I can offer some comments based on my personal observations during the 50's when the Odd Lifts were popular in an attempt to show which dude in the gym was the strongest in doing some type of uncommon lift or feat of strength.
It was something like a, "Yea, but can you do this!?" sort of thing with everyone trying to come up with new ideas, new challenges.
"Odd Lifts" eventually grew into what we call Power Lifting today, but back then odd lifts were any lift that appeared to be somewhat odd, such as the one shown in that first video.
Reg Park and Reeves used to do this stuff during intermissions at small bodybuilding contests in the Oakland area and almost everyone back at that time would see how many olympic plates they could pick up simply by using the fingers of one hand. In fact, I witnessed that just recently.
Way back then there was no organization nor sanctioning body that would promote strength contests unless it was some strong guy standing on a stage challenging someone in the audience. And the usual prize for anyone who beat him would be a turkey or a paper wrapped ham.
Now-a-days you get a plastic trophy. That's progression.