Was slipping on a banana peel an actual danger in the early 20th century? A common slapstick trope is slipping on a banana peel, however the Mythbusters and others have shown that banana peels aren't as slippery as comedy would have you believe. On the other hand, there are news reports of people slipping on banana peels and sustaining injuries: > Slips on Banana Peel, Killed. Jacob Bopp, a chauffeur of No. 1137 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, slipped on a banana peel yesterday and died withing a few minutes of a fracture of the skull. - The Evening World, October 30, 1917, Final Edition, page 12 One complication is that the type of banana popular today is the Cavendish, but prior to the 1950s it was the Big Mike, and it's possible the change to the Cavendish could have significantly reduced the danger of slipping on a peel.

Yes.

According to Slipped on Banana Peel: Atlanta man is minus two fingers on one of his hands _The Times and Democrat_ 21 September 1911: A man slipped on a train car step, and had his fingers run over by a wheel.

The 07 November 1900 Evening Bulletin says Thomas Reed broke his leg 6 inches above the knee after slipping on a banana peel in front of Owens hardware store.

The 21 May 1901 Butte Inter Mountain reports that Dan Cullen had both legs severed just above the ankle after slipping on a banana peel and being run over by a train he was trying to board.

The 22 July 1902 Evening Bulletin reports that George Hamilton broke his right arm in two places after slipping on a banana peel.

The 28 October 1909 Neshoba Democrat reports that W. W. Cockrell hurt his leg after slipping on a banana peel.

The 18 October 1921 Evening Public Ledger reports that Michael Managan broke his skull after slipping on a banana peel and may die.