Globe of Death
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History
A young bicycle stuntman, Arthur Rosenthal of Grand Rapids, Michigan, designed, built and patented the first "Bicyclists Globe" that later became known as the "Globe of Death". His patent was issued on May 3, 1904. Rosenthal, who used the stage name Arthur Rose, and his partner, Frank Lemon, performed eight to fifteen minute routines of "skill and nerve guaranteed to deliver laughs and roars" at State and County Fairs, Amusement Parks, Roller Rinks, and in Vaudeville and Burlesque shows across America and across the world. Rose and Lemon circled the top of their globe in what was described as a "startling loop-the-loop" maneuver. The duo gradually phased out the bicycles and unicycles as the more powerful and noisier Harley-Davidson, Indian and Excelsior motorcycles became readily available. Despite Rosenthal's efforts to protect his patent, a German engineer built and operated his own globe prior to World War I. Soon, additional globes began appearing across Europe and South America. Guido Consi, an Italian daredevil, introduced his "Sphere of Fear" to European audiences in 1913 during a circus performance in Rome. "Cedero and his Golden Globe" arrived in New York City in 1915, the first of numerous Brazilian globes and globe riders to migrate to the United States. Cedero presented his "Globe of Death" at carnivals and circuses until he embarked on a tour of Central and South America in 1940. Thirty years later fellow countryman Victor Urias located Cedero's globe in San Salvador, El Salvador and purchased the still usable apparatus. Between World War I and World War II, the "Globe of Death" enjoyed its greatest popularity in Brazil. More than three dozen riders showcased their skills and daring in a variety of globes across South America, including the Temperania Family, Marcondes, Dircu Santos, Capri and Panair Dovalle. In 1975, Victor Urias and family were zooming around in the globe in Mexico City. Texas showman David Griffith, witnessed a performance and booked them on Murphy Brothers Exposition Carnival. Four years later, Urias signed on with Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. One of the riders was Panair Dovalle's son Douglas. When the grind of two, three, sometimes four shows a day with Ringling proved too taxing, Douglas Dovalle quit the Urias Troupe, changed his last name to Mac-Valley and joined an Atlantic City hotel stage revue riding in his own globe. Mac-Valley later moved to Las Vegas where he owned and operated several globes in hotel revues and outside engagements. His stepson, Bala Tabak, began his daredevil career as a globe rider, and was one of the first to perform inside a "splitting globe". In one version, the top half of the sphere was raised hydraulically 12-inches from the bottom half. The Globe of Death became a familiar attraction at fairs, amusement parks, and in circuses and carnivals during the Great Depression and the Post World War II period. Marcello was the first to ride a globe on a carnival midway inside a tent. There were numerous riders nicknamed "Speedy". John "Speedy" Wilson and Larry "Speedy" McNish, zoomed around their globes, but not as fast or as long as the colorful Louis "Speedy" Babbs. Babbas built an 18-foot globe in 1950 after finishing a dramatic incident-filled career as a parachutist, wing-walker, barnstormer, and motordrome rider. He was the first to complete a vertical loop-the-loop inside a globe. Previously riders only circled the sphere horizontally. In 1934 Babbas set an unchallenged world record of 1,003 loops inside his globe. As the number of globes increased in the 60's and 70's, riders and owners introduced new features. Peter Luvas was the first to introduce a non-rider or "standee" inside the sphere. His wife Trudy stood inside holding a balloon in each hand as her husband roared by on his motorcycle. Victor Flores, a multiple globe owner and rider, trained his two daughters, Victoria and Frances, and with a cousin, formed the first all-female globe riding team. John Nock and the Nock family owned and presented three different globes. Jeff LeTourneau, rode a regular globe and the splitting globe during a lengthy run in the "Splash" revue at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. LeTourneau also owned and operated a 14-foot globe. LeTourneau and Todd Anderson rode the first globe to appear in a motorsports show October 7, 1988 in Macon, GA. His globe was a featured attraction for tend years during the annual "Fright Fest" held each October at Six Flags Magic Mountain Amusement Park. John Stotts, another veteran rider in the "Splash" revue, formed the "Fusion Riders" with Robin Suarez and Gary Laurent, for engagements around the world. The riders zoomed past one, sometimes two female standees in a 13.5 foot globe. The Globe of Death became an annual featured thrill display on one or both units of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. In 2006, the Torres family provided seven riders to perform inside the new and enlarged globe. George Carden purchased the older globe from Ringling Brothers in 2006 and hired the Dominguez family to deliver five riders. Carden surrounded the globe with attractive showgirls. One girl worked on top of the globe. Royal Hanneford Circus's globe featured the husband and wife team of Leo and Getti Garcia, along with their four-year old son, Maximus Garcia. Circus Garcia featured Jamie Garcia, his two sons Leo and Bardo plus eleven-year old Chad Garcia riding around inside a fourteen-foot globe. UniverSoul Circus featured the Willy Family using six motorcycles inside a large globe during their 2006 tour while the Kelly-Miller Circus presented Donald and Roberto Chimal doing their globe routine. Age and injuries are no barriers to the longevity of a globe rider. Many suffered cuts, abrasions, and broken bones. However, Guido Consi rode until the ripe old age of eighty-one. William Arne was still riding when he was eighty-five years old. Several members of the Torres family suffered bruises and abrasions when a hub on a motorcycle broke, sending them crashing to the bottom of the globe. Victor Flores suffered more serious injuries, but recovered when he crashed after losing control of his motorcycle. "That's why they call it the Globe of Death" he said. Despite the proliferation of steel spheres around the world and the growing number of riders inside each globe, and despite the claims to the contrary, the basic presentation remains nearly identical to Arthur Rosenthal's original patent application in the early years of the 20th century. 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