30. William Hanlon

William Hanlon was the third eldest brother of The Hanlon-Lees troupe, a renowned acrobatic circus act that originated in England before touring Europe and finally coming to the U.S. in the 1850s. They were pre-Vaudevillian acrobats who astonished the world with their pantomime performances, special effects, sensational scenery, elaborate costumes, tumbling, twisting, juggling, trapezes and daring acrobatics. They directly influenced vaudeville and silent film comedy with "knockabout" acts that were popularized by the Marx Brothers and the Three Stooges. During the off-season, the Hanlon Brothers summered in Cohasset and performed in a custom-built studio across from the post office. The brothers patented several inventions, including the aerial safety net, after one of the brothers fell and died of injuries. They also developed the wooden brace used in theater scenery construction and fire safety nets used by urban fire departments. They passed on the patents to the New York City Fire Department.

Additional resources about the Hanlons include an article on CCC website (Superba! Hanlon Brothers ~ The Hanlon Brothers were a family of theater actors who settled in Cohasset.) and a book “Leap For Life”.