16 Pics Remembering When a Guy Did A High-Wire Act Between NY’s Twin Towers

Carly Tennes Published 11/17/2024 in wow

In August of 1975, French stuntman Philippe Petit went where no tightrope walker had before: traversing New York City's World Trade Center towers. Despite lasting only 45 minutes, his stunt remains as unbelievable today in now-iconic photographs.

From his high-wire stunts to his final arrest, here are 16 pics of when a guy tightrope walked between the Twin Towers.

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1.
An ad promoting the historic tightrope walk.
2.
Petit first garnered a reputation in NYC after showing off his skills in various public spaces, including Washington Square Park.
3.
He first came up with the idea to tight rope walk between the NYC buildings when he was 18 and read about the project while at a dentist’s office.
4.
Another view of the stunt.
5.
It took Petit six years to plan the stunt.
6.
Around 8 a.m. on August 7, 1974, Petit made his way up to the roof of the World Trade Center and started his performance.
7.
During his 45-minute performance, Petit made his way back and forth between the towers eight times.
8.
Philippe Petit’s stunt, as seen from above.
9.
Another angle of the iconic walk.
10.
Despite being 1,350 feet in the air, he said he was able to hear onlookers cheer as he performed a variety of stunts.
11.
These included dancing and laying down on the tight rope.
12.
A close up of the tight-rope walking action.
13.
Ultimately the authorities arrived and threatened to remove him with a helicopter.
14.
He heeded the cops' advice, citing both the rainy weather and the fact that he had "trespassed long enough into these forbidden regions."
15.
Though he was arrested after the incident, the charges were dropped after he met the condition of performing a free stunt show for the city's children in Central Park.
16.
We hope he at least got to enjoy the view.

1.
An ad promoting the historic tightrope walk.
2.
Petit first garnered a reputation in NYC after showing off his skills in various public spaces, including Washington Square Park.
3.
He first came up with the idea to tight rope walk between the NYC buildings when he was 18 and read about the project while at a dentist’s office.
4.
Another view of the stunt.
5.
It took Petit six years to plan the stunt.
6.
Around 8 a.m. on August 7, 1974, Petit made his way up to the roof of the World Trade Center and started his performance.
7.
During his 45-minute performance, Petit made his way back and forth between the towers eight times.
8.
Philippe Petit’s stunt, as seen from above.
9.
Another angle of the iconic walk.
10.
Despite being 1,350 feet in the air, he said he was able to hear onlookers cheer as he performed a variety of stunts.
11.
These included dancing and laying down on the tight rope.
12.
A close up of the tight-rope walking action.
13.
Ultimately the authorities arrived and threatened to remove him with a helicopter.
14.
He heeded the cops' advice, citing both the rainy weather and the fact that he had "trespassed long enough into these forbidden regions."
15.
Though he was arrested after the incident, the charges were dropped after he met the condition of performing a free stunt show for the city's children in Central Park.
16.
We hope he at least got to enjoy the view.

poster - He Walked The Tightrope Precariously Suspended Across Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris ... Just Last Week He Dazzled Thousands By Walk ing 1,350 Feet Above The Street Between The World Trade Center Skyscrapers In New York City. See Him Tomorrow At H

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16 Pics Remembering When a Guy Did A High-Wire Act Between NY’s Twin Towers

1.
An ad promoting the historic tightrope walk.

2.
Petit first garnered a reputation in NYC after showing off his skills in various public spaces, including Washington Square Park.

3.
He first came up with the idea to tight rope walk between the NYC buildings when he was 18 and read about the project while at a dentist’s office.

4.
Another view of the stunt.

5.
It took Petit six years to plan the stunt.

6.
Around 8 a.m. on August 7, 1974, Petit made his way up to the roof of the World Trade Center and started his performance.

7.
During his 45-minute performance, Petit made his way back and forth between the towers eight times.

8.
Philippe Petit’s stunt, as seen from above.

9.
Another angle of the iconic walk.

10.
Despite being 1,350 feet in the air, he said he was able to hear onlookers cheer as he performed a variety of stunts.

11.
These included dancing and laying down on the tight rope.

12.
A close up of the tight-rope walking action.

13.
Ultimately the authorities arrived and threatened to remove him with a helicopter.

14.
He heeded the cops' advice, citing both the rainy weather and the fact that he had "trespassed long enough into these forbidden regions."

15.
Though he was arrested after the incident, the charges were dropped after he met the condition of performing a free stunt show for the city's children in Central Park.

16.
We hope he at least got to enjoy the view.

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eBaum's Picks

1. An ad promoting the historic tightrope walk.

2. Petit first garnered a reputation in NYC after showing off his skills in various public spaces, including Washington Square Park.

3. He first came up with the idea to tight rope walk between the NYC buildings when he was 18 and read about the project while at a dentist’s office.

4. Another view of the stunt.

5. It took Petit six years to plan the stunt.

6. Around 8 a.m. on August 7, 1974, Petit made his way up to the roof of the World Trade Center and started his performance.

7. During his 45-minute performance, Petit made his way back and forth between the towers eight times.

8. Philippe Petit’s stunt, as seen from above.

9. Another angle of the iconic walk.

10. Despite being 1,350 feet in the air, he said he was able to hear onlookers cheer as he performed a variety of stunts.

11. These included dancing and laying down on the tight rope.

12. A close up of the tight-rope walking action.

13. Ultimately the authorities arrived and threatened to remove him with a helicopter.

14. He heeded the cops' advice, citing both the rainy weather and the fact that he had "trespassed long enough into these forbidden regions."

15. Though he was arrested after the incident, the charges were dropped after he met the condition of performing a free stunt show for the city's children in Central Park.

16. We hope he at least got to enjoy the view.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

Share This Image

0 Comments

eBaum's Picks

1.
An ad promoting the historic tightrope walk.

2.
Petit first garnered a reputation in NYC after showing off his skills in various public spaces, including Washington Square Park.

3.
He first came up with the idea to tight rope walk between the NYC buildings when he was 18 and read about the project while at a dentist’s office.

4.
Another view of the stunt.

5.
It took Petit six years to plan the stunt.

6.
Around 8 a.m. on August 7, 1974, Petit made his way up to the roof of the World Trade Center and started his performance.

7.
During his 45-minute performance, Petit made his way back and forth between the towers eight times.

8.
Philippe Petit’s stunt, as seen from above.

9.
Another angle of the iconic walk.

10.
Despite being 1,350 feet in the air, he said he was able to hear onlookers cheer as he performed a variety of stunts.

11.
These included dancing and laying down on the tight rope.

12.
A close up of the tight-rope walking action.

13.
Ultimately the authorities arrived and threatened to remove him with a helicopter.

14.
He heeded the cops' advice, citing both the rainy weather and the fact that he had "trespassed long enough into these forbidden regions."

15.
Though he was arrested after the incident, the charges were dropped after he met the condition of performing a free stunt show for the city's children in Central Park.

16.
We hope he at least got to enjoy the view.