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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
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6 comments:
I always thought it was more fun without the count down.
The announcer would say "You may fire when ready! And may God go with you on your perilous flight!"
Silence....silence.....silence..... and about the time people were becoming concerned the explosion went off ther would be about a foot of daylight under the butt of each member of the audience.
I will second that. It was scary just looking at that truck. Looked like serious business was going to happen. A Humby on steriods. I liked to watch Mr. Hugo Zacchini checking the truck out. Like a mad sientist with his shop coat on. Loved watching the act also. Late 50s or early 60s.
And by the way, I have seen a photo of one of the Zacchinis going over four Ferris Wheels placed side by side.
John Herriott has a terrific story about Don Northdorf jumping out of a Zacchini cannon at the Chicago Stadium.
I had a party one time in Oklahoma City, and actually squeezed more than 30 people in my 31 foot trailer. Hugo somehow managed, in the middle of all that madness, to fall asleep on my couch. Someone called "Hugo"... and, not the first sign of recognition from him. "HUGO!" and he was still snoring. Someone started with "5" and we all chimed in "4", "3".... Somewhere between "2" and "1" he jumped wide-awake with a very startled look. Talking afterwards, we were suprised to discover many performers have nightmares with a similar theme. Hugo said he often dreamed that he fell asleep inside the canon and wasn't ready when it went off. I always had the nightmare that I was being announced, and looked down to realize I didn't have my wire shoes on. I can imagine many variations.
In 1936, The Great Wilno was being shot over two ferris Wheels as a "free" act on the Cetlin and Wilson Carnival Midway. By 1939, the Zacchini cannon was shooting them over three Ferris Wheels on the Cetlin and Wilson Show and in 1940 The Zacchini family added a flying trapeze act in addiiton to the cannon shoot as the "free" acts on the Cetlin and Wilson midway.
Bob
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