Some Publicity
Stunts That Made Everyone
Call Carl G. Fisher
"CRAZY"
Bicycle Promotions
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Rode a bicycle over a tightrope stretched between two
tall buildings in downtown Indianapolis wearing only padded suit
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Built and rode a twenty foot tall bicycle
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Released a thousand balloons in which one hundred of them
contained a number that that could be redeemed for a new bicycle
-
Throw a bicycle off the top of the capital's tallest structure
and whoever recovered the bicycle and brought it into his store received
a brand new bicycle
Stoddard-Dayton Promotions
-
He tied a Stoddard-Dayton to a hot air balloon (in place
of the wicker basket), and rode it off out of site. A little while
later he drove into down to the cheers of the crowd. There was a
small trick to this promotion. Undetected by the crowd the car he
drove back into town in was not the same one that was attached to the balloon.
He had his brother drive an identical car to the landing site because the
car that was attached to the balloon did not have an engine. To his
surprise no one caught him or even questioned it.
-
He also pushed a seven pessenger Stoddard-Dayton off of
a building top, after it landed, one of his brothers started the car up
and to the noise of the crowd off they drove. This promotion had no real
tricks to it except that Carl had let the air out of the tires so that
it would not bounce and flip over.
Although these promotional stunts seem to be very rediculous,
they were extremely effective. Carl Fisher's success and failure
in life can be parelled with these stunts. He lived on the run and
was always looking for something to promote. He was always willing
to meet the challenge head on and take the risk. The Lincoln and
Dixie Highways and the Miami project are also very good examples of how
Carl Fisher was willing to fight the battle and take on all risks.
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