The Wall of Death: Thrilling Crowds for 100 Years and Counting
Most carnival acts from the early 1900s look quaint, cruel, or outdated today. The Wall of Death is the exception to the rule.
Envisioned by showman Ira Watkins, it features motorcycles speeding around the walls of a vertical wooden cylinder, using centrifugal force to stay upright. He called it “Watkins’ Wall of Death,” and it proved so popular that over the decades, similar shows cropped up, all pushing the limits of safety and sanity. In some versions, riders sped around with a lion in a sidecar, and in others, up to 4 riders raced in opposite directions. As you might imagine, there were plenty of injuries and even deaths. At its peak, around 100 motordromes were touring the United States. Today, only three remain.
The two best-known are the American Motordrome Company and the Ives Brothers’ Wall of Death.
What’s in a Wall of Death Show?
The Wall of Death requires skill and a deep understanding of the physics at play. Performers need to manage centrifugal force, maintain a steady hand on the throttle, and remain composed under the gaze of a rowdy crowd. The performance is visually stunning — riders roar around the barrel-like structure performing intricate maneuvers that seem to defy gravity altogether. Riders are often just inches from the top edge of the wall, riding on one wheel, hands-free, or even performing mid-air bike swaps.
The bikes used for Wall of Death shows are almost always classic machines: antique Harley-Davidsons, vintage Indians, and rustic go-carts. The age of the bikes is part of the appeal. They blend nostalgia with innovation, paying homage to the bikes of their forebearers while pushing the boundaries of modern stunt riding.
A Family of Daredevils
Cody and Kyle Ives were literally born into carnival life. Their dad, Shawn, joined the circus right out of high school and met their mom there. When Shawn acquired a “Globe of Steel” —a hollow, 16-foot diameter sphere made of steel bars—he encouraged his sons Cody and Kyle to ride their BMX bikes in it, and they quickly became pros. Then, Shawn bought Cody a motorcycle shortly after his seventh birthday and suggested he take it for a ride around the globe. Cody spent a solid year mastering his motorized stunts with the steel ball. When Cody and Kyle were only eight and six years old, Shawn was already dreaming of them stunt riding together.
The boys finished high school and were already touring their show when their dad bought an aluminum Wall of Death. They loved the stunts they could perform in it, but it didn’t have the same carnival appeal as the original wooden barrel-like motordromes. Using their metal motordrome as a model, Shawn and Kyle built a wooden replica from wooden planks. Their hard work and attention to detail paid off: the motordrome they built has been their traveling stage ever since. It takes five people 15 hours to set up the Ives’ Brothers Wall of Death, and another 12 hours for them to tear it all down and pack it up in their truck.
An American Tradition
The largest Wall of Death in the USA is operated by the American Motor Drome Company, newly owned by rider Bill Applegate, better known by his stage name Hobo Bill. He picked up where original owner Jay Lightman left off—Lightman stopped performing last year at age 72! Jay built the motordrome in his backyard in 1998 and has put it to work traveling full-time ever since.
Bill points out that the Wall of Death predates TV, and once upon a time, it was a must-see attraction when it came through town. Today, crowds still thrill at the sight and sound of the show. The American Motor Drome Company can fit up to 200 people at a time under its canopy, where it offers an experience that never fails to amaze audiences. Applegate describes the assembly process as time-consuming. It takes nine people (three performers plus six volunteers) eight hours of heavy lifting to set up the motor drome. He jokes that the riding is the easy part.
How You Can Experience the Wall of Death
While the Wall of Death is rooted in tradition, modern shows add contemporary touches that continue to thrill today’s audiences. The current traveling shows are among the last remaining acts of their kind, and the performers take great pride in keeping this spectacle alive. They travel the country, performing at state fairs, festivals, and motorcycle rallies, inspiring and amazing crowds with the spectacle of the Wall of Death.
Check out the Ives Brothers or the American Motor Drome Company touring schedules to find out when and where you can see the Wall of Death in action. Whether you’re a lifelong motorcycle enthusiast or just someone looking for a thrill, the Wall of Death will leave you in awe.