A celebrity death in a lonely hotel room, but Mike the headless chicken lives on

The most bizarre event in the poultry calendar is held this month, when a small American town holds its annual festival to celebrate its most famous son: a rooster called Mike that lived for 18 months after its head was cut off.

His story began on 10 September 1945 in Fruita, Colorado, when farmer Lloyd Olsen went to choose a chicken for dinner. His eye lighted upon a plump, young rooster, he grabbed it by the neck, reached for his axe, and, he thought, despatched it with one blow. But Mike had other ideas. He walked carefully around the yard, attempting to peck for food and preened his feathers. The next day Mr Olsen found Mike asleep with his head under his wing. Intrigued, he fed him using an eyedropper.

After a week Mr Olsen took him (plus his head) to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Scientistsfound that the axe had missed Mike's jugular, and a blood clot had formed, preventing him bleeding to death. His brain stem was still intact. Mike was still almost fully functioning.

He returned to the farm, word spread, Life magazine arrived, offers came in, and soon the lure of showbusiness proved too great. Mike got a manager and they went on tour. "Mike the Headless Wonder Chicken" was how he was billed and crowds in New York, Atlantic City, Los Angeles and San Diego paid 25 cents a time to see him. He was insured for $10,000 (£6,250). But it couldn't last. Nearly 18 months later, Mike and his entourage stopped at a motel, he began to choke, and died.

Gone, but not forgotten. A few years ago, the people of Fruita decided to hold a festival. Thus began the Headless Chicken Days, featuring everything smalltown America does when it wants to lose its head for a weekend.