© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

July 4 Tradition: Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. Competitive eaters descend on Coney Island today for the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Legend has it that the contest came about when Nathan's opened a century ago when an Irish immigrant challenged other immigrants to prove who was more American, but the AP points out that's baloney. The eating contest actually began in 1972 cooked up by a PR guy hired by Nathan's - very American. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.