1 00:00:01,627 --> 00:00:04,085 [gentle exciting music] 2 00:00:04,086 --> 00:00:06,088 - Did you know there was a time 3 00:00:06,089 --> 00:00:10,009 when whale watching could make crowds blubber? 4 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:13,679 - Everyone there is absolutely showered 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,474 [dynamite blasts] in rotting whale carcass. 6 00:00:16,475 --> 00:00:18,184 People are running, everyone scared. 7 00:00:18,185 --> 00:00:19,853 There's blood everywhere. 8 00:00:20,938 --> 00:00:23,272 - Or when crowds packed in ringside 9 00:00:23,273 --> 00:00:25,483 to watch the Civil War. 10 00:00:25,484 --> 00:00:27,526 - Hundreds of people load up into carriages 11 00:00:27,527 --> 00:00:30,905 so that they can see the battle that's about to unfold. 12 00:00:30,906 --> 00:00:34,867 - Suddenly bloody frightened, screaming men 13 00:00:34,868 --> 00:00:37,745 are hauling ass straight at you, 14 00:00:37,746 --> 00:00:41,082 retreating from a battle that they are losing. 15 00:00:41,083 --> 00:00:43,584 - Do you remember when the Black Friday rush 16 00:00:43,585 --> 00:00:45,920 could happen any day of the week? 17 00:00:45,921 --> 00:00:47,255 - Women are getting trampled. 18 00:00:47,256 --> 00:00:48,881 Windows are getting broken out. 19 00:00:48,882 --> 00:00:51,384 This is way before Black Friday is a thing 20 00:00:51,385 --> 00:00:53,970 and the stores are not prepared. 21 00:00:53,971 --> 00:00:56,347 - These are the things we used to do. 22 00:00:56,348 --> 00:00:57,556 For fun, 23 00:00:57,557 --> 00:00:58,933 for money, 24 00:00:58,934 --> 00:01:00,768 or maybe out of boredom 25 00:01:00,769 --> 00:01:03,396 that we'll never see again. 26 00:01:03,397 --> 00:01:06,190 Were they dangerous? Certainly. 27 00:01:06,191 --> 00:01:08,234 Deadly? Occasionally. 28 00:01:08,235 --> 00:01:10,779 But boy, wasn't it exciting? 29 00:01:12,656 --> 00:01:15,492 [exciting music] 30 00:01:21,123 --> 00:01:23,416 If you want to get in with the popular crowd, 31 00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:24,792 it doesn't get much better 32 00:01:24,793 --> 00:01:27,169 or bigger than the Kentucky Derby. 33 00:01:27,170 --> 00:01:30,923 Up in the stands, it's all fancy outfits, mint juleps. 34 00:01:30,924 --> 00:01:33,217 But back in the day, down in the infield, 35 00:01:33,218 --> 00:01:37,096 it was less garden party and more animal house. 36 00:01:37,097 --> 00:01:38,681 [upbeat music] 37 00:01:38,682 --> 00:01:43,519 - Every year since 1875, tens of thousands of fans are drawn 38 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,480 to Louisville, Kentucky and Churchill Downs 39 00:01:46,481 --> 00:01:48,316 to see the Kentucky Derby. 40 00:01:48,317 --> 00:01:49,483 [bell rings] 41 00:01:49,484 --> 00:01:51,027 - [Commentator] At the Triple Crown fans 42 00:01:51,028 --> 00:01:53,195 witnessed a thriller diller of a Kentucky Derby. 43 00:01:53,196 --> 00:01:56,157 - If you look at the crowd of the Kentucky Derby, 44 00:01:56,158 --> 00:01:58,451 everyone is dressed elegantly. 45 00:01:58,452 --> 00:02:02,163 Fedoras, women in elegant, expensive gowns 46 00:02:02,164 --> 00:02:04,833 with beautiful ornate hats. 47 00:02:06,001 --> 00:02:07,918 - [Austin] But in the 1930s, 48 00:02:07,919 --> 00:02:12,715 Churchill Downs realizes "We can sell more tickets 49 00:02:12,716 --> 00:02:16,385 and the venue for that is right in front of us. 50 00:02:16,386 --> 00:02:19,055 Let's sell tickets to the infield." 51 00:02:19,056 --> 00:02:21,766 - What they do is they build a tunnel from the outside 52 00:02:21,767 --> 00:02:25,436 to the interior of the park so that fans can go down there 53 00:02:25,437 --> 00:02:27,605 and come out in the middle of the infield 54 00:02:27,606 --> 00:02:30,650 and it's kind of this really fun signature experience. 55 00:02:30,651 --> 00:02:33,319 - [Austin] At first, it's a family friendly affair. 56 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,488 Bring picnic baskets, bring blankets 57 00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:36,906 and lay out for the whole day, 58 00:02:36,907 --> 00:02:38,199 and it culminates 59 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,327 with the Kentucky Derby right in front of you. 60 00:02:41,328 --> 00:02:43,162 - [Henry] But as the derby grows, 61 00:02:43,163 --> 00:02:47,500 the infield starts to shift from polite gathering 62 00:02:47,501 --> 00:02:49,794 to something a little wilder. 63 00:02:49,795 --> 00:02:54,006 - [Austin] The crowds grow, and they're not the crowds of old. 64 00:02:54,007 --> 00:02:58,719 Goodbye debutantes and fancy hats and hello partying. 65 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,138 The infield becomes a scene. 66 00:03:01,139 --> 00:03:02,848 - [Henry] By the late 1960s, 67 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:07,311 the infield has gone from picnic blankets to party central. 68 00:03:07,312 --> 00:03:10,898 And when the track bans outside booze in 1968, 69 00:03:10,899 --> 00:03:15,236 Derby goers start a new tradition, sneaking it in. 70 00:03:15,237 --> 00:03:17,738 - You got people with like canes that are hollow 71 00:03:17,739 --> 00:03:19,448 that they fill up with whiskey 72 00:03:19,449 --> 00:03:22,284 or people are hiding flasks on 'em everywhere. 73 00:03:22,285 --> 00:03:26,455 - [Austin] People begin sneaking in alcohol in lotion bottles, 74 00:03:26,456 --> 00:03:31,001 fake disguised binoculars that are actually flasks. 75 00:03:31,002 --> 00:03:33,129 There's a legendary story of a group of men 76 00:03:33,130 --> 00:03:35,756 caught attempting to stash liquor 77 00:03:35,757 --> 00:03:37,925 in the Churchill Downs infield 78 00:03:37,926 --> 00:03:42,222 by burying it 11 months before the Derby. 79 00:03:43,348 --> 00:03:44,850 - [Henry] The booze may be hidden, 80 00:03:44,975 --> 00:03:49,270 but by the 1970s the loss of inhibition is on full display. 81 00:03:49,271 --> 00:03:51,439 - [Adam] Things get a little rowdy, a little wild, 82 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:53,858 tarps become makeshift trampolines. 83 00:03:53,859 --> 00:03:56,026 People are dressed in bizarre costumes 84 00:03:56,027 --> 00:03:58,947 and it becomes a "partay". 85 00:03:59,364 --> 00:04:03,951 In 1970, the famous Gonzo Journalist Hunter S. Thompson, 86 00:04:03,952 --> 00:04:06,203 that madman writes an article 87 00:04:06,204 --> 00:04:10,333 that says The Kentucky Derby is decadent and depraved. 88 00:04:11,543 --> 00:04:15,004 - In 1973, secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby 89 00:04:15,005 --> 00:04:17,256 and the Triple Crown and it's huge. 90 00:04:17,257 --> 00:04:18,631 So the next year, 91 00:04:18,632 --> 00:04:21,177 the infield is the hottest ticket in sports. 92 00:04:21,178 --> 00:04:23,804 - [Natalia] In 1974, it is a big year for the Derby. 93 00:04:23,805 --> 00:04:25,306 It's the hundredth race. 94 00:04:25,307 --> 00:04:27,558 Princess Margaret of Britain is there. 95 00:04:27,559 --> 00:04:29,853 It's just a very special year. 96 00:04:31,271 --> 00:04:33,439 - [Brian] Ooh, you got people doing a little bit of drugs, 97 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:34,982 maybe smoking a little bit. 98 00:04:34,983 --> 00:04:37,401 Before you know it, you got Woodstock in the middle 99 00:04:37,402 --> 00:04:39,528 of all these, these horses running around. 100 00:04:39,529 --> 00:04:40,696 Like after a while people are like, 101 00:04:40,697 --> 00:04:44,283 this isn't what it was supposed to be. 102 00:04:44,284 --> 00:04:46,994 - [Natalia] One guy even climbs a flagpole 103 00:04:46,995 --> 00:04:48,287 in the middle of the infield. 104 00:04:48,288 --> 00:04:50,080 He manages to hold on with one hand 105 00:04:50,081 --> 00:04:52,209 and actually moon everybody and not fall. 106 00:04:53,502 --> 00:04:56,045 - [Adam] Then hundreds of people crash the fence 107 00:04:56,046 --> 00:04:57,630 that surrounds the track. 108 00:04:57,631 --> 00:04:58,964 - [Brian] Man, it got dangerous. 109 00:04:58,965 --> 00:05:01,592 They got within striking distance of the horses 110 00:05:01,593 --> 00:05:03,260 before the riot police came in 111 00:05:03,261 --> 00:05:06,305 and had to knock some skulls and get 'em outta there. 112 00:05:06,306 --> 00:05:08,682 - [Austin] The notorious flag pole is taken down. 113 00:05:08,683 --> 00:05:10,184 Then they double the price. 114 00:05:10,185 --> 00:05:13,646 And they hope this'll attract a more upscale crowd, 115 00:05:13,647 --> 00:05:15,189 but there's plenty of security 116 00:05:15,190 --> 00:05:17,691 to make sure it doesn't go 1970 style. 117 00:05:17,692 --> 00:05:19,318 [upbeat music] 118 00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:22,029 - [Adam] These days, Churchill Downs and the Derby is lined 119 00:05:22,030 --> 00:05:24,114 with metal detectors and cameras, 120 00:05:24,115 --> 00:05:27,326 but believe it or not, the biggest deterrent to chaos, 121 00:05:27,327 --> 00:05:28,953 everyone's cell phone. 122 00:05:28,954 --> 00:05:32,498 With the ability to be caught on camera doing no good, 123 00:05:32,499 --> 00:05:33,833 people on the infield 124 00:05:33,834 --> 00:05:35,876 have sort of changed their stripes a little bit 125 00:05:35,877 --> 00:05:37,670 and they're more interested in being part 126 00:05:37,671 --> 00:05:39,881 of the spectacle than being a spectacle. 127 00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:43,968 - In the 1970s, college campuses were packed 128 00:05:43,969 --> 00:05:46,720 with kids wearing bell bottoms, I did. 129 00:05:46,721 --> 00:05:50,474 Platform shoes and colors that demanded attention. 130 00:05:50,475 --> 00:05:54,186 But for some, the real way to stand out in a crowd 131 00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:57,022 was not wearing anything at all. 132 00:05:57,023 --> 00:05:58,482 [exciting music] 133 00:05:58,483 --> 00:06:02,528 - In 1973, the full counterculture is in effect. 134 00:06:02,529 --> 00:06:05,364 This is a generation that is sick of the rigid rules 135 00:06:05,365 --> 00:06:07,366 of their parents and especially of the boomer 136 00:06:07,367 --> 00:06:09,201 and World War II generation. 137 00:06:09,202 --> 00:06:11,453 - The motto was Let it all hang out. 138 00:06:11,454 --> 00:06:14,665 And that's when a group of college kids was just like, 139 00:06:14,666 --> 00:06:18,335 oh, let's literally have it all hang out. 140 00:06:18,336 --> 00:06:19,837 [playful music] 141 00:06:19,838 --> 00:06:21,130 - [Kavitha] The way they do this, 142 00:06:21,131 --> 00:06:22,840 especially on college campus, 143 00:06:22,841 --> 00:06:26,218 is to strip down naked and run around the grounds 144 00:06:26,219 --> 00:06:28,596 and they call this streaking. 145 00:06:28,597 --> 00:06:30,306 - [Brian] Streaking, it's fun 146 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:33,142 because it's transgressive, you know. 147 00:06:33,143 --> 00:06:34,727 But it's also harmless in a way. 148 00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:38,273 But it does feel dangerous and it does feel freeing. 149 00:06:39,107 --> 00:06:40,399 - It's not really clear 150 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,401 where the origins of streaking on campus are. 151 00:06:42,402 --> 00:06:45,279 By 1974, kids are streaking across campuses 152 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:46,739 all over the country. 153 00:06:46,740 --> 00:06:48,616 - [Brian] These fraternities and these sororities 154 00:06:48,617 --> 00:06:49,825 that are letting people know 155 00:06:49,826 --> 00:06:51,785 that they're gonna streak the quad. 156 00:06:51,786 --> 00:06:54,955 Word gets out and people start coming to the quad 157 00:06:54,956 --> 00:06:56,373 to watch the show. 158 00:06:56,374 --> 00:06:58,584 - [Henry] What starts as a naked fraternity prank 159 00:06:58,585 --> 00:07:02,630 becomes a movement and soon people gather by the thousands 160 00:07:02,631 --> 00:07:05,799 to watch people get their streak on. 161 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,426 - [Nathan] Things just get outta hand. 162 00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:10,054 In North Carolina, 4,000 people show up. 163 00:07:10,055 --> 00:07:12,306 At SMU, more people show up 164 00:07:12,307 --> 00:07:15,225 to watch the streakers than the basketball game. 165 00:07:15,226 --> 00:07:17,353 [crowd applauding] 166 00:07:17,354 --> 00:07:18,562 - [Kavitha] In the 1970s, 167 00:07:18,563 --> 00:07:20,814 streaking has kind of gone mainstream. 168 00:07:20,815 --> 00:07:22,733 You have things like Time Magazine 169 00:07:22,734 --> 00:07:25,569 calling it the "epidermis epidemic." 170 00:07:25,570 --> 00:07:27,613 - That spring, a streaker runs by it. 171 00:07:27,614 --> 00:07:30,366 The Academy Awards actor David Niven, is on stage. 172 00:07:30,367 --> 00:07:31,533 - Quite likely... 173 00:07:31,534 --> 00:07:34,495 [audience laughing] 174 00:07:34,496 --> 00:07:36,163 Probably the only laugh 175 00:07:36,164 --> 00:07:38,666 that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off 176 00:07:38,667 --> 00:07:40,209 and showing his shortcomings. 177 00:07:40,210 --> 00:07:41,669 [audience laughing] 178 00:07:41,670 --> 00:07:43,962 - [Henry] But the carefree days don't last. 179 00:07:43,963 --> 00:07:46,382 And believe it or not, it's not the nakedness 180 00:07:46,383 --> 00:07:47,633 that ends the party. 181 00:07:47,634 --> 00:07:49,219 It's crowd control. 182 00:07:49,469 --> 00:07:53,514 - [Negin] 4,000 people turn out at the University of Delaware 183 00:07:53,515 --> 00:07:55,724 as spectators to a streaking event, 184 00:07:55,725 --> 00:07:59,228 and that just turned into mayhem. 185 00:07:59,229 --> 00:08:02,106 - [Nathan] It ends with injured police, damaged police cars, 186 00:08:02,107 --> 00:08:03,692 and a dozen arrests. 187 00:08:03,858 --> 00:08:06,694 - [Negin] Things get so bad that the police start showing up 188 00:08:06,695 --> 00:08:09,572 with riot gear at these streaking events. 189 00:08:10,990 --> 00:08:13,659 - [Kavitha] Streaking eventually dies down by the end of 1974 190 00:08:13,660 --> 00:08:16,161 because of this mix of police crackdowns 191 00:08:16,162 --> 00:08:18,330 and universities trying to stop it 192 00:08:18,331 --> 00:08:20,875 and just the thrill of it kind of wanes. 193 00:08:22,585 --> 00:08:26,213 - Turns out if you wanted to be part of the cool crowd, 194 00:08:26,214 --> 00:08:28,800 clothing was very much optional. 195 00:08:31,845 --> 00:08:34,012 - They say there is safety in numbers 196 00:08:34,013 --> 00:08:36,223 unless you are in a crowd drawn to something strange, 197 00:08:36,224 --> 00:08:38,475 smelly, and ready to blow. 198 00:08:38,476 --> 00:08:39,560 [gentle compelling music] 199 00:08:39,561 --> 00:08:41,186 - If you've ever been to a beach, 200 00:08:41,187 --> 00:08:44,523 sometimes some unusual things will wash up on the shore 201 00:08:44,524 --> 00:08:46,191 and it draws a crowd. 202 00:08:46,192 --> 00:08:48,861 - [Austin] In 1970, when a dead eight ton 203 00:08:48,862 --> 00:08:51,739 sperm whale washes ashore in Florence, Oregon. 204 00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:54,616 Sure enough, it's gonna draw some attention. 205 00:08:54,617 --> 00:08:58,120 - Sperm whales are among the largest animals on earth, 206 00:08:58,121 --> 00:09:00,706 but few people ever get to see them up close. 207 00:09:00,707 --> 00:09:03,250 They're way too big for any aquarium. 208 00:09:03,251 --> 00:09:07,546 A fully grown adult can reach 60 feet and weigh 45 tons. 209 00:09:07,547 --> 00:09:09,590 That's like a semi-truck. 210 00:09:09,591 --> 00:09:10,966 [dramatic tense music] 211 00:09:10,967 --> 00:09:13,010 - [Austin] Seeing a creature this big up close 212 00:09:13,011 --> 00:09:15,596 is an incredible experience. 213 00:09:15,597 --> 00:09:17,598 But what's also incredible is 214 00:09:17,599 --> 00:09:20,893 when a dead animal begins to rot. 215 00:09:20,894 --> 00:09:22,686 - [Hakeem] Word spreads fast. 216 00:09:22,687 --> 00:09:25,647 Television stations and newspapers pick up the story, 217 00:09:25,648 --> 00:09:28,150 and soon the beach is packed. 218 00:09:28,151 --> 00:09:31,070 People drive in from miles away. 219 00:09:31,071 --> 00:09:32,946 - [Henry] After three days, the crowd 220 00:09:32,947 --> 00:09:36,825 and the stench around this beached whale begin to grow. 221 00:09:36,826 --> 00:09:39,203 - [Negin] The tough thing about a sperm whale, 222 00:09:39,204 --> 00:09:40,913 it's hard to dispose of, right? 223 00:09:40,914 --> 00:09:43,916 Like you can't bury it on shore, it'll come back up. 224 00:09:43,917 --> 00:09:45,709 You can't push it back onto the sea, 225 00:09:45,710 --> 00:09:47,044 'cause then it'll disintegrate 226 00:09:47,045 --> 00:09:49,421 and then its parts will come back onto the shore. 227 00:09:49,422 --> 00:09:51,924 It's a conundrum of what to do. 228 00:09:51,925 --> 00:09:53,467 - [Austin] Inside the carcass, 229 00:09:53,468 --> 00:09:57,930 it's creating gases like hydrogen sulfide and methane. 230 00:09:57,931 --> 00:10:01,141 And worse still, these gases are flammable. 231 00:10:01,142 --> 00:10:02,851 - [Hakeem] Crowds climb on top of the whale 232 00:10:02,852 --> 00:10:04,520 looking for a souvenir, 233 00:10:04,521 --> 00:10:07,397 but if someone were to actually puncture it, 234 00:10:07,398 --> 00:10:09,733 that would cause an explosion. 235 00:10:09,734 --> 00:10:12,444 - [Austin] Mom or dad could light up a cigarette 236 00:10:12,445 --> 00:10:15,155 right next to the whale and boom. 237 00:10:15,156 --> 00:10:17,116 - [Rutledge] They did ask if anybody wanted to cut it up 238 00:10:17,117 --> 00:10:18,992 and haul it away and use some of the blubber 239 00:10:18,993 --> 00:10:20,828 for another project. 240 00:10:20,829 --> 00:10:22,287 No takers. 241 00:10:22,288 --> 00:10:23,705 - [Negin] The authorities really are under the gun 242 00:10:23,706 --> 00:10:25,082 to do something about it, 243 00:10:25,083 --> 00:10:27,292 and that's when the Oregon State Highway Division 244 00:10:27,293 --> 00:10:29,962 steps in with an idea. 245 00:10:29,963 --> 00:10:32,673 - [Austin] The Highway Division has an interesting way 246 00:10:32,674 --> 00:10:34,342 of removing the whale. 247 00:10:35,051 --> 00:10:38,512 It includes 20 crates of explosives, 248 00:10:38,513 --> 00:10:41,265 nearly a half ton of dynamite 249 00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:43,725 that is enough to demolish an office building. 250 00:10:43,726 --> 00:10:46,145 - [Rutledge] So they dig a big trench, and their thought is, 251 00:10:46,146 --> 00:10:48,480 if we pack this trench full of dynamite, 252 00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:49,816 when this thing goes off, 253 00:10:49,941 --> 00:10:51,984 it's gonna blow the whale back towards sea. 254 00:10:51,985 --> 00:10:53,235 [dramatic music] 255 00:10:53,236 --> 00:10:54,987 - [Hakeem] Today, that plan would need 256 00:10:54,988 --> 00:10:57,114 an environmental review, permits 257 00:10:57,115 --> 00:10:59,491 and about a dozen safety meetings. 258 00:10:59,492 --> 00:11:03,328 But this is the 1970s. Things were way looser back then. 259 00:11:03,329 --> 00:11:05,664 - [Henry] Local papers stoked the excitement. 260 00:11:05,665 --> 00:11:08,542 And on November 12th, 1970, 261 00:11:08,543 --> 00:11:11,879 a crowd gathers eager to watch the big event. 262 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,213 - [Rutledge] But they'd start to think, you know what? 263 00:11:13,214 --> 00:11:14,464 With this much dynamite, 264 00:11:14,465 --> 00:11:16,550 we should move people back a little bit. 265 00:11:16,551 --> 00:11:18,093 Right guys? A little bit. 266 00:11:18,094 --> 00:11:19,386 - [Negin] With other demolitions, 267 00:11:19,387 --> 00:11:21,805 they know how far back to send people. 268 00:11:21,806 --> 00:11:25,517 But with whale demolition, they're kind of making it up. 269 00:11:25,518 --> 00:11:28,020 - [Kavitha] In the crowd is a guy named Walter Umenhofer, 270 00:11:28,021 --> 00:11:31,231 who is a military veteran with demolition experience. 271 00:11:31,232 --> 00:11:32,524 - [Rutledge] He's trained in demolition 272 00:11:32,525 --> 00:11:34,359 and he is trying to warn all these guys, 273 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:36,737 "Hey, this is way too much dynamite." 274 00:11:36,738 --> 00:11:39,448 Like 20 sticks would probably get the job done, 275 00:11:39,449 --> 00:11:44,078 but 20 crates is an insane amount of dynamite. 276 00:11:45,538 --> 00:11:49,708 You can't imagine the elation on people's faces 277 00:11:49,709 --> 00:11:51,251 as they hear that countdown. 278 00:11:51,252 --> 00:11:54,296 Three, two, one. 279 00:11:54,297 --> 00:11:56,506 [cinematic music] 280 00:11:56,507 --> 00:11:58,425 [dynamite blasts] 281 00:11:58,426 --> 00:12:02,054 Well, you know what goes up must come down. 282 00:12:02,055 --> 00:12:03,430 [dramatic tense music] 283 00:12:03,431 --> 00:12:07,226 - [Negin] Moments later you notice the sound 284 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:11,939 of like pieces of whale thumping down, 285 00:12:11,940 --> 00:12:14,399 and in some cases hitting people 286 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,944 because the blast radius 287 00:12:16,945 --> 00:12:20,239 of a sperm whale apparently is much larger 288 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,824 than what they had anticipated. 289 00:12:22,825 --> 00:12:25,827 [dramatic music] 290 00:12:25,828 --> 00:12:29,122 - [Rutledge] Everyone there is absolutely showered 291 00:12:29,123 --> 00:12:32,334 in rotting whale carcass. 292 00:12:32,335 --> 00:12:34,086 People are running, everyone scared. 293 00:12:34,087 --> 00:12:35,630 There's blood everywhere. 294 00:12:36,714 --> 00:12:38,548 - [Hakeem] It's basically a meat shower. 295 00:12:38,549 --> 00:12:41,760 One slab about the size of a coffee table lands 296 00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:44,680 right on the roof of a brand new Oldsmobile. 297 00:12:44,681 --> 00:12:47,933 - [Rutledge] And this huge chunk that crushed a new Oldsmobile, 298 00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:49,268 guess who owned it? 299 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:51,103 That's right, Walter, who told them, 300 00:12:51,104 --> 00:12:53,605 "That's way too much dynamite." 301 00:12:53,606 --> 00:12:56,858 - [Negin] He bought that car at the "Whale of a Deal" sale 302 00:12:56,859 --> 00:12:58,402 at the car dealership. 303 00:12:58,403 --> 00:13:03,449 I mean, it's poetry, it's whale explosion poetry. 304 00:13:03,825 --> 00:13:05,325 - [Rutledge] So how does Oregon deal 305 00:13:05,326 --> 00:13:07,160 with this whale carcass problem moving forward? 306 00:13:07,161 --> 00:13:09,329 Well, the next time it happens, in 1979, 307 00:13:09,330 --> 00:13:11,331 they did not use any explosives. 308 00:13:11,332 --> 00:13:14,002 They just burned it and buried it and carried on. 309 00:13:15,837 --> 00:13:19,589 - So an exploding sea creature wasn't a whale of a time. 310 00:13:19,590 --> 00:13:23,844 But some crowds can't resist a risky front row seat, 311 00:13:23,845 --> 00:13:26,681 even if it's in the middle of an active combat zone. 312 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:29,683 - [Martin] At the outset of the Civil War, 313 00:13:29,684 --> 00:13:31,601 the federal government is confident 314 00:13:31,602 --> 00:13:35,355 that this conflict will be settled in a matter of weeks. 315 00:13:35,356 --> 00:13:39,109 - By July of 1861, President Lincoln is under pressure 316 00:13:39,110 --> 00:13:41,361 to produce a quick victory. 317 00:13:41,362 --> 00:13:43,030 He knows those Confederate troops 318 00:13:43,031 --> 00:13:44,531 are right there in Virginia, 319 00:13:44,532 --> 00:13:47,201 so he orders the Union troops to go engage them. 320 00:13:48,286 --> 00:13:50,912 - [Henry] The residents of Washington DC are pumped up 321 00:13:50,913 --> 00:13:55,333 on patriotism, eager to watch their boys win the war, 322 00:13:55,334 --> 00:13:58,253 literally with their own eyes. 323 00:13:58,254 --> 00:14:01,465 - Ordinary civilians are following these troop movements 324 00:14:01,466 --> 00:14:03,717 and a large group of them decides 325 00:14:03,718 --> 00:14:06,054 that they're gonna go watch a war. 326 00:14:06,971 --> 00:14:10,015 - [Adam] It's crazy to think now that anybody would want 327 00:14:10,016 --> 00:14:14,394 to be a spectator to an armed military conflict 328 00:14:14,395 --> 00:14:17,230 where people will die, but people are excited. 329 00:14:17,231 --> 00:14:19,775 Civilians follow the Union troops 330 00:14:19,776 --> 00:14:23,361 because they wanna see the battle like it's Lollapalooza. 331 00:14:23,362 --> 00:14:24,905 [lively music] 332 00:14:24,906 --> 00:14:26,531 - [Martin] Hundreds of people load up into carriages 333 00:14:26,532 --> 00:14:29,367 and complete the 30 mile seven hour journey 334 00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:32,662 so that they can see the battle that's about to unfold 335 00:14:32,663 --> 00:14:34,874 along the banks of a creek called Bull Run. 336 00:14:35,958 --> 00:14:38,543 - [Don] Most are perched on a hill about five miles away 337 00:14:38,544 --> 00:14:40,045 from the action. 338 00:14:40,046 --> 00:14:43,340 They can hear in the distance cannons and gunfire. 339 00:14:43,341 --> 00:14:47,135 For all intents and purposes, they seem perfectly safe. 340 00:14:47,136 --> 00:14:48,512 [gentle lively music] 341 00:14:48,513 --> 00:14:50,097 - [Bryant] Someone later commented, 342 00:14:50,098 --> 00:14:55,143 it felt like being at a county fair and it has that vibe. 343 00:14:55,144 --> 00:14:57,187 - [Adam] Men are dressed to the nines. 344 00:14:57,188 --> 00:15:00,440 Women are wearing their Sunday best, children are playing. 345 00:15:00,441 --> 00:15:03,151 Local entrepreneurs are out there selling pies 346 00:15:03,152 --> 00:15:05,946 like a vendor selling hot dogs at a ball game. 347 00:15:05,947 --> 00:15:08,824 - [Don] This is like tailgating at a football game, 348 00:15:08,825 --> 00:15:10,992 but it's the Civil War. 349 00:15:10,993 --> 00:15:13,120 - [Henry] But when the Union starts losing, 350 00:15:13,121 --> 00:15:15,163 this picnic on the sidelines 351 00:15:15,164 --> 00:15:17,874 suddenly feels a lot more like war. 352 00:15:17,875 --> 00:15:19,334 [tense music] 353 00:15:19,335 --> 00:15:22,546 - [Martin] 28,000 poorly trained US Army soldiers 354 00:15:22,547 --> 00:15:26,675 are being outdone by their Confederate adversaries. 355 00:15:26,676 --> 00:15:28,260 - [Henry] The Union lines buckle 356 00:15:28,261 --> 00:15:30,387 and the soldiers flee 357 00:15:30,388 --> 00:15:33,850 straight through the stunned crowd of spectators. 358 00:15:35,143 --> 00:15:38,728 - [Adam] Suddenly bloody, frightened, screaming men 359 00:15:38,729 --> 00:15:41,857 are hauling ass straight at you, 360 00:15:41,858 --> 00:15:45,152 retreating from a battle that they are losing. 361 00:15:45,153 --> 00:15:46,362 [soldiers screaming] 362 00:15:46,487 --> 00:15:48,029 - [Natalia] You can imagine the mayhem. 363 00:15:48,030 --> 00:15:50,824 Picnic baskets flying, people running in every direction, 364 00:15:50,825 --> 00:15:53,286 whether they are civilians or combatants. 365 00:15:54,495 --> 00:15:56,371 - [Adam] People immediately get to their wagons 366 00:15:56,372 --> 00:15:58,039 and they're trying to get out, 367 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,251 just trying to get away from danger that had been miles away 368 00:16:01,252 --> 00:16:03,295 and is now on top of them. 369 00:16:03,296 --> 00:16:08,049 Suddenly the spectacle has become terrifying. 370 00:16:08,050 --> 00:16:09,718 [tense dramatic music] 371 00:16:09,719 --> 00:16:12,012 - [Martin] There is a retreating armed force that Southerners 372 00:16:12,013 --> 00:16:14,806 will eventually nickname the "Great Skedaddle." 373 00:16:14,807 --> 00:16:16,975 - [Henry] The battle goes badly for the Union 374 00:16:16,976 --> 00:16:20,770 and all those spectators who came for a front row seat, 375 00:16:20,771 --> 00:16:24,399 they learned to keep a little distance from the conflict. 376 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,568 - [Bryant] Crowds would watch Civil War fights, 377 00:16:26,569 --> 00:16:29,738 but mostly naval battles from afar 378 00:16:29,739 --> 00:16:31,740 and they're much further away 379 00:16:31,741 --> 00:16:36,328 and less likely to get run over by a retreating army. 380 00:16:36,329 --> 00:16:38,496 [soldiers screaming] 381 00:16:38,497 --> 00:16:39,915 - In the 20th century, 382 00:16:39,916 --> 00:16:44,085 increased firepower made watching battles far too risky 383 00:16:44,086 --> 00:16:47,924 and crowds stop treating war like dinner theater. 384 00:16:50,968 --> 00:16:53,511 - Sports fans today are used to a certain standard 385 00:16:53,512 --> 00:16:55,263 when they pay good money for a ticket. 386 00:16:55,264 --> 00:16:57,140 And if the action doesn't deliver, they may boo 387 00:16:57,141 --> 00:16:58,683 or maybe head for the exit. 388 00:16:58,684 --> 00:17:02,187 But there was a time when standards were non-existent, 389 00:17:02,188 --> 00:17:06,441 and disappointed crowds had a very different response. 390 00:17:06,442 --> 00:17:08,068 [gentle lively music] 391 00:17:08,069 --> 00:17:09,653 - [Martin] During the summer of 1904, 392 00:17:09,654 --> 00:17:12,948 20 million people visit the World's Fair in St. Louis 393 00:17:12,949 --> 00:17:14,991 with the hope of experiencing modern things 394 00:17:14,992 --> 00:17:18,871 like an ice cream cone, a Ferris wheel or electricity. 395 00:17:20,414 --> 00:17:22,332 - [Don] A promoter named Richard Norris 396 00:17:22,333 --> 00:17:26,252 sees these curious fair crowds as a major opportunity. 397 00:17:26,253 --> 00:17:27,545 Near the fairground he's built 398 00:17:27,546 --> 00:17:30,257 a brand new 18,000 seat arena. 399 00:17:30,258 --> 00:17:34,636 He plans a one of a kind event to draw a huge crowd, 400 00:17:34,637 --> 00:17:35,971 a Spanish bull fight. 401 00:17:35,972 --> 00:17:37,639 [dramatic music] 402 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:38,890 - [Kavitha] In 1904, Americans don't really know very much 403 00:17:38,891 --> 00:17:40,016 about bull fighting. 404 00:17:40,017 --> 00:17:41,685 They might have seen some paintings 405 00:17:41,686 --> 00:17:42,978 or read about it in a book, 406 00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:46,314 but nobody's really seen a matador up close. 407 00:17:46,315 --> 00:17:49,192 - [Rutledge] So Norris sells 7,000 tickets 408 00:17:49,193 --> 00:17:50,527 at a dollar a piece, 409 00:17:50,528 --> 00:17:54,114 which is about 36 bucks today per head. 410 00:17:54,115 --> 00:17:56,992 And at two o'clock, all these people file in 411 00:17:56,993 --> 00:17:58,952 getting ready for the show. 412 00:17:58,953 --> 00:18:00,579 [exciting music] 413 00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:02,831 - [Henry] But as the minutes tick by there are no bulls, 414 00:18:02,832 --> 00:18:06,084 and the crowd begins to get restless. 415 00:18:06,085 --> 00:18:07,877 - [Rutledge] By 3:00 PM people in the crowd 416 00:18:07,878 --> 00:18:09,129 are starting to chant. 417 00:18:09,130 --> 00:18:10,672 "Where are the bulls? Where are the bulls?" 418 00:18:10,673 --> 00:18:12,132 - [Kavitha] A local deputy sheriff steps in 419 00:18:12,133 --> 00:18:14,009 and makes a startling announcement. 420 00:18:14,010 --> 00:18:16,052 There will be no bull fighting today. 421 00:18:16,053 --> 00:18:19,139 - [Rutledge] Today you'd see on the big screen an announcement. 422 00:18:19,140 --> 00:18:22,350 So sorry, here's how you get a refund. Follow this link. 423 00:18:22,351 --> 00:18:24,352 Everybody would just file out single file. 424 00:18:24,353 --> 00:18:25,604 That's not how it was. 425 00:18:25,605 --> 00:18:28,523 No, it's just all these people confused, angry, 426 00:18:28,524 --> 00:18:31,068 and a bunch of 'em have been overserved at this point. 427 00:18:32,278 --> 00:18:33,320 - [Brian] So you have the type of people 428 00:18:33,321 --> 00:18:35,196 that want to watch a bull fight, 429 00:18:35,197 --> 00:18:37,866 a lot of them together in an arena. 430 00:18:37,867 --> 00:18:39,117 And they're in the sun 431 00:18:39,118 --> 00:18:40,452 and they're drinking and they're waiting. 432 00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:42,203 And then instead of a bull fight, out comes a cop 433 00:18:42,204 --> 00:18:43,496 and says, "Get outta here. 434 00:18:43,497 --> 00:18:45,040 There's no bull fight today." 435 00:18:45,041 --> 00:18:46,333 And they erupt. 436 00:18:46,334 --> 00:18:47,626 [tense dramatic music] 437 00:18:47,627 --> 00:18:49,628 - [Kavitha] The crowd storms the box office 438 00:18:49,629 --> 00:18:51,212 demanding their refunds. 439 00:18:51,213 --> 00:18:53,173 Unfortunately, there's no money. 440 00:18:53,174 --> 00:18:55,717 The cash has disappeared along with Richard Norris, 441 00:18:55,718 --> 00:18:57,844 and the police are completely outnumbered 442 00:18:57,845 --> 00:18:59,596 to handle these angry fans. 443 00:18:59,597 --> 00:19:00,847 [crowd shouting] 444 00:19:00,848 --> 00:19:03,683 - Angry spectators storm the animal pens. 445 00:19:03,684 --> 00:19:06,603 They want to see these fearsome bulls, 446 00:19:06,604 --> 00:19:08,938 but instead of raging beasts, 447 00:19:08,939 --> 00:19:12,234 they find seven completely calm bulls. 448 00:19:13,444 --> 00:19:15,236 They wave red handkerchiefs at the animals 449 00:19:15,237 --> 00:19:18,823 trying to provoke them, but the bulls just stand there. 450 00:19:18,824 --> 00:19:20,825 One of them just has one horn. 451 00:19:20,826 --> 00:19:23,536 I mean not exactly the fiery one-ton monster 452 00:19:23,537 --> 00:19:25,872 this audience was expecting. 453 00:19:25,873 --> 00:19:29,542 - [Henry] The crowd starts to suspect they've been duped 454 00:19:29,543 --> 00:19:31,796 and they're right. 455 00:19:31,921 --> 00:19:33,213 - [Kavitha] Days before the event, 456 00:19:33,214 --> 00:19:34,964 it turns out that Richard Norris is informed 457 00:19:34,965 --> 00:19:36,883 that bull fighting is indeed illegal 458 00:19:36,884 --> 00:19:38,343 in the state of Missouri. 459 00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:41,554 - [Rutledge] So he got the permit kind of assuming 460 00:19:41,555 --> 00:19:43,264 that things would just work out. 461 00:19:43,265 --> 00:19:44,683 So when the sheriff shows up, 462 00:19:44,684 --> 00:19:45,850 Norris just decides, you know what? 463 00:19:45,851 --> 00:19:47,435 I'm gonna cut my losses. 464 00:19:47,436 --> 00:19:49,646 I'm gonna grab the cash and get outta here and be on my way. 465 00:19:49,647 --> 00:19:50,563 [tense music] 466 00:19:50,564 --> 00:19:51,731 - [Kavitha] This crowd is angry. 467 00:19:51,732 --> 00:19:53,441 They've come to watch a blood sport 468 00:19:53,442 --> 00:19:55,569 and they're gonna get it one way or another. 469 00:19:56,612 --> 00:19:58,197 - [Brian] And they rip open the pens 470 00:19:59,699 --> 00:20:01,950 and the animals are running free over town 471 00:20:01,951 --> 00:20:03,284 and the people are fighting with each other. 472 00:20:03,285 --> 00:20:05,161 They're stomping all over each other. 473 00:20:05,162 --> 00:20:08,373 - [Kavitha] The crowd sets the arena on fire. 474 00:20:08,374 --> 00:20:10,250 [fire crackling] 475 00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:12,252 And when the fire department shows up, 476 00:20:12,253 --> 00:20:15,213 the crowd blocks them from putting out the fire. 477 00:20:15,214 --> 00:20:16,881 [gentle exciting music] 478 00:20:16,882 --> 00:20:19,634 - [Rutledge] Norris's Arena costs $25,000. 479 00:20:19,635 --> 00:20:24,097 So really he should have just refunded the $7,000. 480 00:20:24,098 --> 00:20:27,517 - [Henry] Miraculously, no one is killed in the melee, 481 00:20:27,518 --> 00:20:29,185 not even the bulls. 482 00:20:29,186 --> 00:20:32,147 - [Brian] I hope if there's any justice in this world 483 00:20:32,148 --> 00:20:34,691 that the bulls are just watching all these humans 484 00:20:34,692 --> 00:20:37,903 beat the crap out of each other and they had a great show. 485 00:20:39,321 --> 00:20:40,780 - Today, when you go to the ballpark 486 00:20:40,781 --> 00:20:44,451 and you see your team lose, you don't walk away happy. 487 00:20:44,452 --> 00:20:46,828 But in baseball's early days, 488 00:20:46,829 --> 00:20:50,331 some fans didn't walk away at all. 489 00:20:50,332 --> 00:20:52,041 - [Kavitha] Nowadays all major league ballparks 490 00:20:52,042 --> 00:20:54,961 have requirements of netting that protect fans 491 00:20:54,962 --> 00:20:58,214 who are in those first rows, not just behind home plate, 492 00:20:58,215 --> 00:21:01,509 but beyond first and third base. 493 00:21:01,510 --> 00:21:05,638 But the game of baseball now is way different than it was 494 00:21:05,639 --> 00:21:07,891 back in the late 1800s. 495 00:21:07,892 --> 00:21:10,018 - Baseball's invented in the 1800s. 496 00:21:10,019 --> 00:21:12,937 The fields are not terribly standardized. 497 00:21:12,938 --> 00:21:14,522 Like the foul line can be 498 00:21:14,523 --> 00:21:16,691 just sort of like where a creek is. 499 00:21:16,692 --> 00:21:18,526 - [Lance] The smaller the team and the more rustic, 500 00:21:18,527 --> 00:21:20,028 the less care for the field. 501 00:21:20,029 --> 00:21:22,614 And that's where the term "Bush League" comes from. 502 00:21:22,615 --> 00:21:26,034 - [Austin] In this early form of baseball, you're in the action. 503 00:21:26,035 --> 00:21:27,911 You could be just at arm's length 504 00:21:27,912 --> 00:21:30,038 from your favorite third baseman. 505 00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:32,707 It's great. You're up close and personal. 506 00:21:32,708 --> 00:21:35,126 The game is intimate and it's yours. 507 00:21:35,127 --> 00:21:38,004 - [Henry] Fans are even allowed to stand right on the field, 508 00:21:38,005 --> 00:21:39,964 but the best seats in those early parks 509 00:21:39,965 --> 00:21:41,966 are right behind home plate. 510 00:21:41,967 --> 00:21:45,303 It's also the best spot to catch a foul ball 511 00:21:45,304 --> 00:21:47,138 straight in the face. 512 00:21:47,139 --> 00:21:50,517 - [Don] By the late 1870s, fans behind home plate 513 00:21:50,518 --> 00:21:53,478 get hurt so often that those front row seats 514 00:21:53,479 --> 00:21:55,897 earn a nickname the "Slaughter Pen." 515 00:21:55,898 --> 00:21:57,190 - [Kavitha] You have to think about the momentum 516 00:21:57,191 --> 00:21:58,858 of a baseball off a bat. 517 00:21:58,859 --> 00:22:00,610 That ball could be coming off the bat 518 00:22:00,611 --> 00:22:03,196 at 70 to 90 miles an hour straight at you 519 00:22:03,197 --> 00:22:04,322 if you're in the stands. 520 00:22:04,323 --> 00:22:05,615 - [Jason] A well hit ball 521 00:22:05,616 --> 00:22:08,243 can actually travel 140 feet per second. 522 00:22:08,244 --> 00:22:10,662 That's not a lot of time to get out of the way. 523 00:22:10,663 --> 00:22:12,539 - [Martin] A foul ball can hit you with the strength 524 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:14,624 of a sledgehammer blow. 525 00:22:14,625 --> 00:22:16,376 It's kind of like having a bowling ball 526 00:22:16,377 --> 00:22:18,795 dropped on your head from three stories. 527 00:22:18,796 --> 00:22:20,338 - [Kavitha] It's not until 1879 528 00:22:20,339 --> 00:22:24,926 that the Providence Graze install a woven wire backstop, 529 00:22:24,927 --> 00:22:27,220 but that's still 17 years 530 00:22:27,221 --> 00:22:29,264 after the first dedicated ballpark is built. 531 00:22:29,265 --> 00:22:32,475 So you've got 17 years of foul ball injuries. 532 00:22:32,476 --> 00:22:34,769 - [Henry] Think you're sitting safer in the grandstands? 533 00:22:34,770 --> 00:22:36,563 Think again. 534 00:22:36,564 --> 00:22:38,731 - [Jason] Grandstands first appear the 1870s. 535 00:22:38,732 --> 00:22:41,109 The expensive seats are in the shade. 536 00:22:41,110 --> 00:22:42,902 The rest of the seats where the regular people sit are 537 00:22:42,903 --> 00:22:44,572 under this sunlight. 538 00:22:44,697 --> 00:22:47,490 The constant exposure of the sun actually bleaches the wood, 539 00:22:47,491 --> 00:22:50,577 and that is why they are called bleachers. 540 00:22:50,578 --> 00:22:53,371 - [Austin] These are just ad hoc wooden structures 541 00:22:53,372 --> 00:22:56,708 and they're gonna be especially prone to fire. 542 00:22:56,709 --> 00:22:59,961 - [Henry] It doesn't help that crowds at baseball games also 543 00:22:59,962 --> 00:23:03,756 partake in that other American pastime, smoking. 544 00:23:03,757 --> 00:23:05,300 - [Austin] In 1894, 545 00:23:05,301 --> 00:23:09,470 four major ballparks suffer catastrophic fires. 546 00:23:09,471 --> 00:23:12,765 At one fire in Chicago, the ballplayers themselves 547 00:23:12,766 --> 00:23:15,393 have to pry open a containment fence 548 00:23:15,394 --> 00:23:19,939 to let fans flee from the encroaching fire. 549 00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:21,816 - [Kavitha] The day after the Chicago fire, 550 00:23:21,817 --> 00:23:24,611 a plumber making some repairs at the Phillies ballpark 551 00:23:24,612 --> 00:23:25,862 knocks over a stove 552 00:23:25,863 --> 00:23:28,239 and ends up burning down the whole ballpark. 553 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,908 - [Austin] At one point in time, 554 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:34,162 several major ballparks will have burned down. 555 00:23:34,163 --> 00:23:37,373 - [Henry] In 1895, Philadelphia builds a new stadium 556 00:23:37,374 --> 00:23:40,919 made of brick and steel except for the cheap seats, 557 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:42,503 which are still made of wood. 558 00:23:42,504 --> 00:23:45,965 But this time the danger isn't fire. 559 00:23:45,966 --> 00:23:47,592 - [Martin] In 1903 in Philadelphia, 560 00:23:47,593 --> 00:23:48,885 there is a baseball game. 561 00:23:48,886 --> 00:23:51,137 A lot of people that are packed in there, 562 00:23:51,138 --> 00:23:52,889 and a fist fight breaks out. 563 00:23:52,890 --> 00:23:55,725 As everyone turns their attention toward this fight 564 00:23:55,726 --> 00:23:59,896 and then move toward it, it causes the bleachers to collapse 565 00:23:59,897 --> 00:24:03,191 and 12 people are killed, 200 people are injured. 566 00:24:03,192 --> 00:24:05,485 - [Kavitha] The cause of the collapse is rotten timbers, 567 00:24:05,486 --> 00:24:08,321 and that's why today the only wood you'll really find 568 00:24:08,322 --> 00:24:10,991 at a ballpark is in your Louisville Slugger. 569 00:24:11,617 --> 00:24:13,535 - Talk about paying for your seats. 570 00:24:16,664 --> 00:24:18,915 - With college crowds, Spring break usually means sun 571 00:24:18,916 --> 00:24:21,292 and sand and bad decisions. 572 00:24:21,293 --> 00:24:25,380 In 1969, spring breakers in North Dakota skip the sun 573 00:24:25,381 --> 00:24:29,842 and the sand, but they went all in on bad decisions. 574 00:24:29,843 --> 00:24:31,053 [gentle quaint music] 575 00:24:31,178 --> 00:24:33,054 - [Kavitha] In 1969 during the brutal winters 576 00:24:33,055 --> 00:24:34,847 in Fargo, North Dakota, 577 00:24:34,848 --> 00:24:37,016 a student at North Dakota State University 578 00:24:37,017 --> 00:24:39,894 named Chuck Stroop, can't afford to go to Florida 579 00:24:39,895 --> 00:24:40,979 for spring break. 580 00:24:40,980 --> 00:24:42,480 So he kind of jokes to his friends, 581 00:24:42,481 --> 00:24:45,024 "And why don't we go to this tiny town called Zap 582 00:24:45,025 --> 00:24:46,192 North Dakota?" 583 00:24:46,193 --> 00:24:47,361 - [Brian] So good old Chuck's like, 584 00:24:48,237 --> 00:24:49,696 we're gonna do it Zap baby. 585 00:24:49,697 --> 00:24:51,572 And he starts spreading the word that like, 586 00:24:51,573 --> 00:24:54,785 "Hey, we're doing an alternative to spring break in Zap." 587 00:24:56,078 --> 00:24:59,038 - [Kavitha] Zap is like the Mayberry of North Dakota. 588 00:24:59,039 --> 00:25:01,249 Main Street is an actual dirt road. 589 00:25:01,250 --> 00:25:03,793 It's got one cafe and two bars 590 00:25:03,794 --> 00:25:07,131 and a total population of 250 people. 591 00:25:08,132 --> 00:25:09,340 - [Rutledge] It starts out as a joke like, 592 00:25:09,341 --> 00:25:10,842 oh, wouldn't it be funny if we do this? 593 00:25:10,843 --> 00:25:12,552 Then the more they talked about it, they realize, 594 00:25:12,553 --> 00:25:14,929 no, this might be a really awesome spring break idea. 595 00:25:14,930 --> 00:25:15,805 Let's do it. 596 00:25:15,806 --> 00:25:17,306 Let's go to Zap. 597 00:25:17,307 --> 00:25:18,641 - [Negin] You know, at first these guys are like, 598 00:25:18,642 --> 00:25:20,893 oh, we're gonna Zip to Zap, you know, 599 00:25:20,894 --> 00:25:22,729 and they start calling it the Zappening. 600 00:25:22,730 --> 00:25:25,023 And the chatter around this thing builds. 601 00:25:25,024 --> 00:25:27,775 It gets covered by the campus newspaper. 602 00:25:27,776 --> 00:25:29,861 - [Rutledge] People are hearing about this huge party, 603 00:25:29,862 --> 00:25:32,321 and it's talked about all over the place. 604 00:25:32,322 --> 00:25:35,450 Other colleges, even the radio as far as Minnesota, 605 00:25:35,451 --> 00:25:38,536 they're talking about this college spring break party, 606 00:25:38,537 --> 00:25:39,829 it's gonna happen in North Dakota. 607 00:25:39,830 --> 00:25:41,706 Everybody wants to go. It's gonna be huge. 608 00:25:41,707 --> 00:25:43,125 [dramatic music] 609 00:25:43,250 --> 00:25:44,667 - [Brian] And at first the town is supportive of it. 610 00:25:44,668 --> 00:25:46,627 Like, oh, this, we're bringing a few bucks, 611 00:25:46,628 --> 00:25:47,837 this'll be great. 612 00:25:47,838 --> 00:25:50,923 How many people could be coming to this? 613 00:25:50,924 --> 00:25:53,051 - [Don] The local Sheriff says he hasn't given much thought 614 00:25:53,052 --> 00:25:56,763 to the Zap-In, but he plans to have his two-man force 615 00:25:56,764 --> 00:25:59,223 swing by over the weekend to check things out. 616 00:25:59,224 --> 00:26:00,641 [exciting music] 617 00:26:00,642 --> 00:26:02,643 - [Rutledge] So the first day, Friday, May 9th, 618 00:26:02,644 --> 00:26:06,440 the town of Zap is absolutely slam packed with people. 619 00:26:07,357 --> 00:26:08,483 - [Kavitha] 3000 college students 620 00:26:08,484 --> 00:26:10,735 have descended upon this town. 621 00:26:10,736 --> 00:26:14,864 That's more than 10 times the actual population of Zap. 622 00:26:14,865 --> 00:26:18,493 - [Rutledge] Zap thought they were prepared for who is coming 623 00:26:18,494 --> 00:26:22,497 except they were really, really unprepared. 624 00:26:22,498 --> 00:26:25,708 - [Henry] For a moment, it looks like Zap might just survive 625 00:26:25,709 --> 00:26:27,710 the attack of the spring breakers, 626 00:26:27,711 --> 00:26:31,464 but when the beer runs out, the mood turns ugly. 627 00:26:31,465 --> 00:26:33,257 - [Rutledge] They had gotten hundreds of cases 628 00:26:33,258 --> 00:26:34,509 of beer ready for this. 629 00:26:34,510 --> 00:26:36,010 They were gone. 630 00:26:36,011 --> 00:26:38,763 The one restaurant in town sold completely out of food. 631 00:26:38,764 --> 00:26:42,141 The crowd in the bar starts to get a little bit unruly, 632 00:26:42,142 --> 00:26:45,394 first a bottle breaks, then a window breaks. 633 00:26:45,395 --> 00:26:47,355 Things are getting a little wild. 634 00:26:47,356 --> 00:26:49,440 - [Brian] This is a party in the 1960s. 635 00:26:49,441 --> 00:26:51,818 Society was a little looser back then. 636 00:26:51,819 --> 00:26:55,738 People back then took partying to an art form 637 00:26:55,739 --> 00:26:59,784 that puts any party today to complete shame, man. 638 00:26:59,785 --> 00:27:02,745 - [Henry] Very quickly the party outgrows the town 639 00:27:02,746 --> 00:27:06,791 and the town has no idea how to reign it back in. 640 00:27:06,792 --> 00:27:08,000 - [Rutledge] Oh, and by the way, 641 00:27:08,001 --> 00:27:09,377 where are all these kids gonna sleep? 642 00:27:09,378 --> 00:27:11,629 No one's even thought about that, 643 00:27:11,630 --> 00:27:15,216 because by the way, it is North Dakota and it is freezing. 644 00:27:15,217 --> 00:27:17,718 - [Brian] So what you gotta do? You gotta build a fire. 645 00:27:17,719 --> 00:27:20,221 Where do you get the wood? Wherever you can get it. 646 00:27:20,222 --> 00:27:23,516 The siding on people's houses, construction sites, 647 00:27:23,517 --> 00:27:25,476 chop down trees, fence posts, 648 00:27:25,477 --> 00:27:27,103 everything goes into a bonfire. 649 00:27:27,104 --> 00:27:28,688 Things start getting outta control. 650 00:27:28,689 --> 00:27:30,064 - [Henry] With the rowdy crowd, 651 00:27:30,065 --> 00:27:32,483 burning Zap down piece by piece, 652 00:27:32,484 --> 00:27:35,319 the terrified Mayor calls for backup. 653 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:37,446 - [Brian] And eventually 500 members 654 00:27:37,447 --> 00:27:38,906 of National Guard come in, 655 00:27:38,907 --> 00:27:41,367 and afix, bayonets, 656 00:27:41,368 --> 00:27:43,703 something that people killed each other with 657 00:27:43,704 --> 00:27:45,746 in the Civil War. 658 00:27:45,747 --> 00:27:47,290 When you have 500 bayonets 659 00:27:47,291 --> 00:27:50,251 going after drunk college students, that is a scene. 660 00:27:50,252 --> 00:27:53,296 - [Don] But do they give up and stop partying? Nope. 661 00:27:53,297 --> 00:27:56,048 They climb in their cars and go to the next town over, 662 00:27:56,049 --> 00:27:57,009 Beulah. 663 00:27:58,176 --> 00:28:00,094 - [Rutledge] Sure enough, those kids showed up 664 00:28:00,095 --> 00:28:01,929 and they continued the party. 665 00:28:01,930 --> 00:28:04,557 - [Negin] After they're done with Beulah, they move over 666 00:28:04,558 --> 00:28:08,811 to another town called Hazen where they wreak havoc. 667 00:28:08,812 --> 00:28:11,105 And this is just like rinse and repeat, 668 00:28:11,106 --> 00:28:15,193 like a terrible pub crawl from town to town to town. 669 00:28:16,194 --> 00:28:17,904 - [Brian] They herd them to Bismarck, 670 00:28:17,905 --> 00:28:19,780 which is the capital of the state. 671 00:28:19,781 --> 00:28:21,908 And it's starting to sound like a Civil War movie, man. 672 00:28:21,909 --> 00:28:24,201 They're just marching on Bismarck, 673 00:28:24,202 --> 00:28:27,163 and that's where they find the solution to this problem. 674 00:28:27,164 --> 00:28:28,456 - [Negin] Finally, the authorities are like, 675 00:28:28,457 --> 00:28:30,374 all right, let's like push them into a park 676 00:28:30,375 --> 00:28:32,418 and they'll just bore themselves. 677 00:28:32,419 --> 00:28:33,878 And eventually they do. 678 00:28:33,879 --> 00:28:35,504 They move to this park in Bismarck, it's boring, 679 00:28:35,505 --> 00:28:37,965 nothing's going on, and they finally disperse. 680 00:28:37,966 --> 00:28:39,508 - [Henry] Once the crowd gets corralled 681 00:28:39,509 --> 00:28:42,803 inside the city park, the excitement fizzles out. 682 00:28:42,804 --> 00:28:46,599 By Sunday, it's all over except for the hangover. 683 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:47,767 - [Brian] This sounds like the sort of party 684 00:28:47,768 --> 00:28:49,477 that doesn't happen anymore. 685 00:28:49,478 --> 00:28:52,271 These kids got to party, these kids got to blow off steam. 686 00:28:52,272 --> 00:28:54,148 These kids got to have fun. 687 00:28:54,149 --> 00:28:55,816 And they got to do it in a way that will 688 00:28:55,817 --> 00:28:59,362 almost never be recreated again in modern society. 689 00:28:59,363 --> 00:29:01,531 And I think that's, that's kind of fun. 690 00:29:04,117 --> 00:29:06,494 - If you've ever visited Yosemite, you know 691 00:29:06,495 --> 00:29:09,872 it's one of America's most spectacular national parks. 692 00:29:09,873 --> 00:29:13,542 But in the 1970s, the wildest thing you might have seen 693 00:29:13,543 --> 00:29:15,920 wasn't a bear or a mountain lion, 694 00:29:15,921 --> 00:29:18,297 it was a back of feral hippies. 695 00:29:18,298 --> 00:29:20,383 [gentle exciting music] 696 00:29:20,384 --> 00:29:22,551 - [Natalia] There's this explosion of interest 697 00:29:22,552 --> 00:29:25,179 in the 1960s in the natural environment 698 00:29:25,180 --> 00:29:27,265 in kind of getting back to the land. 699 00:29:28,225 --> 00:29:29,392 - [Jason] One of the most popular destinations 700 00:29:29,393 --> 00:29:31,477 in the country is Yosemite National Park 701 00:29:31,478 --> 00:29:34,355 And so people just head there in droves. 702 00:29:34,356 --> 00:29:35,774 - [Natalia] At this time, 703 00:29:35,899 --> 00:29:38,567 there's no real system governing camping at Yosemite. 704 00:29:38,568 --> 00:29:41,779 There's no reservations, there's no kind of check-in. 705 00:29:41,780 --> 00:29:44,615 There's just a campsite. First come, first serve. 706 00:29:44,616 --> 00:29:46,283 - [Lance] It's very different today. 707 00:29:46,284 --> 00:29:47,868 You control the numbers coming in. 708 00:29:47,869 --> 00:29:49,286 You've got very specific campsites. 709 00:29:49,287 --> 00:29:51,747 You gotta reserve maybe months in advance. 710 00:29:51,748 --> 00:29:53,374 If you were to show up at Yosemite today, 711 00:29:53,375 --> 00:29:55,334 you don't have a reservation for a campsite, 712 00:29:55,335 --> 00:29:57,211 they're just gonna turn you away at the gate. 713 00:29:57,212 --> 00:29:59,588 - [Hakeem] On busy weekends, you got crowds of people 714 00:29:59,589 --> 00:30:01,757 trying to set up in one camping area. 715 00:30:01,758 --> 00:30:05,302 You'll get 30, 40, 50 people in a campsite 716 00:30:05,303 --> 00:30:07,430 that's intended for one family. 717 00:30:07,431 --> 00:30:09,390 - [Martin] And you might go out for a hike only to return 718 00:30:09,391 --> 00:30:11,559 and find that your stuff has all been taken down 719 00:30:11,560 --> 00:30:12,935 and just dumped nearby, 720 00:30:12,936 --> 00:30:15,479 and somebody else is now in your campsite. 721 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:18,190 - [Henry] And with few rangers and even fewer rules, 722 00:30:18,191 --> 00:30:20,860 things are about to reach a breaking point. 723 00:30:20,861 --> 00:30:23,696 - [Lance] July 4th, 1970, huge crowds show up to Yosemite, 724 00:30:23,697 --> 00:30:24,989 thousands of people. 725 00:30:24,990 --> 00:30:26,532 It's like a medium sized city relocating 726 00:30:26,533 --> 00:30:28,284 into the national park. 727 00:30:28,285 --> 00:30:31,704 - [Jason] A crowd gathers in the iconic Stoneman Meadow 728 00:30:31,705 --> 00:30:35,041 and it's a lot of hippies, a lot of counterculture people. 729 00:30:35,042 --> 00:30:37,960 - [Henry] The park's wide open freedom makes it a magnet 730 00:30:37,961 --> 00:30:39,712 for peace loving hippies, 731 00:30:39,713 --> 00:30:43,299 but it doesn't take long for all that peace to be broken. 732 00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:46,385 - [Jason] This crowd is not all peace and love, man. 733 00:30:46,386 --> 00:30:47,553 - [Crowd Member] Get on out... 734 00:30:47,554 --> 00:30:49,180 - [Lance] They can be a rowdy bunch 735 00:30:49,181 --> 00:30:51,432 and sometimes an intoxicated bunch 736 00:30:51,433 --> 00:30:53,392 and they do show up in large numbers. 737 00:30:53,393 --> 00:30:55,770 - [Jason] They litter, they're rude to other campers. 738 00:30:55,771 --> 00:30:57,605 They're loud, they're messy. 739 00:30:57,606 --> 00:31:00,858 - [Henry] Rangers are finally called in to clear the meadow. 740 00:31:00,859 --> 00:31:03,235 - [Lance] I was a seasonal park ranger for several years. 741 00:31:03,236 --> 00:31:05,321 Park rangers, they're law enforcement, 742 00:31:05,322 --> 00:31:06,947 but they're not really equipped 743 00:31:06,948 --> 00:31:10,242 or interested in trying to be heavy duty crowd control. 744 00:31:10,243 --> 00:31:12,912 There were times when you really felt outnumbered. 745 00:31:12,913 --> 00:31:15,456 - [Hakeem] The Rangers encircled them on horseback 746 00:31:15,457 --> 00:31:18,167 and over loudspeakers order them to leave. 747 00:31:18,168 --> 00:31:20,961 - [Henry] But the crowd is not contained. 748 00:31:20,962 --> 00:31:22,839 It's ignited. 749 00:31:23,256 --> 00:31:24,590 - It gets violent. 750 00:31:24,591 --> 00:31:26,550 People start throwing rocks at the Rangers. 751 00:31:26,551 --> 00:31:28,803 They're injuring the rangers and the horses. 752 00:31:28,804 --> 00:31:30,513 - [Martin] And the result then is that 753 00:31:30,514 --> 00:31:32,431 it descends into a melee. 754 00:31:32,432 --> 00:31:33,975 [tense music] 755 00:31:34,142 --> 00:31:36,811 - [Jason] The Rangers respond by starting to hit these guys 756 00:31:36,812 --> 00:31:40,189 with their batons and then they start using tear gas. 757 00:31:40,190 --> 00:31:42,066 The campers, they start a bonfire 758 00:31:42,067 --> 00:31:43,609 in the middle of the road. 759 00:31:43,610 --> 00:31:45,194 Things just keep elevating. 760 00:31:45,195 --> 00:31:47,404 They end up rolling a police car over onto its side. 761 00:31:47,405 --> 00:31:49,407 Things are getting insane. 762 00:31:50,450 --> 00:31:52,785 - [Hakeem] The mayhem lasts for two days 763 00:31:52,786 --> 00:31:54,745 before the Rangers get the upper hand. 764 00:31:54,746 --> 00:31:59,083 There are 174 people arrested and a lot more injured. 765 00:31:59,084 --> 00:32:00,918 - [Lance] This is just a year after Woodstock. 766 00:32:00,919 --> 00:32:03,170 What happened to peace and love? 767 00:32:03,171 --> 00:32:05,756 - [Hakeem] In the aftermath, the park changes policies 768 00:32:05,757 --> 00:32:07,842 for both traffic and crowd control. 769 00:32:07,843 --> 00:32:10,928 So now it's more organized, orderly and safer, 770 00:32:10,929 --> 00:32:12,555 and they even train the Rangers on 771 00:32:12,556 --> 00:32:14,932 how to handle young people. 772 00:32:14,933 --> 00:32:16,767 - [Martin] You don't have the same feeling 773 00:32:16,768 --> 00:32:18,519 that our forefathers did 774 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,272 by rolling into the park, setting up camp 775 00:32:21,273 --> 00:32:24,400 wherever you want to, and then just experiencing nature. 776 00:32:24,401 --> 00:32:27,486 Now it's very regulated and orderly, which is safe, 777 00:32:27,487 --> 00:32:29,321 but it sort of pulls a little bit of the thrill 778 00:32:29,322 --> 00:32:30,448 out of the process. 779 00:32:32,784 --> 00:32:35,202 - Today, Yosemite is thriving. 780 00:32:35,203 --> 00:32:37,872 The hippies, they've gone pretty much extinct, 781 00:32:37,873 --> 00:32:39,207 although lovely people. 782 00:32:42,002 --> 00:32:43,210 - After World War II, 783 00:32:43,211 --> 00:32:45,421 everyone wanted to look their best again. 784 00:32:45,422 --> 00:32:47,798 And the crowds of women that showed up at stores 785 00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:50,759 were all chasing the same thing, 786 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,013 and they were not in the mood to share. 787 00:32:54,014 --> 00:32:55,681 [dramatic music] 788 00:32:55,682 --> 00:32:57,183 - [Negin] Hosiery's been around forever, 789 00:32:57,184 --> 00:33:00,144 but by the 1920s when the hemline started to go up, 790 00:33:00,145 --> 00:33:01,854 then it became like crucial 791 00:33:01,855 --> 00:33:04,648 because having bare legs was sort of unseemly, 792 00:33:04,649 --> 00:33:08,819 and so you really needed to like have not just hose, 793 00:33:08,820 --> 00:33:11,197 but kind of good looking ones. 794 00:33:11,198 --> 00:33:14,867 - [Henry] In 1939, a new type of hose hits the scene 795 00:33:14,868 --> 00:33:17,453 from a company known for making explosives 796 00:33:17,454 --> 00:33:19,079 and industrial chemicals. 797 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,873 - [Martin] At the 1939 World's Fair, 798 00:33:20,874 --> 00:33:24,168 DuPont wheels out this new revolutionizing technology 799 00:33:24,169 --> 00:33:26,003 in the form of nylon. 800 00:33:26,004 --> 00:33:27,713 - [Hakeem] It's strong, versatile, 801 00:33:27,714 --> 00:33:29,965 and destined to be in all sorts of things, 802 00:33:29,966 --> 00:33:32,384 from toothbrushes to parachutes, 803 00:33:32,385 --> 00:33:34,720 but it's nylons' use in stockings 804 00:33:34,721 --> 00:33:37,014 that makes the crowd go crazy. 805 00:33:37,015 --> 00:33:38,307 - Women are coming up, 806 00:33:38,308 --> 00:33:40,060 they're trying them on, they're a hit. 807 00:33:40,936 --> 00:33:42,394 - [Martin] Finally, something has come along 808 00:33:42,395 --> 00:33:44,647 that provides them with a creature comfort 809 00:33:44,648 --> 00:33:47,191 that they really needed at an affordable price. 810 00:33:47,192 --> 00:33:48,359 - [Hakeem] Before nylon 811 00:33:48,360 --> 00:33:50,402 stockings were made from silk or rayon, 812 00:33:50,403 --> 00:33:53,113 which would easily snag and get a tear, 813 00:33:53,114 --> 00:33:56,617 but with nylons, they're practically untearable. 814 00:33:56,618 --> 00:33:58,327 - [Natalia] On May 15th, 1940, 815 00:33:58,328 --> 00:34:00,287 nylon stockings officially hit the market. 816 00:34:00,288 --> 00:34:04,917 780,000 pairs are sold in one day. 817 00:34:04,918 --> 00:34:06,252 That is unbelievable. 818 00:34:06,253 --> 00:34:08,087 The day becomes known as Nylon Day, 819 00:34:08,088 --> 00:34:09,838 which is still around today. 820 00:34:09,839 --> 00:34:12,549 - [Henry] But then things hit a snag 821 00:34:12,550 --> 00:34:15,552 when the US enters World War II. 822 00:34:15,553 --> 00:34:17,263 - [Martin] Nylon is being very effectively used 823 00:34:17,264 --> 00:34:19,765 throughout the second World War as parachute material. 824 00:34:19,766 --> 00:34:22,059 Nylon suddenly becomes a commodity 825 00:34:22,060 --> 00:34:24,812 that has to be controlled carefully 826 00:34:24,813 --> 00:34:27,314 in the interests of national defense. 827 00:34:27,315 --> 00:34:29,566 - [Negin] And this is just 18 months 828 00:34:29,567 --> 00:34:32,111 after they unveiled these hose 829 00:34:32,112 --> 00:34:34,696 that become an instant sensation. 830 00:34:34,697 --> 00:34:36,323 Then they're asked to part with them. 831 00:34:36,324 --> 00:34:38,784 It hits hard for a lot of ladies. 832 00:34:39,452 --> 00:34:40,327 - [Lance] They essentially stopped 833 00:34:40,328 --> 00:34:41,870 selling nylons in the store. 834 00:34:41,871 --> 00:34:44,330 They become very rare commodities. 835 00:34:44,331 --> 00:34:46,292 - [Negin] Because they can't get the real thing, 836 00:34:46,293 --> 00:34:48,877 people are trying to mimic the look of a hose on their legs 837 00:34:48,878 --> 00:34:52,256 by dying their legs with like brown gravy and tea 838 00:34:52,257 --> 00:34:55,759 and like drawing a fake seam on the back of their leg. 839 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:57,928 - [Lance] If you can even find them on the black market, 840 00:34:57,929 --> 00:34:59,138 they're gonna be expensive. 841 00:34:59,139 --> 00:35:01,098 $20 maybe for a pair of nylons, 842 00:35:01,099 --> 00:35:03,475 that's the equivalent of around $300 today, 843 00:35:03,476 --> 00:35:05,728 and people are still willing to pay that. 844 00:35:05,729 --> 00:35:09,023 - [Henry] Japan surrenders in August 1945, 845 00:35:09,024 --> 00:35:10,608 and just eight days later. 846 00:35:10,609 --> 00:35:14,069 DuPont declares it's back in the hosiery business. 847 00:35:14,070 --> 00:35:15,821 - [Announcer] What nylon stockings? 848 00:35:15,822 --> 00:35:18,240 You think we're kidding? Not at all. 849 00:35:18,241 --> 00:35:19,950 - [Natalia] So a store in Pittsburgh announces 850 00:35:19,951 --> 00:35:21,952 that they're gonna have nylons in stock, 851 00:35:21,953 --> 00:35:23,162 and it's this big event. 852 00:35:23,163 --> 00:35:25,164 All these women come out, they line up. 853 00:35:25,165 --> 00:35:26,957 There's this sense of anticipation. 854 00:35:26,958 --> 00:35:29,877 My first pair of nylons in five years. 855 00:35:29,878 --> 00:35:31,670 - [Negin] One Pittsburgh store says, 856 00:35:31,671 --> 00:35:34,798 okay, we're gonna have 10,000 pairs of nylons. 857 00:35:34,799 --> 00:35:36,384 Ladies show up. 858 00:35:37,469 --> 00:35:39,595 - [Hakeem] The line stretches for 16 blocks 859 00:35:39,596 --> 00:35:41,972 and police have to form a human chain 860 00:35:41,973 --> 00:35:44,141 just to keep the crowd under control. 861 00:35:44,142 --> 00:35:45,851 - Women are just having a good time there. 862 00:35:45,852 --> 00:35:47,353 So excited to have nylons back. 863 00:35:47,354 --> 00:35:49,563 A storm comes, that doesn't dampen their spirits. 864 00:35:49,564 --> 00:35:51,523 There's some men that are heckling them as they go by, 865 00:35:51,524 --> 00:35:53,150 that doesn't dampen their spirits. 866 00:35:53,151 --> 00:35:54,443 They're excited. 867 00:35:54,444 --> 00:35:56,111 - [Negin] And instead of 10,000, 868 00:35:56,112 --> 00:36:00,032 40,000 women show up to buy these nylons. 869 00:36:00,033 --> 00:36:01,368 - [Henry] It's a math problem. 870 00:36:01,493 --> 00:36:05,704 10,000 pairs of nylons divided by 40,000 women 871 00:36:05,705 --> 00:36:09,667 equals one fourth of a nylon per person. 872 00:36:09,668 --> 00:36:12,086 In other words, pandemonium. 873 00:36:12,087 --> 00:36:13,420 [tense music] 874 00:36:13,421 --> 00:36:14,755 - [Martin] There's law and order in the lines 875 00:36:14,756 --> 00:36:16,590 outside of stores initially, 876 00:36:16,591 --> 00:36:20,761 but then eventually it descends into disorder and chaos. 877 00:36:20,762 --> 00:36:23,847 [customers arguing] 878 00:36:23,848 --> 00:36:24,682 - [Natalia] By the time some women 879 00:36:24,683 --> 00:36:26,392 actually make it into the store, 880 00:36:26,393 --> 00:36:28,185 the nylons are already selling out 881 00:36:28,186 --> 00:36:29,770 and these women have had enough. 882 00:36:29,771 --> 00:36:31,605 So they start climbing onto displays, 883 00:36:31,606 --> 00:36:33,982 taking them off mannequins, just getting their hands 884 00:36:33,983 --> 00:36:35,193 on whatever they can. 885 00:36:36,069 --> 00:36:38,070 - [Negin] People start pushing people outta the way. 886 00:36:38,071 --> 00:36:39,905 And there's some fainting, you know, 887 00:36:39,906 --> 00:36:43,117 and a sort of mob mentality forms. 888 00:36:43,118 --> 00:36:44,702 - [Hakeem] The so-called nylon riots 889 00:36:44,703 --> 00:36:46,578 break out in Washington DC, 890 00:36:46,579 --> 00:36:49,123 New York City and San Francisco. 891 00:36:49,124 --> 00:36:52,042 Women are getting trampled, windows are getting broken out. 892 00:36:52,043 --> 00:36:54,545 This is way before Black Friday is a thing 893 00:36:54,546 --> 00:36:57,047 and the stores are not prepared. 894 00:36:57,048 --> 00:36:59,883 - [Negin] These women are basically accusing DuPont 895 00:36:59,884 --> 00:37:03,762 of under supplying their nylons to inflate prices. 896 00:37:03,763 --> 00:37:07,599 Eventually, DuPont is actually forced to share their formula 897 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,059 with other companies 898 00:37:09,060 --> 00:37:12,438 so that it can be made more available to the public. 899 00:37:12,439 --> 00:37:14,565 - [Natalia] Today there's certainly chaos 900 00:37:14,566 --> 00:37:18,277 and enthusiasm over whatever viral item is selling out, 901 00:37:18,278 --> 00:37:20,154 but I think there's a little bit more management 902 00:37:20,155 --> 00:37:22,322 of the kind of in-person experience. 903 00:37:22,323 --> 00:37:24,825 So I think you don't have that same kind of rage today 904 00:37:24,826 --> 00:37:25,952 as you once did. 905 00:37:27,412 --> 00:37:30,330 - They say two is company, three is a crowd, 906 00:37:30,331 --> 00:37:33,418 but 40,000, I think that's a riot. 907 00:37:36,212 --> 00:37:37,463 - Did you know there was a time 908 00:37:37,464 --> 00:37:39,673 when wearing the right hat really mattered? 909 00:37:39,674 --> 00:37:42,426 And if you weren't careful, there was a crowd 910 00:37:42,427 --> 00:37:44,387 that had a way of letting you know. 911 00:37:46,264 --> 00:37:47,681 - [Jason] It's hard to imagine, 912 00:37:47,682 --> 00:37:50,976 but from like the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s 913 00:37:50,977 --> 00:37:54,230 most men would not leave the house without wearing a hat. 914 00:37:55,398 --> 00:37:57,608 - [Austin] The felt hat like a fedora or a bowler 915 00:37:57,609 --> 00:38:01,570 is the typical businessman's urban hat, 916 00:38:01,571 --> 00:38:03,739 but it's far too hot for the summer. 917 00:38:03,740 --> 00:38:05,325 [gentle lively music] 918 00:38:05,533 --> 00:38:09,244 - [Adam] In the summer, stylish gentlemen switch to straw hat. 919 00:38:09,245 --> 00:38:12,915 And in fact, gents are only allowed, 920 00:38:12,916 --> 00:38:16,585 yes, allowed to wear straw hats 921 00:38:16,586 --> 00:38:19,213 from May 15th Straw Hat Day 922 00:38:19,214 --> 00:38:23,635 until September 15th, Felt Hat Day. 923 00:38:24,844 --> 00:38:26,553 - [Jason] You know, never wear white to a wedding 924 00:38:26,554 --> 00:38:27,971 and never wear white after Labor Day. 925 00:38:27,972 --> 00:38:28,889 It's these rules. 926 00:38:28,890 --> 00:38:30,015 Everyone knows what they are. 927 00:38:30,016 --> 00:38:31,225 They're not necessarily written anywhere, 928 00:38:31,226 --> 00:38:32,559 but everyone knows about them. 929 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:34,144 - [Henry] In the early 1900s, 930 00:38:34,145 --> 00:38:37,272 if you get caught wearing a straw hat in late September, 931 00:38:37,273 --> 00:38:39,233 you risk more than ridicule. 932 00:38:39,234 --> 00:38:40,734 [tense music] 933 00:38:40,735 --> 00:38:43,070 - [Don] Stockbrokers on Wall Street start this custom 934 00:38:43,071 --> 00:38:45,155 where they smash their straw hats 935 00:38:45,156 --> 00:38:47,324 at the end of every summer for good luck. 936 00:38:47,325 --> 00:38:50,619 And if they catch another broker wearing his straw hat 937 00:38:50,620 --> 00:38:53,121 on or after September 15th, 938 00:38:53,122 --> 00:38:55,208 they snatch that straw hat and crush it. 939 00:38:56,501 --> 00:38:59,127 - [Austin] Soon it spreads from New York to other cities. 940 00:38:59,128 --> 00:39:02,214 In 1910, teenage boys take the streets 941 00:39:02,215 --> 00:39:06,468 and just start tearing the straw hats off of strangers. 942 00:39:06,469 --> 00:39:09,346 - [Bryant] But soon this pranking spreads to Pittsburgh 943 00:39:09,347 --> 00:39:12,850 and to South Jersey and around the country. 944 00:39:12,851 --> 00:39:14,810 - [Henry] Every year the hat crushing crowds 945 00:39:14,811 --> 00:39:16,895 get bigger and bolder. 946 00:39:16,896 --> 00:39:21,441 And on September 13th, 1922, everything comes to a head. 947 00:39:21,442 --> 00:39:23,068 [tense music] 948 00:39:23,069 --> 00:39:24,361 - [Don] In New York City, 949 00:39:24,362 --> 00:39:26,905 some rowdy teenagers go looking for hats 950 00:39:26,906 --> 00:39:30,117 to smash two full days before they're supposed to. 951 00:39:30,118 --> 00:39:32,327 Suddenly, what's supposed to be so good natured 952 00:39:32,328 --> 00:39:34,079 takes a whole different turn. 953 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:36,623 - [Bryant] By starting early, nobody's spared. 954 00:39:36,624 --> 00:39:39,334 Everybody's still wearing their straw hat. 955 00:39:39,335 --> 00:39:41,753 The police are completely overwhelmed. 956 00:39:41,754 --> 00:39:43,213 There's not enough of them, 957 00:39:43,214 --> 00:39:46,425 and there's too many of the boys flicking off hats. 958 00:39:46,426 --> 00:39:47,759 - [Adam] The kids are getting aggressive, 959 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:49,136 they're almost feral. 960 00:39:49,137 --> 00:39:51,305 The police come out, but what are you gonna do? 961 00:39:51,306 --> 00:39:54,766 I mean, it's a load of kids kind of losing their minds. 962 00:39:54,767 --> 00:39:57,102 - [Don] Some mischievous kids even tack nails 963 00:39:57,103 --> 00:39:59,313 on the end of long sticks using the poles 964 00:39:59,314 --> 00:40:02,441 to knock hats from targets from distance. 965 00:40:02,442 --> 00:40:04,318 - [Jason] So it keeps snowballing. 966 00:40:04,319 --> 00:40:06,486 At a point, the amount of hat smashers 967 00:40:06,487 --> 00:40:08,530 grows to over a thousand. 968 00:40:08,531 --> 00:40:10,949 And the police themselves, they aren't spared. 969 00:40:10,950 --> 00:40:13,911 When their hats start getting smashed, that's it, 970 00:40:13,912 --> 00:40:16,496 That's the last straw, so to speak. 971 00:40:16,497 --> 00:40:18,540 - [Henry] Despite the efforts to calm the crowds, 972 00:40:18,541 --> 00:40:22,085 straw hat madness goes on for days. 973 00:40:22,086 --> 00:40:24,922 - [Austin] Seven young teenagers appear in front 974 00:40:24,923 --> 00:40:27,299 of Magistrate Peter A. Hatting. 975 00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:28,842 Yes, that's his real name. 976 00:40:28,843 --> 00:40:32,220 - [Don] Seven other boys are too young to face charges. 977 00:40:32,221 --> 00:40:34,932 So the police make a special request. 978 00:40:34,933 --> 00:40:36,850 They ask the parents to come in 979 00:40:36,851 --> 00:40:41,021 and publicly spank them, which the parents happily do. 980 00:40:41,022 --> 00:40:45,108 Finally, to put an end to the madness, in 1925, 981 00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:48,028 President Calvin Coolidge goes out in public 982 00:40:48,029 --> 00:40:52,032 wearing his straw hat after September 15th. 983 00:40:52,033 --> 00:40:53,784 - [Jason] It's a powerful fashion statement 984 00:40:53,785 --> 00:40:55,744 and one made by the president of the United States 985 00:40:55,745 --> 00:40:58,956 in such a way that these hardened rules about fashion, 986 00:40:58,957 --> 00:41:00,916 about what hats you can and cannot wear, 987 00:41:00,917 --> 00:41:03,251 they really just sort of crumble away 988 00:41:03,252 --> 00:41:06,005 like a smash straw hat in the street. 989 00:41:07,340 --> 00:41:08,924 - [Adam] When you are in a crowd, 990 00:41:08,925 --> 00:41:10,467 there is something infectious there. 991 00:41:10,468 --> 00:41:11,885 There's a collective energy. 992 00:41:11,886 --> 00:41:14,721 You're part of something larger than yourself. 993 00:41:14,722 --> 00:41:16,974 Sometimes the energy turns for the worse 994 00:41:16,975 --> 00:41:18,934 and you get swept up in that 995 00:41:18,935 --> 00:41:21,979 and it is easy to lose who you are, 996 00:41:21,980 --> 00:41:24,649 lose where you are in the sea of people. 997 00:41:25,650 --> 00:41:28,402 - Looking back at the times we were shoulder to shoulder, 998 00:41:28,403 --> 00:41:31,363 whether it was front row seats at the Civil War, 999 00:41:31,364 --> 00:41:35,367 watching whales explode or rioting over pantyhose, 1000 00:41:35,368 --> 00:41:37,828 there is nothing like a shared experience 1001 00:41:37,829 --> 00:41:39,538 with a little volatility. 1002 00:41:39,539 --> 00:41:41,748 And maybe that's why our hazardous history 1003 00:41:41,749 --> 00:41:44,584 always draws such a big crowd. 1004 00:41:44,585 --> 00:41:46,587 [tense dramatic music]