Spider Matlock

William Earnest "Spider" Matlock (June 30, 1901, St. Joseph, Missouri – January 27, 1936[1]) was an American stuntman, stunt pilot, car racing promoter, driver and mechanic.

When the performers did not show up, Ronald MacDougall, a part-owner of the airport, persuaded Matlock (a student at the aviation school[3]) and Ken Nichols to help him.

[5][6] Each of the Black Cats was supposed to have a name that was 13 letters long, which is how Matlock acquired the nickname "Spider", MacDougall got "Bon" and Nichols "Fronty".

[9] The first time, Matlock was flung 200 feet (61 m), but landed on some grass and only suffered a collarbone broken in three places.

[1] He appeared as himself (uncredited) in the 1932 auto racing film The Crowd Roars, starring James Cagney.

Matlock in 1935
Some of the 13 Black Cats , circa 1925. Matlock is in the front row, kneeling on the far right.