THE HISTORY
When the actual sport of penis measuring first originated is still unknown. Most historians have come to believe the sport can be traced back to ancient Egypt, around the time the pyramids were being built. This is supported by the drawings (see fig.1) scrawled inside the walls of the pyramids.
The writing near the drawing has a rough translation to “Soft Snake” which is considered an early name of the sport.
From there the sport spread slowly. It was quite popular in ancient Persia where athletes competed for walnuts, the currency of the time. The sport eventually caught on in ancient Rome. Gladiator competitions were the most popular sport of that time. In many circles Hanging Pork was second place, although most men of that time period would have preferred to “drop pipe” (as it was commonly called) since it paid nearly as well and had the added perk of a large number of female groupies.
MIDDLE AGES
The sport spread throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, forming the first underground circuit. The game was usually called “comparing swords”.
Many years later it briefly became a mainstream sensation, until Emperor Napoleon banned the sport (Historians believe he had a small penis, and was jealous of the athletes). Any athlete caught competing was beheaded at the guillotine.
It once again became an underground sport, but quickly began to die simply because most people didn’t have the money to play.
A select few kept playing (with no money involved)
just for the love of the game. They would pass
the game down through the generations.
HANGING PORK IN AMERICA
The sport of penis measuring came to America aboard the Mayflower. A number of the pilgrims were secretly very much into the sport. Though very religious, the pilgrim saw past their stick beliefs to enjoy the sport freely. This newfound freedom allowed the sport to make a successful transition to the new world.
IT'S CALLED HANGING PORK OR HUNG PORK 50
The sport slowly spread around the United States going by many different monikers including, “Big Stick”, “Hot Dog”, “Let Loose”, “Snake Measure” and “Dead Willy” among others. None of the names really stuck. In 1918 Chicago there was a group of late shift workers at F. Hank’s Pig Slaughter House that had become fans of the game. They would regularly get together and hang pork within the cold walls of the slaughterhouse, alongside slabs of hanging pig carcasses. Each man would put up fifty cents. To the left are four of only six pictures found of F Hank's Pig Slaughter House in Chicago from the turn of the 20th century. (The others rare photos are of HR "The Tripod" Arbuckle at the
slaughterhouse).
An employee named F.C. Mann Demon (see photo, above) was banned from the game because he kept getting erections. To get revenge for his exclusion he called the police about a burglary at the pig slaughterhouse. Sgt. Emerson Buckminster (see photo left) and the Chicago police arrived to find what looked like ten guys lined up, exposing themselves near the pig carcasses. One man with a ruler and a notepad would take measurements.
On a crate near the men there was a large stack of quarters. Sgt. Emerson's police report stated that the men were surrounded by slabs of “hanging pork carcasses” since most of the sportsmen of the time would wager fifty cents it got the nickname “Hung Pork 50” and "Hanging Pork." Both names stuck.
Below are the ORIGINAL "Frank 11", the men who pioneered modern day Pork Hanging.
The photo was taken days after there arrest to honor the sports legacy. The Babe Ruth of Hanging Pork, H.R. "The Tripod" Arbuckle, never lost a match from his hey days of the early 1900's through to his retirement in 1964.
RECENT GROWTH EXPLOSION
The game experienced a slow steady expansion over the years, spreading to all regions of the country. In the mid-seventies a rapid explosion occurred in disco bathrooms all over the country. A few years later in Vegas the sport really began to come into its own. Gamblers hungry for action brought the games popularity to levels unseen in the U.S.A. The growth has continued today, with athletes like Zippy Chiagora and Stanley Johnson leading the way, because of these competitors the sport is growing by the minute. How big will it become? Who knows? One thing is for sure; Hung Pork 50’s future has never looked brighter.
Info compiled by retired Hung Pork 50 athlete
and historian, Monroe Coverdale
