THE WALL OF DEATH DAREDEVILS | LIONS & RIDERS & FAIRS — OH MY!

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Circa 1929, Wall of Death, Revere Beach, MA

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With the quickly improving build quality, speed, and more oil-tight engines, motorcycle racing was able to move from dirt tracks onto the motordromes of the 1910s– large wooden board tracks used for streamlined competition with banked turns of 70-80 degrees.  Riders soon learned a neat trick– that with a little speed, centripetal force made it possible for them to stick their bike sideways in turns on a completely vertical wall.

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Motordrome racer on an Excelsior motorcycle, circa 1914

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Motorcycle companies here and abroad (Indian and BSA, to name a couple) found that the public loved the thrill of peering down just a few feet away from the gunning biker beneath them, and thus it quickly became a highly promoted spectacle as manufacturers used it as a vehicle to advertise their brands, and daredevil riders upped the ante at breakneck speed to make a name for themselves and  solidify their reputations on the infamous Wall of Death.

With roots that can be traced back to New York’s own Coney Island, the Wall of Death attraction morphed into a motordrome on crack.  Motorcycles, carts and yep, even lions— simultaneously racing and criss-crossing in a raucous blur of fumes, fury, and fur inside the equivalent of an over-sized wooden barrel. The sport had a strong run from the 1930s- 1960s (with Indian Scouts being the over-riding bike of choice), but there are still hardcore enthusiasts to be found all over keeping it alive today.

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Dick Monte with two handsome-as-hell Wall of Death riders, circa 1945. The rider on the left is Elias Harris, and  on the right is Tornado Smith.  Photo from the late Carrie Tindale collection.

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Wall of Death motorcycle rider, circa 1930s

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“Wall of Death” AKA “Auto Drome of Death” motorcycle and cart riding crew, Stratford upon Avon

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Unidentified lion and female Wall of Death driver from back in the day

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“Fearless” Egbert of Collins Famous Death Riders & Racing Lion.

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Mr. “Fearless” Egbert taking his five year-old lion for a ride on the Wall of Death at Mitcham fair.

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Tornado Smith, the Wall of Death rider from Southend, and his wife having tea with their pet lion and lamb.  George “Tornado” Smith brought the Wall of Death from America to England in 1929, and featured such spectacles as”Briton the Wall-riding lion” and “Gymkhana Girls and Girl Protégées” in his billing.  Check out the skull-and-crossbones badge on his beret, he’s nowhere near as mild-mannered as he looks.  –Derek Berwin/Hulton Archive

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Tornado Smith posts a letter while riding penny farthing bicycle. He is wearing a learner plate and his bike is advertising his Wall of Death act. –Derek Berwin/Hulton Archive

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(Left) Circa 1935, Earls Court, London — Tornado Smith, who entertains the crowds at Olympia with his Wall of Death ride, is seen riding a penny-farthing on the Earls Court Road. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection

(Right) Circa 1936, Southend-on-Sea, England — Mr. “Tornado” Smith, a stunt motorcyclist, clips the toenails of his pet lion, at home. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection

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Circa 1949, UK — Sixteen year old Maureen Swift riding with ‘Tornado’ Smith around ‘The Wall of Death’ attraction in the Southend Kursaal to promote BSA motorcycles. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection

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Circa 1949, UK — Tornado Smith helps Maureen Swift ride a motorcycle around the “Wall of Death” to promote BSA motorcycles. — Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection

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Left- Female Wall of Death motorcycle rider Cookie Ayers-Crum on her Indian Scout, Right- Maureen Swift, circa 1949.

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Circa 1932, Wall of Death stylin’ Scarboro riders.

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Wall of Death– Proudly brought to you by the Indian Scout.

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Wall of Death motorcycle rider performing with arms crossed.

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The James E. Strates Show Cavalcade of Thrills– Wall of Death.

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Racing Car on the Wall crew– Now featuring Speedy Rube Knight & Daredevil Alma.

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Wall of Death Thrill Show with Fearless Lady Riders.

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