1 00:00:00,540 --> 00:00:15,390 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to This Day in History Class, a 2 00:00:15,470 --> 00:00:18,290 Speaker 1: show that shines a light on the ups and downs 3 00:00:18,690 --> 00:00:19,810 Speaker 1: of everyday history. 4 00:00:20,810 --> 00:00:24,380 Speaker 2: I'm Gabe Lussier, and in this episode... We're talking about 5 00:00:24,420 --> 00:00:30,110 Speaker 2: the death-defying debut of a self-styled superhero, the amazing Spider-Dan, 6 00:00:30,610 --> 00:00:42,690 Speaker 2: aka the Skyscraper Man. The day was May 25th, 1981. 7 00:00:42,690 --> 00:00:47,729 Speaker 2: A 25-year-old acrobat named Dan Goodwin completed the first external 8 00:00:47,810 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 2: climb of the Sears Tower, the tallest building in the 9 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:57,620 Speaker 2: world at the time. He managed to scale the 1,450-foot structure, 10 00:00:57,940 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: now known as Willis Tower, using an array of climbing equipment, 11 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 2: including giant suction cups fastened to his hands and feet. 12 00:01:06,620 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 2: He dressed appropriately for the task, donning a homemade Spider-Man costume, 13 00:01:12,110 --> 00:01:16,550 Speaker 2: though his suit lacked the iconic mask. Still, the similarity 14 00:01:16,630 --> 00:01:20,330 Speaker 2: was striking enough that the press quickly dubbed him Spider-Dan. 15 00:01:21,050 --> 00:01:23,830 Speaker 2: And while an unsanctioned climb up the side of a 16 00:01:23,870 --> 00:01:28,679 Speaker 2: skyscraper doesn't sound all that heroic, Dan Goodwin actually pulled 17 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: the stunt with a good cause in mind. Dan Goodwin 18 00:01:32,780 --> 00:01:35,660 Speaker 2: developed his love of climbing from his childhood in the 19 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: forests of Maine. He had his first brush with the 20 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:41,589 Speaker 2: law as a teenager after he climbed one of the 21 00:01:41,630 --> 00:01:45,490 Speaker 2: tallest trees in Portland and refused to come down. The 22 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:48,990 Speaker 2: police eventually tried using a cherry picker to get him down, 23 00:01:49,310 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: but according to Goodwin, he was too nimble for the 24 00:01:51,970 --> 00:01:55,460 Speaker 2: officers to get a hold of him. After graduating high 25 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,260 Speaker 2: school in 1974, Goodwin took a job on a blueberry 26 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: farm in rural Maine. A few years later, he moved 27 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,860 Speaker 2: to Las Vegas and put his climbing skills to work 28 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 2: as an acrobat and gymnast at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. 29 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,700 Speaker 2: It was during this time that Goodwin witnessed a tragedy 30 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:17,700 Speaker 2: that left a deep impression on him. In November of 1980, 31 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:24,170 Speaker 2: a three-alarm fire devastated the 26-story MGM Grand Hotel. The 32 00:02:24,230 --> 00:02:29,530 Speaker 2: fire killed 85 people and sent 650 more to the hospital, 33 00:02:29,889 --> 00:02:35,730 Speaker 2: including guests, employees, and 14 firefighters. The disaster was the 34 00:02:35,770 --> 00:02:40,710 Speaker 2: result of a lack of built-in fire protection systems, namely sprinklers. 35 00:02:41,530 --> 00:02:44,430 Speaker 2: The majority of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation 36 00:02:44,530 --> 00:02:49,090 Speaker 2: on the highest floors. The firefighters performed admirably, but they 37 00:02:49,130 --> 00:02:51,570 Speaker 2: were unable to reach the guests on the upper levels 38 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: of the building in time. They had to get the 39 00:02:53,970 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: blaze under control on the lower floors before they could 40 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:01,100 Speaker 2: ascend any higher, and since the building was 26 stories tall, 41 00:03:01,419 --> 00:03:05,690 Speaker 2: they couldn't reach guests' windows by ladder either. Moved by 42 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,510 Speaker 2: this tragic scene, Dan Goodwin began developing a plan for 43 00:03:09,590 --> 00:03:13,290 Speaker 2: rescuing people directly from their windows, no matter how high 44 00:03:13,410 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: up they were. He believed that if firefighters were trained 45 00:03:17,020 --> 00:03:20,399 Speaker 2: to scale the exteriors of buildings, they could rescue people 46 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 2: from their windows and then lower them to the ground 47 00:03:23,020 --> 00:03:26,389 Speaker 2: in baskets. He took his idea to the Las Vegas 48 00:03:26,450 --> 00:03:30,429 Speaker 2: Fire Chief, but they were unconvinced. After all, the plan 49 00:03:30,450 --> 00:03:33,690 Speaker 2: was coming from someone who had never scaled the exterior 50 00:03:33,750 --> 00:03:36,940 Speaker 2: of a skyscraper himself. How could they be sure it 51 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,420 Speaker 2: would even work? Six months later, Goodwin decided he would 52 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,540 Speaker 2: find out for himself by scaling what was then the 53 00:03:44,620 --> 00:03:48,300 Speaker 2: tallest building in the world. He spent about six weeks 54 00:03:48,340 --> 00:03:52,180 Speaker 2: scouting the Sears Tower and planning his ascent. During that time, 55 00:03:52,260 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: he also constructed his own Spider-Man suit at a reported 56 00:03:55,800 --> 00:04:00,990 Speaker 2: cost of $ 450. At last, on the morning of Memorial 57 00:04:01,030 --> 00:04:05,410 Speaker 2: Day of 1981, Dan Goodwin was ready to make his climb. 58 00:04:06,190 --> 00:04:08,850 Speaker 2: He went most of the journey alone, but he did 59 00:04:08,910 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 2: get some help at the very start from his friend 60 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 2: and ladder man, James Hackett. Goodwin began his climb at 61 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: 3 a.m., using suction cups to adhere to the glass 62 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,190 Speaker 2: and metal hooks to latch onto slots in the building 63 00:04:22,390 --> 00:04:27,140 Speaker 2: where window-washing scaffolds would usually go. By 6 a.m., Goodwin 64 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:32,099 Speaker 2: had reached the 26th floor of the 110-story building. His 65 00:04:32,180 --> 00:04:36,500 Speaker 2: presence hadn't gone unnoticed either. Sears Tower security guards were 66 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:38,740 Speaker 2: the first to spot him when they went outside to 67 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: raise the building's flag that morning. Soon enough, a crowd 68 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:45,540 Speaker 2: of hundreds gathered around the west side of the building 69 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: to watch Goodwin's climb. The Chicago Fire Department was on 70 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: the scene as well, but there wasn't much they could 71 00:04:52,500 --> 00:04:56,150 Speaker 2: do to get Dan down. According to Jack Sterling, a 72 00:04:56,210 --> 00:05:08,610 Speaker 2: deputy district fire chief at the time, quote, So, just 73 00:05:08,650 --> 00:05:11,330 Speaker 2: like when he was a teenager, Goodwin was just too 74 00:05:11,450 --> 00:05:16,430 Speaker 2: fast and nimble for authorities to capture. Still, fire officials 75 00:05:16,630 --> 00:05:19,530 Speaker 2: only agreed to back off if Goodwin agreed to let 76 00:05:19,570 --> 00:05:23,680 Speaker 2: them follow beneath him with a window-washing scaffold. The climber 77 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 2: took the deal, so from the 55th floor all the 78 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:29,350 Speaker 2: way to the top, the scaffold acted as a kind 79 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:32,830 Speaker 2: of safety net. In the end, though, Goodwin didn't need it. 80 00:05:33,310 --> 00:05:36,390 Speaker 2: He reached the roof without incident, pulling himself up and 81 00:05:36,470 --> 00:05:40,850 Speaker 2: over the edge at about 10.30am. The police were there waiting, 82 00:05:41,130 --> 00:05:43,950 Speaker 2: and both Goodwin and Hackett were arrested on the spot. 83 00:05:44,900 --> 00:05:49,260 Speaker 2: Some law enforcement officials were understandably annoyed with Goodwin, but 84 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:54,770 Speaker 2: some were surprisingly understanding and even complimentary. For instance, Chicago 85 00:05:54,830 --> 00:05:59,210 Speaker 2: patrolman Jack Rimkus told reporters, quote, It was a snap 86 00:05:59,270 --> 00:06:03,230 Speaker 2: for him, almost like walking upstairs. He's a real nice kid, 87 00:06:03,550 --> 00:06:07,250 Speaker 2: and this is just something he had to do. Goodwin 88 00:06:07,330 --> 00:06:11,050 Speaker 2: and Hackett didn't get off scot-free, but it was pretty close. 89 00:06:11,589 --> 00:06:15,060 Speaker 2: They were both charged with disorderly conduct and were bail-bonded 90 00:06:15,190 --> 00:06:18,860 Speaker 2: out the very next day. In fact, when Goodwin walked 91 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 2: out of the downtown jail, he was still wearing his 92 00:06:21,660 --> 00:06:25,380 Speaker 2: Spidey suit. He then held a makeshift press conference that 93 00:06:25,460 --> 00:06:29,859 Speaker 2: afternoon in the pump room at the Ambassador East Hotel. There, 94 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,810 Speaker 2: Goodwin bragged about his supposed mastery of fear, but he 95 00:06:33,870 --> 00:06:36,870 Speaker 2: also leveled with the crowd and tried to discourage others 96 00:06:36,950 --> 00:06:40,789 Speaker 2: from attempting the stunt themselves. He said, quote, I don't 97 00:06:40,830 --> 00:06:43,230 Speaker 2: want people to think it was something anyone can do. 98 00:06:43,870 --> 00:06:47,390 Speaker 2: Each suction cup that I put on was sliding. I 99 00:06:47,410 --> 00:06:51,330 Speaker 2: had about 10 seconds on each cup. Two weeks after 100 00:06:51,370 --> 00:06:54,630 Speaker 2: the incident, the climber and his accomplice had their big 101 00:06:54,670 --> 00:06:58,110 Speaker 2: day in court. Goodwin pled guilty and was fined a 102 00:06:58,150 --> 00:07:03,890 Speaker 2: whopping $ 35. Hackett's charge was dismissed entirely, as there's nothing 103 00:07:03,950 --> 00:07:08,060 Speaker 2: all that disorderly about holding a ladder. The climb had 104 00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:12,060 Speaker 2: gone fairly well, all things considered, so Spider Dan returned 105 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: to Chicago just five months later, this time to climb 106 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: the John Hancock Tower. He succeeded again, despite the decidedly 107 00:07:21,020 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: more hands-on approach of the fire department. On that occasion, 108 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,210 Speaker 2: they actually sprayed him with a fire hose in an 109 00:07:28,270 --> 00:07:30,710 Speaker 2: effort to get him to climb back down. It was 110 00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:33,950 Speaker 2: an incredibly reckless move, and while it didn't have the 111 00:07:33,990 --> 00:07:38,460 Speaker 2: intended effect, it thankfully didn't get him killed either. In 112 00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:42,140 Speaker 2: the end, Goodwin was charged with criminal trespassing and with 113 00:07:42,180 --> 00:07:45,540 Speaker 2: performing an aerial act without the use of safety equipment. 114 00:07:46,220 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: These beefier charges led the judge to give him a 115 00:07:48,990 --> 00:07:52,190 Speaker 2: year of probation, during which time he was forbidden from 116 00:07:52,230 --> 00:07:57,590 Speaker 2: performing any other public stunts. Of course, that ruling only 117 00:07:57,650 --> 00:08:00,910 Speaker 2: applied in the United States. Goodwin was still free to 118 00:08:00,950 --> 00:08:03,870 Speaker 2: climb in other countries, and that's exactly what he did. 119 00:08:04,530 --> 00:08:08,770 Speaker 2: Over the next several decades, he scaled more skyscrapers, towers, 120 00:08:08,830 --> 00:08:12,900 Speaker 2: and cliff faces all around the world. Now in his 121 00:08:13,020 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: late 60s, Dan Goodwin doesn't embark on as many high-profile 122 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,860 Speaker 2: climbs as he used to, but he still keeps plenty 123 00:08:19,900 --> 00:08:25,180 Speaker 2: busy as a motivational speaker, consultant, and podcast host. He 124 00:08:25,260 --> 00:08:29,060 Speaker 2: may not have Spider-Man's name recognition or superpowers, but he 125 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:33,730 Speaker 2: did get the blessing of Spider-Man creator Stan Lee. In 2010, 126 00:08:33,730 --> 00:08:38,390 Speaker 2: the legendary Marvel Comics creator wrote the foreword to Goodwin's memoir, 127 00:08:38,670 --> 00:08:42,319 Speaker 2: Skyscraper Man. And four years later, Lee made it clear 128 00:08:42,380 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: he was a fan again when he said in a 129 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:48,020 Speaker 2: TV interview, Full disclosure, Dan Goodwin was the first person 130 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 2: to climb the Sears Tower, but he wasn't the last 131 00:08:50,540 --> 00:09:14,179 Speaker 2: or the fastest. In 1999, a French mountaineer named Alain 132 00:09:14,220 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 2: Robert scaled the entire tower in just over one hour. 133 00:09:19,179 --> 00:09:21,939 Speaker 2: Just like Dan, he was promptly arrested at the top. 134 00:09:22,460 --> 00:09:26,100 Speaker 2: But unlike Dan, Stan Lee never claimed to be his 135 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:33,020 Speaker 2: personal fan. Nuff said. I'm Gabe Lussier, and hopefully you 136 00:09:33,059 --> 00:09:36,110 Speaker 2: now know a little more about history today than you 137 00:09:36,140 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: did yesterday. You can learn even more about history by 138 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:46,230 Speaker 2: following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at TDIHCshow. You 139 00:09:46,270 --> 00:09:48,970 Speaker 2: can also rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, 140 00:09:49,350 --> 00:09:52,170 Speaker 2: or you can send your feedback directly to me at 141 00:09:52,250 --> 00:09:57,530 Speaker 2: thisday at iheartmedia.com. Thanks as always to Chandler Mays for 142 00:09:57,570 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 2: producing the show, and thank you for listening. I'll see 143 00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:04,660 Speaker 2: you back here again tomorrow for another day in history class.