Wall of Death
My Oma riding the "Wall of Death" on her Harley
The Wall of Death or motordrome is a carnival sideshow featuring a drum- or barrel-shaped wooden cylinder, ranging from 20 to 36-feet in diameter, in which stunt motorcyclists ride and carry out tricks. Derived directly from US motorcycle boardtrack (motordrome) racing in the early 1900s, the very first carnival motordrome appeared at Coney Island amusement park (New York) in 1911. The following year portable tracks began to appear on traveling carnivals and in 1915, the first “silodromes” with perpendicular walls were seen. These motordromes with perfectly straight walls were soon dubbed the “Wall of Death.” This carnival attraction became a staple in the US outdoor entertainment industry with the phenomenon reaching its zenith in the 1930s with more than 100 motordromes on traveling shows and in amusement parks. In 2004, six or seven of these motorcycle shows were still touring the US. The first known Wall of Death in the UK appeared in 1929 at Southend.
The audience views from the top of the drum, looking down. The riders start at the bottom of the drum, in the center, and ascend an initial ramped section until they gain enough velocity to drive horizontally to the floor, usually in a counter-clockwise direction (the physical explanation behind this act is found at Banked turn and The turning car.) This act is famous in the United Kingdom, and often is seen at fairs. In the 2000s, there remain only a few tours of the wall of death; the most notable of which is “The Wall of Death World Tour”, created and run by the Fox family. This touring group uses the original American Indian Motorcycles, which have been used since around the 1920s. For the most of the year, this group is based at Wilburton but ride every year in the Great Dorset Steam Fair. In India, cars are also used.[1]
A similar act called the “Globe of Death” has the riders looping inside a wire mesh sphere rather than a drum. This form of motorcycle entertainment had a separate and distinct evolution from carnival motordromes and derived from bicycle acts or “cycle whirls” in the early 1900s.
It reads "Senorita Tarrey" and "Senor Geisler" "LOS BARBES" que presentan la atraccion "EL GLOBO DE LA MUERTE"
One of the coolest parts of my family history is that my maternal Oma (grandma) and Opa (grandpa) used to ride motorbikes in the “Wall of Death” in a travelling carnival. Yes, I’m serious! They had one child (and would go on to have two more), my uncle Gerhard, who stayed with relatives while my grandparents traveled from Germany to South America on Holland America Line and did the circuit there, mostly in Argentina. My Oma was 4’11″ and my Opa was 6′, an oddly sized couple to start with. Can you imagine that little woman riding a Harley around a wooden structure like that? She must have had a little adrenaline junkie going on and a deep love for my Opa to do that crazy stuff!
My mom and I are going to take a less-adrenaline fueled route this fall by taking Holland America from Vancouver through the Panama canal on a cruise, a long-held dream of mom’s to get close to where her parents were in their wild youth. The other connection to Panama is that my maternal great-grandfather, Paul Barbe (my Opa’s father), was a business associate of Alfred Nobel, and was involved in the production of dynamite for both the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal. Yes, Mr. Peace Prize Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. Unfortunately, their business relationship soured and things didn’t go well for my great-Opa. He ended up taking his own life, and Mr. Nobel once described Barbe as someone “with excellent capacity for work but whose conscience is more elastic than rubber. It is a pity, since his combination of sense and energy are so rare.” I also found out, while researching this post, that my great-Opa was the Minister of Agriculture for France in the Rouvier Administration for several months (May to December) in 1887.
So there’s your history lesson for today. I have a unique and interesting heritage, full of intrigue and strong personalities. As for me? I’m a quite, creative type who prefers reading in a lounge chair on the beach over cliff diving. My husband has been encouraging me to take up acting or drama of some sort, because he thinks I’m funny and expressive. I’m thinking about it – I certainly have discovered that public speaking doesn’t bother me in the least (possibly a trait from my dad? More to come on him in future posts!) and it’s fun trying new things. How much of your unique and interesting family history molds your daily life and direction? I think to some extent, these stories help me when I feel ordinary or a little invisible. I remember my tiny little Oma kicking butt and taking names in the circus, riding her Harley. I hope it helps my Mom and my sister on those days when their aches and pains are overwhelming and they don’t like the world so much. I see myself in my Oma, in her broad shoulders and high forehead. I hope I have her tenacity, too.
Mac'd out geek girl; love my husband, my dogs, design, photography, gardening, red wine, eating fresh and local. I do creative stuff at a large Fraser Valley wholesale nursery.
Rebecca,
Very interesting post, love the history of your grandmother and grandfather doing these ‘wall of death’ madness!
Looking forward to reading more!
x
I remember quite vividly being lifted through the door on the bottom part of the wall by my older brother to go and help collect the coins the people had thrown in after mother and a partner had performed. That was about 1 1/2 yrs after father had died, and shortly before mother quit the “Wall” for good after she had 2 serious accidents, unfortunately one was caused by her partner.
thanks for posting this…you know a lot more about our family history than I do, so I can learn as I read stuff you put up.