Nathan Truesdell's gathering of news coverage on the infamous 1986 Ballonfest in Cleveland speak for itself in a strangely fascinating manner.
There's no new input or witnesses to the event sharing memories of the event decades later, it's simply a showing of the most stupid idea of breaking
some Guinness record of most balloons ever released (1.5 million).
Everybody, in one way or another, want to get a register included in the book and there
are many weird yet fun ideas that get noticed, and a business company decided to go ahead, creating a large event extensively covered by media and
followed by many people back then. Disaster happened as the release was anticipated before the planned schedule, but they were doomed anyway due to a
bad weather and that same weather caused the death of two fishermen in the nearby area. What the last factor has to do with the balloons? It delayed the
rescue operation since the Coast Guard couldn't locate them properly due to the balloons.
Seeing this piece offers some creepy 1980's nostalgia of a ridiculous moment that was considered a form of entertainment. The ballons in the
air didn't even offer great images that look so spectacular unless if you're a big fan of pollution and damages to the environment. But there's some
strange funny bits revolving on reporters talking about the event, some dumb lines that can make you chuckle.
As for aftermath, the company that sponsored the event faced some lawsuits; the Guinness register got somewhat official in 1988, but the entry record for new
attempts was discouraged and, gladly, no such similar record was ever tried again. 8/10.
