# Did or do stagehooks exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 21, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-or-do-stagehooks-exist/280911 "2004-12-21T03:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-or-do-stagehooks-exist/280911/1 "2004-12-21T03:08:57Z")
I see reference occasionally to a stagehook, that large crook-like apparatus used to forcefully remove a performer from a stage when said performer began to go over their alloted time, act in an unruly manner, etc. Are these apparatuses mythical, or did such a thing exist in the past or presently? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-or-do-stagehooks-exist/280911/2 "2004-12-21T18:24:20Z")
A hook is used at the Apollo Theater in Harlem during its Wed. night amateur show. I don’t know how far back this tradition goes though, and how much it is based on the use of a hook in early movies, etc. Used as a gag prop to indicate that the performer is particularly awful. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-or-do-stagehooks-exist/280911/3 "2004-12-28T09:25:09Z")
I think the tradition at the Apollo goes back to the '50s. The hook itself was secondary to the very tall, broadshouldered drag queen who wielded it. 'Least, that’s what I’ve heard.