Today is the birthday of Charles Blondin (1824-1897) who did a tightrope walk over the gorge at Niagara, not once, but many times, and with many variations (on stilts, blindfolded, carrying a man on his back, and pausing in the middle to do things like cook an omelette or stand a chair). He was in every way to precursor to this man.
To find out more about the history of variety entertainment, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever nutty books are sold.
(Travalanche) 