B. H. DeLay
Beverly Homer DeLay (August 12, 1891 – July 4, 1923) was an American aviator who pioneered many of the popular stunts used in the early barnstorming air-shows.DeLay's early daredevil style was theatrically demonstrated in his high-speed race moves in the domed dance pavilion on Pickering Pleasure Pier in Ocean Park, California.His theatrical family entertainment history reaches back over a hundred years to France, including stage actors, dancers, musicians, and theatre impresarios.DeLay's uncle Louis Harrison[1] continued stage directing, writing plays, songs and acting as a comedian on Broadway.DeLay acted in aviator roles and performed aerials in both comedies and dramatic films in the classic motion picture period (see the movie section below).During his ten years of flying experience, DeLay conducted aerial rides with politicians, actors, and unusual personalities, such as an opera diva (Luisa Tetrazzini) and native celebrity singer (Tsianina Redfeather).[8] In a promotion of Venice as a leading entertainment destination, DeLay flew a night loop-the-loop “fire ride” with fireworks on the back of his plane, while 20 navy destroyer ships flashed their search lights upon the horizon for his performance.He acted and performed aerials with Ruth Roland, Oliver Hardy, Larry Semon, Milton Sills, Agnes Ayres, Florence Vidor, Al St. John, Helen Holmes, Viola Dana, Warner Oland, Thomas Ince, Ormer Locklear, Al Wilson, Frank Clarke, and many other notables.DeLay worked with over 25 motion picture companies including the original Warner Bros., Pathé, Vitagraph, Astra, Universal, and Fox.DeLay was 31 when he died (along with passenger aviator, R.I. Short, President of the Essandee Corporation) in the crash of a sabotaged plane while performing in front of crowds of thousands at Ocean Park on July 4, 1923.'s father), G. F. Stephenson, Howard Patterson, along with others such as stunt performers, Frank Clarke and pilots Wallace Timm and Glen Boyd.