26-3,p7

BOOKS

PRESS CLIPPINGS ON 'THE JUGGLING BOOK'.

SCOTLAND 3/5/74 Dundee Evening Telegraph (FROM LINDSAY LESLIE)

Charles Lewis, alias Carlo Ludovico, is upset that a juggler is regarded often as. a wise-cracking half-clown, half-tramp, tossihg lampshades aloft on a vaudeville stage.

Juggling, says Carlo, is an important spiritual dIscipline. He should know. He has written "The Juggling Book." The book promises "everything you need to know to master this exciting circus art and learn a lot about yourself in the proccess."

It carries the reader through the basic moves involved in keeping balls, clubs and hoops buzzing about the head and shoulders.

Carlo says in his introduction he wants to demythologise juggling. "I would like to see juggling go from the circus ring to the front yard, to become something to do. . ."

"Inner State"

He equates juggling with certain forms of Oriental and Arabic spiritual "dancing."

It creates a "centre" in the body, calms the mind and emotions, and allows one to monitor the "inner state," to generate physical energy and power, he says.

His approach to juggling offers basically the same benifits as certain "spiritual" fads sweeping U.S. college campuses - Yoga, Transcendental meditation, brainwave monitoring, Zen meditation.

So it is not surprising his publishers report the book doing well in college book.shops in Boston , New York and Los Angeles .

Stranger

Carlo (38) from suburban New York, was over powered by the art at the age of 12.

A stranger walked by, picked up three apples the youth had, juggled them, said "W. C. Fields learned to juggle with apples," and walked away.

Carlo taught himself juggling, in a rough sort of way, bruising all the fruit his mother brought into the house, but kept his talent quiet, becoming a.junior high sohool geolohy teacher instead of a "circus clown."

Carlo's progress from teacher to juggling guru reads like an American social history of the last two decades.

He became a computer programmer, got bored, became a part-time news copywriter for a local radio station, became involved in Sufi (" whirling dervish") dancing, and founded and edited a spiritual newsletter.

Groups

Charkes Lewis met Hovey Burgess, a former circus Juggler and trapeze artist, who now teaches Circus Arts at New York University's drama department.

Burgess dubbed "Carlo Ludovico" and took him from flaling away with three apples to tIhrowing smooth "doubles" with three clubs while walking a wire.

Carlo Formed his own group, "The Circus Minimus."

After performances in parks, at street fairs and parties the circus had minimised itself down to its founder.

He found himself operating out of the Trinity Ch urch Coffehouse off Wall Street, where he lay in wait for businessmen.

He juggled in the churchyard, asking passers by to join him and learn. He attracted regulars and now he likes to think there are executives all over Wall Street locking their office doors during the lunch hour for a quiet "juggling break."

Variety February 27, 1974 (Page 59)

'JUGGLING' LESSONS - LATEST HOW-TO BOOK

A few years ago actor Barry Den Den, who achieved some success later with "Jesus Christ, Superstar," tried to learn to toss little balls about for the title role in "Legend of the Juggler." He had little luck, but would have probably had an easier time if be had had a copy of Vintage's original, "The Juggling Book," a paperback by Carlo at $2.95.

It goes from basic juggling to some of the most advanced through28 lessons and 102 pages. Readers can opt to skip some of the philosophical aspects of the art, though the author would probably be happier if all was strung in together.

Carlo, who has been news writer and teacher of juggling to lunching Wall Streeters, makes your less than three bucks well spent and it makes a fine gift for a teenager or anyone, including yourself, who has always wondered how it's done. Meyr