- Greasy pole
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For the Yes Minister episode, see The Greasy Pole.
Greasy pole or grease pole refers to a pole that has been made slippery and thus difficult to grip. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole. This kind of event exist in several variations around the world.
Climbing a vertical Cockaigne pole.
Contents
The United Kingdom
In the UK, contests to climb a greasy pole were held at numerous fairs including the Crab Fair in Egremont, Cumbria where the contest continues to this day - alongside the annual Gurning World Championships see Gurn. The prize for climbing the 30 foot pole was originally a hat but from 1852 became a side of mutton - which if there are no winners is cut up and distributed to the poor. Since 2004 the greasy pole has been discontinued as an event at Egremont Crab Fair, due to high insurance cover costs, should a participant fall from the pole.
As of the 19th of January 2008 Egremont is the proud home of the new Greasy Pole. A 30 ft Sculpture by Turner Prize Winning artisit Jeremy Deller and collaborator Alan Kane. This is the teams first piece of public art and marks the re-introduction of the Greasy Pole as a crab fair event.
The phrase 'to climb the greasy pole' means reaching the upper echelons of any hierarchy but usually refers to politics.
A slight variation is provided at the annual Seaview Regatta on the Isle of Wight. Here the greasy pole is horizontal over the sea and competitors walk along it, the one who walks the furthest before falling into the sea is the winner.
Gloucester, Massachusetts
A man attempts to reach the flag during the courtesy round on Sunday, July 1, 2007.The Greasy Pole Contest takes place every year during St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts. During this time, many young men try their luck at walking down a greased, wooden pole in the middle of Gloucester Harbor. The goal is to be the first person to grab the red flag at the end of the pole.
Concept
The idea behind The Greasy Pole competition came from Sicily in the 1920s while Italians were immigrating to America. In Sicily, however, the object is to walk across a greased pole protruding from a platform about 200 ft from shore. This platform, depending on the tide, can be anywhere from 10–25 ft above the water. The pole, which hangs over the water, is 45 feet long, and only about as wide as a standard telephone pole. This pole is then heavily greased with biodegradable axle grease mixed with anything from Tabasco sauce to oil, banana peels, and various other slippery objects. A red flag (or sometimes the Italian Flag with a red flag underneath it) is then nailed to the very end of the pole. The idea is to run out on the heavily greased pole and try to grab the flag before slipping and falling into the water. Somewhere between 40-50 men aging anywhere from 18–60 go out from Pavilion Beach in Gloucester Ma on June 25th, 26th, and the 27th Friday Saturday and Sunday and wait on the platform. Then they walk the pole one at a time in a pre-determined order. Generally, the men are of Italian, Portuguese or Irish decent, although if you walk in honor of a past walker you don't necessarily have to be.
Rules
The first round of the Greasy Pole is dubbed as the "Courtesy Round." This is done so that all the walkers get a chance to walk the pole. Generally, this is used to get a feel for exactly how greasy the pole really is. Some of the more experienced walkers only walk out a small distance and then dive off the pole into the water to save themselves from injury. Once all the walkers participating have walked, the second round begins. After the courtesy round is over, the flag can come down at any time. There are three days in which the Greasy Pole is competed:
Crowd watching the Greasy Pole from Pavilion Beach on Fiesta Sunday, 2007.Fiesta Friday
Most of the newcomers to the Greasy Pole event walk on Friday. The winner of the Friday Greasy Pole will walk first on Saturday.
Fiesta Saturday
People who began walking before Greasy Pole Friday was implemented in 1999 or people who have won on Greasy Pole Friday walk on Saturday. The winner of Saturday then will walk first on Sunday.
Fiesta Sunday
Also referred to as Championship Sunday. The winner of Saturday walks first, and on the platform are the former Saturday and Sunday champions of the Greasy Pole from years past and protégés of the former champions who can no longer walk because they have died or can no longer walk for health reasons. Winning on Fiesta Sunday is the most prestigious honor that a Greasy Pole walker can achieve, and every year they return to walk on Fiesta Sunday.
Awards For Winning
Generally speaking, the Greasy Pole is done for bragging rights. A trophy is given out to the winner, but in the close knit town of Gloucester where everyone knows each other, this is done for the right to say "I won." (free drinks all night at all the bars)
Dangers
This is obviously a very risky event. Walking through an almost frictionless environment anywhere from 10–25 feet over water on a very narrow pole can be dangerous. Several injuries, most of them minor, can and have occurred. These injuries can range from scrapes and bruises to broken facial bones or ribs from falling and landing on the pole. Police boats are nearby to assist if someone is seriously injured and needs to be taken to the hospital.
Trivia
- The record for most Greasy Pole wins belongs to Salvi Benson (11) 6 Sat, 5 Sun.
- Peter "Black" Frontiero won 7 straight Sunday contests between 1987–1993.Most Sunday wins,9 over all and all on Super Sunday .
- The only man who has won all 3 days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday , 1999) in a year is Jake Wood . 6th round Friday, 3rd Sat , 2nd Sun. Jake started walking in 1998 he now has a total of 7 wins . The Friday Greasy Pole was implemented, 1999.
- Anthony "Matza" Giambanco is known as the "Sheriff of the Greasy Pole." 6 time champ. "Matza" famously walked and slid to the end of the pole, where he stood for a few seconds in triumph before jumping into the water with flag in hand.
- In 1979, one man grabbed the flag in the first round, breaking the Courtesy Round rule. Unfortunately, he incurred the wrath of Anthony "Matza" Giambanco. He promptly punched the man, nailed the flag to the pole, and the competition continued.
- Peter Black Frontiero is the only walker in the history of the competition to win in three different decades ( 80's, 90's and 00's) and with three different announcers ( Mike Deliberti, Big Tom Brancleone, and Sammy "samutzu" Nicastro
- Joseph "JoeyD" DaSilva is the only walker to ever win on sea and land. They call it the surf and turf champion. With his two wins (Friday Fiesta 2011 and Fall Classic Saturday 2011) this walker seems too have a bright Greasy Pole future ahead of him.
- For the 75th anniversary, in a big surprise to everyone, the announcer at the time (Sam Nicastro) was joined by his predecessors Big Tom Brancleone and Mike Dileberti for the announcing duties
- The Greasy Pole was washed away, along with the platform that supported it, by a storm on September 30, 2011. Gloucester hopes to rebuild it in time for the 2012 event.[1][2]
Past Winners
1931 to 1998 (Before Friday Competition)
Year Saturday Winner Sunday Winner 1931 Nat Misuraca Oritan Vincenzo 1932 Oritan Vincenzo Oritan Vincenzo 1933 Geronimo Parisi Geronimo Parisi 1934 Jimmy Sinagra Dominic Grillo 1935 Nat Misuraca Not Held 1936 No Record Not Held 1937 No Record Not Held 1938 Jerome Loicano Not Held 1939 Jerome Loicano Salvatore Randazza 1940 Unknown Unknown 1941 Joe Marino Joe Marino 1942 Jerome Loicano Joseph Frontiero 1943 Joseph Verga Peter Mione 1944 Joseph Argusso Louie Linquata 1950 John Randazza Jerome Liocano 1951 Gino Biondo Louio Linquata 1952 Joseph Argrusso Rained Out 1953 Tommy Misuraca Tommy Misuraca 1954 Johny Quince Tommy Misuraca 1955 Beanie Nicastro Beanie Nicastro 1956 Carlo "Sleppy" Pallazolla Carlo "Sleppy" Pallazolla 1957 Unknown Unknown 1958 John Frontiero Mike Calomo 1959 Frank Catania Phil Curcuru 1960 Phil Curcuru Frank Benson 1961 Not Held Not Held 1962 Not Held Not Held 1963 Phil Cucuru Phil Cucuru 1964 Salvatore Testaverde Joe "Black" Frontiero 1965 Phil Parisi & Phil Cucuru Phil Cucuru & "Uncle" Salvatore Russo 1966 Unknown Unknown 1967 Tom "Wolfman" Cavanaugh Tom "Wolfman" Cavanaugh 1968 Salvi Benson Vito Calamo 1969 Salvi Benson Salvi Benson & Gaetano Carini 1970 Gaetano Carini Pat Palmisano 1971 Salvi Benson Salvi Benson 1972 Tom "Wolfman" Cavanaugh Salvi Benson 1973 Salvi Benson Salvi Benson 1974 Salvi Benson Salvi Benson 1975 Anthony "Matza" Giambanco Anthony "Matza" Giambanco 1976 Gaetano Carini Benny Interante 1977 Billy Mumbruno Anthony "Matza" Giambanco 1978 Bobbi "Brother" Agostint Anthony "Matza" Giambanco 1979 Joe Palmisano Salvi Benson 1980 Paul Bertolini Anthony "Matza" Giambanco 1981 Jerry Santuccio Dom Verga 1982 Steve "Stubby" Asaro Dom Verga 1983 Phil Verga Jerry Santuccio 1984 Paul Nicastro Peter "Black" Frontiero 1985 Tom Favazza Dom Verga 1986 Jerry Ciolino Scott Clayton 1987 Sam Frontiero Peter "Black" Frontiero 1988 Anthony Saputo Peter "Black" Frontiero 1989 Russell Hines Peter "Black" Frontiero 1990 Johnny Corollo Peter "Black" Frontiero 1991 Jerry Cusamano Peter "Black" Frontiero 1992 Nico Brancaleone Peter "Black" Frontiero 1993 Steve LaBlanc Peter "Black" Frontiero 1994 Dave Foote Steve LaBlanc 1995 Steve Gray Chris Carlson 1996 John Parisi Rich Hopkins 1997 Shawn Porper Rich Hopkins 1998 Jason Puglisi Nino Sanfillippo 1999 to Current (Friday Competition Introduced)
Year Friday Winner Saturday Winner Sunday Winner 1999 Jake Wood Jake Wood Jake Wood 2000 Dean DeCoste Jude LaFavour Sammo Frontiero 2001 Phil Palmatieri James Sanfillipo Jogn "Glass" Parisi 2002 Sandi Palazzolo Dean DeCoste Jake Wood 2003 Steve Militello Sandy Palazzolo Jake Wood 2004 Stew McGillivray Stew McGillivray Peter "Black" Frontiero 2005 Vinny Parisi Jimmy Silva Jake Wood 2006 Danny Balbo Jr. Vinny Parisi Jake Wood 2007 Louis Perry Joe Sanfillippo Russell Hines 2008 Steve Williamson John Church Stew McGillivray 2009 Jason Favaloro Joe Stelline Stew McGillivray 2010 Joe Brancaleone Peter Cannavo Stew McGillivray 2011 Joseph "JoeyD" DaSilva Kraig Hill Ali D'Angelo 2011 Greasy Pole Fall Classic
To help raise some of the money needed to replace the greasy pole platform that was damaged by tropical storm Irene, the Saint Peter's Fiesta Committee hosted the 2011 Greasy Pole Fall Classic at Gloucester High School's Newell Stadium. The competition featured three greasy pole's, designated bronze, silver and gold. The two time champ Joe DaSilva is the only person to ever win on sea and land. They call it the surf and turf champion.
Year Round Winner 2011 Bronze Kyle Barry 2011 Silver Nick Avelis 2011 Gold Joe "JoeyD" DaSilva In Film
In 2009, CoffeeBlack Productions- the Gloucester filmmaking team of Emile Doucette, Thomas Papows, and Michael Pallazola - created a short 7 min documentary about the Greasy Pole and its cultural significance in the small fishing community of Gloucester, Massachusetts. [1] The film won the Documentary Educational Resources Award at the International Documentary Challenge at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival.[5] The group has plans to make a feature length version of the film due out in 2010.
Queen's University (Canada)
As part of Queen's Engineering Frosh Week, the incoming first year engineering students must, with the help of the upper-year engineering students, climb to the top of a grease pole and remove a tam which is nailed to the pole's top. The Queen's Grease Pole is a metal football goalpost stolen by Queen's engineering students in 1955 from University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium.[6] Currently, the pole is covered in lanolin and placed in the centre of a pit of muddy water referred to as the "Grease Pit", but from the first climbing of the pole in 1956 to 1988 the pole was covered in axle grease and it was only sometime between 1957 and 1967 that the pit was added to the event. There have been various other changes to the rules of the event since its inception, including the banning of the throwing of projectiles at the frosh attempting to climb the pole by upper years, removing unsanitary contents from the pit and allowing women to participate.[7]
See also
- In Spain, it is known as a Cockaigne pole.
References
- ^ Byrne, Matt (1 October 2011). "Gloucester icon slips into history". boston.com. http://articles.boston.com/2011-10-01/news/30233263_1_gloucester-officials-red-flag-greasy-pole. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ Kaufman, Alexander C. (8 October 2011). "Gloucester to rebuild greasy pole". boston.com. http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/10/gloucester-rebuild-greasy-pole/2AYBc6xDKx5sDo8TCJCMBK/index.html. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ http://www.stpetersfiesta.org/greasypolewinners.html
- ^ http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x811212165/Greasy-Pole-Fall-Classic-proves-to-be-a-hit
- ^ Allen, Quinn (2009-05-14). "Trio brings home international prize » Local News » GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA". Gloucestertimes.com. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_133223927.html. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
- ^ "Greasy History". Engsoc.queensu.ca. 1955-10-08. http://engsoc.queensu.ca/~polegame/LegendWeb/Legends/History/index.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
- ^ "Detailed Events". Engsoc.queensu.ca. 1976-09-21. http://engsoc.queensu.ca/~polegame/LegendWeb/Legends/Ascents/events.htm. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
External links
Categories:- Competitions
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