  We aim at formulating a higher-spin gravity theory around AdS$_2$ relevant
for holography. As a first step, we investigate its kinematics by identifying
the low-dimensional cousins of the standard higher-dimensional structures in
higher-spin gravity such as the singleton, the higher-spin symmetry algebra,
the higher-rank gauge and matter fields, etc. In particular, the higher-spin
algebra is given here by $hs[\lambda]$ and parameterized by a real parameter
$\lambda$. The singleton is defined to be a Verma module of the AdS$_2$
isometry subalgebra $so(2,1) \subset hs[\lambda]$ with conformal weight $\Delta
= \frac{1\pm\lambda}{2}\,$. On the one hand, the spectrum of local modes is
determined by the Flato-Fronsdal theorem for the tensor product of two such
singletons. It is given by an infinite tower of massive scalar fields in
AdS$_2$ with ascending masses expressed in terms of $\lambda$. On the other
hand, the higher-spin fields arising through the gauging of $hs[\lambda]$
algebra do not propagate local degrees of freedom. Our analysis of the spectrum
suggests that AdS$_2$ higher-spin gravity is a theory of an infinite collection
of massive scalars with fine-tuned masses, interacting with infinitely many
topological gauge fields. Finally, we discuss the holographic CFT$_1$ duals of
the kinematical structures identified in the bulk.
