# The Strange Case of Robert Earl Hughes (world's first 1000-pounder) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051 "2005-10-06T14:51:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/21 "2005-10-07T03:50:54Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Is there really any such thing as a piano case? I can see how a piano would need to be crated up for shipping, but I can’t picture a fella showing up at a concert hall carrying a piano case alongside the trombone cases and cello cases. Yes, there are (or at least were) piano cases. [This](http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/goodies/vid-down/images/music9.jpg) is what I thought of first: Laurel and Hardy’s Oscar-winning short, [_The Music Box_](http://www.laurel-and-hardy.com/goodies/vid-down/download.html) > [@ArchitectChore](#): > > My father has a portable Yamaha electric baby grand piano with removable legs, removable sustain pedal, and a large case. I don’t recall the model# or the case dimensions but it was built in the early 80’s. You’re probably thinking of the [CP-70](http://www.hollowsun.com/vintage/cp70/). I can’t find any pictures, but you could definitely get an Anvil case (actually, a set of two) for it. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/22 "2005-10-07T07:42:02Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > No, not at all. It’s just not “the done thing” anymore. I believe the Coney Island boardwalk still has a traditional freakshow, the last of its kind that I’m aware of. Actually it’s more of a non-traditional freak show. Along the lines of The East Village Comes To Brooklyn. Very post modern. But they do have some actual freaks…(I liked the guy who rolled cigerettes with his lips). ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/23 "2005-10-07T12:58:55Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > There are laws against this? In some places, there are. In fact, this is the source of some of those funny-sounding laws, like “It’s illegal for a monster to perform in public in Cupertino, California.” People with various deformities were formerly referred to as “monsters”, and there are laws in various places against exhibiting or exploiting them. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/24 "2005-10-07T13:09:50Z")
> [@Hello Again](#): > > No, not at all. It’s just not “the done thing” anymore. I believe the Coney Island boardwalk still has a traditional freakshow, the last of its kind that I’m aware of. I thought the Lollapalooza music festival used to have a freak show-- guys pounding nails up their noses and such. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/25 "2005-10-07T22:44:11Z")
Freak shows are at least illegal in South Lyon, Michigan based on this 1988 law: > [@](#): > > Sec. 10-1. Prohibited amusements. > > (a) The following listed amusements are each and all, and every component part thereof, hereby declared to constitute public nuisances contrary to the safety, health, morals and welfare of the public, which said amusements are commonly known as: > > (1) Shooting galleries. > > (2) Endurance contests or marathons. > > (3) Freak shows, where artificial or natural curiosities are exhibited. > > (b) No person shall conduct, participate in, attend or sell or purchase tickets for any such affair in the city. I’m not sure why the prohibition on endurance contests, unless the fine people of Michigan imagine truly weird things to endure. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/26 "2005-10-08T02:03:12Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > I thought the Lollapalooza music festival used to have a freak show-- guys pounding nails up their noses and such. [Jim Rose circus](http://www.jimrosecircus.com) A review of one of their shows: [http://www.dropd.com/issue/50/JimRoseCircus/](http://www.dropd.com/issue/50/JimRoseCircus/) (warning - some photos may not be safe for work) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/27 "2005-10-08T08:19:19Z")
I’d imagine that endurance shows were banned because of the massive popularity of them during the depression years. There have been tv shows about this fairly short lived phenomenon, but one common type was endurance dancing - which usually ended up as a shuffling waltz with couples literally propping each other up. I’d hazard a guess and reckon that desperate folk, public spectacle and money would produce a pretty tacky show and could result in injury or long term damage. It’s also not particularly humane either. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/28 "2005-10-08T10:52:47Z")
Endurance contests haven’t completely died out, of course, though the may require less exertion than in days gone by. For example, see [Hands on a Hardbody](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116481/) ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051/29 "2005-10-08T14:53:03Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > [http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/dimtext/kjn/people/heaviest.htm](http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/dimtext/kjn/people/heaviest.htm) > That cite lists a LOT of er… somewhat overweight people. > Mr Darden is number 13. He was, however, probably the all-around _biggest_ person ever, having stood 7’6" (not that he probably ever actually stood). Did anybody else find [Carol Yager](http://www.dimensionsmagazine.com/dimtext/kjn/people/syager.jpg) touchingly, if grotesquely, cute? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-strange-case-of-robert-earl-hughes-worlds-first-1000-pounder/325051.md?page=1)