RockNerd

By RockNerd

Balancing Act.

Although a successful child acrobat, Jean Francois Gravelet (Charles) Blondin achieved lasting fame for his tightrope crossings of the Niagara Falls, a feat he first accomplished in 1859.
After his first crossing he announced "Thank God that's over!", but he repeated the stunt several times, each with an extra level of showmanship, including crossing the Falls blindfolded, on stilts, carrying his manager on his back & stopping midway to cook & eat an omelette (although not all at the same time!).
He first performed in the UK in 1861 at the Crystal Palace, & spent his retirement in Ealing, where he died in 1897, aged 72.
He's remembered in the local street names of Blondin & Niagara Avenues, & Blondin Park.

Oh, the rain has stopped! I'm off to the beer festival in the local! Cheers, folks!

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