Roots of Jackass: 1912 Eiffel Tower Jump (video)
What accounts for the glut of internet movies which show people doing incredibly dumb and disgusting things, like lighting their beards on fire, drinking their own vomit or jumping in front of moving cars? Surely it goes back further than Johnny Knoxville, back even further than The Gong Show. Finally, some proof that the practice goes back nearly to the early twentieth century: here's a film shot in 1912 of an Austrian tailor, Franz Reichelt jumping off the Eiffel Tower in a combination overcoat-parachute of his own design, expecting to fly. Or at least to to float gently to the ground. Suffice it to say things didn't go quite as expected. The film ends with men ceremoniosuly measuring the crater left by Reichelt: (download video, 1.5 meg wmv). More info on Reichelt here.
Here's the text that accompanied this footage:
Unused / unissued material - Paris, France. Franz Reichelt wearing the parachute that he designed and invented before ascending the Eiffel Tower. Reichelt standing on platform high up on the tower preparing to jump he hovers on the brink for some time and then eventually jumps falling straight down to his death. Police and small crowd around the body of Reichelt as it is carried away, they then measure the depth of the hole made by his fall. The film has French intertitles. Cataloguer's Note: Old record suggests this event happened 4th February 1912.
Thanks Hemaworstje!
More like the "He Fell" Tower, wouldn't ya say! *rim shot*
Posted by: Zaphod | December 28, 2005 at 02:26 PM
My recent fav:
Redneck Surfing
Posted by: nh dave | December 28, 2005 at 02:54 PM
How has that not found its way into a Nine Inch Nails video yet?
Posted by: Tony | December 28, 2005 at 05:20 PM
How tragic. He hesitates for so long...one wonders if he would have chickened out, if not for the presence of the camera.
Posted by: Vidiot | December 29, 2005 at 12:19 PM
It doesn't look like he dies in the video. If you look closely, it appears that his legs are broken but his head is upright and he looks to be looking around while the police carry him off.
Posted by: Rob Robertson | December 29, 2005 at 03:04 PM
Please add the .wmv MIME Type in your htaccess file. Clicking on this in firefox just sends lots of text.
Posted by: lowbot | December 29, 2005 at 07:05 PM
>How has that not found its way into a Nine Inch Nails video yet?
I was going to post a clever comment till I read that... can't be topped.. hehehehehe
Posted by: Karl | December 30, 2005 at 12:02 AM
The inserted text that appears at the beginning doesn't leave any doubt about his death...
"As if he had foreseen the horrible faith that awaited him, the unfortunate inventor hesitated for a long while before jumping in the void."
Posted by: jean | December 31, 2005 at 03:28 PM
I worship the proprietors of WFMU as demigods for making this excellent material available for our enjoyment.
Posted by: Ghoulslime | January 03, 2006 at 04:35 PM
RETRO-PWNED!!
Posted by: Zabb | January 05, 2006 at 04:45 AM
Even if he was moving a minute or so after hitting the ground, he could have died soon after. Back in 1912, even a simple fall with some internal bleeding could kill someone.
Posted by: Mark | January 05, 2006 at 10:16 AM
This is all bad ass u should make more please
Posted by: Kimberly Miguel | January 27, 2006 at 01:43 PM
IT WAS JUST A BIG COAT!!!!!!!!!!!! surely he should have practised off something smaller like his house first!
Posted by: emma and erin | April 04, 2006 at 07:57 AM
i was there a few weeks ago with my freind and apparently he died of a heart attack before he even reached the ground
Posted by: clarissa | April 04, 2006 at 08:01 AM
what is this? this is so awsome!
is it true about the personne who could not move a minute after falling that he would die? well that is messed! well u should have more sights like this one around!
Posted by: kelsy | May 09, 2006 at 03:02 PM
what is this? this is so awsome!
is it true about the personne who could not move a minute after falling that he would die? well that is messed! well u should have more sights like this one around!
Posted by: kelsy | May 09, 2006 at 03:02 PM
what is this? this is so awsome!
is it true about the personne who could not move a minute after falling that he would die? well that is messed! well u should have more sights like this one around!
Posted by: kelsy | May 09, 2006 at 03:02 PM
U guys r so funny, you should do another thing. Please emasil me back
Bobby
Posted by: Bobby | August 12, 2006 at 01:55 PM
"It doesn't look like he dies in the video. If you look closely, it appears that his legs are broken but his head is upright and he looks to be looking around while the police carry him off."
Rob,
I believe the upright head you see is that of one of the people carrying Reichelt's body, probably holding him under the arms.
Posted by: Reverend Mykeru | October 23, 2006 at 09:43 AM
I thought he would fly....
look at that porn tash!
if only red bull wasnt around in them days.
he must of been on LSD to do that
Posted by: mc mitchie | July 19, 2007 at 02:05 AM
As God as my witness, I thought Austrian tailors could fly...
Posted by: John | September 12, 2008 at 02:09 PM