1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of I 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. Hello and Welcome to This Day in History Class, 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: a show that raises the curtain on everyday history and 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: lets it take about I'm Gay Bluesier and in this episode, 5 00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 1: we're looking at a career defining moment in the life 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: of Charles Blondin, one of the most talented funambulists or 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: tight rope walkers to ever step foot on a wire. 8 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: The day was June eighteen fifty nine, French daredevil Charles 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: Blondin became the first person to walk across Niagara Falls 10 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: on a tight rope. The stunt was performed a hundred 11 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: and sixty feet above the Niagara Gorge, a little ways 12 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: down the river from the falls proper. An estimated cry 13 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: out of twenty five thousand spectators turned out to watch 14 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,640 Speaker 1: the thirty four year old acrobat in action. They nervously 15 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: held their breath as Blondin made his way across the 16 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,920 Speaker 1: eleven hundred foot gap with nothing but a two inch 17 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: wide cable between him and the raging rapids below. The 18 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: man who would perform professionally as Charles Blondin was born 19 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: on February eighteen, twenty four in Adon, France. His birth 20 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: name was Jean Francois Gravoalais, but he later adopted his 21 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 1: fair haired father's old army nickname Blondin or Blondie in English. 22 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: When he was four years old, his parents took him 23 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,959 Speaker 1: to a visiting circus where the young boy got his 24 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: first glimpse of tightrope walking. It was love at first sight, 25 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: and Blondin immediately started practicing the routine. At home. He 26 00:01:53,480 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 1: strung a clothes line between two kitchen chairs and tried 27 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: walking across while holding his father's fishing rod at a 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: balancing pole. He fell off on his initial attempt, but 29 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,720 Speaker 1: he got right back on the rope and improved quickly. 30 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: The following year, his parents supported his dream by sending 31 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 1: him to train as an acrobat at the renowned at 32 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: Col de Gymnas in Leon. Three years later, at the 33 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: ripe old age of eight, Blondin made his first stage appearance, 34 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 1: where he was billed as the Little Wonder or the 35 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: Boy Wonder. He was a natural performer and soon became 36 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 1: a child star of circuses and music halls across Europe. 37 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: As an adult, Blondin was recruited by notorious showman p t. Barnum. 38 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: He performed throughout North America as an aerialist in the 39 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: Circus troup, and later struck out on his own as 40 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: a solo performer. In eighteen fifty nine, Blondin announced his 41 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: greatest stunt to date. He would cross Niagara Falls on 42 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: a tight rope. It was a risky prospect, but he 43 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: couldn't have asked for a better venue. At the time, 44 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: tens of thousands of visitors came to the falls each day, 45 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: not only to take in the natural wonders, but to 46 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: watch the various street performers and daredevils who set up 47 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: shop there. Blondin, stunted, promised to top them all, but 48 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: very few people had faith in his survival. One local 49 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: promoter decided to take a chance, though. He donated hundred 50 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: feet of two inch Manila rope, complete with guy wires 51 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,639 Speaker 1: attached to the sides to help keep the rope from 52 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: swaying too wildly. This rigging was first attached to a 53 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 1: rock on the Canadian side of the river, about three 54 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: quarters of a mile below the falls. It was then 55 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: taken across the river and a rowboat and secured to 56 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: an old tree at White's Pleasure grounds on the American side. 57 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: The tight rope sagged about fifty to sixty feet in 58 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: the middle, giving it a steep slope on either side, 59 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 1: a feature which Blondin would later take advantage of to 60 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: great effect. On the morning of June, roughly twin five 61 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: thousand spectators arrived by train and steamboat and eagerly filled 62 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: the banks on both sides of the river. Live bands 63 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: and food vendors kept the atmosphere lively, and Blondin's manager, 64 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: Harry call Cord, gave tours to the press, walking them 65 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: through the logistics of Blondin's feet. Finally, at about four pm, 66 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: Blondin took his position on the American side, dressed in 67 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 1: shimmering pink tights and a yellow silk tunic. In his hands, 68 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: he carried a thirty five foot balancing pole that weighed 69 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: about forty pounds. He half jokingly asked if anyone in 70 00:04:38,040 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: the crowd would like to be carried across on his back, 71 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: but when no one volunteered, he set out on his own. 72 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: Bands on both banks played the French national anthem as 73 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: he began his crossing. It probably sounded something like this 74 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: for Blondon, walking less than a quarter mile on a 75 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,800 Speaker 1: tight rope was a relatively easy task, but to capitalize 76 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 1: on the audience's tension and to give them a longer show, 77 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:18,119 Speaker 1: he took his time with the crossing. At one point, 78 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: about a third of the way through his journey, Blonden 79 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 1: shocked the crowd by lying face down on the rope 80 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: and taking a rest. The Toronto Globe later described the 81 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: moment writing quote, After walking out about a hundred and 82 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: fifty yards, he suddenly sank down on the rope and 83 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: took a short rest. An involuntary shutter passed through the 84 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: crowd as he thus fearlessly threw himself on his face 85 00:05:42,839 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: on the cable, while several of the ladies gave a 86 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: petite scream and clung more firmly to their protectors. That 87 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:54,480 Speaker 1: was already more excitement than many folks could bear. Some 88 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: onlookers even reportedly fainted, but blondon was just getting started. 89 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,599 Speaker 1: When he reached the drooping midpoint of the rope, he 90 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 1: sat down and then lowered a string to the famous 91 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: maid of the miss Steamer, which was conveniently anchored just 92 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 1: beneath him. Moments later, Blondin hauled up a bottle of 93 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: wine from the ship, took a few swigs, and then, 94 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:20,440 Speaker 1: feeling refreshed, started making his way uphill towards the Canadian shore. 95 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: The crossing took a little over fifteen minutes total, and 96 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: after a short break, Blondon made the return trip in 97 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: less than half that time. It was a sure sign 98 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: that he had been holding back on his initial crossing, 99 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: hamming it up and making his audience sweat a little. 100 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: The stunt at Niagara was reported throughout the United States 101 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: and Europe, making the Great Blondin a household name overnight. 102 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: He and his manager cashed in on that success by 103 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: staging dozens of additional Niagara crossings over the next two years. 104 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: The first encore performance took place less than a week later, 105 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: on July four, eight fifty nine. That time, Blondin stunned 106 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: the crowd by not only lying down on the cable, 107 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: but also flipping over and finishing the trip by walking backward. 108 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: For the return trip, Blonden up the antie again by 109 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: completing the walk while wearing a large sack over his 110 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: head and body. These kinds of theatrical variations helped sustain 111 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: interest in Blondon's act and grew even more over the 112 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 1: top as time went on. For example, on July, Blondon 113 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: walked backward the entire way to Canada and returned to 114 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: the US, pushing a wheelbarrow across while dressed in a 115 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:41,239 Speaker 1: monkey costume. President Millard Fillmore was in the crowd that day, 116 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: so Blondin likely felt the pressure to step things up 117 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: and only the way a monkey suit can. Two weeks later, 118 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: Blondon's somersaulted and back flipped his way across the tight rope. 119 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: On another occasion, he made the crossing at night on 120 00:07:55,480 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: stilts while blindfolded. One of his most spectacular feats, though, 121 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: has to be the time he crossed while carrying a 122 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: large iron stove. When he reached the halfway point, Blondon 123 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: balanced the stove on the wire, popped the chef's hat 124 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: on his head, cracked a couple of eggs, and proceeded 125 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: to cook himself an omelet. He didn't eat the whole 126 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: thing himself, though, Instead he lowered the dish down to 127 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: the maid of the mist so that the tourists on 128 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: board could have a taste as well. Blondon even fulfilled 129 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:29,559 Speaker 1: his original dream of carrying a passenger across the rope 130 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: on his back. In the end, the Lucky volunteer wasn't 131 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: an audience member, but his own manager, Harry call Cord. 132 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:40,120 Speaker 1: Before setting out with the top hatted man clinging to 133 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: his back, Blondon gave him the following hilarious advice. Look up, Harry, 134 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: he said, you are no longer call Cord. You are 135 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 1: blond In. Until I cleared this place, be a part 136 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: of me, mind, body and soul. If I sway sway 137 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: with me. Do not attempt to do any balancing your self. 138 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 1: If you do, we will both go to our death. Thankfully, 139 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 1: even though a few guy wires snapped along the way, 140 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 1: Colcord kept his nerve and both men made it safely across. 141 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: It was quite a display of trust on the part 142 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,440 Speaker 1: of Blondin's manager, but by all accounts, he did have 143 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: tremendous faith and his client's abilities. In fact, call Cord 144 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: once described him as quote more like a fantastic sprite 145 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: than a human being. He could walk the rope as 146 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: a bird cleaves to air. After two years of performances 147 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: at Niagara Falls, Blondin was invited to London by the 148 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: Prince of Wales as his guest. Blondin performed at the 149 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: famous Crystal Palace, where he dazzled spectators by turning somersaults 150 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,120 Speaker 1: on stilts on a rope suspended nearly a hundred and 151 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: eighty feet above the ground. Following this high profile show, 152 00:09:53,880 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: Blondon embarked on a kind of decades long world tour, 153 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 1: performing in China, Japan, Australia, India and all over Europe. 154 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: His final performance was in Belfast in Northern Ireland in 155 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: eighteen ninety six. He was seventy two years old, and 156 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: although Blondon died before his seventy third birthday, it wasn't 157 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: a stunt gone wrong that did him in. It was 158 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,960 Speaker 1: plain old diabetes. At the height of his career, Charles 159 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: Blondin reportedly earned as much as five hundred thousand dollars 160 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: a year from his performances. There were a great many 161 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: of those performances too. He's believed to have crossed Niagara 162 00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: alone more than three hundred times, and if you add 163 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: up the length of all the various ropes he walked across, 164 00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,559 Speaker 1: it amounts to roughly ten thousand miles. That's an impressive 165 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: resume for a tightrope walker and a testament to the 166 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 1: passion of a performer who found his calling when he 167 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: was just four years old. Of course, not everyone was 168 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,679 Speaker 1: impressed by Blondin's death defying stunts. In fact, the great 169 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 1: Mark Twain once dismissively for the blondon as quote that 170 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 1: adventurous ass. But hey, you can't please everyone. I'm Gabe 171 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: Louisier and hopefully you now know a little more about 172 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: history today than you did yesterday. If you enjoyed today's episode, 173 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: consider following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at t 174 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: d i HC Show. You can also rate and review 175 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: the show on Apple Podcasts, or you can send your 176 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: feedback directly to me at this Day at I heart 177 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: media dot com. Thanks as always to Chandler Mays for 178 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: producing the show, and thank you for listening. I'll see 179 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: you back here again tomorrow for another day in History class.