Wikipedia

Roger Guy English

Roger Guy English is an American businessman[1] and disc jockey who achieved seven Guinness World Records in San Diego County in less than three years during the 1970s.

Roger Guy English
Born
Roger Guy English

1949 or 1950 (age 73–74)
NationalityAmerican
Education
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • disc jockey
Known for
Notable creditHemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
RelativesValerie Mays (cousin)

Early life edit

English attempted a major in cinematography at San Diego Mesa College[2] and was a literary student at University of California, San Diego[3] but dropped out. He wrote two books, which he was unable to sell.[4]

World records edit

In 1970, English walked from his home in La Jolla, California to Vancouver, Canada[5] with his cousin, Valerie Mays, in hopes of spreading awareness about environmental pollution and smog.[6][2][7] Upon returning home, crowds deemed him a local celebrity. English was tipped to do a publicity stunt to help build his popularity. This started his desire to attempt setting world records[5] such as throwing 200 bottles with messages into the ocean[8] and living in a car on a dealer's lot for a month.[8] In 1975, English played Pong[9][10][11] for seven days in a Mission Valley trailer.[5] By 1979, English's record for the Twist was the only record that remained unbroken.[12]

1973–1974 edit

English set his first four world records in under a year, from July 1973 to April 1974.[12] After flipping through a book of Guinness World Records, he decided to do the Twist.[5] English set the Twist record at 102 hours, 28 minutes and 37 seconds[13] which began on July 11 and continued through July 16th in La Jolla.[14] He set the record for water treading for 18 hours, 28 minutes and 37 seconds[15] in a La Jolla pool.[5][13] He set another record by kissing 3,000 women in 8 hours.[16][12]

In 1974, English set the record for sleeplessness after a waterbed shop[13] on University Avenue wanted to play part in his attempts by allowing him to do it in their front window. Starting at 10:30am on March 20,[17] he did not sleep for 12 days, 5 hours and 15 minutes.[5] To pass the time, English drank coffee,[18] smoked cigarettes and played Monopoly with friends.[13] When he finally slept at 10:30am on April 1,[17] he was out for 26 hours.[5][13] Because of health and safety concerns,[18] Guinness discontinued the category after that.[5] English later proposed the idea that he would like to swim the English Channel.[3] English attempted to swim the length of the Mississippi River in August,[19] but was held up because of weather and damage to a camper and rowboat.[20][21] On December 27, English set a joke telling record over 5 hours and 15 minutes at Winner's Circle Lodge in Del Mar.[22][5]

Later life and career edit

In 1975, English started his own store, a nostalgic American Graffiti shop in Pacific Beach.[15][23][1] In 1989, English was a disc jockey in San Diego.[5] He later moved to Poway, California.[5]

Legacy edit

In 2022, Thorn Brewing Company named a beer after English called Full Tilt Boogie Hefeweizen.[24] In 2021, filmmaker Tyler J. French recorded over 60 hours of footage of English for a documentary about him called Full Tilt Boogie, Daddy-O.[5] The film was submitted to Sundance Film Festival.[13]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
2023 Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea Saltie
TBA Full Tilt Boogie, Daddy-O Himself [5][13]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "'Stay awake' record set". Ukiah Daily Journal. 1974-04-02. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Walk, Don't Drive: 2,000-Mile Hike Aimed at Pollution". The Los Angeles Times. 1970-08-20. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "Attempt at channel proposed". Daily Times-Advocate. 1974-04-10. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "1,876 miles of swimming". The Miami News. 1974-09-26. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Brandt, Angela (2021-11-18). "Poway man who relishes a challenge, no matter how crazy, inspires documentary and a beer". Pomerado News. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  6. ^ Guthrie, Jim (1970-08-30). "They're Walking For The Environment". Ventura County Star. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Hikers Nearing End Of Journey". Latrobe Bulletin. 1970-10-17. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b Learned, Don (1979-01-07). "Records are made to be broken". Oakland Tribune. p. 45. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Roger Guy English Sets Another Record". Daily World. 1975-05-12. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Adds Another Record". Rushville Republican. 1975-05-12. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Quirks in the News". Chippewa Herald-Telegram. 1975-05-12. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b c Learned, Don (1979-01-12). "Gospel of Guinness: You, too, can be unique". The Desert Sun. p. 41. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Zevely, Jeff (2022-08-09). "No sleep for 12 days! Roger Guy English revisits his 1974 world record". KFMB-TV. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  14. ^ "According To Guinness". The Hamilton Spectator. 1978-07-17. p. 39. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b Steiger, Lucretia (1975-08-21). "Nostalgia Buff Turns Memories To Money". The Indianapolis Star. p. 57. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Kirshenbaum, Jerry. "THERE'S MUSIC IN THE WHERE?". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  17. ^ a b "Action Line". The Miami Herald. 1976-07-20. p. 67. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b Atwal, Sanj. "What's the limit to how long a human can stay awake? And why we don't monitor the record". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  19. ^ "Record swim try held up by lightning". Daily Times-Advocate. 1974-08-21. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Camper Mishap Snags Swimmer". Quad-City Times. 1974-08-23. p. 15. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Lightning forces man out of Mississippi". Wausau Daily Herald. 1974-08-21. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-01-14 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Central Fed to give away bestseller – Guiness Book". The Star-News. 1974-12-26. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  23. ^ Steiger, Lucretia (1974-06-19). "Teenangel Cashes in on Nostalgia Trip". Hanford Sentinel. p. 24. Retrieved 2024-01-13 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Thorn Brewing - Full Tilt Boogie Hefeweizen Release". SD BEER | Capital of Craft Beer | San Diego Brewers Guild. Retrieved 2024-01-13.

External links edit

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