October 27 is National Black Cat Day, as well as International Religious Freedom Day, National Mother-In-Law Day, and Cranky Co-Workers Day. Disregarding the others, let's celebrate the 13 Black Cats - a group of stuntmen and stuntwomen who defied death (and sometimes lost) performing before huge crowds and in early motion pictures.
https://sandiegoaira...ying-black-cats
http://www.twaspirit.../blackcats.html
The 13 Black Cats set a standard of professionalism in the movie stunt industry, yet ultimately drifted and disbanded due to their fees being undercut by other stunt performers.
The original 13 members included:
race pilot Art Goebel - Goebel won the 1927 Dole Air Race from Oakland CA to Hawaii, which exceeded the limits of equipment and crews to the extent that only two airplanes finished the event and ten participants were killed in the attempt.
Art Goebel was employed by Phillips Petroleum at the time. The winning aircraft, Woolaroc, was sponsored by Phillips and named after Frank Phillips' ranch near Bartlesville OK.
https://www.earlyavi...com/egoebel.htm
https://dmairfield.o...l_ac/index.html
auto racer and riding mechanic "Spider" Matlock - Spider won the Indy 500 as Billy Arnold's riding mechanic, and was killed at Ascot in 1936, again riding as a mechanic.
http://www.motorspor...hp?db=ct&n=1034
and "Bon" MacDougall.
"Membership" in the Black Cats was somewhat loose, and the number varied up or down from 13 and members came and went. Later members included "Babe" Stapp, 12-time Indy 500 starter, National Sprint Car Hall Of Fame member and co-driver with Ab Jenkins in setting the 48-hour speed record in the Mormon Meteor II, a record which I believe still stands.
http://historicracin...m?driverID=2799
"If a Black Cat can't do it, it can't be done"
