Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
When Did Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Really Begin?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 20, 2010
Modified Aug 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 20, 2010
Modified Aug 20, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Nathan Handwerker and his wife opened their now famous hot dog stand on Coney Island in 1916, but their annual hot dog eating contest did not begin that year—even if legend may tell you otherwise.
The the NY Times has an interview with Mortimer Matz, who worked on promoting the hot dog eating contest in the 1970s with Max Rosey. He tells them Handwerker "was upset that the contestants weren’t paying for the hot dogs and would only let the contest last 12 minutes. We said this was an annual tradition since 1916. In Coney Island pitchman style, we made it up."
Indeed, even though the Times has even cited the 1916 date, there doesn't seem to be any documentation of the contest prior to Matz's involvement in the '70s. A company spokesman told the paper there's no evidence of it on their end, saying they attribute it to legend. However, their website says, "According to archives, the Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest was first held in 1916. The contest has been held each year since then, except in 1941, when it was canceled as a protest to the war in Europe, and in 1971, when it was canceled as a protest to civil unrest and the reign of free love." Perhaps by "archives" they mean this Wikipedia entry.
Tagged
1916
hot dogs
legend
Mortimer Matz
nathan's
Nathan's Famous hot dog eating contest
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .