LARRY WALTERS - Interview with David Letterman (1982)

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  • čas přidán 22. 06. 2018
  • A rare interview with Larry Walters, the man who launched himself into the sky on a lawn chair with weather balloons attached.
    Full story here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_W...
    www.overnightdrive.com
    (C) 1982 Carson Productions/NBC Productions.
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Komentáře • 467

  • @captainnemo9773
    @captainnemo9773 Před rokem +68

    On a lighter note, I don't know how the balloon went up with those heavy balls.

  • @MihiTeRinaPiripi04
    @MihiTeRinaPiripi04 Před 5 lety +706

    Drunk history brought me here 😂

  • @guitarguru.3572
    @guitarguru.3572 Před 5 lety +81

    Call a man like this a moron if you like, but I call him a hero for following his heart, even in the face of danger, while not harming anyone else.

    • @seangill9870
      @seangill9870 Před 3 měsíci

      Would he not have been harming any other aircraft he cudda been flying into the airspace of

  • @adambenkiki6304
    @adambenkiki6304 Před 4 lety +289

    I love it how everyone is constantly laughing at him yet deep down inside we all know that this man will forever be a legend and those laughing people are just dust in the wind. this man achieved inner peace by accomplishing his long life goal, I dont see whats funny about that. just makes you see how no matter what, people will laugh at you so might as well ignore them. complete your dreams people!!!

    • @jonhohensee3258
      @jonhohensee3258 Před 4 lety +16

      Well, they're laughing because it's a crazy idea and a funny image. No need to get all offended.

    • @ishimotoren
      @ishimotoren Před 4 lety +15

      He shot himself in 1993.

    • @stevenjohnson6529
      @stevenjohnson6529 Před 4 lety +10

      All that inner peace he achieved, ole Larry committed suicide in 1993

    • @ilaybenshoshan7567
      @ilaybenshoshan7567 Před 4 lety

      איזה בן קיקי אתה

    • @LunsJail
      @LunsJail Před 4 lety +2

      Desperate for fame

  • @SlammDunkProductions
    @SlammDunkProductions Před 4 lety +176

    Whos here after watching infographics? 🙂👍

  • @robertnorthup8583
    @robertnorthup8583 Před 5 lety +309

    Anybody end up here after drunk history episode?

  • @shrapnel77
    @shrapnel77 Před 2 lety +25

    Dude had brass balls. Unbelievable. Sadly, he committed suicide at age 44.

  • @pts5217
    @pts5217 Před 5 lety +120

    Great clip. The good old days. If this guy was on Fallon, the actual interview would’ve lasted 3 minutes with Jimmy fake laughing and slapping the desk after which point he’d say “Were gonna play Lawnchair Pictionary!”

    • @grendelum
      @grendelum Před 5 lety +9

      Spot on mate... I’ve clicked a few Fallon interviews to see folk like *John Cleese* and such and he is the most vapid, superficial, ignorant, grating and spectacularly unfunny person I’ve seen, quite literally unwatchable. It’s as if *The Family Guy* and it’s laugh track were made human... a horror show.

    • @tarronkannemeyer7391
      @tarronkannemeyer7391 Před 5 lety +4

      Jimmy Fallon is honestly the worst interviewer. He's constantly interrupting his guests' stories with his own similar experiences. It's really annoying.

    • @hacksdp3
      @hacksdp3 Před 4 lety

      Yea, who cares. Quest could do that job better. It'll be a girl next. Hopefully a funny lady. Nikki would be awesome.

    • @tvojslauf
      @tvojslauf Před 4 lety

      Agreed

    • @SovereignStatesman
      @SovereignStatesman Před 3 lety +1

      Letterman was the first late-show host who succeeded.
      Before that, Alan Thicke tried, but he said it was simply impossible to have a late-night show-- not that he just SUCKED.

  • @ElazarYershovFilms
    @ElazarYershovFilms Před 2 lety +24

    This man deserves a statue. He followed his dreams, and became a legend.

  • @OvernightDrive
    @OvernightDrive  Před 5 lety +297

    Legend

    • @Bradmhj
      @Bradmhj Před 4 lety +1

      Overnight Drive he killed himself. Didn’t know God

    • @equation1321
      @equation1321 Před 4 lety

      @@Bradmhj did he really

    • @Bradmhj
      @Bradmhj Před 4 lety +1

      meow yes you can fact check it for yourself if you want. Maybe he though if he finally fulfilled his dream it’d help his depression

  • @seanmontgrain4146
    @seanmontgrain4146 Před rokem +21

    Apparently he was an enlisted US Army cook in Vietnam after being rejected for USAF for poor eyesight. His dad was a WW2 bomber pilot in Pacific so he had a family history he attempted to uphold. In an interview with New Yorker magazine he said dreaming of this type of flight kept him going in Vietnam, even after getting a D on a high school paper on this plan.. Dude had high drive and guts for sure.

  • @QuantumBraced
    @QuantumBraced Před 4 lety +30

    I love how he calls the lawn chair tied to balloons a "craft".

    • @bmjpdx9222
      @bmjpdx9222 Před rokem +2

      It wasn't just a lawn chair tied to balloons. He has ballast, a means of descent, an altimeter, a radio, and a parachute.

  • @don12459
    @don12459 Před rokem +30

    props to Letterman for not making this guy look like a fool on his show. He treated this guy with respect. Nice

  • @pipmci
    @pipmci Před 5 lety +76

    What a great fellow.
    He had a dream, he made the dream come true.
    RIP

  • @nii_amart
    @nii_amart Před 5 lety +113

    They're laughing but this was actually a great achievement by him. 👍🏾

    • @jonhohensee3258
      @jonhohensee3258 Před 4 lety +6

      They're laughing for good reasons.

    • @mr.frenzy7304
      @mr.frenzy7304 Před 4 lety +1

      @@jonhohensee3258 and what's the good reason?

    • @jonhohensee3258
      @jonhohensee3258 Před 4 lety +4

      @@mr.frenzy7304 - He was a goofball.

    • @mr.frenzy7304
      @mr.frenzy7304 Před 4 lety +2

      @@jonhohensee3258 so they made fun of him for achieving his dream how low is that

    • @jonhohensee3258
      @jonhohensee3258 Před 4 lety +7

      @@mr.frenzy7304 - They didn't make fun of him. They laughed because what he did was funny and crazy.

  • @astrid8607
    @astrid8607 Před 4 lety +48

    A man with a dream, a girlfriend with a credit card!

  • @clucka
    @clucka Před 5 lety +152

    I remember when this happened. I was a teenager. You can listen to the entire audio of this if you do some googling, including the pilots of the planes that spotted him. Larry had a sad ending. He had quite a few mental health issues, and in the 1990's committed suicide by self inflicted gunshot. Very tragic.

    • @mrpc3
      @mrpc3 Před 5 lety +1

      Don't spread fake news.

    • @SONOFABITCH
      @SONOFABITCH Před 5 lety +12

      @@mrpc3 Fuck. You.

    • @ronswanson4422
      @ronswanson4422 Před 4 lety +5

      @@mrpc3 look it up dummy

    • @tunesontap3387
      @tunesontap3387 Před 4 lety +12

      Tragic as that is. How many ppl can genuinely say theyve fulfilled their wildest dreams before they died. Unfortunately he coule not live to fulfill more crazy dreams

    • @ଅବିନାଶ
      @ଅବିନାଶ Před 4 lety

      @@idonotconsent y did he do that

  • @TheYavy
    @TheYavy Před 4 lety +70

    Who else is here after infographics show?

  • @DannieJensen
    @DannieJensen Před 4 lety +14

    The fact that he walked away from this stunt is fairly compelling evidence that he really did know what he was doing.

    • @bmjpdx9222
      @bmjpdx9222 Před rokem +1

      Yes, but it wasn't a stunt, it was a fulfillment.

  • @moosefactory133
    @moosefactory133 Před rokem +6

    I am trying to imagine an commercial airline pilot calling into the control tower telling them that there is a man in a lawn chair at 16000 feet with a BB gun in his hand.

  • @jessicamarie5983
    @jessicamarie5983 Před 4 lety +112

    I'm wondering if Larry inspired the writers on making the movie "Up"

    • @hanniffydinn6019
      @hanniffydinn6019 Před 4 lety +4

      100% for sure.

    • @BleachIsYum
      @BleachIsYum Před 4 lety +2

      You do realise this was 15 years before up

    • @nafis9465
      @nafis9465 Před 3 lety +5

      But there’s a musical inspired by this story called “The Flight of The Lawn-chair Man”

    • @jessicamarie5983
      @jessicamarie5983 Před 3 lety +1

      @@nafis9465 so cool! I'll definitely check that out. 😄

    • @presentfuture7563
      @presentfuture7563 Před 3 lety +1

      There's a truly wonderful quirky Aussie film called "Danny Deckchair" inspired by this guy

  • @squiggy4339
    @squiggy4339 Před 5 lety +92

    Just saw this story on Drunk History. Looks like they got it pretty accurate.

    • @ccfcomputing1269
      @ccfcomputing1269 Před 5 lety +3

      No they did not, they got almost all of the facts wrong

    • @sergiogalindo3024
      @sergiogalindo3024 Před 4 lety

      Mysteries at the museum was MORE accurate! (And a BETTER show!)

  • @seerstone8982
    @seerstone8982 Před 3 lety +6

    Larry's chair is lovingly displayed in The National Air and Space Museum.

  • @Melissa0774
    @Melissa0774 Před 5 lety +80

    I'd love to hear what the airline pilots who saw him had to say about it.

    • @bmjpdx9222
      @bmjpdx9222 Před rokem +2

      Being that pilots typically love aviation, I imagine that they told anyone who would listen, and that awe and respect entered into what they said.

  • @Joey007ist
    @Joey007ist Před 5 lety +38

    RIP Larry. Fly high.

  • @tp3144
    @tp3144 Před 2 lety +4

    I love that- "why a lawn chair?"
    "Why NOT a lawn chair"

    • @bmjpdx9222
      @bmjpdx9222 Před rokem

      The answer to "why" is its very light weight.

  • @georgem3211
    @georgem3211 Před 4 lety +10

    He seemed like such a genuine person

  • @TimeForAReview
    @TimeForAReview Před 4 lety +7

    If you were flying a commercial aircraft and saw a guy floating by in a lawn chair you would seriously think you'd lost your mind

  • @bar9666
    @bar9666 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I absolutely love his confident, completely unapologetic attitude.

  • @bquintb
    @bquintb Před 2 lety +7

    I'm proud of Larry. Lucky man. Fulfilling his 20yr dream

  • @ScootersGroove0801
    @ScootersGroove0801 Před rokem +4

    Life is about having a dream and making it happen, he did that.

  • @cristian-ionutapostol8018

    Oh god, that smile when he says he knew what he was doing. Legend. xD

  • @andythompson203
    @andythompson203 Před 5 lety +21

    This is the greatest story ever!! Glad he got to reach his dream!!

  • @rockyloveless5993
    @rockyloveless5993 Před rokem +7

    Heroes never die, but Legends live forever.

  • @MrAdrienmartinez
    @MrAdrienmartinez Před 7 měsíci +5

    A mix of wonderment, inspiration, amazing insanity and, beautiful tragedy.

  • @edc6631
    @edc6631 Před 6 lety +24

    This dude is my hero!

  • @DingDangg
    @DingDangg Před 5 lety +22

    This guy would have been fun to barbecue with

  • @bmjpdx9222
    @bmjpdx9222 Před rokem +4

    Paul and the band blew it -- at the break, they should have played The 5th Dimension's "Up - Up and Away [in my beautiful balloon]".

  • @cynthiacler9284
    @cynthiacler9284 Před 5 lety +102

    Drunk History got me curious what man can convince his gf to spend 4000.00 on her C.C.

    • @sergiogalindo3024
      @sergiogalindo3024 Před 4 lety

      Mysteries at the museum should have got you more curious! (It's a way better show!)

  • @RobbyWorld1
    @RobbyWorld1 Před 4 lety +3

    Thank God for guys like this. Actually doing stuff.

  • @austinfull8941
    @austinfull8941 Před 4 lety +5

    Jon Bois brought me here

  • @raicebannon1936
    @raicebannon1936 Před 3 lety +3

    This guy rocks. What takes more guts -- testing an engineered aircraft or sitting in this guys lawn chair?

  • @kevinbirge2130
    @kevinbirge2130 Před 2 lety +2

    Saw this when it aired. This is an iconic segment. I was lucky enough to catch Dave’s premiere episode, and no other show of that era compared to it

  • @aaronjennings8385
    @aaronjennings8385 Před 10 měsíci +2

    Deserves a documentary

  • @booshter9714
    @booshter9714 Před 4 lety +8

    I came here as a non American who is a fan of Drunk History UK and started watching clips of the US version . I've never seen this guy or heard of him. But fuck me what an absolute legend. It takes some serious balls to do what he did.

  • @GetOutsideYourself
    @GetOutsideYourself Před 5 lety +21

    Sad he killed himself about 10 years after this.

    • @pag3309
      @pag3309 Před 5 lety +2

      What was the reason?

    • @SONOFABITCH
      @SONOFABITCH Před 5 lety +8

      Life sucks shit.

    • @selfishstockton6123
      @selfishstockton6123 Před měsícem +1

      @@pag3309he probably realized he had achieved in his dream all the happiness he thought he would have ever needed again. What else was there left to live for? He even said he wouldn’t do it again, it was a 20 year dram realized. He went out on his own terms

  • @isaactakeuchimusic
    @isaactakeuchimusic Před 3 lety +2

    American ingenuity indeed. Hats off to you sir.

  • @TheClarkChannel
    @TheClarkChannel Před 5 lety +19

    What a fantastic story. Grinds my gears that the audience seems to be laughing at him but I can only assume it's due to the ludicrousness and rarity of such an experience. At the end of the day, this story should inspire us all to go after our dreams and never take no for an answer. Anything is achievable.

  • @davidca96
    @davidca96 Před 4 lety +4

    You gotta admit this was quite badass, I was only 4 I dont remember it but yea.

  • @hyuggie
    @hyuggie Před 4 lety +8

    screw drunk history, watch Jon Bois' video about Larry Walters, its one of the best things you'll ever watch

  • @bbharim
    @bbharim Před rokem +1

    That's one small Lawn Chair for a man, one giant leap for Lawnkind.

  • @madmax8949
    @madmax8949 Před rokem +2

    They sure as hell don't make lawn chairs like that anymore! RIP, Larry Legend.

  • @christakeschillpills8177
    @christakeschillpills8177 Před 4 lety +2

    infographic brought me here i couldn't believe it at the first place

  • @jeank1d
    @jeank1d Před rokem +2

    This guy gives me faith in humanity

  • @Phoenix-tc6dp
    @Phoenix-tc6dp Před 5 lety +12

    If only i could take a balloon to Mars

    • @kellyfoster7054
      @kellyfoster7054 Před 3 lety

      You can son you can ,if it's your dream u fullfill it

  • @Canislupes7
    @Canislupes7 Před 5 lety +61

    In 1993, Walters shot himself in the heart in Angeles National Forest and died. He was 44 years old.

  • @Teamo86
    @Teamo86 Před 5 lety +6

    This is the Tom Green Show. It's not the Green Tom.. no wait! It's Letterman.

  • @seanhuds229
    @seanhuds229 Před 3 lety +3

    What a legend. So sad he killed himself. Very grim.

  • @fighterck6241
    @fighterck6241 Před rokem +1

    Props to this guy. It must have been an experience!

  • @AceNinja2112
    @AceNinja2112 Před 3 lety +2

    RIP Larry! You will always be in our hearts!

  • @kintalard67
    @kintalard67 Před 2 měsíci

    what a man
    just seen the musical about his life ‘42 balloons’, it was exceptionally good

  • @claymiller9707
    @claymiller9707 Před 4 lety +2

    Pretty Good brought me here

  • @292B
    @292B Před 3 lety +2

    He accomplished what we have all dreamed of doing as children, ...
    To fly. He deserved acknowledgment and respect, not To be ridiculed and mocked which ultimately led to him taking his own life, shooting himself in the heart in the forest where he was always at peace.
    Rest in euphoria Larry Walters.

    • @colinthemarines3567
      @colinthemarines3567 Před 2 lety +2

      Seriously? What gives you the right to make false statements about why he ended his life? Did you spend a single day with this man, never mind know his complex thoughts and life experiences? He never said anything about being “ridiculed and mocked”, and if you actually gave a damn about acknowledging or respecting him, the least you could do is not make things up and claim you know the reasons why he ended his life.

  • @ObscureBalls
    @ObscureBalls Před 2 měsíci

    I wish Letterman would have at least asked him what the view was like up that high. Mr. Walters also respectfully thanked David for being on his talk show at the end and Lettterman completely clowned on him.

  • @brandadse.1741
    @brandadse.1741 Před 4 lety +2

    Surprised no ones talking about the Pinback song they wrote about him called “Walters” brilliant and beautiful song about his story.

  • @playtimemeyers2942
    @playtimemeyers2942 Před 3 lety

    Great video man

  • @ryankrueger6925
    @ryankrueger6925 Před rokem +1

    That’s a hard ending. Did he really achieve inner peace? Completing life long goals are so bitter sweet. Sweet in the feeling of satisfying a hunger in your heart. Bitter in the feeling of not having that thing to look forward to.

  • @thisblondsanass
    @thisblondsanass Před 3 lety +5

    "I knew exactly what I was doing."
    - line snaps
    - gun not tethered
    - immediately starts to ascend more rapidly and much higher than he anticipated
    - "tried" to catch the right wind
    He knew how to be dedicated. Dedicated to his dream, to fooling others into thinking that he cared whether he survived before and after the...flight. Look, I love the beauty of his humor and the miracle that this was. Because that's really what it was. That he was able to eventually descend, and without anyone being hurt or killed in the process, is very fortunate.
    Afterward it was all PR. Make bail, schedule interviews, never let his game face crack, say he knew exactly what he was doing, claim he did extensive testing, and that he planned this for 20 years. Right.
    He was shocked he accomplished his crazy dream, surprised he survived the journey, and anxious to prove his competence in order not to be hauled to the bin. This all sounds so familiar.

    • @SovereignMoney
      @SovereignMoney Před rokem

      I don't think you quite understand what he was saying. He knew *exactly what he was doing and had full control of his craft*

    • @captainnemo9773
      @captainnemo9773 Před rokem

      @@SovereignMoney no he was an attention seeker and had mental health problems. That's why he committed suicide 10 years later.

  • @davidleinweber
    @davidleinweber Před 2 lety +1

    1000% awesomeness

  • @tomp.7550
    @tomp.7550 Před 4 lety +2

    Smithsonian Air & Space magazine brought me here. Had to hear more about his story.

  • @AllfatherBlack
    @AllfatherBlack Před 4 lety +2

    "we have this on video tape, I knew what I was doing" legend

  • @mwmheps
    @mwmheps Před rokem +2

    Here because of 42 Balloons!

  • @frogsnack7072
    @frogsnack7072 Před 5 lety +3

    What a madlad

  • @angelchakas
    @angelchakas Před 8 měsíci +1

    Pinback - Walters
    Great song, great story. RIP 🙏

    • @MarRange
      @MarRange Před 5 měsíci

      czcams.com/video/vQ9S5icM_Qg/video.html

  • @slippingbugs
    @slippingbugs Před 4 lety +5

    I’m here from HAI

  • @netest517
    @netest517 Před 4 lety +3

    That’s a bird! That’s a plane
    No that’s a guy sitting on a lawn at around 16,000 feet

  • @veryp.c.2220
    @veryp.c.2220 Před 4 lety

    Full of legends. Jam fuckn packed, homeboy

  • @djbryanladd
    @djbryanladd Před 3 lety +1

    I remember this :)

  • @comandatoreyt3053
    @comandatoreyt3053 Před 3 lety +1

    Car talk brought me here

  • @ExtremeAudits
    @ExtremeAudits Před 5 lety +6

    This guy was made for tv

  • @bartbitter3510
    @bartbitter3510 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Dave tried to make a mockery of this dude who achieved some truly badass level most never know. Respect sir 🫡

  • @eternapesadilla2355
    @eternapesadilla2355 Před 5 lety

    Simply the best

  • @jnanashakti6036
    @jnanashakti6036 Před 5 lety +16

    I'm curious if anyone's willing to do a 2.0 on this.

    • @youejtube7692
      @youejtube7692 Před 4 lety

      It's been done again already: czcams.com/video/2GLrr_Xp0qc/video.html

    • @isaactakeuchimusic
      @isaactakeuchimusic Před 3 lety

      It's sort of unofficially a sport.

  • @howiemandealt
    @howiemandealt Před 5 lety +2

    ABSOLUTE MADLAD

  • @efilwv1635
    @efilwv1635 Před 4 lety +10

    On October 6, 1993, at the age of 44, Walters committed suicide by shooting himself in the heart in Angeles National Forest.

    • @marekintergalactic3240
      @marekintergalactic3240 Před 4 lety +1

      that sucks

    • @efilwv1635
      @efilwv1635 Před 4 lety +2

      Marek Intergalactic At least he ain’t suffering anymore. Everyone should have the right to self determination.

    • @kingesper3937
      @kingesper3937 Před 4 lety +1

      @@efilwv1635 what was making him suffe?

    • @efilwv1635
      @efilwv1635 Před 4 lety +3

      EsperKing 508 He clearly didn’t want to be sentient anymore. Why does everyone tend to think that you’re suppose to “love life” and if you don’t, something is “seriously wrong with you”?

    • @dixondjallen6620
      @dixondjallen6620 Před 4 lety +1

      @@efilwv1635 there's nothing wrong with people who commit suicide? Um, if there wasn't anything wrong with him, he wouldn't have committed suicide. He needed counseling and or meds to help cure whatever had him depressed or whatever the condition he had was called. Nothing wrong with him? C'mon man geez...

  • @lucasr2050
    @lucasr2050 Před 5 lety +20

    Where are his glasses?

    • @ultrakool
      @ultrakool Před 5 lety +7

      they fell in some brush and started a major wildfire

  • @JAMESWUERTELE
    @JAMESWUERTELE Před 4 lety +1

    Larry is my Hero

  • @tomperkins5657
    @tomperkins5657 Před 3 lety

    I remember hearing this on the news.

  • @snapfinger
    @snapfinger Před 4 lety

    I've heard this story so many times. I had no idea it was REAL.

  • @Gojira_Sama
    @Gojira_Sama Před 4 lety +1

    Rest in peace Larry!

  • @Subsonic-cd2en
    @Subsonic-cd2en Před rokem +1

    "I had complete control of the aircraft" Apart from when you departed (tether snapped), altitude (went much higher than anticipated), direction (intended to go over the desert), rate of descent (lost the gun and was descending too quickly anyway), and landing site (landed in power lines). Sure. Complete control.

  • @cactus1748
    @cactus1748 Před 4 lety +10

    Infographics show anyone?

    • @DakSenTheFox
      @DakSenTheFox Před 4 lety

      Just got done watching that video. And here I am

  • @anocow
    @anocow Před 4 lety +9

    I’m here from the Infographics show..

  • @chair547
    @chair547 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing

  • @Joel-bg3cf
    @Joel-bg3cf Před rokem +1

    American hero here

  • @tedbox6299
    @tedbox6299 Před 4 lety +1

    Inforgraphics sent me here.

  • @tealmer3528
    @tealmer3528 Před 4 lety +3

    Anyone here from HAI?

  • @philipmemm
    @philipmemm Před 4 lety

    "American Ingenuity!" love this guy!

  • @ink_pink_octopus
    @ink_pink_octopus Před rokem

    Legend *wait for it* ary!

  • @frank198011
    @frank198011 Před 2 lety

    What a legend.
    So, Richard branson was living about the whole story in his book.