What Was the Octopus Wrestling Craze and Why Did It End?

TL;DR

Octopus wrestling was a mid-20th-century fad where divers would wrestle giant octopuses out of their lairs, often inspired by octopus hunting. The sport gained popularity in Seattle during the 1950s and 1960s but declined and was outlawed by 1976 due to shifting views on animal cruelty and a growing appreciation for octopuses as fascinating creatures rather than fearsome monsters.

Transcript

Arising out of the peace and prosperity of the post-war world, in the middle of the 20th century Americans threw themselves into a variety of weird fads, with goldfish swallowing, pet rocks (see: How Did the Pet Rock Fad Start?), streaking, dance marathons, and sea monkeys (see What are Sea Monkeys?) among the most popular. One that received less a... Read More

Key Insights

• 💢 Octopus wrestling was part of a series of weird fads that emerged in the post-war era.
• 🐙 The sport was initially inspired by octopus hunting, which was depicted as a brutal activity.
• 🤼 Octopus wrestling gained popularity in Seattle but eventually declined due to changing attitudes towards animal cruelty.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did octopus wrestling originate?

Octopus wrestling was inspired by octopus hunting, which gained attention through a widely-read story in 1949. The author described his brutal hunting expedition in the South Pacific.

Q: Were octopus wrestlers in danger during the sport?

While some accounts described octopuses as dangerous sea monsters, experienced octopus wrestlers like Gary Keffler noted that they were not strong enough to harm humans. The main challenge was coaxing the octopus out of its den.

Q: Why did octopus wrestling decline in popularity?

The perception of octopuses as dangerous creatures shifted, thanks to a 1971 Jacques Cousteau documentary that showcased their benign nature. This change in attitude led to public disinterest and the outlawing of the sport in 1976.

Q: What happened to the last publicly known octopus wrestler?

In 2012, a 19-year-old named Dylan Mayer hunted a nine-foot Giant Pacific octopus with his bare hands. After a struggle, Mayer captured and cooked the octopus, generating public outrage. However, he had the proper permit and was within his legal rights.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Octopus wrestling was a bizarre fad in the mid-20th century, alongside other strange activities like goldfish swallowing and pet rocks.

• Inspired by octopus hunting, the sport involved wrestling giant octopuses out of their lairs and to the surface.

• Octopus wrestling gained popularity in Seattle in the 1950s and 1960s but eventually declined, leading to its outlawing in 1976.