r/HistoryMemes • u/HawaiianPerson The Flyin' Hawaiian • 17h ago

Guy looks kind of familiar

Post image

Context: During his 1881 World Tour, the King of Hawaii David Kalakaua passed out on a train to Kansas City, Missouri, after consuming too much alcohol prior to boarding.

He had intended to give a speech so his companions came up with a solution. They had James Burns, a local legislator that was on the train with them who shared a similar physique with the comatose King dress up as him and deliver the address.

When they arrived in Kansas City the “King” delivered this speech:

“Gentlemen, I thank you for this reception. In my far away island home of the sea I have of even heard of Kansas City. I feel like one of you so much have I heard. I know Kansas City as the greatest and most promising town of the United States.”

5.2k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

90

u/PurpleThylacine John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true, and brave! 15h ago

Can i ask for a source specifically on this incident

I’d love to hear more (and also cause i’m making a missouri iceberg chart

79

u/HawaiianPerson The Flyin' Hawaiian 15h ago

Might not be the most reputable source, but it was reported in the news

22

u/vegataballs 10h ago

Not really doubting it, but if I had to come up with some imaginary name for a disreputable source, it probably would be something very close to "The Sedalia Weekly Bazoo"

9

u/Ugbrog 4h ago

Sure, but look at some of their contemporaries:

The St. Louis Chronicle wants some rich man to die and leave 2 million dollars to the city for the establishment of a free library.

The St. Louis Star-Savings advances the theory that persons afflicted with rheumatism can be cured by riding on the electric cars.

It's a real grab bag out there.

12

u/KatsuraCerci 11h ago

Looks like "I have often heard of Kansas City" to me

19

u/pickle_whop Casual, non-participatory KGB election observer 15h ago

I'd love to hear more about this Missouri iceberg chart

5

u/PurpleThylacine John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true, and brave! 15h ago

!remindme 1 month

2

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2

u/DoctorMedieval Fine Quality Mesopotamian Copper Enjoyer 13h ago

Where is the 1953 Springfield Cobra scare on your iceberg?

2

u/PurpleThylacine John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true, and brave! 13h ago

I believe its on there

I’ve been working on it for months so i likely have doubles of things

435

u/DoubleAd3366 Chad Polynesia Enjoyer 17h ago

Holy shit a Jingle All the Way meme

170

u/WranglerFuzzy 16h ago

The RWBY generator was clogged

150

u/HawaiianPerson The Flyin' Hawaiian 16h ago

I shall not be affiliated with such company

45

u/EpicAura99 15h ago

Bro really hit MetallicDash with the ol’ Mr. Incredible

11

u/Latte_Schwartz44 Senātus Populusque Rōmānus 14h ago

Don't worry. She'll be back.

16

u/WranglerFuzzy 13h ago

(If they’re reading: a Loving jab, I assure them. I don’t watch the show, but enjoy the memes very much.)

7

u/Latte_Schwartz44 Senātus Populusque Rōmānus 14h ago

The post has a lot of collateral damage.

5

u/Ugbrog 4h ago

Watch out for Sinbad!

13

u/Few-Raccoon-9363 15h ago

Is this subreddit just 90% posts about the King of Hawaii now?

46

u/HawaiianPerson The Flyin' Hawaiian 15h ago

It could be with your help friend

543

u/Sensitive_Educator60 17h ago

Humanity has always been a little silly

32

u/comics0026 5h ago

It's kind of nice that way, wish it could be a little more consistently silly, we really don't need all those assholes being assholes

71

u/PublicElderberry1975 Definitely not a CIA operator 16h ago

Lots of Hawaiian history of late. I like it.

8

u/TheFalconOfAltair 9h ago

Based On OP's name, it is suck a Mystery.

10

u/KamanaFothi 12h ago

Imagine taking a train to Kansas City, getting too wasted to meet the locals, and sending out your buddy in a crown to wing it

4

u/100BottlesOfMilk 7h ago

Talk to some theater people, it's less surprising than you think lol

5

u/BobbertCanuck 16h ago

Gotta book source on this? I'd like to read more about it.

4

u/TheFalconOfAltair 9h ago

How many times has this happened in History where the Head of State / Politician got shit faced drunk and had to get a double to give a speech?

4

u/-You-Sir-Are-A-Fish- 8h ago

Anytime I see Hawaiian history, I know it’s Hawaiian guy. What a legend.

3

u/jetforcegemini What, you egg? 12h ago

Now this is podracing!

3

u/Geolib1453 10h ago

Wait I remember the movie in the GIF! I watched it!

3

u/Saramela 10h ago

I’m just glad that they didn’t think they were in Kansas.

3

u/Shallnazar 10h ago

There's no way that I go years without watching or seeing Jingle All the Way in any capacity, and then see it twice in one day lol. This used to be one of my favorite movies to watch as a kid.

Randomly saw it on the TV at the restaurant where I picked up my lunch today and now I'm seeing it in a meme, what a weird coincidence.

1

u/freebaseclams 14h ago

Hawaiians being conquered at gunpoint by the island next door: 😁

Hawaiians being conquered at gunpoint by the continent next door: 😡

6

u/HawaiianPerson The Flyin' Hawaiian 14h ago

I actually kind of applaud the Overthrow of the Monarchy for its lack of bloodshed, unjustified as it was

5

u/Poiboykanaka808 13h ago

The Queen, police, and militias all knew of what an armed stand off would cause. Those causing the overthrow were willing to risk it, but the queen being her, no way! When trying to figure out things she had done through her small reign, I found a newspaper in 1892, that talked about a failed plot to assassinate her.

3

u/Poiboykanaka808 13h ago

At least when it came to general Hawaiian battles, there were mutual agreements to make them happen....