Ridiculous History: The 1904 Racist Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis

Episode Release Date: January 18, 2025

Introduction

In this classic episode of Ridiculous History, hosts Ben Bolin and Noel Brown delve into the tumultuous and racially charged 1904 Summer Olympic Games held in St. Louis, Missouri. Tied to the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exhibition (World's Fair), the 1904 Olympics stand out as one of the most problematic and discriminatory events in Olympic history. This episode unpacks the myriad issues that plagued the Games, from organizational conflicts and racist undertones to the tragic and bizarre occurrences that unfolded.

Historical Context and Revival of the Modern Olympics

[02:56] Ben Bolin begins by setting the stage with a historical fact: the ancient Olympic Games date back to 776 BCE. After a 1,500-year hiatus, the modern Olympics were revived by Pierre de Coubertin, an educator from France who re-established the International Olympic Committee and aimed to legitimize the Games.

[03:38] Noel Brown marvels at the ancient origins, while [03:51] Noel Brown highlights the revival efforts made by Coubertin, emphasizing the Games' significance in the modern era.

Organizational Challenges and St. Louis' Selection

Originally slated to be held in Chicago, the 1904 Olympics were moved to St. Louis due to conflicts with the city's hosting of the World's Fair, officially known as the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exhibition.

[06:03] Noel Brown reveals that St. Louis threatened to overshadow Chicago's events, leading Coubertin to acquiesce and relocate the Olympics to St. Louis—a city not widely recognized internationally at the time.

[07:07] Ben Bolin remarks on the challenges this posed, noting that St. Louis was considered a "second-tier city," which deterred international athletes due to the daunting travel conditions of the era.

Racist Underpinnings and Anthropology Days

A significant and dark aspect of the 1904 Olympics was the inclusion of Anthropology Days, orchestrated by James Edward Sullivan, the chief organizer of the Games. Sullivan, who harbored blatant racist beliefs, aimed to use these events to "prove" white superiority.

[13:55] Ben Bolin introduces the concept, stating:

"the Baron also took disapproving note of a spectacle, very problematic spectacle called anthropology Days. Before we tell you what those are, before we explore that."

[14:34] Noel Brown provides a powerful quote from Sullivan:

"for that outrageous charade, it will of course lose its appeal when black men, red men and yellow men learn to run, jump and throw and leave the white men behind them."

These Anthropology Days featured human zoos, where indigenous people from the Philippines, Africa, and the Americas were displayed in mocked-up versions of their traditional homes. The intention was to showcase these groups in European-style athletic competitions without providing any proper instruction or support.

[19:54] Noel Brown discusses the abhorrent conditions:

"indigenous people were forced to live in traditional clothing, regardless of climate, and perform rituals repeatedly to entertain audiences."

The participants, often held in near-captivity, faced language barriers and were exploited under the guise of scientific research by Dr. W.J. McGee, president of the American Anthropological Association and head of the Department of Anthropology at the Fair. His misguided belief in inherent racial hierarchies led to the orchestration of events that were both demeaning and unfair.

Impact on Olympic Competitions

Due to the overshadowing presence of the World's Fair and the poor organization spearheaded by Sullivan, the 1904 Olympics suffered from minimal international participation. [08:50] Noel Brown notes that:

"fewer than half of the Olympic events that year had even a single entrant who was not from America."

Moreover, the American team controversially included recent European immigrants who had not yet achieved citizenship, leading to disputed medals as some countries contested the legitimacy of these athletes' victories.

[09:26] Ben Bolin attributes much of the chaos to Sullivan:

"a lot of the terrible, terrible mistakes that occurred fall upon his shoulders in this situation."

Despite attempts to legitimize the Games, the combination of racism, poor organization, and conflicting priorities with the World's Fair resulted in one of the most flawed Olympic events in history.

Notable Events and Anecdotes

The Marathon Disaster

One of the most infamous stories from the 1904 Olympics is the marathon, which turned into a tragic and bizarre spectacle.

[37:15] Ben Bolin recounts:

"Thomas Hicks, he finished in an absurdly long 3 hours and 28 minutes... it was 90 degrees... 18 of the 32 folks that were racing had to pull out because of sheer exhaustion."

Hicks was subjected to extreme heat and poor road conditions, leading to severe health complications. His assistants administered substances like egg whites and strychnine, common stimulants of the time, to keep him running. Despite his agony, Hicks crossed the finish line, aided by these harmful substances, highlighting the lack of regulations regarding performance-enhancing drugs.

Fred Lorz's Cheating Controversy

Adding to the marathon's notoriety was the tale of Fred Lorz, who notoriously cheated by hitching a ride in a car for 11 miles of the race and then attempting to claim victory. Initially celebrated, his deceit was eventually exposed before the actual medal could be awarded.

[37:43] Ben Bolin humorously critiques Lorz's actions:

"And the crowd went nuts. And American one... But Lorz said, 'I never attempted to accept the honor. I finished only for the sake of a joke.'"

This story underscores the chaotic and poorly regulated nature of the 1904 Olympics.

Food Innovations and Myths

While discussing the grim aspects, Bolin and Brown take a detour into lighter topics such as food innovations supposedly linked to the 1904 World's Fair.

[33:53] Ben Bolin shares a fun fact:

"At the 1904 World's Fair, Richard Blechton, the tea commissioner in the India Pavilion, poured his tea over ice due to the heat, allegedly inventing iced tea."

However, [40:33] Ben Bolin clarifies that:

"the actual origins of iced tea... already by 1868, probably actually way before 1868."

This segment serves as a humorous respite from the otherwise dark narrative.

Conclusion and Reflections

As the episode wraps up, Bolin and Brown reflect on the legacy of the 1904 St. Louis Olympics. They acknowledge that while some positive aspects, like the introduction of sports such as boxing and freestyle wrestling, emerged, the overarching narrative is marred by racism, poor organization, and exploitation.

[35:18] Noel Brown emphasizes:

"But Sullivan, Sullivan does become the winner... he was clearly and categorically proven wrong, espousing a belief that was both offensive and incredibly common at the time."

The hosts conclude by urging listeners to learn from these historical injustices, recognizing the importance of combating such prejudices in contemporary times.

[42:04] Noel Brown adds a sobering thought:

"But their own preconceptions, their own prejudices, their own preexisting notions limited the scope of their vision."

Key Takeaways

• Organizational Failures: Conflicts between the World's Fair and Olympic organizers led to poor planning and minimal international participation.

• Racist Practices: Anthropology Days and human zoos exposed the deeply ingrained racism of the era, with attempts to use sports to "prove" white superiority.

• Exploitation of Athletes: Indigenous participants were exploited under deplorable conditions, facing language barriers and lack of proper training or support.

• Marathon Tragedies: The 1904 marathon exemplified the dangerous and unregulated nature of early Olympic competitions.

• Historical Lessons: The episode serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity, proper organization, and the rejection of racist ideologies in sports and beyond.

Notable Quotes

• Noel Brown [14:34]:

  "for that outrageous charade, it will of course lose its appeal when black men, red men and yellow men learn to run, jump and throw and leave the white men behind them."

• Ben Bolin [09:26]:

  "a lot of the terrible, terrible mistakes that occurred fall upon his shoulders in this situation."

• Noel Brown [35:19]:

  "It's the idea of human zoos. It reminds me of that episode we did about the real human skull that was found in the diorama at a museum."

Final Thoughts

The 1904 St. Louis Olympics stand as a stark example of how prejudice and poor planning can tarnish a global event. Through examining this episode, Ridiculous History sheds light on the importance of striving for fairness, respect, and proper organization in all facets of life, ensuring that history's repeated mistakes are neither forgotten nor repeated.

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