Eccentricity “now Only A Rich Man’s Sport’... (Press, 7 June 1986)

In a recent exploration of eccentricity in the United States, New York author Carl Sifakis has released a book entitled "American Eccentrics," profiling 140 individuals known for their unusual behaviours. Sifakis argues that eccentricity has largely become a pastime of the affluent, suggesting that societal changes have led to a decline in the prevalence of eccentrics from poorer backgrounds. He notes that the middle class, once a significant source of eccentrics, has become more conformist and intolerant over time, leaving the rich, who have the privilege to be unconventional without concern for societal judgement, as the primary bearers of eccentricity. Sifakis points to a few historical eccentrics as illustrative examples. He references Oofty Goofty, a wildman in San Francisco who invited people to kick and hit him for small amounts of money. In contrast, he describes Cornelius “Horseback” Billings, the chairman of Union Carbide, who hosted extravagant dinners with guests sitting on horses to eat pheasant from feedbags, only to be met with social rejection. Another profile includes "Black Jack" Tom Ketchum, an outlaw whose repeated attempts to rob the same train ended in his capture and execution. Despite a perceived decline in acceptance of eccentricity, Sifakis notes that cities like San Francisco still have an appreciation for eccentric behaviours, while New York is often indifferent. He reflects on a failed thesis that suggested one could gauge a society by its treatment of eccentrics. His research revealed that tolerance of eccentricity was not exclusive to progressive societies, noting even Nazi Germany exhibited some acceptance as long as the eccentric was not part of a persecuted group. Sifakis also elaborates on what qualifies someone as eccentric, defining it as having unique traits or habits that dictate their choices and lifestyle. He mentions examples from history where eccentrics were merely ahead of their time, such as a Massachusetts farmer jailed for wearing a beard in the 1830s, long before beards became fashionable. Among his more outrageous examples is John “Goat Gland” Brinkley, a figure from the 1920s who charged wealthy clients for dubious goat-testicle transplant surgeries, which garnered significant business until authorities intervened. Another eccentric, Sandra Ilene West, had an unconventional burial request, which involved her being laid to rest in her favourite car. Sifakis concludes that eccentrics have historically been undervalued in American society. He suggests that the depth of eccentricity remains hidden behind the closed doors of urban apartments, with a wealth of unacknowledged quirks and characters present throughout the country.

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