in

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

In the early 20th Century, as skyscrapers rose over cityscapes in cities across the country, the strangest phenomenon began in the history of humankind. Human flies started popping up all over the country from 1905 to 1929 (usually to promote various businesses) to climb buildings with their bare hands. However, some climbers wore special suction gloves; most used only their strong fingers and feet to hold on to the building. Of course, fame has always been a powerful lure for the human flies. The lucrative aspect of this is that businesses could pay to advertise their wares to sometimes large crowds below. Banks, movies, and life insurance companies (always a favorite) were the advertisers.

Harry Gardiner was by far the most famous human fly. Gardner climbed his first building in 1905, and by the time he ended his career, he had climbed more than 700. He was famous by the middle of the second decade of the twentieth Century and ascended buildings to sell war bonds at the height of his fame. Gardiner was born in 1871 in New York. In 1905, when he was in his thirties, he began climbing. He became famous for climbing the 159-foot flagstaff atop Grant’s Tomb in New York. According to Gardiner, Grover Cleveland suggested the name “fly” to him when he was present in the audience. He was naturally gifted with solid hands, but he was also a committed and somewhat hammy performer. His bright smile and round glasses gave the Human Fly a show – for the camera, for the crowd, for the papers, for the businesses that paid him checks. He posed for stunning pictures, such as one in which he held onto the precipice of a building with one arm while holding out his hat with another. He often wore white clothing so that the masses below could still see him.

Gardiner often attracted large crowds to watch his ascents. In December of 1916, 30,000 people watched him climb to the top of the Omaha World-Herald building, another 30,000 in Terre Haute, and 22,000 in Denver. Gardiner’s career highlight came in Detroit in September of 1916 when he successfully ascension the 14-story Majestic Building, drawing over 150,000 spectators.

Gardiner continued to perform as a steeplejack until 1926 when he disappeared. In 1933, a man matching his description was found beaten and dead at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. However, it remains unclear if it was Gardiner or if it was just an unlucky tourist.

#1 Harry Gardiner hanging from the 24th story of the Hotel McAlpin in New York City, 1910.

Harry Gardiner hanging from the 24th story of the Hotel McAlpin in New York City, 1910.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One Comment

#2

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#3 Human Fly crawls up walls of Camden NJ Courthouse, February 10, 1915.

Human Fly crawls up walls of Camden NJ Courthouse, February 10, 1915.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#4 On June 9, 1916, Harry Gardiner, thrilled crowds as he climbed up the Omaha World-Herald building at 15th and Farnam Streets.

On June 9, 1916, Harry Gardiner, thrilled crowds as he climbed up the Omaha World-Herald building at 15th and Farnam Streets.

While the 30,000 to 35,000 people gathered in the streets to watch gasped and shivered, the newspaper story said, Gardiner was unfazed.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#5 Harry Gardner climbing the Lawrence Building in Boston, 1918.

Harry Gardner climbing the Lawrence Building in Boston, 1918.

He was climbing the building to raise funds for the Red Cross Fund. Gardner can be seen on the side of the building making his way upwards.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#6 Harry Gardiner scales the 17-storey Vancouver World Building (later known as the Sun Tower) at the corner of Pender and Cambie in front of a crowd.

Harry Gardiner scales the 17-storey Vancouver World Building (later known as the Sun Tower) at the corner of Pender and Cambie in front of a crowd.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#7 The “Human Fly” climbing the World Tower on the corner of Beatty and West Pender in Vancouver, 1918.

The “Human Fly” climbing the World Tower on the corner of Beatty and West Pender in Vancouver, 1918.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#8 A huge crowd on Pender Street gathered to watch Gardiner not fall to his death.

A huge crowd on Pender Street gathered to watch Gardiner not fall to his death.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#9 Ten thousand people watched the “Human Fly” clinging to the bare, sheer surface of the Vancouver World Building, winning his way by the sheer strength of his hands 340 feet above their heads, 1918.

Ten thousand people watched the “Human Fly” clinging to the bare, sheer surface of the Vancouver World Building, winning his way by the sheer strength of his hands 340 feet above their heads, 1918.

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#10

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#11

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

#12

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

-1 Points
Upvote Downvote

Leave a Reply

Harry Gardiner: The First Human Fly Who Climbed Skyscrapers from the Ground in the early 20th Century

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Avatar of Benjamin Grayson

Written by Benjamin Grayson

Former Bouquet seller now making a go with blogging and graphic designing. I love creating & composing history articles and lists.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *