this post was submitted on 30 Mar 2024
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HistoryPorn

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top 34 comments
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[–] [email protected] 132 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

His name is Charles N. Fitzgerald. Here's additional info about him and the photograph.

Fitzgerald also did things like stand on the upper wing of a biplane as it did a loop-de-loop. He had 18 occupations in 26 years, most of which were dangerous. These included high diver, Texas Ranger, motorcycle racer, and vaudeville strongman.

Here's another article and higher resolution image of that newspaper article.

[–] afk_strats 27 points 7 months ago

That's awesome. Thanks for posting that vintage article

[–] [email protected] 17 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Man, that guy had quite a life! Bet he was a hit at party's.

...Back when you could actually be anything you wanted to be. How romantic!

[–] pwnicholson 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

...If you were white, male, and probably reasonably affluent.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I mean, he sounds Irish. I don't believe they had the best treatment back then either.

[–] GladiusB 4 points 7 months ago

Not the best, but not the worst either

[–] pwnicholson 3 points 7 months ago

12 of the first 28 Presidents of the USA (which is the time Fitzgerald was doing his thing) had Irish heritage. 3 of them were first generation Irish (parents born in Ireland). Most of the police force of NYC was stereotyped as being all Irish by this point.

Yes, there were areas and times they were disadvantaged, but don't even compare it to women and non-whites at the time.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Today he'd be a stunt man,, which you can still absolutely do

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Except the texas ranger part, this is true. Guess you could play one in a movie, but is that the same?

[–] WaxedWookie 36 points 7 months ago

He's doin' it for the 'gram.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 7 months ago (5 children)

... Why... How... I... What. I need some background. Why in the world would you put yourself in that kind of danger?

[–] [email protected] 49 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

It’s most likely an optical illusion.

Ex.

[–] IphtashuFitz 41 points 7 months ago

This is exactly how entertainers like Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd did many of their stunts.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/harold-lloyd-about-harold-lloyd/647/

[–] ben16w 15 points 7 months ago (2 children)

The first image is some Instagram photos and the second image is a different person bouldering

[–] [email protected] 24 points 7 months ago

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/photograph-cliff-hanger-isnt-quite-seems/

There's no set of the hanging effect and the long distance together, but it's a pretty common rock that people take these forced perspective photos on.

[–] Vandals_handle 2 points 7 months ago

The coastline, buildings and boulder appear to be the same, the images are just reversed.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

I sure hope so

[–] [email protected] 15 points 7 months ago (2 children)

It was 1920, they didn't give a shit about danger back then. Those fools ate lead and huffed asbestos 😂

[–] [email protected] 20 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean they only did that cause they didn't know how dangerous it was

[–] [email protected] 16 points 7 months ago

Pretty sure they understood falling off buildings. A lot of construction workers died falling off buildings.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It makes more sense if you say it in a scruffy detective voice

[–] Thade780 12 points 7 months ago
[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago

This is just how they got to work back then.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

"Hey, watch this!"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

Because fun i mean i'd do it .

[–] jordanlund 20 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Good thing that beam is securely tied off with rope...

[–] cybersandwich 4 points 7 months ago

Looks like it could be a bowline. That's fairly secure. He's good!

[–] sagrotan 11 points 7 months ago

Pull him up and "I've seen things you people wouldn't believe..."

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

Why does he look so relaxed jeeez

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

My lack of upper body strength could never.

[–] frankgrimeszz 8 points 7 months ago

Handshake of steel. 💪

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Give this man a Go-Pro and a YouTube channel!

[–] RIP_Cheems 1 points 7 months ago

When did black Friday happen?

[–] ikidd -4 points 7 months ago

That must be an actor, he's not 100lbs overweight.