Cong Tian (From Dick Flint)

IMG_3079, originally uploaded by bucklesw1. The recent picture of Mel Hall executing a handstand while peddling a giraffe unicycle certainly shows a difficult and fine trick for the era but it has its variations and increasing levels of difficulty that have evolved since the 1942 Billboard clipping recently sent in by Bill Strong. I think the peak is that of the Chinese performer Cong Tian who has twice been with Big Apple including last year as seen in this photo. He performs the handstand on a unicycle on a slack wire, though the cycle may not be quite as tall but nonetheless one high enough requiring a chain from the wheel to the pedals. However, his is without any special adaptation to the unicycle, thus necessitating one shoulder resting against the seat. Some who have done this stunt on a wire have a special cycle with no seat but rather supports for BOTH shoulders and so their body's center of balance is directly above the wheel, an easier trick in a relative sense only. Can't tell from the photo how Mel Hall did the trick and his cycle is, as noted, taller, but it certainly must have been a feature of his act that looked great for its time and would still be if someone could attempt it! Dick Flint Baltimore