Fountain Hills resident Phillip Roberts has released his debut historical fiction novel, “The Luckiest Fool on Earth,” which explores the extraordinary life of Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly, a 1920s daredevil who rose to fame by doing one thing better than anyone else: sitting on top of flagpoles.
Flagpole sitting, Roberts explained, was “an act of endurance” during an era hungry for spectacle. With radio still in its infancy and television decades away, Americans craved sensational stunts.
Daredevils competed to break records, attract crowds and earn a living through publicity. At one point, Kelly became the most famous of them all.
“In many ways, he was a precursor to the world we live in now, being Instagram famous for doing nothing,” Roberts said.
In 1930, Kelly spent 49 days and one hour atop a flagpole in Atlantic City, claiming the world championship title. His manager promoted every moment, generating more newspaper coverage for Kelly in the 1920s and ‘30s than President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at the time, according to Roberts.
Despite the fame, Kelly was an ordinary man with a wife and son whose life took unexpected and often strange turns.
Roberts first discovered Kelly’s story while researching his first book, a photographic documentation of tiki and related art forms across Waikiki and Oahu. While living in Hawaii, Roberts stumbled upon a bar named after Kelly, sparking a deep dive into old newspaper archives.
Those clippings eventually grew into a fully realized novel.
“There’s a lot packed in 300 pages and it was a joy for me to write,” Roberts said, who is currently working on a screenplay of his novel.
Roberts said the book appeals to history enthusiasts, fans of early New York City and readers drawn to stories of con-men, con-women, grifters, daredevils and attention seekers.
“This was the precursor to Evil Knievel, Super Dave Osborne and Jackass,” he said. “It’s an untold story about the rise and fall of a man and the dark side of fame.”
“The Luckiest Fool on Earth” is available online in all formats. Roberts will hold a book signing at the Tales and Tumbleweed Holiday Book Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at La Famiglia Pizza and Pasta and The Silver Key Lounge in Mesa. For a local signing, Fountain Hills residents may also contact Roberts directly by emailing zazelpublishing@gmail.com.
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Cyrus Guccione Arts & Entertainment Editor | North Valley
Meet Cyrus Cyrus Guccione joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., in 2023, as a reporter and then as an arts and entertainment editor in the Phoenix Northeast Valley. He previously served as a staff writer for The Fountain Hills Times and a contributing writer for Phoenix New Times.
Community: He has been a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor since 2019.
Education: Northern Arizona University with a BSBA in Economics; College of the Redwoods with an AA in Communications.
Random Fact: Interned at the Waste Management Phoenix Open PGA golf tournament.
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