Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Nathan's Famous Corporation hosts an annual hot dog eating contest at the site of their first restaurant at the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. There are other hot dog contests but none are as famous or claim to have a long a history as the Nathan's hot dog eating contest.

Related Topics:
Hot dog - Eating contest - Coney Island - Brooklyn - New York

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According to oral history, in 1916, four immigrants had a Nathan's hot dog eating contest at the site of the first Nathan's Famous stand to settle an argument about who was the most patriotic, though it may have been a publicity stunt. After 12 minutes, Irish-born Jim Mullen had eaten 13 hot dogs and the other three contestants could not go on. Ever since, a 12 minute contest has been held every year on July 4, Independence Day at the site of Nathan's Famous's first restaurant. The contest used to be held at noon, but starting in 2004 the contest started at 12:40pm. The contest was not held in years 1939, 1940, and 1941 as a protest to World War II, and in 1971 as a protest to civil unrest. In 1993 There was a one time one-on-one contest under the Brooklyn Bridge between Mike ?The Scholar? DeVito and Orio Ito.

Related Topics:
Oral history - 1916 - Patriotic - Irish - July 4 - Independence Day - 2004 - 1939 - 1940 - 1941 - World War II - 1971 - Brooklyn Bridge

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In recent years, guitarist and songwriter Amos Wengler has performed one of the songs he had written for the contest. A person in a hot dog costume dances as Wengler plays. Some of Wengler's compositions are "Hot Dog Time!", "Hot Dogs, Hot Dogs" and "Where is the Belt?".

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The International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) has overseen the contest since 1997 when the federation was formed. Rules used in the early days of the contest were different, but are largely lost.

Related Topics:
International Federation of Competitive Eating - 1997

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During the contest roughly 20 contestants stand on a raised platform behind a 30-foot-long table with hot dogs and drinks. Most contestants choose water as their drinks, but other kinds of drinks can and have been used. Condiments are optional and are usually not used. After the hot dogs are grilled they are allowed to cool slightly so as not to cause any burning when eaten. Whoever eats (and keeps down) the most hot dogs and buns (sometimes abbreviated "HDBs") in 12 minutes is the winner. Partially eaten hot dogs count and the granularity of measurement is eighths of a hot dog. Any hot dog still in the mouth at the end of the 12 minutes count only if they are swallowed. Unlike the Wimpy National Hotdog championships in London, both hands may be used.

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There have been controversies. For example, in 1999, NY1 news reporter Adam Balkin discovered by reviewing the tape that Steve Keiner jumped the gun and had eaten half a hot dog before the contest had officially begun. The judge, who was standing directly in front of Keiner, missed it or else Keiner would have been disqualified. According to the rules, the judges' word is final, so Keiner took first place despite the videotape. Editors of the website "speedeat.com" have accused some of cheating at the qualifiers where there is less scrutiny.

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After the winner is declared, a plate with the number of hot dogs eaten by the winner is brought out. Winners receive a trophy, the coveted international "bejeweled" mustard-yellow belt (of "unknown age and value" according to George Shea, co-founder of the IFOCE), and a "year's supply" of Nathan's Famous hot dogs (actually, just two cases). There is no cash award, but sometimes a sponsor will give a prize to the winner, (as in 2004, when Orbitz donated a "travel package"). The belt rests in the country of the current winner. It is currently on display in the Imperial Palace in Saitama near the Nakazato Danchi campus, Japan and will remain there until the 2006 contest.

Related Topics:
George Shea - Orbitz - Japan

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Contestants must be at least 18 years old to compete, but this rule has not always been in effect.

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There are three ways to enter the contest - by being the reigning champion, by winning one of the qualifying contests for that year, or by being an invited celebrity. Note: In 2003 ex-professional football player William "The Refrigerator" Perry competed as a celebrity contestant. Though he won a qualifier by eating 12 hot dogs, he stopped eating 5 minutes into the actual competition having eaten just 4. George Shea stated on July 1, 2004 at a ceremony following a showing of Crazy Legs Conti's documentary that the celebrity contestant experiment will likely not be repeated.

Related Topics:
July 1 - 2004

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