A Cannonball to the Stomach: The Story of Frank Richards

<p>Frank “Cannonball Richards” became famous for an incredible act where he would stand in front of a cannon and have a 100 lb. cannonball shot into his stomach. In this episode, we talk about the development of this talent and then quiz Comedian and Improvisor Joel Savage!</p> <p>Bonus content is available at <a href='http://patreon.com/michaelkent'>http://patreon.com/michaelkent</a></p> <p>For 20% off Virtual Presenter Course, go to <a href='http://virtualpresentercourse.com/30'>http://virtualpresentercourse.com/30</a></p> <p>For 15% off ScotteVest go to <a href='http://scottevest.com'>http://scottevest.com</a> and enter promo code “TELLME”</p> <p></p> <p>In 1887, Frank Anson Richards was born in a Kansas town called Minneapolis to Richard and Ellen Richards. </p> <p>As a young man, he fought in World War I and at some point, realized he had the ability to take tremendous amounts of force to his abdomen. How much? Apparently he figured out that he could take a punch at full force to the stomach and not be affected. </p> <p>He thought he was on to something, so after the war, he entered the Vaudeville Circuit with his iron-clad gut. He would allow people to pay their entry fee to punch him in the stomach. Even world-famous boxing heroes like Heavyweight Champion Boxers Jack Dempsey and Jess Willard punched Richard in the stomach at full force.</p> <p>His Vaudeville act was success. And if you aren’t familiar with Vaudeville, it was a series of performers who would all perform separate acts together on the same bill and often would travel around doing shows in the late 1800s and early 1900s. You could pay one fee and see all these acts. And Frank Richard’s contribution to the show was to show off the strength of his amazing iron stomach. He would ask people to punch him with all their might and it wouldn’t phase him. The act evolved into more elaborate stunts. Frank would lie on the ground and have people line up in front of his body. One by one, they’d get their turn to jump on his abdomen. He’d stand wh