Historic Photos

Photo of the Week, 91: High-Wire Act on the Square, 1939

November 6th, 2014

a crowd gathered beneath and acros the street watching a high wire act of a man on a bicycle riding on a wire with a woman standing on his shoulders.

On Wednesday, June 7, 1939, the Bloomington-based Billetti troupe performed on the south side of the McLean County Courthouse Square before a "June Jubilee" crowd of some 3,000 curious onlookers. "Their final feat, the perilous three high pyramid on bicycles, brought tremendous applause," reported The Pantagraph. And much like Nik Wallenda 's feat November 2 in Chicago, the Billettis used no safety nets.

Bill Kemp

Librarian

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