The ride accommodated 4,500 passengers on its first two half-days of operation.[45] Several incidents occurred within the first few months of the Parachute Jump’s opening. On July 12, 1939, entangled cables left a married couple aloft for five hours in the middle of the night.[49] The couple returned to ride again the next day, having been congratulated for their courage by New York City mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, who had been at the World’s Fair when they got stuck.[50]
At least two other groups of people became stuck on the Parachute Jump in its first year: a deputy sheriff and his sister-in-law later in July 1939,[51] and two female friends that September.[52] Despite a decrease in fairground visitors during mid-1939, the Parachute Jump was one of the few attractions at the fair to remain profitable.[53]
Well, damn. What a different time that was.
I was thinking that any number of people – being completely amateur parachutists – would have had a rough time of it at the very least, but it seems not…?
Amazing.
Or tower week at Fort Benning.
