Soon after the original Route 66 Big Texan open it’s doors in 1960, owner Bob (RJ) Lee was amazed at how many REAL Texas Cowboys, were coming in for his HUGE TEXAS SIZE STEAKS, that his menu offered. He also saw how much fun his out of town patrons & visitors were having watching these true Texans trying to “out do” each others carnivorous appetites. Most of his Big Cowboys dinners came from a near-by stockyard operation, & would stop in after a long days work. Friday’s was payday at the stockyard & he would cash their paychecks & offer 25 cent beer. One Friday, he put several tables together in the center of the dinning room & sat all the cowboys together & told them he wanted to see who could eat the most one pound steaks in an hour. The cost was $5 per eater & whoever ate the most got to keep the entire entry-fee. The rules were simple; you could not get up during the contest or have anyone help you eat, you did not have to eat the fat & if you got sick, you were out. The cowboys put in their money,took a seat & the contest was on, steaks were flying.
One of the eaters took the lead by swallowing two steaks in ten minutes.Next,he politely requested a salad & a shrimp cocktail be served with his third steak. He consumed the extras, then this soft spoken giant called for his fourth steak & asked for a baked potato & a bread roll. He wasted little time on devouring those items & called for his fifth steak. As the hour contest came to an end, this gastronomic superman had eaten: 4 & 1/2 pounds of steak, (which is 72 oz’s) baked potato,shrimp cocktail,salad & a bread roll . In his amazement & delight of the crowd, Owner Bob (RJ) Lee stood up on a chair in the middle of the dinning room to proclaimed that: “from this day forward, anyone who could eat the entire 72 oz dinner-in one hour– gets it for FREE."
On that date in 1962 the legendary 72oz Steak Challenge was born & to this date the contest stands
There’s a restaurant in Texas on U.S. Route 66, called The Big Texan, that has this steak. Herman’s creator must have gotten the idea for this installment from that (BTW, it comes with a baked potato).
At one of the officer’s clubs I belonged to, they had an all-you-can eat prime rib night. One person took full advantage of it and put away a couple of pounds of beef at a sitting.
We asked the manager, “Don’t you lose money on him?” He replied, “On him, yes.On everyone else who comes in to watch him eat, no.”
Current record holder, a petit lady, Molly Schuyler. She ate THREE (3) of these in 20 min, first one in under 5 min. See her here: https://youtu.be/WUU58hzPiXc
When I was a Teen there was a Steak House outside of Phoenix, Arizona It was on a small mountain peak,I think the name of it was “Pinnacle Peak”,(Northeast area I think.) been many years ago and may not exist today. They had a huge steak challenge also,winners names were pinned to the walls and ceilings. I don’t remember how big it was,but it was BIG. My Father ate one but it took awhile and He was kinda miserable afterwards.
I just Googled The Pinnacle Peak steak house restaurant and it was South of Phoenix in Scottsdale and closed in 2015 (1957 to 2015) and was noted for a 32once steak. It has been a long time ago,but it brought back good memories.
If I had encountered that challenge in my younger days I could have done it, but not now. My appetite has shrunk over time, or I started eating more sensibly, but I did get a few free meals from eating oversized dinners when I was in my teens and early 20’s
suv2000 almost 5 years ago
Sign me up for one of those
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Is that boneless?
Yakety Sax almost 5 years ago
How the FREE 72oz STEAK DINNER legend was BORN…
Soon after the original Route 66 Big Texan open it’s doors in 1960, owner Bob (RJ) Lee was amazed at how many REAL Texas Cowboys, were coming in for his HUGE TEXAS SIZE STEAKS, that his menu offered. He also saw how much fun his out of town patrons & visitors were having watching these true Texans trying to “out do” each others carnivorous appetites. Most of his Big Cowboys dinners came from a near-by stockyard operation, & would stop in after a long days work. Friday’s was payday at the stockyard & he would cash their paychecks & offer 25 cent beer. One Friday, he put several tables together in the center of the dinning room & sat all the cowboys together & told them he wanted to see who could eat the most one pound steaks in an hour. The cost was $5 per eater & whoever ate the most got to keep the entire entry-fee. The rules were simple; you could not get up during the contest or have anyone help you eat, you did not have to eat the fat & if you got sick, you were out. The cowboys put in their money,took a seat & the contest was on, steaks were flying.
One of the eaters took the lead by swallowing two steaks in ten minutes.Next,he politely requested a salad & a shrimp cocktail be served with his third steak. He consumed the extras, then this soft spoken giant called for his fourth steak & asked for a baked potato & a bread roll. He wasted little time on devouring those items & called for his fifth steak. As the hour contest came to an end, this gastronomic superman had eaten: 4 & 1/2 pounds of steak, (which is 72 oz’s) baked potato,shrimp cocktail,salad & a bread roll . In his amazement & delight of the crowd, Owner Bob (RJ) Lee stood up on a chair in the middle of the dinning room to proclaimed that: “from this day forward, anyone who could eat the entire 72 oz dinner-in one hour– gets it for FREE."
On that date in 1962 the legendary 72oz Steak Challenge was born & to this date the contest stands
Doug Taylor Premium Member almost 5 years ago
What a great idea for a Simpson’s episode.
upanddown17 almost 5 years ago
There’s a restaurant in Texas on U.S. Route 66, called The Big Texan, that has this steak. Herman’s creator must have gotten the idea for this installment from that (BTW, it comes with a baked potato).
Zebrastripes almost 5 years ago
Sooo she still ate it….after all that fussing….lol
DanFlak almost 5 years ago
At one of the officer’s clubs I belonged to, they had an all-you-can eat prime rib night. One person took full advantage of it and put away a couple of pounds of beef at a sitting.
We asked the manager, “Don’t you lose money on him?” He replied, “On him, yes.On everyone else who comes in to watch him eat, no.”
Meg: All Seriousness Aside almost 5 years ago
“Yes.”
rickmac1937 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Been to that place in Amarillo and I had trouble finishing the 10oz.
Diat60 almost 5 years ago
Did the guy in panel 1 eat the whole cow?
Vet Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Get your kicks on Route 66.
hooglah almost 5 years ago
Women ate one of these in less than three minutes. Another lady ate two of them in thirty minutes.
MarkZuck almost 5 years ago
Current record holder, a petit lady, Molly Schuyler. She ate THREE (3) of these in 20 min, first one in under 5 min. See her here: https://youtu.be/WUU58hzPiXc
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Is it served as one steak (read roast) or 3~4 reasonable sized steaks..
Space & Kitten almost 5 years ago
When I was a Teen there was a Steak House outside of Phoenix, Arizona It was on a small mountain peak,I think the name of it was “Pinnacle Peak”,(Northeast area I think.) been many years ago and may not exist today. They had a huge steak challenge also,winners names were pinned to the walls and ceilings. I don’t remember how big it was,but it was BIG. My Father ate one but it took awhile and He was kinda miserable afterwards.
Space & Kitten almost 5 years ago
I just Googled The Pinnacle Peak steak house restaurant and it was South of Phoenix in Scottsdale and closed in 2015 (1957 to 2015) and was noted for a 32once steak. It has been a long time ago,but it brought back good memories.
Space & Kitten almost 5 years ago
Sorry,I also forgot about them cutting off your Ties and pinning them up.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 5 years ago
“…and a salad?”
theincrediblebulk almost 5 years ago
If I had encountered that challenge in my younger days I could have done it, but not now. My appetite has shrunk over time, or I started eating more sensibly, but I did get a few free meals from eating oversized dinners when I was in my teens and early 20’s