On May 22 1954, tightrope walkers Berthy Omankowsky and Roger Decugis married on a rope stretched high above the Place du Capitole in Toulouse, France. The wedding of two members of the Franco-Czechoslovakian (Diables Blancs) White Devils Company was overseen by Father Robert Simon, nicknamed the Flying Priest on account of his passion for diving for charity from heights of over 40 metres.
Photographer Jean Dieuzaide recorded the event on his Rolleiflex whilst sat on the shoulders of the bride’s father, Rudolf Omankowski, who was also balancing on a wire. The son of a tightrope walker, Omankowski had founded of the White Devils troupe in which his three children and their spouses were part.
It was Omankowski who mentored his fellow funambule Philippe Petit for his illegal walk between the two towers of the New York’s World Trade Center on a wire suspended above the void in 1974.
Philippe Petit walks between the Twin Tower in 1974
Decades later, Fred Marie made a film that celebrates Jean Dieuzaide and his famous photo. The 26-minute film ends with a new performance of the wedding.
Via: Toulouse Town Hall, Municipal Archives.
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