Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Daredevils
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 21, 2021
1. Daredevils Marker
The Boardwalk has a celebrated history of providing beach visitors with the ultimate in thrills and entertainment. This world-class venue featured amazing acts, from the turn-of-the-century water carnival's Slide for Life daredevils and world record-holding swimmers and divers, to remarkable aerialists, acrobats and skydivers.
photo captions:
In the Fire Slide for Life, a daring performer was set on fire before diving into the water below.
In 1976 Steve "Unique" McPeak and Stephen Walenda walked the thousand-foot length of the Boardwalk's Sky Glider cable.
Shirley Wightman was the girl on the flying trapeze.
Ruth Kahl was known as the Human Submarine for swimming 303 feet completely underwater.
The Slide for Life: Don "Bosco" Patterson and his 12-year-old assistant Harry Murray would glide down a 750-foot cable from the roof of the Casino, dropping into the ocean seconds before they slammed into the Pleasure Pier. California deemed their performance "too perilous to continue" in 1940.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment.
Location. 36° 57.838′ N, 122° 1.128′ W. Marker is in Santa Cruz, California, in Santa Cruz County. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Love Story (a few steps from this marker); A History of Commerce (a few steps from this marker); The Santa Cruz Seaside Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Plunge (within shouting distance of this marker); Before the Boardwalk (within shouting distance of this marker); The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (within shouting distance of this marker); Beauty and the Beach (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Burgers at the Beach (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Cruz.
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 21, 2021
2. Daredevils Marker
Photographed By Craig Baker, September 21, 2021
3. Casino Arcade
Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 4, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
