Transportation and Technology Stage coach Steamer:1807 (Molson); 1000 by ‘67 Steamers: bands, catering, excursions.

Transportation and TechnologyTransportation and Technology

Stage coachStage coach Steamer:1807 (Molson); 1000 by ‘67Steamer:1807 (Molson); 1000 by ‘67 Steamers: bands, catering, excursionsSteamers: bands, catering, excursions

Railroad: 1Railroad: 1stst line in Canada in 1836 line in Canada in 1836 160 km 1850160 km 1850 By 1900, 30,000km, sea to seaBy 1900, 30,000km, sea to sea Regular competitions – tournaments Regular competitions – tournaments And bonspiels – visiting spectators – And bonspiels – visiting spectators –

gate receiptsgate receipts Excursion fares to promote railway useExcursion fares to promote railway use

The BicycleThe Bicycle

The BicycleThe Bicycle

Wonder and aweWonder and awe The higher the bike, the higher the The higher the bike, the higher the

self esteemself esteem Clubs – social legitimacy; Clubs – social legitimacy;

pedestrians and buggiespedestrians and buggies Daring young menDaring young men Races; ridesRaces; rides womenwomen

The ProfessionalThe Professional

BaseballBaseball Scottish Highland GamesScottish Highland Games Rifle shootingRifle shooting RowingRowing Pedestrian contestsPedestrian contests

Sport and the NationSport and the Nation

Confederation – sport has new Confederation – sport has new meaning – the Paris Crewmeaning – the Paris Crew

British-CanadianBritish-Canadian Selling the new economy and politics Selling the new economy and politics

of the Dominion of Canadaof the Dominion of Canada Rifle shootingRifle shooting ‘‘National Championships’National Championships’ ““National” Sport OrganizationsNational” Sport Organizations

Canadian National Sport Canadian National Sport BodiesBodies

1867 - National Lacrosse Association1867 - National Lacrosse Association 1868 - Dominion of Canada Rifle Association1868 - Dominion of Canada Rifle Association 1880 - National Amateur Lacrosse Assoc.1880 - National Amateur Lacrosse Assoc. 1882 - Canadian Wheelman’s Assoc.1882 - Canadian Wheelman’s Assoc. 1884 - Amateur Athletic Assoc. of Canada1884 - Amateur Athletic Assoc. of Canada 1884 - Canadian Lawn Tennis Assoc.1884 - Canadian Lawn Tennis Assoc. 1884 - Canadian Rugby Football Union1884 - Canadian Rugby Football Union 1887 - Canadian Lacrosse Assoc.1887 - Canadian Lacrosse Assoc. 1888 - Amateur Skating Assoc. of Canada1888 - Amateur Skating Assoc. of Canada 1892 - Canadian Cricket Assoc1892 - Canadian Cricket Assoc..

Canadian National Sport Canadian National Sport BodiesBodies

1895 - Royal Canadian Golf Association1895 - Royal Canadian Golf Association 1895 - Canadian Jockey Club1895 - Canadian Jockey Club 1898 - Canadian Amateur Athletic Association1898 - Canadian Amateur Athletic Association 1899 - Canadian Gymnastics Association1899 - Canadian Gymnastics Association 1899 - Canadian Trotting Association1899 - Canadian Trotting Association 1900 - Canadian Canoe Association1900 - Canadian Canoe Association 1906 - Alpine Club of Canada1906 - Alpine Club of Canada 1907 - Canadian Snowshoe Union1907 - Canadian Snowshoe Union 1909 - Canadian Amateur Swimming Assoc.1909 - Canadian Amateur Swimming Assoc. 1909 - Amateur Athletic Union of Canada1909 - Amateur Athletic Union of Canada

The National GameThe National Game

Dr. George W. BeersDr. George W. Beers

Montreal dentist; patriotMontreal dentist; patriot Founded Victoria Rifles regiment and Founded Victoria Rifles regiment and the Canadian Dental Associationthe Canadian Dental Association Wrote Canadian propaganda pieces in Wrote Canadian propaganda pieces in

popular magazines - popular magazines - Canada in WinterCanada in Winter Promoted lacrosse during the year of Promoted lacrosse during the year of

ConfederationConfederation Lacrosse as the National Game Lacrosse as the National Game 1867: 10 clubs in Canada in Spring, 80 by 1867: 10 clubs in Canada in Spring, 80 by

September September

Wrote the Laws of LacrosseWrote the Laws of Lacrosse Helped to form the NLA Helped to form the NLA Myth: act of parliament declaring Myth: act of parliament declaring

lacrosse the national game: 1994lacrosse the national game: 1994 Lacrosse tours 1876 and 1883Lacrosse tours 1876 and 1883

SpectatorshipSpectatorship

The promoterThe promoter Gate receiptsGate receipts Town boosterismTown boosterism Professional vs. AmateurProfessional vs. Amateur

Legends, myths, heroesLegends, myths, heroes

The Strongman – The Strong ManThe Strongman – The Strong Man

Cultural attachment to: work, economy, Cultural attachment to: work, economy, politicspolitics

Labour in early CanadaLabour in early Canada English/FrenchEnglish/French Industrial revolutionIndustrial revolution Strength – a signifier of masculinity Strength – a signifier of masculinity

and ethnic identityand ethnic identity

LegendsLegends

Tales of giants and local strongmenTales of giants and local strongmen Modeste Mailhout – “the Canadian Modeste Mailhout – “the Canadian

giant”giant” Angus McCaskill – “the Cape Breton Angus McCaskill – “the Cape Breton

giant’giant’ Big Anthony Allen – Dunlop, OntarioBig Anthony Allen – Dunlop, Ontario Gamson – 7”4” – 322 lbs – barkeep in Gamson – 7”4” – 322 lbs – barkeep in

the UKthe UK

Birth of a LegendBirth of a Legend

Neo-Cyprien Cyr (Saint Cyprien de Neo-Cyprien Cyr (Saint Cyprien de Napierville, Quebec) Napierville, Quebec)

Paternal grandfather – village strongmanPaternal grandfather – village strongman The first story – the teenagerThe first story – the teenager The story grows – so does heThe story grows – so does he The first challenge – strongman David The first challenge – strongman David

Michaud – boulder liftingMichaud – boulder lifting The Montreal policemanThe Montreal policeman The tavernThe tavern

Louis Cyr1863-1912

The Physical StatsThe Physical Stats

Height: 5’9”Height: 5’9” Weight: 316 lbsWeight: 316 lbs Biceps: 24”Biceps: 24” Neck: 22”Neck: 22” Forearms: 19”Forearms: 19” Chest: 60”Chest: 60” Waist: 45”Waist: 45” Thighs: 33”Thighs: 33” Calves: 28”Calves: 28”

Louis Cyr’s Tavern - MontrealLouis Cyr’s Tavern - Montreal

Home base – funding for tours, Home base – funding for tours, demonstrationsdemonstrations

Montreal Montreal GazetteGazette, 1885, 1885I hereby challenge any man in the I hereby challenge any man in the world, bar none, to a heavy weight world, bar none, to a heavy weight lifting contest, without harness, for any lifting contest, without harness, for any sum from one hundred dollars to five sum from one hundred dollars to five hundred dollars a side. hundred dollars a side.

Yours truly, Louis CyrYours truly, Louis Cyr

Tours – Canada, the US, the UKTours – Canada, the US, the UK 1889 – invited to give a demonstration for the 1889 – invited to give a demonstration for the

Prince of Wales in LondonPrince of Wales in London Crowd of 5,000 raised a 250 kilo weight with Crowd of 5,000 raised a 250 kilo weight with

one fingerone finger A back lift of 4,100 lbsA back lift of 4,100 lbs The horse demoThe horse demo US and UK tours in the 1890sUS and UK tours in the 1890s Barnum and Bailey CircusBarnum and Bailey Circus

*A flair for the dramatic*Excitement and tension*Audience participation(18 fat men on a piano)

The Physical FeatsThe Physical Feats

Iron cross with 96lb right hand and 88lbs left Iron cross with 96lb right hand and 88lbs left handhand

35 consecutive right arm presses with 162.8 35 consecutive right arm presses with 162.8 lbslbs

552 lbs one finger lift552 lbs one finger lift 189 lbs with both arms straight in front of his 189 lbs with both arms straight in front of his

bodybody 986 lbs with one hand986 lbs with one hand restrained 4 horses for 55 secondsrestrained 4 horses for 55 seconds

SummarySummary

Legends are created and sustained for Legends are created and sustained for specific reasons: cultural, economic, specific reasons: cultural, economic, politicalpolitical

Look to broader historical issues and Look to broader historical issues and circumstances to find your circumstances to find your explanationsexplanations

Louis Cyr: look to the connections Louis Cyr: look to the connections between strength, masculinity, and between strength, masculinity, and broader Canadian societybroader Canadian society