Wildest stunts through history
As Nik Wallenda prepares for his tightrope walk across Niagara Falls, look back at other wild stunts through history.
As daredevil Nik Wallenda prepares for his tightrope walk across Niagara Falls on Friday night, here's a look back at other wild stunts through history.
As daredevil Nik Wallenda prepares for his tightrope walk across Niagara Falls on Friday night, here's a look back at other wild stunts through history.
Niagara Falls Tightrope Walk -- Wallenda certainly isn't the first to attempt this feat. Italian tightrope walker Maria Spelterini did it in 1876 wearing peach baskets on her feet.
Niagara Falls Barrel Ride -- Annie Edison Taylor became the first person to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel in 1901 -- with her cat no less.
Airplane Wing Walk -- A trained pilot, Ormer Locklear became a famous stuntman by mistake in 1918 when he walked the wing of his plane (whilst in mid-air) to fix an engine problem. He went on to become a famous wingwalking stuntman in Hollywood afterwards, but died in 1920 while performing his infamous stunt when the plane crashed to the ground.
Chinese Water Torture Cell -- Harry Houdini was famous for many stunts and tricks, but the Chinese Water Torture Cell of 1912 was one of his most notable. His feet were locked in stocks as he hung upside down and was lowered into a tank of water.
Motorcycle Jumps -- American daredevil Evel Knievel was known for his crashes and audacious motorcycle stunts, but it was his jump at Caesars Palace in 1967 and his shark jump in 1976 that really put him on the map.
Twin Towers Tightrope Walk -- French high-wire artist Philippe Petit stunned New Yorkers with his tightrope walk across the Twin Towers in 1974.
Skyscraper Climbing -- Dan Goodwin is known for several daring building climbs. On Memorial Day in 1981, Goodwin climbed the Sears Tower wearing a homemade Spider Man outfit. Goodwin gained an instant cult following and went on to climb the Renaissance Tower, the John Hancock Center and the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Buried Alive -- Illusionist David Blaine isn't called the modern day Houdini for nothing. In 1999, he entombed himself in an underground plastic box underneath a 3-ton water-filled tank for seven days. It's a feat Houdini had planned, but died before attempting.
More Skyscraper Climbing -- The "French Spiderman" Alain Robert shocked authorities when he attempted to scale the world's tallest building at the time -- the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur -- in 1997. He was arrested 28 floors below the top, but went on to scale many landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House.
Grand Canyon Flight -- "Jet Man" Yves Rossy made history in 2011 during a daring eight-minute flight across the Grand Canyon in nothing but a jet suit.
Human Cannonball -- David “The Bullet” Smith Jr., otherwise known as the “Human Cannonball,” has been fired out of a cannon more than 5,000 times. He is officially the highest flying human cannonball in the world right now.
