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The Tightrope Act In The Dark Incident

GNC

King-Sized Canary
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Aug 25, 2001
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Watching that BBC Four doc about circuses, they showed a tightrope walking act that I saw a piece on during an episode of Record Breakers which has always stayed with me.

Basically, there was a family of these tightrope walkers who used to balance on each other shoulders to create a sort of pyramid as they traversed the rope, it was an incredible feat of balancing that one night went horribly wrong when the lights went out in the big top for about ten seconds.

The crowd below panicked, but when the lights came back on to everyone's amazement the family had stayed in place and were able to safely complete the stunt. Nobody but them knew how they managed to stay upright that night.

So my question is, does anyone recall this? Who were they and is the footage online because it was on Record Breakers?
 
It's been over 9 years since this query was posted, but better late than never ...

Apparently the incident involved the original 'Flying Wallendas', and it occurred in Fort Worth (Texas).

... The Wallendas were renowned for their seven-person pyramid — 25 feet above the ground — and for their grace under pressure.

“One time, in South America, there was an earthquake while they were on the wire, and they stayed up,” Mr. Wallenda-Zoppe said of the original Wallendas. “In Fort Worth the lights went off for several seconds, which is an eternity when you’re up there. And when the lights came back, they were still doing the seven.”

SOURCE: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/movies/wallendas-film-the-show-must-go-on-plays-in-sarasota.html
 
The incident occurred on 20 November, 1963, during rehearsals for a charity show in which the Wallendas performed their famous human pyramid act for the first time since the tragic accident in January 1962.
Flying Wallendas Perform Human Pyramid Again

FORT WORTH - ... The flying Wallendas yesterday performed their "human pyramid" act in public for the first time since they fell while performing 22 months ago, killing two members of the troupe. They did the act during a special afternoon performance for underprivileged children. A net was stretched beneath the wire. The Wallendas are appearing at the 21st annual Shrine circus.

The act went off without a hitch, despite a scare during rehearsals. They were rehearsing Tuesday night 36 feet above the floor when an electrician turned out the lights at the Will Rogers Coliseum to test them. The seven Wallenda troupe members froze on the wire. The performers did not move again until the lights were turned on. ...

SOURCE:
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York: Thursday, November 21, 1963, Page 13.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/137348268/
 
A thousand thanks, what an incredible feat of balance!
 
What an incredible feat of balance and what an interesting bit of local history, since we live in Ft. Worth.
 
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