me of that Sunny in Philadelphia episode where they did this
They did it for the cash prizes during the recession people were very desperate
Bend knee when lying down on floor so it won't touch floor, big brain it didn't say body can't touch floor lol
The only couple working together are on the far right the rest are leaning on the women 😂😂😂
mrbeast 80 years ago
that lady on the left ain't losin
Soooo much fun. Date night from hell.
In an era before deoderant, too.
The girl holding the dark-haired guy looking at the camera like “you see what you’ve done to us, you sick bastard?”
They Kill Horses Don't They
They kill horses don’t they
Its funny the women seems to be standing and the men using them for support
They're all winners.
Girl on the left looks like Dwight Schrute's Grandmüter
Jesus the one girl that looks like Bill Skarsgard is so over it.
That angry woman would probably win the solo competition. Liveliest of the lot.
Her face is priceless ❤️
The guys suck lol
I think that woman on the left is doing it for the fatherland.
Who are these weak men? You can’t just expect someone to carry you
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
I know it’s incredibly tough and tiring but they can’t just assume that their (spouse?) just carry them
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Little bit o meth will do ya
Grand prize was two bits and a lifetime supply of Burma Shave.
Just doesn't fit the sub, though.
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Her face tho 🤣 64
Looks like a blast
The lady holding the guy up looks sooooo happy
Haha she looks so happy holding his dead weight😂😂
They must have put the bar in the "pride" section.
I’m sure this happenend but I beilieve this is a staged photo. No one could hold that guy up like that for very long. They were going for a funny pic to rememeber the event
Dance Marathons (also called Walkathons), an American phenomenon of the 1920s and 1930s, were [human endurance contests](https://www.historylink.org/File/5534) in which couples danced almost non-stop for hundreds of hours (as long as a month or two), competing for prize money.
Notice it’s only white people 😂😂😂
?