Philippe Petit reenacts Blondin feat

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (WIVB) - Philippe Petit made dozens of public high-wire performances in his career, but one of his most acclaimed appearances was when he reenacted a performance by the Charles Blondin in a tightrope walk across Niagara Falls.

In 1986 Frenchman Petit played the part of Blondin, recognized as the first man to walk a tightrope across the Falls in 1859..  Blondin won international acclaim from his feat and walked the wire over the Falls nine times. He also did the stunt with his manager on his back and once walked the tightrope with a wheelbarrow.

Petit's reenactment was staged for an Imax film shown at an attraction in Niagara Falls. 

WIVB News Reporter Octavia Hudson caught the action for her report  on Channel 4 in October 1986.

Petit gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York, on  August 7, 1974