Photo of the Week, 91: High-Wire Act on the Square, 1939

On Wednesday, June 7, 1939, the Bloomington-based Billetti troupe performed on the south side of the McLean County Courthouse Square before a "June Jubilee" crowd of some 3,000 curious onlookers. "Their final feat, the perilous three high pyramid on bicycles, brought tremendous applause," reported The Pantagraph. And much like Nik Wallenda 's feat November 2 in Chicago, the Billettis used no safety nets.