One of the most incomprehensible public competitions ever conceived was the dance marathon. The object of this crazy contest, first held in 1923, was to see which couple could dance for longer than any other. Grace and style didn’t matter. Stamina was the only thing that counted.
Dance marathons were wildly popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Young couples staggered around dance floors, moving
to the contemporary tunes of the day. The music was played by live bands or on records. The last couple to remain
standing won. Winners might be rewarded up to a maximum of $1000, which was a vast sum at that time. But they faced highly adverse conditions in their efforts to win.
Rules varied slightly from contest to contest, but the main idea was always the same. Dancers could never leave the dance floor, except to use the restroom. They were constrained to eat, drink, and sleep on their feet. They always had to move, at least a little. Partners took turns supporting each other as best they could.
Critics claimed that the dance marathons were simply physical cruelty. Lawmakers tried to get the contests banned. However, curious onlookers packed the dance halls. To them, it was entertaining to watch weary dancers.
Why did people put themselves through this? Of course, there was prize money at stake. But the major reason seemed to be the power of the fad itself. Marathon dancers became overnight celebrities. Morning papers ran ongoing stories on them. People couldn’t resist tales of wacky, risk-taking heroism, and juicy gossip about the dancers, whose relationships suffered as much as their bodies did during those grueling hours.