Wheel of death (Space wheel)
Encyclopedia
The Wheel of Death, in the context of acrobatic circus arts, is a large rotating apparatus on which performers carry out synchronized acrobatic skills. The "wheel" is actually a large space frame
beam with hooped tracks at either end, within which the performers can stand. As the performers run around on either the inside or outside of the hoops, the whole apparatus rotates. Performers also do balancing type skills with the wheel in a stationary position.
The Wheel of Death is said to have originated in America during the early 1930s and was also known as the Space Wheel. Some early versions were performed by a single artist and incorporated a counterbalance on the other end. Following fatal accidents, the apparatus fell out of favour for a time until it was re-introduced in the 1970s under the name Wheel of Death. For its 2007 touring edition, Ringling Bros.
started using the name Wheel of Steel, as death was not seen as family friendly from a public relations
perspective.
Noted artists who have performed on the wheel include Elvin Bale
and Bello Nock
.
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
beam with hooped tracks at either end, within which the performers can stand. As the performers run around on either the inside or outside of the hoops, the whole apparatus rotates. Performers also do balancing type skills with the wheel in a stationary position.
The Wheel of Death is said to have originated in America during the early 1930s and was also known as the Space Wheel. Some early versions were performed by a single artist and incorporated a counterbalance on the other end. Following fatal accidents, the apparatus fell out of favour for a time until it was re-introduced in the 1970s under the name Wheel of Death. For its 2007 touring edition, Ringling Bros.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
started using the name Wheel of Steel, as death was not seen as family friendly from a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
perspective.
Noted artists who have performed on the wheel include Elvin Bale
Elvin Bale
Elvin Bale, born in London, England, was a world-famous daredevil with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, among many other international circuses...
and Bello Nock
Bello Nock
Bello Nock , usually known simply as "Bello", is a clown performed by Demetrius Alexandro Claudio Amadeus Bello Nock. A performer for three years with the one-ring Big Apple Circus early in his career, he later joined the Ringling Bros...
.
External links
- BBC Norfolk feature
- Article about "The Amazing Garcia" performing the wheel with the Jose Cole circus
- Performers on the wheel of death on the Guinness World RecordsGuinness World RecordsGuinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
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