What goes up must come down

On Sept. 27, 1986, 1.5 million balloons were released above Cleveland's Public Square. The world-record-setting event was intended as a fundraiser for the United Way. But the publicity turned negative when all those balloons that had floated up eventually came right back down, creating a massive mess throughout the region. Read more about it on cleveland.com.

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Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 12, 2012
Category: 1980s | Goofs and Screw-ups

Comments

Here's the headline:

Charity Execs Fill 1.5M Balloon with Hot Air

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/12/12 at 09:57 AM

Not to mention all the money wasted that could have gone to actually helping somebody. I know a few people who in tough times (laid-off, severly injured in accident, etc) who applied to United Way for help. None of them ever got one whit of help. Church charities and governemnt agencies did help eventually (all but one got on their feet again, the other: dead of heart attack).

Posted by Jim on 10/12/12 at 10:51 AM

I'm surprised that littering violations didn't apply to events like this. I wonder if they do now. The perpetrators should have been forced to go out and clean up anywhere the balloons were found - on the shore, on the water, Canada, etc.

Posted by KDP on 10/12/12 at 12:14 PM

There were similar misbegotten attempts at massive balloon releases at the Democratic National Conventions in 1980 and in 2004. Their planners are all "image" and no "logistics."
They never learn.

Posted by tadchem on 10/12/12 at 06:43 PM

Cause and effect are disjointed for some people that's for sure.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/12/12 at 07:03 PM

Not to mention the dangers to wildlife who eat the fallen balloons and strings and die or sustain terrible injuries.

Posted by ScoutC on 10/12/12 at 08:06 PM

Hmm, looks like they forgot to attach the house, too. 😠

Posted by Captain DaFt on 10/13/12 at 12:13 AM

Good one Captain! :lol:

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/13/12 at 07:58 AM

To be filed under the heading, "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time."

Posted by Billy on 10/15/12 at 09:08 AM

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