Courtesy of Henry Gartley, an individual partner
Description
Professional belly floppers performed high dives, or shallow diving in traveling circuses. The diver was in the air on his way to the shallow pool of water below.
Divers practiced their craft endlessly and had many secrets, but would often sustain injuries regardless. High diving was extremely hard on the body. Keeping the water cool made water more dense, hitting the water with the palms of the hands first would help break the surface tension. Also pushing off a bit on take off so that one did not fall straight down helped. Bruises, broken bones, and internal trauma were not unusual injuries for divers.
Technique was vital, divers learned to spread out their limbs and torso to create the most possible surface area. The more surface area, the more points of simultaneous contact, and the faster the body decelerated.
Shallow diving wasn't just an impressive feat. It was a showstopper. Many circuses built toward the shallow dive as the ultimate climax to their show.
About This Item
- Title: High dive traveling circus act, Waterville, ca. 1925
- Creation Date: circa 1925
- Subject Date: circa 1925
- Location: Waterville, Kennebec County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 8.9 cm x 10.2 cm
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
Other Keywords
- acrobatics
- Carnival
- Circus
- Dare devils
- floppers
- High Diver
- highdive
- Hign dive
- shallow diving
- Traveling acts
- Traveling carnivals
- Traveling circus
- traveling shows
- tricks
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