June 23, 2025 • 7 mins
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1986, the United Way of Cleveland attempted to set a world record by releasing nearly 1.5 million balloons into the sky. What was meant to be a harmless publicity stunt quickly turned into a public safety and environmental disaster. It grounded planes, hindered rescue operations, and led to tragic consequences. Jesse Edwards shares the story.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
This is our American Stories, and we bring you stories
of all sorts on this program. And today we bring
you a story about a catastrophe of epic proportions that
took place in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here's Jesse.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You can inflate a balloon in three seconds, four seconds,
I understand.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How long is it gonna take these kids with no experience.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
We're figuring that they'll do about two to three balloons
a minute. I've been doing this since I was fifteen
years old, so it's unfair to compare, but two to
three balloons a minute each kid is going to do
correctly about seven hundred balloons or so for the day,
and we'll do it in about four to six hours
all the balloons.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
In September of nineteen eighty six, United Way of Cleveland,
Ohio set a world record by releasing almost one and
a half million balloons up into the sky dar Remember, folks,
don't park on the square because this ain't a place
for your car this weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Back to you.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Sounds like fun, David.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt,
but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie
and Land and the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic
and the nearby airport. I understand we might have a
northerly wind too, so they'll all wind up over Canada.
The stunt was coordinated by Balloon Arts, a Los Angeles
(01:28):
based company that spent six months preparing for this rectangular
structure the size of a city block, measuring two hundred
and fifty feet by one hundred and fifty feet and
rising three stories high, covered with a one piece net
of woven mesh material, was set up to hold the
balloons inside the structure. Twenty five hundred students and other
volunteers spent many hours filling balloons with healing.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Ladies and gentlemen. Live from downtown Cleveland. It's Big Chuck
and Little Toun in front of the biggest happening all round.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Originally planned to release two million balloons, but stopped at
over one point four million.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
What is your name?
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Tanya?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Okay?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Tanya?
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Show everybody what you have on your hands there?
Speaker 6 (02:09):
What are those let's pay vantages?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And what are they for?
Speaker 6 (02:13):
Therefore? Can get away of swords?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Hands?
Speaker 7 (02:16):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Did you get any bliss thos?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Three?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Are you having a good time.
Speaker 7 (02:21):
Are you tired?
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah? Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
The children would sell sponsorships to benefit United Way at
the price of one dollar for every two balloons that
were purchased.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Okay, Chuck. As you can see, they're going strong. They're
blowing them up.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
I still think they.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Have the record.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Back to you, Chuck.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Cleveland's your time. It's time to say yes. It's time
to say it is a happening city. We are on
the move. It's no longer the butt of jokes or anything.
I've been in this city now for six months and
I absolutely love it. My wife and I have even
talked about moving here at our friends in La think
we're nuts.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
On Saturday, September twenty seventh, nineteen eighty six, with a
rainstorm approaching, organizers decided on an early release of the
balloons at about one fifty pm Easter.
Speaker 8 (03:04):
Nine ey seven six five four three two, What d away?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
The losing.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
And the fairs up?
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Body go John.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Close to one point five million balloons rose up from
Cleveland's public Square, surrounding Terminal Tower.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Ladies and gentlemen, There is no mistake on the lake anymore.
Cleveland has now broken the Guinness Book of World records.
They're released over one million, five hundred thousand balloons.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Thank think of that chuck.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
The Guinness World Records.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
The Cleveland home of the Home of the Home of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All of this
in Cleveland, Ohio, all Oregan City now.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Typically, a helium filled latex balloon that's released outdoors will
stay up in the air long enough to be deflated
before it descends to Earth. However, the Balloon Fest balloons
were hit with a front of cool air and rain,
which caused them to drop towards the ground, still inflated,
clogging the land and waterways of northeast Ohio. Two fishermen
(04:14):
who had gone out on September twenty sixth were reported
missing by their families the day of the event.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It's been an exhausting search for these coast guards when
they've been out on the water most of the day
looking for two forty year old Cleveland man Skim Sullivan
and Raymond Broderick. They went out fishing about an hour
before last night's heavy storm blew through. This is their boat,
a pair of life jackets still in it, along with
a hat and a fishing pole. The boat's motor is gone.
Its sides are battered, apparently from pounding all night against
(04:41):
this section of the break wall off Edgewater Park. That's
where the coast Guard found the boat about eight thirty
this morning.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
When the crew tried to spot the fishermen floating in
the lake, the balloons in the water made it impossible
to spot anyone in the lake.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Ironically, that big balloon launch at Cleveland today is one
of the things it's making this search so tough for
the coast guard. Imagine trying to find somebody floating out here,
or even spotting a light jacket with all these balloons
on the water.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack here,
because you're looking for more or less a head or
an orange life jacket. Here, you have a couple hundred
thousand orange balloons, and it's just her hard to decipher
which is which.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
On September twenty ninth, the coastcards suspended at search. The
fishermen's bodies were subsequently washed ashore.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Because of whether sixty percent of the balloons launched landed
here instead of the plan ten percent. Many of them
were found on Lake Erie.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
The local airport had to shut down a runway. Traffic
collisions were also reported as drivers swerved to avoid slow
motion blizzards of multi colored balloon But.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
The balloons that covered the lake and cost concern on
Saturday are no longer here today. No one's quite sure
where they went, but at least they're no longer posing
a threat to fish and wildlife, and they're not littering
the lake.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
While the event was a total loss and a complete disaster,
ten eighty eight copy of the Guinness Book of World
Records recognized the event as a world record largest ever
mass balloon release, with one million, four hundred and twenty nine,
six hundred and forty three balloons launched. And that is
balloon Fest eighty six. For our American Stories, I'm Jesse
(06:19):
Edwards and we.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
Have a real story to tell you. This is not
we're not making this up.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
It's really happened.
Speaker 8 (06:24):
Mary Ellen bought two bunches of balloons to give to
John and I here. She came down and one of.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
The bunches of balloons.
Speaker 8 (06:31):
She had tied to her watch, and at the watch
was opened up and the balloons took the watch and
it's now going out east somewhere. So John and I say,
if anybody finds Mary Allen's watch tied to a bunch
of balloons like this, and if you return it to
the station, we'll have all kind of rewards for you.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And great job is always on that Jesse. And by
the way, share our stories with your friends and send
your stories to us, because we'll make them happen. This
is Lee Habib and our American Stories. Plea Habibe here,
(07:30):
and I'd like to encourage you to subscribe to Our
American Stories on Apple Podcasts, the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, or
wherever you get our podcasts. Any story you missed or
want to hear again can be found there daily again.
Please subscribe to the Our American Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts,
(07:51):
the iHeartRadio app, or anywhere you get your podcasts. It
helps us keep these great American stories coming
This is our American Stories, and we bring you stories
of all sorts on this program. And today we bring
you a story about a catastrophe of epic proportions that
took place in Cincinnati, Ohio. Here's Jesse.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
You can inflate a balloon in three seconds, four seconds,
I understand.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
How long is it gonna take these kids with no experience.
Speaker 4 (00:35):
We're figuring that they'll do about two to three balloons
a minute. I've been doing this since I was fifteen
years old, so it's unfair to compare, but two to
three balloons a minute each kid is going to do
correctly about seven hundred balloons or so for the day,
and we'll do it in about four to six hours
all the balloons.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
In September of nineteen eighty six, United Way of Cleveland,
Ohio set a world record by releasing almost one and
a half million balloons up into the sky dar Remember, folks,
don't park on the square because this ain't a place
for your car this weekend.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Back to you.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Sounds like fun, David.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
The event was intended to be a harmless fundraising publicity stunt,
but the balloons drifted back over the city, Lake Erie
and Land and the surrounding area, causing problems for traffic
and the nearby airport. I understand we might have a
northerly wind too, so they'll all wind up over Canada.
The stunt was coordinated by Balloon Arts, a Los Angeles
(01:28):
based company that spent six months preparing for this rectangular
structure the size of a city block, measuring two hundred
and fifty feet by one hundred and fifty feet and
rising three stories high, covered with a one piece net
of woven mesh material, was set up to hold the
balloons inside the structure. Twenty five hundred students and other
volunteers spent many hours filling balloons with healing.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
Ladies and gentlemen. Live from downtown Cleveland. It's Big Chuck
and Little Toun in front of the biggest happening all round.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Originally planned to release two million balloons, but stopped at
over one point four million.
Speaker 5 (02:04):
What is your name?
Speaker 6 (02:05):
Tanya?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Okay?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
Tanya?
Speaker 5 (02:07):
Show everybody what you have on your hands there?
Speaker 6 (02:09):
What are those let's pay vantages?
Speaker 3 (02:11):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (02:11):
And what are they for?
Speaker 6 (02:13):
Therefore? Can get away of swords?
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Hands?
Speaker 7 (02:16):
Okay?
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Did you get any bliss thos?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Three?
Speaker 5 (02:20):
Are you having a good time.
Speaker 7 (02:21):
Are you tired?
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Yeah? Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
The children would sell sponsorships to benefit United Way at
the price of one dollar for every two balloons that
were purchased.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Okay, Chuck. As you can see, they're going strong. They're
blowing them up.
Speaker 5 (02:33):
I still think they.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Have the record.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
Back to you, Chuck.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Cleveland's your time. It's time to say yes. It's time
to say it is a happening city. We are on
the move. It's no longer the butt of jokes or anything.
I've been in this city now for six months and
I absolutely love it. My wife and I have even
talked about moving here at our friends in La think
we're nuts.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
On Saturday, September twenty seventh, nineteen eighty six, with a
rainstorm approaching, organizers decided on an early release of the
balloons at about one fifty pm Easter.
Speaker 8 (03:04):
Nine ey seven six five four three two, What d away?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
The losing.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
And the fairs up?
Speaker 5 (03:17):
Body go John.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Close to one point five million balloons rose up from
Cleveland's public Square, surrounding Terminal Tower.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Ladies and gentlemen, There is no mistake on the lake anymore.
Cleveland has now broken the Guinness Book of World records.
They're released over one million, five hundred thousand balloons.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Thank think of that chuck.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
The Guinness World Records.
Speaker 5 (03:46):
The Cleveland home of the Home of the Home of
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. All of this
in Cleveland, Ohio, all Oregan City now.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Typically, a helium filled latex balloon that's released outdoors will
stay up in the air long enough to be deflated
before it descends to Earth. However, the Balloon Fest balloons
were hit with a front of cool air and rain,
which caused them to drop towards the ground, still inflated,
clogging the land and waterways of northeast Ohio. Two fishermen
(04:14):
who had gone out on September twenty sixth were reported
missing by their families the day of the event.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It's been an exhausting search for these coast guards when
they've been out on the water most of the day
looking for two forty year old Cleveland man Skim Sullivan
and Raymond Broderick. They went out fishing about an hour
before last night's heavy storm blew through. This is their boat,
a pair of life jackets still in it, along with
a hat and a fishing pole. The boat's motor is gone.
Its sides are battered, apparently from pounding all night against
(04:41):
this section of the break wall off Edgewater Park. That's
where the coast Guard found the boat about eight thirty
this morning.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
When the crew tried to spot the fishermen floating in
the lake, the balloons in the water made it impossible
to spot anyone in the lake.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Ironically, that big balloon launch at Cleveland today is one
of the things it's making this search so tough for
the coast guard. Imagine trying to find somebody floating out here,
or even spotting a light jacket with all these balloons
on the water.
Speaker 7 (05:06):
It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack here,
because you're looking for more or less a head or
an orange life jacket. Here, you have a couple hundred
thousand orange balloons, and it's just her hard to decipher
which is which.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
On September twenty ninth, the coastcards suspended at search. The
fishermen's bodies were subsequently washed ashore.
Speaker 6 (05:26):
Because of whether sixty percent of the balloons launched landed
here instead of the plan ten percent. Many of them
were found on Lake Erie.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
The local airport had to shut down a runway. Traffic
collisions were also reported as drivers swerved to avoid slow
motion blizzards of multi colored balloon But.
Speaker 6 (05:44):
The balloons that covered the lake and cost concern on
Saturday are no longer here today. No one's quite sure
where they went, but at least they're no longer posing
a threat to fish and wildlife, and they're not littering
the lake.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
While the event was a total loss and a complete disaster,
ten eighty eight copy of the Guinness Book of World
Records recognized the event as a world record largest ever
mass balloon release, with one million, four hundred and twenty nine,
six hundred and forty three balloons launched. And that is
balloon Fest eighty six. For our American Stories, I'm Jesse
(06:19):
Edwards and we.
Speaker 8 (06:21):
Have a real story to tell you. This is not
we're not making this up.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
It's really happened.
Speaker 8 (06:24):
Mary Ellen bought two bunches of balloons to give to
John and I here. She came down and one of.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
The bunches of balloons.
Speaker 8 (06:31):
She had tied to her watch, and at the watch
was opened up and the balloons took the watch and
it's now going out east somewhere. So John and I say,
if anybody finds Mary Allen's watch tied to a bunch
of balloons like this, and if you return it to
the station, we'll have all kind of rewards for you.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
And great job is always on that Jesse. And by
the way, share our stories with your friends and send
your stories to us, because we'll make them happen. This
is Lee Habib and our American Stories. Plea Habibe here,
(07:30):
and I'd like to encourage you to subscribe to Our
American Stories on Apple Podcasts, the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, or
wherever you get our podcasts. Any story you missed or
want to hear again can be found there daily again.
Please subscribe to the Our American Stories podcast on Apple Podcasts,
(07:51):
the iHeartRadio app, or anywhere you get your podcasts. It
helps us keep these great American stories coming
Host
Lee Habeeb
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