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Broadwick - 6

more than ten feet over them when I saw them, and you've got to do some twisting to make the difference of getting underneath there, between 30 feet of rope and the canvas. I knew if I could get by them I'd be all right, because falls didn't hurt me so much. I was very thankful I got through that one all right.

Q: Can you guide the parachute?

Broadwick: Oh yes, you can guide them quite a bit -- if and when it's not too high. You can handle them pretty good. I always got along pretty good with my parachutes, because I just kind of grew up with them. There was nothing that seemed to bother me too much. I was often embarrassed because I always prided myself on landing standing up, and it's one of the hardest things in the world for a parachute dropper to stand up when he hits the ground. But I do think my 85, 90 pounds helped me to keep my balance very well.

Q: Could we talk about the carnival tour -- perhaps take a typical day? Could you tell me about the publicity you used?

Broadwick: Well, of course in those days I wasn't interested in the publicity. It was up to those that went ahead to work those things out. But it was always exciting to go to a new town, because so many people would look at you and wonder, especially when you got around the balloon. As far as you could see, there were people standing around to watch this balloon go up. It was always so fascinating, and I always got a thrill out of going up. Fortunately I always had a good crowd.

Q: Do you think the fact that you were a girl parachuter thrilled them particularly?

Broadwick: Yes, I think they were surprised to find me a parachuter -- and because I was so little. They dressed me up in little white costumes. They called me "the Doll Girl," because they dressed me up in little white dresses with little