53 – Don’t Put Cleveland on the Map – Balloonfest ’86

About the Episode

What would a circus clown’s worst nightmare look like? We have a guess: Balloonfest ’86.

This week, Sierra confesses her hatred for a common party decoration while Colin tells the foolish story of Balloonfest ’86. Join us as we discuss the origins of a bad NFL team name, weird Victorian idioms, and how balloons interfered with a police investigation.

Subjects Covered

Balloonfest '86 • Cleveland, Ohio • United Way of Cleveland • George Fraser • Balloon Art by Treb • Treb Heining • Tom Holowach • United Way • United Way of Cleveland • Cleveland Browns • Dumb History • Lake Erie • Clevelandians • Skyfest • Disneyland's 30th Anniversary Celebration • World's Largest Balloon Release • Raymond Broderick • Gail Broderick • Bernard Sulzer • Louise Nowakowski • Dr. George Fraser • Eddie Munson • Drew Barrymore •

Sources

• Balloonfest '86 - Wikipedia
• Rare Historical Photos - Cleveland Balloons 1986
• How Releasing 1.5M Balloons Went Horribly Wrong - Youtube
• The History Makers - George Fraser
• Fox 8 - Balloonfest Anniversary
• Herndon Directors Institute - George C. Fraser