Are You a ’Tard, Leo?

On this day in 1859 the world witnessed the first public trapeze act (I’m assuming since it was performed by a Frenchman, he probably had practiced on the trapeze in his bedroom). Jules Léotard flew through the air with the greatest of ease (he was so swinging, he probably thinks that song is about him)(actually, it is) at the Cirque Napoleon in Paris. Indeed, Jules was a particular airborne sensation with the Parisian ladies as he wore his namesake outfit, which certainly did fit like its less Frenchified name tights. Ooh la la, talk about your Eiffel Towers.

There is no evidence that Jules Léotard was best friends with another garment pioneer, Ernesto Edyble-Undés.

It’s also the birthdate of the late great Kim Hunter, who will be forever remembered as the woman a rain-soaked Charlton Heston bellowed “Zira! Zira!” to in A Streetcar to the Planet of the Apes.