10/21/2026
The Woodward Daily Press of October 21, 1929, carried an article on its front page about a flying circus coming to town. Flying circuses, more commonly known today as air shows were a huge draw back in the day. Aviation was still something of a novelty to people, particularly those who lived in rural areas. Following World War I most of the stunt pilots were former military pilots who just wanted to keep flying. As time wore on though they had to keep adding new stunts and new acts to the basic flying to stay competitive.
The photo shows Lillian Boyer during one of her acts. Lillian was a very famous aerial stunt performer known for her breakaways (seen in the photo), wing walks, automobile-to-airplane transfers, rope ladder climbing, and parachute jumps between 1921 and 1929. By the way, just in case you’re wondering, Lillian Boyer lived to the age of 88, passing in 1989. We don’t know for a fact, that Lillian was part of the flying circus that visited Woodward, though the article mentions a female wing walker.
Also, for context, there is no evidence whatsoever that Wile E. Coyote had anything to do with the flying circus mentioned in the article.
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FLYING CIRCUS HERE TOMORROW!
Parachute Jumper, Wing Walker and Rope Ladder Performer Promised
Airplanes are expected to fly thick and fast here tomorrow with the coming of the Acme Flying Circus for a one day appearance.
Parachute jumper and lady wing walker and rope ladder performer are special attractions with the circus. The usual plane stunts will be given and passengers will be hauled.
No admission will be charged for the circus but a collection will be taken for the parachute jumper and wing walker. Passengers will be hauled at the rate of $2.50 per person.
The circus will be at the local airport. Four ships are in the caravan.
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Stop in at the Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum and learn more about how early aviation impacted this region (besides guys punching planes into the sides of local barns AND the band shell at Crystal Beach).
We are stunt-, fast-, and admission-free. Stop in at the Muse sometime soon to buy an autographed copy of the book, “My Double Life as an Air Show Hot Dog” by Freddie Skye (the nom-de-divebomb of former social media guy, Fenton DeClyde). Yep, Fenton moonlighted as the well-known air show stunt performer, Freddie Skye, and was also known better by his air show call-sign, F-Skye.
We speak of it in the past tense because he no longer performs and has been dodging lawyers and subpoenas for several years now.
During his last performance, he and his pilot, Dirk “Dirkster” Rivet, decided to try a new stunt that involved a series of three barrel rolls with F-Skye (aka, Fenton) up on the wing. In the middle of the three rolls, the F-Skye hurled wrapped pieces of bubble gum down at the crowd. Oh sure, it all sounds like fun and games, but F-Skye and the Dirkster failed to take into account two things: 1) the terminal velocity of a piece of wrapped bubble gum falling out of the sky is 2.356 feet/second (in lay terms, it’s gonna sting), and 2) also, they were performing a private show for a pack of civil liability attorneys.
O’ the moans, groans, and sight of civil liability attorneys falling and rolling around on the ground calling out, “I smell litigation!” F-Skye…er…Fenton…still has nightmares. In fact, it sparked a new industry that you can find on very late-night television, “Friends, have you been injured by negligence from the sky above? We here at Wee, Cheatem, and Howe are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.”
Please share these posts with anyone who is NOT a civil liability attorney.
And let’s be careful out there!
