Karl Wallenda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karl Wallenda
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Wallenda in Sarasota, Florida
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| Born | January 21, 1905 |
| Died | March 22, 1978 (aged 73) |
| Cause of death | Accidental fall |
| Nationality | German American |
| Occupation | Daredevil, Circus Performer |
| Relatives | Nik Wallenda (great-grandson) |
Karl Wallenda (January 21, 1905 – March 22, 1978) was a famous German-American high-wire artist. He started a daring circus act called The Flying Wallendas. They performed amazing stunts, often without a safety net! Karl was also the great-grandfather of Nik Wallenda, who performs today.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Karl Wallenda was born in 1905 in Magdeburg, Germany. His parents were Kunigunde and Engelbert Wallenda. He began performing with his family when he was just six years old.
The Great Wallendas Circus Act
The Great Wallendas became very famous in Europe. They were known for their incredible four-man pyramid stunt. They also rode bicycles on the high wire!
In 1928, the act moved to the United States. They performed as independent artists. In 1947, they created an even more amazing stunt: the three-tier 7-Man Pyramid. Karl Wallenda had thought of this idea since 1938. It took until 1946 for him and his brother Hermann to develop it. They needed just the right acrobats to make it happen.
A 1978 TV movie called The Great Wallendas was made about their act. Karl Wallenda himself starred in it. The movie showed the act's return after a serious accident that affected several family members. Karl Wallenda passed away in a high-wire accident just 38 days after the movie first aired.
Amazing Daredevil Stunts
Karl Wallenda was a true daredevil. On July 18, 1970, when he was 65 years old, he performed a "skywalk." This was a high-wire walk across the Tallulah Gorge in Georgia. The Tallulah Gorge is a deep canyon formed by the Tallulah River. About 30,000 people watched him cross the quarter-mile-wide gap. He even did two headstands while crossing!
In 1974, at 69 years old, he set a world record for skywalk distance. He walked 1,800 feet (549 meters) at Kings Island amusement park. This record stood for many years. On July 4, 2008, his great-grandson, Nik Wallenda, broke it. Nik completed a 2,000-foot (610-meter) skywalk at the very same location!
Karl Wallenda's Final Walk
Karl Wallenda continued to perform dangerous stunts throughout his life. In 1978, at 73 years old, he tried to walk between two towers of the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The wire was stretched 121 feet (37 meters) above the ground.
During the attempt, strong winds and an improperly secured wire caused him to lose his balance. He sadly fell during the walk. Karl Wallenda passed away after arriving at the hospital. A local TV station in San Juan filmed the fall.
The Wallenda Family Legacy
The Wallenda family continues their amazing high-wire tradition.
- Nik Wallenda, Karl's great-grandson, still performs incredible high-wire stunts. He often does this without a safety net, though sometimes he wears a safety harness.
- Mario Wallenda, Karl's adopted son, was also involved in an accident during a 7-Person Pyramid attempt in 1962. He became paralyzed from the waist down.
- Karl Wallenda started the Wallenda Dynasty with his two daughters, Jenny and Carla.
- Jenny's children, Tino, Delilah, and Tammy, later formed their own performing groups.
- Carla helped train her children: Rick, Rietta, Mario, and Valerie. Rick and Rietta still perform today. Valerie stopped performing to raise her family. Their brother Mario B. passed away in 1993.
- Many of Karl Wallenda's great-grandchildren perform today. These include Nik, Alida, Andrea, Aurelia, Alessandro "Alex", Lijana, and Lyric.
