Acting
Tammany Burke, young owner of a giant roller coaster, is fighting heavy odds against a syndicate led by financial baron Hughey Cooper. Assisted by his sweetheart, Joan, and her father, Jingles Wellman, formerly a clown, Burke prepares for a sabotage of his machine by syndicate hirelings. In the midst of a great battle the riot squad arrives to arrest the troublemakers, and Burke and his sweetheart are left in happy possession of their roller coaster.
Corinna Endicott attends a wild party with her pal Spike Blaine and there becomes reacquainted with Rhodes Winston, an English writer whom she nursed in Europe. They spend more time together, and eventually they become engaged. Then Mitch Hardy, a married cad, entices Corinna to a roadhouse, which is raided by police while he is forcing his attentions on her. The newspapers ruin Corinna's reputation, Rhodes breaks their engagement, and Corinna refuses Spike's offer of marriage, fearing that he feels only pity for her. Corinna resolves to make up for her mistakes, however, and with Spike she starts a fresh air farm for slum children. Although Rhodes eventually reappears and insists that he needs Corinna for his inspiration, she refuses him in favor of Spike.
Wily hotel 'hostess' Babe LaVal navigates booming business, cabaret calls and shady deals in Atlantic City. She meets a soup magnate, and begins to feel it might be 'the real thing'.
In an effort to boost declining ticket sales and revive lagging business, a ruthless circus manager orders his headline tightrope act to perform their dangerous stunts completely without safety nets. The tightrope troupe consists of Peter Blandin, his son Robert, and a young performer named Juanita Calles. The narrative follows the immense physical danger, interpersonal tension, and dramatic sacrifices the performers face as they risk their lives high above the circus floor to keep the show alive.
