Roy Maloy
Encyclopedia
Roy Timothy McPherson (b. 27 October 1975) is an Australian stilt walker, stunt man, entertainer, and the current holder of four world records: the world record for the tallest stilts walked on—56.5 feet (17.2 m)— the world record for the heaviest solid object smashed on a person lying on a bed of nails—a 550 kilograms (1,212.5 lb) block of ice on 10 October 2009. and the World Record for walking 40 paces on the heaviest stilts ever walked on at 34kg per leg on 23 December 2010 and for walking the furthest distance on 3' wooden stilts in one hour - 6.2km in June 2011 in Tasmania.
in Hong Kong
in 1982 at the age of 7. His mother performed an illusion show for Sunday school events, which Roy assisted in; dressed as a clown.
, Australia, in the late 1990s as a busker. Learning stilt walking during this time, at the age of 19, he began performing in street parades and at large events such as the opening of Homebush Stadium in Sydney and outdoor festivals. Maloy continued performing comedy style shows, adding stilt walking to his skills in 1998.
In 2004 Maloy toured a solo show titled 'The Roy-All Variety Performance' across Australia and New Zealand. Maloy included knife throwing, a guillotine illusion and a bed of nails with his stilt-walking act.
In 2008 Roy announced that he would break the world record for tallest stilts ever walked on in human history. Roy Maloy, while wearing an overhead safety wire, took five independent steps on 56 ft. 6 inch stilts weighing 50.6 lbs. each leg on 1.11.2008. His stunt received national media coverage.
On 23 December 2010 Roy broke the world record for walking on the heaviest stilts ever walked on. The stilts were made from red gum telephone pole segments and Roy walked the necessary 40 paces with each stilt weighing 35kg per stilt. The event was hosted in front of 3000 fans in Townsville, Queensland
.
On 24 June 2011, Roy Maloy broke his fourth world record. 'greatest distance walked on 3' (91.4cm) wooden stilts in under one hour. The stilt walk took place between MONA Art Gallery in Tasmania, through Elizabeth St Mall and finished at the ABC lawns in Hobart. 13.4km all up was walked with the furthest distance walked in one hour being 6.2km.
. Lying on a bed of nails, Maloy had a 550 kilogram block of solid ice placed on his chest by a forklift, which was then smashed with a sledge hammers. The previous record was held by fellow Australian Neal Hardy who had a total of 532.3 kilograms placed on his chest and broken at Vikings Auditorium, Erindale, Canberra, Australia, on 16 February 2008. (Ref Guinness 2009)
When performing on stilts in the 2010 Moomba
parade in Melbourne, Victoria, Roy served as a pseudo royal escort to the Moomba King and Queen, alongside their court jester.
On 10 October 2009, Roy was presented with a civic medalion by the Mayor of Glenorchi, Tas, after breaking the bed of nails world record. (Mercury newspaper)
On 16 March 2010, Roy was crowned King of the Brimbank on Parade festival in Sunshine, Victoria
by Peter Hitchener of Channel 9 News. (Brimbank Leader)
On 24 June Roy Maloy was presented with a civic medaion by the Mayor of Brighton Council at the ABC studios in Hobart Tasmania for breaking his fourth world record (ABC Radio Hobart)
In 2010 Roy Maloy produce a comic mockumentary
of their tours to different carnivals, titled Roy Maloy's Carnival Culture. The DVD featured a cast including Irish strongman Irish O'Reilly, a hapless and talentless juggler named Singe, Rick the 'Sketchy Hitchhiker', Emberella and his own actual daughter J'ette.
Early life
Maloy was born in Melbourne, the son of Salvation Army missionaries. He began performing as a hobby after seeing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey CircusRingling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is an American circus company. The company was started when the circus created by James Anthony Bailey and P. T. Barnum was merged with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Ringling brothers purchased the Barnum & Bailey Circus in 1907, but ran the circuses...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1982 at the age of 7. His mother performed an illusion show for Sunday school events, which Roy assisted in; dressed as a clown.
Career
Homeless in his late teens, Roy began performing balloon tying in Melbourne and SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia, in the late 1990s as a busker. Learning stilt walking during this time, at the age of 19, he began performing in street parades and at large events such as the opening of Homebush Stadium in Sydney and outdoor festivals. Maloy continued performing comedy style shows, adding stilt walking to his skills in 1998.
Stilt-walking records
In 2003 Maloy was invited to 'perform a stunt' by a school fete in Victoria Ave. He arrived with 15-foot stilts and announced that he would 'break the Australian record for the tallest stilts ever walked on'. Shortly thereafter he began touring his stilt-walking and comedy magic/circus shows to regional Australian agricultural shows - demonstrating 'extreme stilt walking'.In 2004 Maloy toured a solo show titled 'The Roy-All Variety Performance' across Australia and New Zealand. Maloy included knife throwing, a guillotine illusion and a bed of nails with his stilt-walking act.
In 2008 Roy announced that he would break the world record for tallest stilts ever walked on in human history. Roy Maloy, while wearing an overhead safety wire, took five independent steps on 56 ft. 6 inch stilts weighing 50.6 lbs. each leg on 1.11.2008. His stunt received national media coverage.
On 23 December 2010 Roy broke the world record for walking on the heaviest stilts ever walked on. The stilts were made from red gum telephone pole segments and Roy walked the necessary 40 paces with each stilt weighing 35kg per stilt. The event was hosted in front of 3000 fans in Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
.
On 24 June 2011, Roy Maloy broke his fourth world record. 'greatest distance walked on 3' (91.4cm) wooden stilts in under one hour. The stilt walk took place between MONA Art Gallery in Tasmania, through Elizabeth St Mall and finished at the ABC lawns in Hobart. 13.4km all up was walked with the furthest distance walked in one hour being 6.2km.
Heaviest solid object broken on a bed of nails
on 10 October 2009 Roy Maloy broke the world record for the Heaviest Solid Object Broken on a person while laying on a Bed of Nails at the Derwent Entertainment Centre, TasmaniaTasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. Lying on a bed of nails, Maloy had a 550 kilogram block of solid ice placed on his chest by a forklift, which was then smashed with a sledge hammers. The previous record was held by fellow Australian Neal Hardy who had a total of 532.3 kilograms placed on his chest and broken at Vikings Auditorium, Erindale, Canberra, Australia, on 16 February 2008. (Ref Guinness 2009)
Honorary titles
Maloy has been described by the Australian media variously as ‘The Prince of Australian Vaudeville’ (Herald Sun 2002), ‘King of Carnival’ (Border Mail 2006), ‘Sultan of Circus’ (Hopetoun Courier 2007), and ‘King of Australian Circus (Leader 2010) and 'Circus King' (The Age) Australian Fire Brathing King (Sunday Herald Sun 2011).When performing on stilts in the 2010 Moomba
Moomba
Moomba is Australia's largest free community festival and one of the longest running festivals in Australia. Held annually in the city of Melbourne, Australia, Moomba is celebrated during the Labour Day long weekend , and has been celebrated since 1955...
parade in Melbourne, Victoria, Roy served as a pseudo royal escort to the Moomba King and Queen, alongside their court jester.
On 10 October 2009, Roy was presented with a civic medalion by the Mayor of Glenorchi, Tas, after breaking the bed of nails world record. (Mercury newspaper)
On 16 March 2010, Roy was crowned King of the Brimbank on Parade festival in Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia lying 11 to 13 km west of the CBD. Its Local Government Area is the City of Brimbank. At the 2006 Census, Sunshine had a population of 8,070.-History:...
by Peter Hitchener of Channel 9 News. (Brimbank Leader)
On 24 June Roy Maloy was presented with a civic medaion by the Mayor of Brighton Council at the ABC studios in Hobart Tasmania for breaking his fourth world record (ABC Radio Hobart)
Carnival Culture
In 2010 Roy Maloy produce a comic mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
of their tours to different carnivals, titled Roy Maloy's Carnival Culture. The DVD featured a cast including Irish strongman Irish O'Reilly, a hapless and talentless juggler named Singe, Rick the 'Sketchy Hitchhiker', Emberella and his own actual daughter J'ette.
Further reading
- That's Life Magazine, December 2008
- Townsville Bulletin, 23 December 2008
- Coonabarabran Times, 4 March 2008
- Hopetown Courier, 9 October 2008
- Melbourne Age, 21 January 2010
- Brimbank Leader, 16 March 2010
- Sunday Herald Sun 12 September 2011