The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 108 Evel Knievel: The Triumph, The Crashes, and The Scandal That Ended It All

Evel Knievel had a 75% success rate, broken bones in the triple digits, and a toy line that grossed $175 million. But how did a reckless kid from Butte, Montana become the world's most famous daredevil—and what caused his sudden downfall? Philip Mershon dives into the Mid Century Vault to trace Knievel’s trajectory from small-town mischief and the famous power grid blackout to iconic jumps at Caesars Palace, Wembley Stadium, and Snake River Canyon. Plus, we look at the 1977 controversy involving promoter Shelly Saltman that effectively ended the "Evel Knievel as superhero" era. Drop a comment: Did you ever build plywood ramps in your driveway to copy his stunts? Who wore the jumpsuit better? Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Hype this video to help us bring more untold mid-century stories to light! #EvelKnievel #Daredevil #Motorcycles #MidCenturyHistory #ExtremeSports #TrueHistory #Documentary