Ildebrando Zacchini
| Ildebrando Zacchini | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1868 Malta |
| Died |
July 17, 1948 (aged 79–80) Tampa, Florida |
| Resting place | Myrtle Hill Memorial Park, Tampa |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Known for | human cannonball act |
| Spouse(s) | Madelina Dal Paos (1872 – 1963) |
| Children | Hugo Zacchini, Edmondo Zacchini |
Ildebrando Zacchini (1868 - July 17, 1948, Tampa, Florida) was a Maltese-born painter, inventor, and travelling circus owner.[1]
Inspired by the works of Jules Verne, Zacchini came up with an idea for a human cannonball act.[2] Instead of explosives, Zacchini's human-firing cannon used compressed air, and he first tested it on his son Hugo Zacchini.
The idea for the cannonball act was initially proposed to the Italian government as a military maneuver to be used in conjunction with parachutes; when the proposal was rejected Zacchini looked to use the technique as part of an entertainment act.[3]
Members of the Zacchini family were later inducted into the Ringling Brothers Circus Hall of Fame.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Rene Zacchini left circus to serve in Florida House...". St. Petersburg Times. April 22, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ↑ "Zacchini Cannon Enters Museum". St. Petersburg Times. March 31, 1976. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ↑ "'Trigger man' behind human cannonball dies". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 11, 1993. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
- ↑ "Ildebrando Zacchini". Find A Grave. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
External links
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