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354:. They began a relationship and were engaged at the time of Locklear's death. Dana witnessed the plane crash that killed Locklear. She was so traumatized by the event that she refused to fly for the next 25 years. In 1980, Dana recalled her relationship with Locklear and also spoke about his fatal crash in the documentary
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Locklear married Ruby Graves in 1915. The marriage was largely unhappy as Graves and
Locklear had vastly different personalities. They separated in 1919 after Locklear moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career. Despite the marriage being an unhappy one, Graves refused to grant Locklear a divorce.
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was primarily an opportunity to showcase the aerial stunts that had made
Locklear famous. The studio promotion was extensive, with Laemmle declaring the film was "... the most amazing and unbelievable photodrama of all time." The promotional campaign included a premiere at the Superba Theatre in Los
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Pickens had a great deal of experience promoting barnstormers, with
Locklear being his greatest success. Both men became wealthy and lived in high style. His trademark stunt of jumping from one aircraft to another led Locklear to perfect a transfer from a car, and then the "Dance of Death," in which
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review focused on the exciting elements of the film. "Lieutenant
Locklear swings from one airplane to another and crawls out on the tail of a flying machine several thousand feet, presumably, above the earth. The melodrama's use of airplanes for midnight mail deliveries, highway, or rather highair,
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was not going to extend his contract beyond one film, demanded that he be allowed to fly at night. The studio relented, and on August 2, 1920, publicity surrounding the stunt led to a large crowd gathering to witness the filming of the unusual stunt. Large studio arc lights were set up on DeMille
220:
show and realized his own usual flying exploits were far more impressive. After briefly reenlisting, Locklear left the Army in 1919, along with two military colleagues, Milton "Skeets" Elliott and
Shirley Short. With manager and promoter William Pickens, they soon obtained aircraft and formed the
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into post-production and release. With notices proclaiming "Every Inch Of Film
Showing Locklear's Spectacular (And Fatal) Last Flight. His Death-Defying Feats And A Close Up Of His Spectacular Crash To Earth," the film premiered in Los Angeles on September 5, 1920. The advertising campaign that
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In front of spectators and film crew, Locklear and his long-time flying partner "Skeets" Elliot crashed heavily into the sludge pool of an oil well, never pulling out of the incipient spin. The crash resulted in a massive explosion and fire, with
Locklear and Elliot dying instantly. After the
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began on June 11, 1920, with DeMille Field 2 as the main base of operations. Despite
Locklear's public claim that new stunts "more daring ever filmed" would be involved, the production would rely heavily on models and less on actual stunt flying. Two stunts, a church steeple being toppled by
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was a commercial success, Laemmle did not take up the option for a second film starring
Locklear, prompting his $ 25,000 lawsuit against Universal. Unwilling to go back to the air show circuit, Locklear wanted to continue his Hollywood career, and in April 1920, he was signed to star in
154:, the plane crashed during a climactic dive, when the lighting team supposedly failed to douse the lights on cue, so Locklear was dazzled and flew blindly into the ground, dying instantly with his co-pilot Milton "Skeets" Elliott. The scene remained on the film.
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accompanied the film was very similar to that of
Locklear's first feature film, focusing on his earlier exploits and combining model displays and exhibition flights across North America to coincide with the film's release. Upon the film's release,
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was a nighttime spin, initially to take place in daylight with cameras fitted with red filters to simulate darkness. Locklear, under a lot of pressure, with not only his family life being in upheaval but also learning that studio head
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174:, who landed his plane in Fort Worth to unclog a fuel line. After meeting Rodgers, Locklear became fascinated with aviation and airplanes. Shortly thereafter, Locklear and his brother constructed their own
252:, Pickens arranged for Locklear to appear as a stunt man in film work. This opened the way to a movie career in California for Locklear, now considered the foremost "aviation stunt man in the world".
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With the entire film already completed except for the night scene, Fox made the decision to capitalize on the fatal crash by rushing
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In Atlantic City Ormer Locklear of Locklear's Flying Circus clings to one plane waiting for a 2nd plane trailing a rope ladder
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accident, speculation revolved around the five arc lights that had remained fully on, possibly blinding the flight crew.
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Locklear's aircraft and an aircraft-to-train transfer were both problematic and nearly ended in disaster.
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The Locklear Flying Circus performed throughout the United States. When they came to the attention of
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aircraft was also mounted on a raised wooden platform at the airfield in order to film closeups.
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at the end of the World War I, Locklear had been assigned to military recruitment when he saw a
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publicly announced that 10% of the profits would go to the families of Locklear and Elliot.
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148:(1919), a screenplay about the mid-air piracy of a US airmail plane. In his next film,
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was the first of a cycle of postwar films dealing with the exploits of stunt pilots.
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robberies, and battles between the forces of law and lawlessness adds excitement."
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Producer Cecil B. DeMille owned two airfields engaged in commercial aviation, in
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From the Wright Brothers to Top Gun: Aviation, Nationalism, and Popular Cinema.
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His popular flying circus caught the attention of Hollywood, and he starred in
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913:. Inglewood, California: Northrop University Press, 1973. ASIN B0006CB8ZI
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The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies.
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Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
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While separated from Graves, Locklear met widowed silent film actress
505:(1975). Viola Dana was an honored guest at the premiere of the film.
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135:(October 28, 1891 – August 2, 1920) was an American daredevil
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Angeles, and a two-month personal appearance tour with Locklear.
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Locklear is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987.
205:, becoming a flying instructor. Locklear was an exponent of
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two pilots in two aircraft, would switch places in midair.
550:"Guide to the Ormer Locklear Collection, 1898-1920 H07-75"
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Upon completing his education, Locklear went to work as a
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965:. Cranbury, New Jersey: A.S. Barnes and Company, 1973.
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Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984.
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They remained legally married until Locklear's death.
285:. Besides being used as a base for flying, Locklear's
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On April 7, 1920, Locklear was flying in the city of
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United States Army Air Service pilots of World War I
935:Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press, 1995.
1122:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1920
881:Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation.
661:, February 16, 1920. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.
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896:Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars
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495:for the character of Waldo Pepper, played by
244:Locklear performing one of his famous stunts.
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715:"'Waldo Pepper's' Lover Recalls Fiery Crash"
950:. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985.
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123: 1915–1920)
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445:Larry Cassidy (as Lieut. Ormer Locklear)
368:The last stunt scheduled for filming for
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862:"Timeline of FAA and Aerospace History"
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277:began in July 1919 at DeMille Field 1,
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297:Reviews were generally favourable, as
963:Locklear: The Man Who Walked on Wings
193:In October 1917, Locklear joined the
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604:Federal Aviation Administration 2019
209:to make aircraft repairs in flight.
721:. Reading, Pennsylvania. p. 10
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1102:Male actors from Fort Worth, Texas
713:Anderson, Nancy (April 21, 1975).
471:Screen Snapshots, Series 1, No. 7
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1047:20th-century American male actors
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266:, a film depicting pilots flying
1062:American male silent film actors
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281:, California, owned by producer
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1052:Accidental deaths in California
911:Los Angeles Aeronautics 1920-29
866:Federal Aviation Administration
858:Federal Aviation Administration
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770:(1980). "Hazard of the Game".
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594:. Retrieved: October 23, 2014.
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552:. utdallas.edu. Archived from
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1:
1127:Military personnel from Texas
1107:People from Greenville, Texas
1097:Filmed deaths of entertainers
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463:Capt. Norman and a stunt man
342:Ormer Locklear and Viola Dana
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776:(Interview). Interviewed by
133:Ormer Leslie "Lock" Locklear
16:American aviator (1891–1920)
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1117:United States Army officers
1014:, University of North Texas
920:. The History Press, 2014.
654:"Movie Review: The screen."
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589:"Barnstormers and Racers."
378:Field 2 to illuminate the
273:Principal photography for
221:"Locklear Flying Circus".
1072:American stunt performers
1057:American male film actors
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325:Principal photography on
166:, Locklear was raised in
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623:Farmer 1984, pp. 10, 16.
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170:. In 1911, Locklear met
1010:, promotional tour for
1008:Still of Ormer Locklear
644:Farmer 1984, pp. 20–21.
480:, posthumously release
474:Self (as Lt. Locklear)
230:Los Angeles, California
172:Calbraith Perry Rodgers
948:Aviation in the Cinema
502:The Great Waldo Pepper
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1012:The Great Air Robbery
700:Golden 2000 pp.80-81.
466:posthumously release
441:The Great Air Robbery
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313:The Great Air Robbery
299:The Great Air Robbery
291:The Great Air Robbery
275:The Great Air Robbery
263:The Great Air Robbery
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195:U.S. Army Air Service
145:The Great Air Robbery
47:Ormer Leslie Locklear
824:Pendo 1984, pp. 6–7.
794:Ronnie 1973, p. 278.
404:Fox Film Corporation
287:Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny"
1077:Aviators from Texas
898:. McFarland, 2000.
842:Nichols 2014, p. 26
833:Farmer 1984, p. 24.
748:Farmer 1984, p. 23.
670:Farmer 1984, p. 20.
614:Farmer 1984, p. 13.
201:, at Camp Dick and
92:Cause of death
916:Nichols, Michael.
815:Paris 1995, p. 56.
803:Wynne 1987, p. 24.
691:Wynne 1987, p. 10.
658:The New York Times
632:Pendo 1985, p. 59.
574:Wynne 1987, p. 14.
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304:The New York Times
258:Universal Pictures
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103:Greenwood Cemetery
941:978-0-7190-4074-0
889:978-0-83062-374-7
879:Farmer, James H.
757:Pendo 1985, p. 6.
739:Golden 2000 p.80.
682:Pendo 1985, p. 5.
592:Century of Flight
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214:second lieutenant
164:Greenville, Texas
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61:Greenville, Texas
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1092:Burials in Texas
975:Wynne, H. Hugh.
946:Pendo, Stephen.
931:Paris, Michael.
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869:. Retrieved
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723:. Retrieved
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203:Barron Field
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74:(1920-08-02)
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1042:1920 deaths
1037:1891 births
768:Dana, Viola
725:October 12,
560:October 12,
523:Los Angeles
416:Filmography
375:William Fox
279:Los Angeles
236:Film career
137:stunt pilot
113:Ruby Graves
80:Los Angeles
1031:Categories
533:References
478:Short film
352:Viola Dana
256:, head of
168:Fort Worth
158:Early life
84:California
53:1891-10-28
773:Hollywood
493:prototype
449:Lost film
357:Hollywood
311:Although
250:Hollywood
183:carpenter
860:(2019).
322:(1920).
268:air mail
162:Born in
871:June 1,
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487:Legacy
432:Notes
426:Title
199:Austin
176:glider
108:Spouse
86:, U.S.
63:, U.S.
509:Notes
455:1920
437:1919
429:Role
423:Year
364:Death
119:(
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1003:IMDb
981:ISBN
967:ISBN
952:ISBN
937:ISBN
922:ISBN
900:ISBN
885:ISBN
873:2019
727:2015
562:2015
69:Died
43:Born
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1001:at
782:ITV
499:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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