Transportation and Technology Stage coach Steamer:1807 (Molson); 1000 by ‘67 Steamers: bands, catering, excursions
Railroad: 1 st line in Canada in 1836 160 km 1850 By 1900, 30,000km, sea to sea Regular competitions – tournaments And bonspiels – visiting spectators – gate receipts Excursion fares to promote railway use
The Bicycle
Wonder and awe The higher the bike, the higher the self esteem Clubs – social legitimacy; pedestrians and buggies Daring young men Races; rides women
The Professional Baseball Scottish Highland Games Rifle shooting Rowing Pedestrian contests
Sport and the Nation
Confederation – sport has new meaning – the Paris Crew British-Canadian Selling the new economy and politics of the Dominion of Canada Rifle shooting ‘National Championships’ “National” Sport Organizations
Canadian National Sport Bodies National Lacrosse Association Dominion of Canada Rifle Association National Amateur Lacrosse Assoc. Canadian Wheelman’s Assoc. Amateur Athletic Assoc. of Canada Canadian Lawn Tennis Assoc. Canadian Rugby Football Union Canadian Lacrosse Assoc. Amateur Skating Assoc. of Canada Canadian Cricket Assoc.
Canadian National Sport Bodies Royal Canadian Golf Association Canadian Jockey Club Canadian Amateur Athletic Association Canadian Gymnastics Association Canadian Trotting Association Canadian Canoe Association Alpine Club of Canada Canadian Snowshoe Union Canadian Amateur Swimming Assoc. Amateur Athletic Union of Canada
The National Game
Dr. George W. Beers Montreal dentist; patriot Founded Victoria Rifles regiment and the Canadian Dental Association Wrote Canadian propaganda pieces in popular magazines - Canada in Winter Promoted lacrosse during the year of Confederation Lacrosse as the National Game 1867: 10 clubs in Canada in Spring, 80 by September
Wrote the Laws of Lacrosse Helped to form the NLA Myth: act of parliament declaring lacrosse the national game: 1994 Lacrosse tours 1876 and 1883
Spectatorship The promoter Gate receipts Town boosterism Professional vs. Amateur
Legends, myths, heroes
The Strongman – The Strong Man Cultural attachment to: work, economy, politics Labour in early Canada English/French Industrial revolution Strength – a signifier of masculinity and ethnic identity
Legends Tales of giants and local strongmen Modeste Mailhout – “the Canadian giant” Angus McCaskill – “the Cape Breton giant’ Big Anthony Allen – Dunlop, Ontario Gamson – 7”4” – 322 lbs – barkeep in the UK
Birth of a Legend Neo-Cyprien Cyr (Saint Cyprien de Napierville, Quebec) Paternal grandfather – village strongman The first story – the teenager The story grows – so does he The first challenge – strongman David Michaud – boulder lifting The Montreal policeman The tavern
Louis Cyr
The Physical Stats Height: 5’9” Weight: 316 lbs Biceps: 24” Neck: 22” Forearms: 19” Chest: 60” Waist: 45” Thighs: 33” Calves: 28”
Louis Cyr’s Tavern - Montreal Home base – funding for tours, demonstrations Montreal Gazette, 1885 I hereby challenge any man in the world, bar none, to a heavy weight lifting contest, without harness, for any sum from one hundred dollars to five hundred dollars a side. Yours truly, Louis Cyr
Tours – Canada, the US, the UK 1889 – invited to give a demonstration for the Prince of Wales in London Crowd of 5,000 raised a 250 kilo weight with one finger A back lift of 4,100 lbs The horse demo US and UK tours in the 1890s Barnum and Bailey Circus
*A flair for the dramatic *Excitement and tension *Audience participation (18 fat men on a piano)
The Physical Feats Iron cross with 96lb right hand and 88lbs left hand 35 consecutive right arm presses with lbs 552 lbs one finger lift 189 lbs with both arms straight in front of his body 986 lbs with one hand restrained 4 horses for 55 seconds
Summary Legends are created and sustained for specific reasons: cultural, economic, political Look to broader historical issues and circumstances to find your explanations Louis Cyr: look to the connections between strength, masculinity, and broader Canadian society