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Niagara Fallsview Casino in Spring 2006 01
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gawing
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The Niagara Funambulists sign
| The Niagara Funambulists sign |
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The Niagara Funambulists
Seventeen tightrope walkers, or funambulists, as they were known in the 19th Century, have crossed the Niagara River. "The Great Blondin" was the first to accomplish the feat in 1859, carrying a 50-pound balancing pole. The Frenchman's spectacular aerial stunts attracted a young rival, ""Farini the Great,"" who thought Blondin was overrated. They regularly scheduled performances at the same time to top each other's exploits.
Their acts inspired a rash of Niagara tightrope daredevils, such as I.F. Jenkins who pedaled his velocipede from shore to shore along a wire, Clifford Calverley who set a record waling over Niagara - in just over 2 1/2 minutes, one-quarter the usual time! And Marie Spelterina, the first and only woman to perform on a tightrope over Niagara.
The last great high wire stunt over the river was performed in 1975. Frenchman Henri Rachatin, without permission, crossed the cable that supported the Spanish Aero car (suspended above the Whirlpool) on a specifically modified motorcycle. Accompanying Rachatin were his wife, Janyck, who hung upside down from the motorcycle by one foot, and Frank Lucas, the motorcycle drive. They made it. |
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| Date: |
21.05.2005 13:24 |
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