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Aug. 7, 1974: Philippe Petit walks tightrope between World Trade Center's Twin Towers

In this Aug. 7, 1974 file photo, Philippe Petit, a French high wire artist, walks across a tightrope suspended between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York. Philippe Petit stars in "Man on a Wire," directed by James Marsh. (AP Photo/Alan Welner, file)
In this Aug. 7, 1974 file photo, Philippe Petit, a French high wire artist, walks across a tightrope suspended between the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York. Philippe Petit stars in "Man on a Wire," directed by James Marsh. (AP Photo/Alan Welner, file)
Alan Welner, AP
Philippe Petit, tightrope walker, who walked a tightrope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City August 7, 1974. (AP Photo)
Philippe Petit, tightrope walker, who walked a tightrope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City August 7, 1974. (AP Photo)
Anonymous, AP
French tightrope walker Philippe Petit, 24, looks back at the photographer as he rests between walks across a cable stretched between New York’s World Trade Center towers high above the city on Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Petit crossed the cable twice and at one point, hung by his heels. The Frenchman and two assistants apparently hid in one of the towers and set the cable up before dawn, police said. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
French tightrope walker Philippe Petit, 24, looks back at the photographer as he rests between walks across a cable stretched between New York’s World Trade Center towers high above the city on Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Petit crossed the cable twice and at one point, hung by his heels. The Frenchman and two assistants apparently hid in one of the towers and set the cable up before dawn, police said. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
Alan Welner, ASSOCIATED PRESS
French stuntman and tightrope walker Philippe Petit lies across a cable stretched between New York’s World Trade Center's twin towers, high above city streets in New York City, USA on Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Police reported Petit and two photographers stretched the cable between the structures just before dawn to execute the planned stunt. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
French stuntman and tightrope walker Philippe Petit lies across a cable stretched between New York’s World Trade Center's twin towers, high above city streets in New York City, USA on Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Police reported Petit and two photographers stretched the cable between the structures just before dawn to execute the planned stunt. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
Alan Welner, ASSOCIATED PRESS
French aerialist Philippe Petit lies on a cable suspended between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan as New York City police wait to take him into custody, Aug. 7, 1974. After rigging a wire across the 140-foot gap during the night, Petit stepped onto the cable after 7 a.m. with his balancing pole and walked back and forth between the 110-story buildings. (AP Photo)
French aerialist Philippe Petit lies on a cable suspended between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan as New York City police wait to take him into custody, Aug. 7, 1974. After rigging a wire across the 140-foot gap during the night, Petit stepped onto the cable after 7 a.m. with his balancing pole and walked back and forth between the 110-story buildings. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
French aerialist Philippe Petit walks on a cable suspended between the not-yet-completed twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Aug. 7, 1974. After rigging a wire across the 140-foot gap during the night, Petit, 25, stepped onto the cable at 7 a.m. with his balancing pole and walked back and forth as a crowd watched from the streets below. (AP Photo)
French aerialist Philippe Petit walks on a cable suspended between the not-yet-completed twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, Aug. 7, 1974. After rigging a wire across the 140-foot gap during the night, Petit, 25, stepped onto the cable at 7 a.m. with his balancing pole and walked back and forth as a crowd watched from the streets below. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
French aerialist Philippe Petit balances as he crosses a cable stretched between the World Trade Center towers high above New York City on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
French aerialist Philippe Petit balances as he crosses a cable stretched between the World Trade Center towers high above New York City on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Alan Welner)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
French aerialist Philippe Petit, 24, balances as he crosses a cable stretched between the World Trade Center towers high above New York City Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Petit walked from one rooftop to a point close to the second rooftop and back again as crowds gathered on the lower Manhattan streets to watch the aerial feat. Police arrested him and two assistants shortly after the walk and took Petit to Beekman-Downtown Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. The Frenchman has performed similar stunts in Paris and Australia. (AP Photo/Alan Welner))
French aerialist Philippe Petit, 24, balances as he crosses a cable stretched between the World Trade Center towers high above New York City Wednesday, August 7, 1974. Petit walked from one rooftop to a point close to the second rooftop and back again as crowds gathered on the lower Manhattan streets to watch the aerial feat. Police arrested him and two assistants shortly after the walk and took Petit to Beekman-Downtown Hospital for psychiatric evaluation. The Frenchman has performed similar stunts in Paris and Australia. (AP Photo/Alan Welner))
AP
French aerialist Philippe Petit holds a balancing pole as he crosses a steel cable suspended between the not-yet-completed Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, 1350 feet above the ground, in New York's lower Manhattan, on August 7, 1974. Seen the background are New York City police officers waiting to take him into custody. (AP Photo)
French aerialist Philippe Petit holds a balancing pole as he crosses a steel cable suspended between the not-yet-completed Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, 1350 feet above the ground, in New York's lower Manhattan, on August 7, 1974. Seen the background are New York City police officers waiting to take him into custody. (AP Photo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
French high-wire aerialist Philippe Petit, who gained fame by walking a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, is pictured on the roof of the Trade Center after his walk between the towers, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Jean-Louis Blondeau)
French high-wire aerialist Philippe Petit, who gained fame by walking a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, is pictured on the roof of the Trade Center after his walk between the towers, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Jean-Louis Blondeau)
Jean-Louis Blondeau, AP
French high-wire aerialist Philippe Petit, who gained fame by walking a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, is pictured on the roof of the Trade Center after his walk between the towers, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Jean-Louis Blondeau)
French high-wire aerialist Philippe Petit, who gained fame by walking a tight rope between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, is pictured on the roof of the Trade Center after his walk between the towers, Aug. 7, 1974. (AP Photo/Jean-Louis Blondeau)
Jean-Louis Blondeau, AP
French tightrope walker Philippe Petit talks to a newsman as police accompany him from Beekman Hospital following his arrest in New York, Aug 7, 1974. The stuntman was arrested after he walked a high wire cable stretched between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, New York’s highest structures. Police reported Petit and two photographers hid overnight in one of the towers and before dawn, set up the high wire. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
French tightrope walker Philippe Petit talks to a newsman as police accompany him from Beekman Hospital following his arrest in New York, Aug 7, 1974. The stuntman was arrested after he walked a high wire cable stretched between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, New York’s highest structures. Police reported Petit and two photographers hid overnight in one of the towers and before dawn, set up the high wire. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff)
Dave Pickoff, AP
On Sept. 3, 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit walking on a cable across the Paterson Falls during his tour of America. (AP Photo)
On Sept. 3, 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit walking on a cable across the Paterson Falls during his tour of America. (AP Photo)
Anonymous, ASSOCIATED PRESS
French high wire artist Philippe Petit takes a walk along the railing of one of the World Trade Center Towers high above New York City on Monday, July 14, 1986.
French high wire artist Philippe Petit takes a walk along the railing of one of the World Trade Center Towers high above New York City on Monday, July 14, 1986.
Richard Drew, ASSOCIATED PRESS
High wire artist Philippe Petit walks the railing atop New York’s World Trade Center, 1350 feet above Manhattan’s streets on July 14, 1986, during a break in a news conference held to announce his dare-devil plans for the rest of the year.
High wire artist Philippe Petit walks the railing atop New York’s World Trade Center, 1350 feet above Manhattan’s streets on July 14, 1986, during a break in a news conference held to announce his dare-devil plans for the rest of the year.
Richard Drew, ASSOCIATED PRESS