Saturday, June 16, 2012

From Chic Silber #2

NIKNEE1 - Copy by bucklesw1
NIKNEE1 - Copy, a photo by bucklesw1 on Flickr.


Hi Buckles

I predicted this classic pose (no points given)

A very classy "puppet" show (mechanic)

A real shame that ABC lessened the event's value

Can't understand why no mention or photo of Delilah

Chic

Posted by Buckles at 6/16/2012 10:32:00 AM

23 comments:

Wade G. Burck said...

Chic,
Maybe I am not getting it, but what "value" if a mechanic was used? Honestly, what "value" to a national television production company, would this event have?

Wade Burck

16 June, 2012 14:53
Little John said...

I would just like to know if he had his passport with him.

16 June, 2012 17:57
Chic Silber said...

Yes Wade You're not getting it

ABC threw mucho dinero at the event

& reaped tremendoud advertising $

The number & frequency of cutaways

for commercials was tremendous

My personal observation of "value"

had nothing to do with finances

but of prestige & respect for the

Wallenda family traditions

I admire & respect them all

16 June, 2012 18:05
Anonymous said...

And, importantly, ABC, et al, have consistently promoted the walk as "unprecedented" and the "first ever." Who originated a claim so false? I advised ABC that "research becomes the network." News media might not know better, but they remain responsible for what they air.

A question here is, why did not the Wallendas themselves acknowledge Jean-Francois Gravelet, later working as Charles Blondin, as the first to walk the falls? He did so 17 times, the first being June 30,--get this--1859. He walked blindfolded, on stilts, with his manager on his back, and once stopped mid-walk to cook and eat an omelette. He walked 1,600 feet of 3" manila hemp rope, with no record of a mechanic. The rule of the master performers has always been, "Either do the act, or don't do it, but leave the mechanic in the barn." For this event, the "tether" was embarrassing, but worse was ignoring Blondin, to whom honest credit belongs.

16 June, 2012 18:08
Jim Zajicek said...

Rog[er]..
Where have you been?, Credible Journalism went by the wayside with Monica Lewinski..ABC,CBS,FOX, CNN,MSNBC,NBC ECT. are No longer held accountable, In their EyEs your a Sheep and they will feed you whatever fits their Agenda...

As Far as Nik's walk, I take my Hat off to Him!!!...He as a Individual had a Dream, He went forth and made that Dream a Reality, Did he prefer the Tether Chic?, No, but after putting together a Million+ dollar project, securing the Permits, the equipment and on and on...What you Historians fail to realise is that No doubt Blondin didn't have the Bureaucratic, Political Correct, EPA, Insurance and other Modern Day marvels of Red tape to cut through...This wasn't Feld Entertainment or some other Big money Entertainment Corp putting this together, This was Nik and perhaps his Family undertaking this, and I Salute them...ABC demanded the Tether or no Deal...What was he supposed to say after coming this Far "No"???...ABC drew 10.1 million viewers,qualifying as the most-watched non-sports summertime major network telecast since at least 2006. I'd say He Hit a Home Run and will look forward to Nik traversing that Big Ditch in Northern Arizona...

16 June, 2012 19:25
Chic Silber said...

When you just mentioned Feld Jim

were you possibly referring to the

WTC Twin Towers walk by the French

Doctor Denton clad Philippe Petit

who was such a dud when they put

him on a show unit that they sent

him home after a very short time

16 June, 2012 22:01
Chic Silber said...

Yes he did Little John & he had it

stamped for entry by the Canadian

Immigration officials on site as

he stepped onto the scissor lift

16 June, 2012 22:05
Chic Silber said...

All good information Roger but 1

correction please as Manila & Hemp

are 2 different fibers used to make

rope although in theater Hemp is

the common term for all rope used

in linesets of any fiber as in the

term "Hemp House" not counterweight

16 June, 2012 22:39
Jim Zajicek said...

Chic
No...I was referring that a Big entertainment organization DID NOT put this together, Nik Wallenda's efforts and ingenuity did..As far as Phillipe Petit goes, I saw him on RBBB and yes, wrong Artist, wrong venue...Nik Wallenda reminds me of Evel Knievel in the sense that Nik promoted himself, as did Evel...Evel portrayed a Sportswriter, a Newsman and a Jewish Lawyer/promoter to get Jay Sarno to let him Jump the Fountains at Caesars Palace...I am not sure what Nik had to do, But to put together the Event,Plus convince ABC to televise in prime time on National Television was impressive...What other Individual from the Circus has created this much interest in the Last 10 years?...I once again take my Hat off to Nik Wallenda..

17 June, 2012 00:14
Henry said...

I don't know why everybody is so hung up about the mechanic. It was a great walk right over the falls and not down river like Blondin did. When my wife Tosca came of the cloud swing in Germany and I was lucky enough to break her fall I decided to put a mechanic on her rigging and guess what, same money, same applause and always great write ups in the papers. Nobody ever said a wort about her wearing a mechanic so what is the big deal? Does it make the act any less enjoyable? I don't think so

17 June, 2012 02:07
Wendy Tucker said...

I think the issue Chic has with the mechanic might be that Nik has been wire walking his entire life, has never before used one, and he should have been allowed to make the decision himself. Only he and some family members could determine whether a tether is warranted, not a boardroom full of executives.I agree with Chic and Jim, and my hat is off to Nik Wallenda also. What he did was awesome. He fulfilled his dream and he inspired the world. There were rumours up here in Canada that he would, at the last second, discard the tether but I didn't think so. He agreed to the restriction (he pretty much had to if the event was to take place) and being a man of his word, would not go back on it. But he proved to everyone that he didn't need it.
I also agree with Chic about how ABC went all out promoting the event and reaping all the benefits from it, only to through the restriction on basically at the last minute. Kind of like Bob Barker making sure everyone knew that we was putting up $800,000 of his own money to "make sure that Toronto Zoo's elephants were moved humanely" to California, only to back out at the last money, saying he couldn't control how his money was to be spent. But that's another story, my apologies. Congratulations to Nik Wallenda on his tremendous accomplishment!

17 June, 2012 18:31
Wendy Tucker said...

Henry is also correct in saying that Blondin crossed over the bowl at the bottom of the falls, but Nik is the first person to actually walk over the edge of the falls. He actually stepped out over the lip of the falls where the wind currents are crazy and unpredictable. Again, what he did was awesome!

17 June, 2012 18:39
Chic Silber said...

I'm sorry Henry but I have to agree

with Roger on this mechanic issue

The last truly great marionette

designers builders & operators were

Bill & Cora Baird who were the

most imaginative & creative folks

but fortunately were never involved

in providing the circus business

with the strings of their trade

With the exception of the comedy

riding academy routine that relies

on the antics of the swiveling hand

operated line I would much rather

see a simpler performance free of

any attachments than 1 of greater

risk & difficulty with such device

17 June, 2012 19:21
Chic Silber said...

I just became aware of why Delilah

was absent from the Falls event as

she was overseeing the "Fabulous

Wallenda Show" in Branson MO

18 June, 2012 22:16
Chic Silber said...

It’s back to work Tuesday at

Silver Dollar City for aerialist

Nik Wallenda after the high wire

daredevil this weekend completed

his walk across Niagara Falls

The legendary high wire artist is

the star of the Fabulous Wallendas

Family Circus going on at KidsFest

19 June, 2012 00:38
Mark said...

I'm not sure how much we can criticize ABC for the use of the mechanic. New York State Department of Labor has strict guidelines for aerial performers and stunts. If an artist is above 20ft they have to provide a safety whether its crash matt, air bag, net, spotter, hand loop, mechanic etc.

Considering the venue, I doubt NY would have allowed Nik's stunt to go through without their "proper" safety.

With all the recent stage collapses and accidents in entertainment, regulatory agencies are putting shows under more pressure to prove that performers and audiences are safe. Nevada OSHA has formed a group to focus on entertainment safety.

With the death caused by the stage collapse in Canada the day after Nik's walk, I can only assume that regulations are going to get stricter.

19 June, 2012 09:36
Bud said...

YES ; WITHOUT A DOUBT

KUDOS TO MR. WALLENDA
for his recent TV Performance
---------
now steping back from a previous
( u n n e c e s s a r y )
comment about another
G R E A T W I R E A R T I S T
and On A Positive Note with
The Similar Point of Interest Here

Let Me
Take my Stand with & on Behalf of

" Philippe Patit "

WHO DID
( in my values )

THE MOST EXCITING WIRE WALKING FEAT

" E V E R "

Plus he Documented IT So Well
from it's inception
& then made one of the most
Charming Movies Ever Published
( on Top of All That )

" MAN ON WIRE "
with
Minimun Funds & " On The Sly "
That Story was Jam Packed
with Mystery, Adventure & Romance

HE MASTERMINED & ENGINEERED
FABRACATED & TRANSPORTED
ASSISTED IN THE SETUP HIMSELF
& THAN WITH ALL THE STAMINA LEFT IN HIM & THE ABILITY TO SUPPRISE

H E P E R F O R M E D

to the whole world

FOR FREE - VIA EVERY NEWSCAST

( the most UNIQUE ESCAPADE ever displayed TO & IN Modern Society )

AS HE THAN TAUNTED THE AUTHORITYS & DAZZELED HIS FORTUNATE & GIFTED ONLOOKERS BELOW HIM , BEYOND THERE EYES AND MINDS " COMPREHENTION " & way beyond that of what IS usually expected of A Gallant Daredevil / Artist for todays standards - even with the permits, insurances & or permissions " H E L L O "

NOW - Philippe Patit has certainly propelled for himself A Legasy that will NEVER be able to be equaled , since the World Trade Center is now gone .

like me , here now -

OH ; in the RB,B&B 1975 Program there's a Photo & Mention of Philippe possiably crossing the Falls in the future -

19 June, 2012 18:17
Henry said...

I think you guys are to old fashion to change your mind on the mechanic issue, this is not the
30,s anymore when it was a sensation when a performer died during his act and it gave the show
lots of publicity. Just like some of you think that a lion or tiger act was best with a chair and a gun. The cat acts are better now then the ever being, better trained and better presented and the performers do this incredible feats that have never being seen before and if the have to use a mechanic because the change of getting killed has quadrupled so it should be. My opinion.

19 June, 2012 19:31
Chic Silber said...

Henry that's why they make both

chocolate & vanilla ice cream (&

thank goodness for me coffee also)

We can each have an opinion as long

as neither considers them facts

There can be more that 1 style of

presentation deemed superior Henry


Bud I can't imagine that you truly

believe that Dr Denton was really

able to do all that on his own as

he claimed & so elaborately wrote

about that entire escapade

I'm certain not to be the only 1

that knows the true details of the

help & support behind that event

Puhleeez Loueeez as the punishment

he received was evidence enough

19 June, 2012 21:42
Wade G. Burck said...

I have to ask, would bullfighting have been so popular for centuries if the horn's were removed, and just the spectacle, grace, and elegance of the matador observed?

Every cage act that I am aware of in Mexico consists of totally declawed animals. The public is impressed with what they see, unless they learn the animals are declawed. Then not so much.

When champion bull rider Lane Frost was killed a few years ago by a horn through the ribs, bull rider's started wearing flak jackets. It didn't take anything out of what they did, but as yet no one has seen fit to rig them with mechanics to pull them up and away should they come off.

A law has just been passed in Florida prohibiting killer whale trainers at Sea World from riding the killer whales or doing any what is called "wet work" in the water with the animals. What's up with that? What happened with saying, "we do wet work at Sea World, and you will be required to ride the killer whale. Do you have any objections? You do? Thank you for coming. Next applicant, please."

Is the world turning into a "nanny society?"

Wade Burck

19 June, 2012 23:05
Bud said...

Wade I like your past Analogy here of Bullfighting Best . AS Safety Devises Need to be More Discrete , as without that , A Bold Visual Displeasure Appears INSTANTLY & Lessons The Spirit , Mood , Impact , Adrenaline etc., etc. contradicting THE QUEST ITSELF & vividly lessening "the Thrill" being put forth . ( for ME )

A less ovious SAFETY GEAR NEEDS TO BE DEVISED FOR MANY ACTS -

( Personally ; I'd use Black Widdow Spider Web - bradded up of course , for starters )

Now that the INSURANCE Industry HAS created this ( as Wade also finely stated ) NANNY SOCIETY .

-------------

No One wants to SEE A Tragity Occur , in search of some excitement in there life .

But they DO NOT need to be Visually Insulted or Frustrated eather .

20 June, 2012 09:48
Wade G. Burck said...

Bud,
For so long it has been misinterpreted why people go to and enjoy dangerous spectacles and event's. It is always stated that the reason for the interest is that "people want to see blood and gore, that people go to see someone get hurt, injured, killed, etc. etc. I don't believe that is true, and I never have. While that may have been the case with much of the populous going to the Roman Coliseum, I don't think it is the case with modern man. I think we go to see someone win and come out ahead against dangerous and almost insurmountable odds. Nobody goes to NASCAR races to see a driver "crash and burn." They do go see their favorite beat a hundred others, with the potential for disaster looming at ever second, cheating death and destruction and prevailing that day as the best. Take away the opportunity to cheat death/injury by dehorning, declawing, or wearing a "safety device," and you are left with nothing. It is my belief that people would quit coming, to see a facsimile of what used to be. I know I would.

Wade Burck

20 June, 2012 13:56
Chic Silber said...

Nascar's own market research has

shown that although the public does

not want to see any serious injury

they do indeed respond to crashes

Live attendance as well as TV rates

climb in proportion to track wrecks

The entire franchise is owned by

the France family who established

it in the 40s & maintains complete

control of the entire operation

Track attendance pays the small

expenses & provides the crowd for

background in TV images but it's

the TV advertising dollars that

keep the owners very comfortable

Danger is definitely an element

20 June, 2012 18:46

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