Funámbulo

1910 · ref. 36841 — n. p. 1910. Printed self-wrappers. Now housed in an archival mylar sleeve. Faint vertical fold-line. Nr Fine. One printed sheet of grey-green paper folded once vertically. 4 pp. 9-3/8" x 5-3/4" Claude Grahame-White was the Glamour Boy of early aviation. somewhat of a playboy with no engineering background whatsoever Grahame-White became enamoured of flying when in 1908 he saw the Wright's demonstrate their invention to the French crowds at Camp d’Auvours. Within a relatively short time self-taught Grahame-White soloed his Blériot without a formal lesson. He quickly made a name for himself as a dashing aviator when in 1910 J. V. Martin of the Harvard Aeronautical Society invited him to compete in the first Boston-Harvard Meet. With the promise of a $50000 retainer & expenses Grahame-White accepted. Grahame-White won that one and others as he thrilled spectators with his races & aerial exhibitions such as that announced in this "One-man Show" program. This rare survivor lists the divers aerial stunts to be performed by Grahame-White during the day. "With the Bleriot Monoplane" includes a dive from 4000 feet "with engine stopped." "With the Farman Biplane" the 12 planned events include "Aerial switchback flying" "The corkscrew glide spin from a high altitude." & "Knocking down ninepins placed on the ground without alighting." With this sort of exhibition and his dashing & flamboyant personality the handsome Grahame-White gave the new aviation field previously dominated by engineers something that had been lacking to date. a 'sexy' nature. unknown books