Smoke with a rocker: how the smoking competitions were held in the USA of the 50s

In the old days, smokers lived much more freely: they were not expelled from public places, they were not frightened by terrible pictures. In the middle of the XX century, smoking a pipe became such a popular pastime that endurance competitions began to be held in the United States. Who will be able to test the strength of the lungs for the longest time is the king of the smoky party.

The correspondent of Time magazine, who visited this original competition, was amazed by the variety of smoking devices. There were also the usual wooden pipes, and gourds, similar to the one that Sherlock Holmes loved, and clay products. Some aesthetes competed in gloves, so as not to dirty the pipe.

Fans of hookahs and cigars also came to the competitions.

Those who took part in the competitions were apparently distinguished by remarkable health, since it was quite difficult to stay in such a smoky room for a long time. From time to time, smokers went out into the fresh air to get some air, and then continued the marathon.

In those years, little was said about the dangers of smoking. On the contrary, many actors, writers and even doctors promoted the use of tobacco. Therefore, everyone smoked: young students, old people and couples in love.

And the winners of the smoking competitions, of course, received an outlandish pipe as a prize.