The Streaking Craze

American Hysteria

W!ZARD Studios

Society & Culture

4.4 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 January 2023

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1974, running naked in public became a major fad led by students on college campuses across the nation. This provocative prank was surprisingly well-received, considered a playful call back to the college fads of yore like the riotous panty raids that burned across campuses in the 1950s. We'll look at the most outrageous moments from these crazes and see how streaking was used to discredit the political actions of students protesting against the Vietnam War and in the name of civil rights. Become a Patron to support our show and get early ad-free episodes and bonus content Follow American Hysteria on social media: Twitter: @AmerHysteria Instagram: @AmericanHysteriaPodcast Find our merch at americanhysteria.com American Hysteria is written, produced, and hosted by Chelsey Weber-Smith Co-researched and co-edited by Riley Swedelius-Smith Co-produced and co-edited by Miranda Zickler Voice acting by Will Rogers Sound design by Clear Commo Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	On this podcast, we explore fantastical thinking, moral panics, urban legends, conspiracy
0:10.7	theories, hoaxes, and crazes, examine the forces that shape our culture and tell the stories
0:18.5	that create the realities we share and sometimes the realities we don't.
0:25.4	I'm your host, Chelsea Weber-Smith, and this is American hysteria.
0:32.5	The object of this new sport is to streak from one end of campus to another, wearing nothing
0:37.4	more than a smile.
0:38.4	I think it's fantastic.
0:39.4	I see nothing wrong with it whatsoever.
0:41.4	Oh, I guess it's all right for the young folks.
0:44.8	For people to get naked and run around campus and groups of hundreds and thousands,
0:49.4	it doesn't serve any purpose.
0:50.6	I think this is the best thing that's happened to college campuses.
0:54.1	It really brings everybody together as you can see right here, and I'll bring everybody
0:57.3	together tonight when I'm sure everybody will take off their clothes and do it again.
1:21.3	That was the evening of April 2, 1974, and actor David Niven was in the middle of introducing
1:30.6	Elizabeth Taylor so that she could reveal the Academy Award for Best Picture, the
1:37.3	crescendo of the opulent annual event.
1:42.4	David in his meat tuxedo and bow tie heard the crowd react before he could see what they
1:50.4	were reacting to.
1:52.7	A shaggy haired and shaggy mustache 33 year old man jogging naked across the legendary stage,
2:03.3	flashing a confident peace sign out to millions of American viewers.
2:10.5	The striker's name was Robert Oval, and he was a man who seemed to have pulled off
	...

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