(This story was originally written and recorded for Podcast #64, released on July 16, 2013.)

On December 11, 1952, an Associated Press story told of a unique offer from a dentist in Yukon, Oklahoma, who was giving his patients an opportunity to settle old scores for any pain he had caused them during dental procedures over the past 12 years.

Dr. Davis S. Harris announced that he would auction off the chance for one lucky, revenge-seeking patient to pull his lower wisdom tooth, with all proceeds going to charity. He estimated that, having pulled around three teeth a day, many of his patients would likely jump at the chance to return the favor and witness him endure the familiar phrase, “This won’t hurt.”

The idea took root when Carl T. Addington, a local insurance agent, visited Harris with a toothache. In an attempt to lighten the mood, the dentist shared that he, too, had a toothache. Addington joked, “A dentist with a toothache! We ought to advertise this. Hire a hall. Charge admission and have all your patients come look on.”

Not long after, Addington and other local businessmen organized a charity auction, offering the tooth-pulling privilege to the highest bidder. Dr. Harris agreed to go through with it, as long as the proceeds went to St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Oklahoma City. His only other conditions were that a professional would administer the anesthetic and that the event would take place after Christmas because “I don’t want to have a sore jaw for Christmas.”