For nearly as long as there ’s been fart humor , there ’s been the performance farter — a free - boweled individual who releases smelly accelerator pedal on command in commutation for applause and money .
allot to Linda Rodriguez in Atlas Obscura , one famed 12th - century performance farter was Roland , or “ Roland the Farter , ” who served as English King Henry II ’s court of justice minstrel . Roland would perform a dance at Christmas pageantry that end in a public exhibit of gas . His skills allegedly earned him a manor star sign and more than 100 acres of dry land . ( The prop was reportedly rescinded by another magnate , who is said to have been grossed out by Roland ’s " talent . " )
Roland is n’t story ’s only fart turn . During the 8thcentury , some Irish Court retainedbruigedoires , or “ farters , ” and paid them in choice game parting . St. Augustine of Hippo ’s early fifth - 100 bookCity of Godreferenced people who could fart on instruction . A Nipponese tale dating back to the Kamakura era ( 1185 to 1333 ) refer a man list Fukutomi no Oribe , who “ do fart dance for the aristocracy . ” ( In fact , the Japanese seem to have loved wind in general , as street performer during the country ’s Edo flow also unloose wind on pool stick . ) And in 1892 , a famous farter name Joseph Pujo — whose bottom could drift out candles and jetlights on command — book a 90 - minute show at Paris ’s famed Moulin Rouge . Today , he is call back as one of the period ’s well - pay performer .
The funky tradition is live today , but one modern - day flatulist tell that the rise of Internet refinement has dried up his business . Paul Oldfield , who calls himself Mr. Methane , has been a professional farter since 1991 . Despite multiple TV spots , festival appearance , and record album recordings over the years , he says he get less study now that others can watch him on YouTube .
However , it ’s unconvincing that Oldfield ’s skills will ever grow disused . After all , no matter how advanced our civilization grow , there will always be someone who breaks into laughter the moment they get , uh , wind of turgidity .
[ h / tAtlas Obscura ]
