Over the weekend, while the rest of us were busy not setting world records, a Milwaukee man set a world record. Yes, Bounce Milwaukee co-owner Ryan Clancy broke the Guinness World Record for longest pinball play. He began his attempt (with only one five-minute break allowed every hour) at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 1. He broke the record at approximately 3:11 p.m. on Saturday, November 2. The previous record was 30 hours and 10 minutes; Clancy ended up going for 32 hours and 2 minutes. (He also raised $2,465 for Children’s Wisconsin during his marathon stunt. Nice!)
Here are the final five minutes leading up to the record-shattering moment:
Is Milwaukee stuffed with other wonderful and random Guinness World Records? YES IT IS. While Wisconsin is home to a plethora of the things (we’re looking at you, Big Mac guy from Fond du Lac), we zeroed in on the city itself for this probably-not-comprehensive list.
First national pinball competition
Milwaukee is no stranger to setting pinball-related world records. In May 1935, the city played host to the “Big Whiffle Tournament,” a.k.a. the first national pinball championship. According to Guinness, the event took place in the Futuristic Ballroom and featured “200 whiffle pinball tables and promised $1,000 in prizes (including a ‘fine bedroom suite’).”
Oldest divorced couple (aggregate age) – 188
On February 2, 1984, Milwaukee couple Ida Stern (91) and Simon Stern (97) called it quits. The reason for the late-in-life split? Simon claimed Ida “just isn’t fun anymore.”
Most consecutive kickflips on a skateboard – 1,546
On November 20, 2008, 14-year-old skateboarder Zach Kral geared up at 4 Seasons Skatepark and did 1,546 kickflips in a row. The feat took about three hours. Sick.
Most slam dunk bounce passes in 30 seconds – 36
The Milwaukee Bucks Rim Rockers dealt out three dozen slam dunk bounce passes in 30 seconds during a Milwaukee Bucks/Los Angeles Clippers game at the Bradley Center on December 20, 2008.
Youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game – Brandon Jennings
On November 14, 2009, at the ripe old age of 20 years and 52 days, Milwaukee Bucks player Brandon Jennings became the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game. He also hit the 50-point mark faster than anyone in the NBA; he scored 55 points in just seven games.
Largest vinyl floor mat – 2,224.2 square feet
On August 19, 2018, as part of a grand opening event for the new Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Bucks rolled out a 2,224.2-square-foot welcome mat.
Fastest 100 miles ultra distance track (men) – 11:19:13
Ultramarathon runner Zach Bitter set an impressive 100-mile record of 11 hours, 19 minutes, 13 seconds at the Pettit National Ice Center on September 11, 2019.
Heaviest deadlift to body weight (women) – 131 lbs.
On May 21, 1983, Los Angeles bodybuilder Cammie Lynn Lusko was in Milwaukee when she became the first woman to lift more than her body weight overhead with one arm. The 128.5-pound Lusko lifted 131 pounds. With one arm.
Largest attendance at a boxing match (non-paying) – 135,132
Tony Zale and Billy Pryor faced off on August 16, 1941 at Juneau Park. More than 135,000 people showed up for the free match.
Longest career as a police officer – 61 years
On June 1, 1942, 26-year-old Andrew F. Anewenter began his career as a Milwaukee police officer. That career lasted 61 years, with Anewenter retiring on May 15, 2003. He died just a few months later, on August 20, 2003.
Largest attendance at a film screening – 28,442
Nearly 30,000 people packed Miller Park on August 11, 2012 to watch the film Field Of Honor: A Salute To The Greatest Generation. And yes, folks had to stay through the credits in order to be counted.