THE IJA NEWSLETTER is the official publication of the International Jugglers Association. Editor is Roger V. Dollarhide,  Hartford, Conn. Subscription by IJA membership. Advertising space available: Price $10 per page or prorate for fraction.

* * * * * * * * * * *

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

 

This year's World Juggling championships went much smoother and quicker than the first two years competition.  The streamlined rules made judging much easier.  It was fortunate that we had the same three judges all the way through. Also, I believe that the competitors were somewhat better prepared.  

 

It's not hard to figure out why Tommy Curtain walked away with 9 out of the 11 Champion medals. Tommy is a top notch professional juggler. In most of the events, he simply used routines right out of his act. The lesson is clear, and I have said it right from the beginning of the Championships - if you want to win, you have to prepare your presentations just as if they were stage acts.

 

It looks like next years competition will have an entirely new look. I am rewriting the rules using the suggestions brought up in the Convention Business Meeting. I am contemplating splitting the events into Junior and Senior Division competitions, with Junior Division having 3 or 4 events and Senior Division having 6 or 7 events. How does that sound?

 

Jerry Greenberg's second 1971 Central Park Juggle-In held Aug. 8 was a big success. Attendance was excellent, several new comers were exposed to the wacky world of juggling, big crowds appreciated the free juggling, magic, unicycling and hand balancing shows and the weather was great.

 

Those in attendance were: Jerry and Effie Greenberg and family, Hovey and Judy Burgess, Ivor Price, Ron and Nancy Graham and family, Billy Tirko, Joe Temple, Jr., Bob Geer, Mitch Schnaer, Willy and Betty Weinhold and sons Eric and Tom, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Lubman and family, Joel Fink, Bruce Rothchild and girl friend (whose name I did not get), Harry Dedio and his parents, new member Egbert Sayer and his hand balancing buddy whose name I did not get, and my wife JoAnn and myself.

 

Have you seen W.C. Fields juggle lately? If not, you might try Shakey's Pizza Parlor. The one we go to near Hartford shows old silent movies-including Fields in "The Great McGonigle." He juggles a top hat, 3 balls, 3 cigar boxes, and does his unique routine of flipping and balancing a stick (about 30" long) on his feet.