The controversial origin of Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest

Counts as 4^th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest is a July tradition for many and a shining example of summer gluttony (something most backyard barbecue participants can relate to). This year’s event will likely look very different, as Joey Chestnut appears to have been eliminated from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, so now is a good time to look back at the origins of the contest and see how far it has come. The only problem is that the origin story described on the Nathan’s Famous website is likely fabricated.

The contest is said to have started back in 1916 at the site of the first hot dog stand, called Nathan’s Famous. Four new Americans wanted to see who had the most patriotism in their veins, and they decided that whoever ate the most hot dogs should proudly wear the title. As convincing as this story may be for people who love America and hot dogs alike, it was invented by two enterprising press agents who were also responsible for creating the contest. Along with his partner Max Rosey, Mortimer Matz claimed that the origin of the contest in 1916 and the fact that it had been held annually since then were fictitious.

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The competition actually began decades after its original announcement

The Nathan’s Famous website tells the story of its origins in 1916, but it also states that the first officially registered contest was not held until 1972. This is consistent with Max Rosey and Mortimer Matz’s association with the brand, which took place in the 1970s. Furthermore, claims that hot dog eating contests took place before this date are also unfounded.

While Rosey and Matz take credit for starting the 1916 origin story of the hot dog, two other public relations agents are said to have fleshed out the fabrication in a little more detail. Richard and George Shea are said to be responsible for the claim that the first hot dog eating contest was about immigrants in the U.S. arguing about their patriotism. This bitter argument apparently took place within earshot of Nathan Handwerker, founder of Nathan’s Famous, who thought challenging the men to an impromptu hot dog eating contest was the perfect way to prove their loyalty to the country. The controversial contest even had a supposed winner, Irish immigrant James Mullen.

The man behind Nathan’s famous hot dog eating contest

The creation of a hot dog eating contest seems a little redundant considering Nathan’s Famous is pretty remarkable in its own right. Just consider that the brand took the number one spot on Daily Meal’s fast food hot dog rankings. However, it’s easy to argue that the contest only further elevated the iconic brand, and that success is in no small part thanks to Mortimer Matz. Matz is considered an icon in the public relations industry, and his creation of the Nathan’s contest is just one of many highlights in his career. For example, Matz is considered the first person to come up with the idea of ​​expanding the New York City Marathon to all five boroughs.

While Nathan’s Famous was already pretty well-known before the hot dog eating contest, the event has catapulted the brand into the top celebrity realms. As the BBC reported, 35,000 attendees were expected for the 2023 contest. And in case you’re curious how much money Joey Chestnut’s hot dog eating contest would cost, the total is nearly $200 for a whopping 76 hot dogs. While there’s no telling what the future holds for the contest, we hope it lives up to its fun, but admittedly fanciful, origin story.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.