Juggle-a-thon raises big money in Seattle

By Dave Finnigan Edmonds, WA

 

Juggle-a-thon - for United Cerebral Palsy got together on January 17 at noon in the Northgate Mall in Seattle. Jugglers exchanged moves, played together and offered free lessons throughout the day. About 250 people came and went. At 6 p.m., the Mall stores closed and the whole central aisle belonged to us.

 

First we gave a gala juggling show featuring Professor Confidence and Amy, Tim Graham and Ron Meyers and One Israel, a sensational mime and brother to us all. From 8 to 9 we kicked off the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Telethon by juggling simultaneously for one hour to the beat of KJR Radio's sound system. The 200 participants .

raised $18,933 for UCP through pledges made against their time juggling, and almost everyone lasted the full 60 minutes. UCP is collecting the pledges now, and the juggler who ends up with the most actually collected will get a $1,000 shopping spree in Northgate Mall.

 

Over 200 prizes were given to participants in addition to free t-shirts and Wendy's coupons. We got a lot of TV attention and everyone had a good time. The Juggle-a-thon was the biggest single contributor to the Telethon in the Northwest, and we have been invited to do it again next year, only bigger and better. If you want to do something similar in your town, drop me a line.

 

World Record Establlshed - The Juggle­a-thon was also a world record setting event in three object juggling. At 9:30 p.m., 28 contenders began juggling. By 9:50, only a dozen remained without a drop. These people reconvened in the KOMO TV studios at noon the next day and began juggling again. Two hours later only two jugglers remained - Tim Graham and Ron Meyers.

Although they intended to go for three full hours, Tim looked up at the clock and dropped at 2:12.30. Ron stopped immediately, since they wanted to co-hold the record. Tim and Ron won a motor bike for their efforts.

 

A week later, KYYX Radio sponsored a Guinness World Record Theater in the Kingdome as part of a boat show. Tim and Ron were challenged by 10 other jugglers, including Dave and Kevin Heine from Portland, OR. Only Tim, Ron and Kevin broke the old record. As they continued, Ron "spaced out' after3:15 and Kevin at 3:30. Tim juggled for 4:20.22, to set the new official Guinness mark.

 

We've had so much publicity for juggling around this event, and fun besides, that it might be exciting to try to set world records at every IJA Convention for things like three, four and five object juggling, balancing and interactive juggling. Guinness is willing to consider a section on juggling records if the IJA will authenticate them.

 

Old law thought little of juggling in public

 

An old Jacksonville, FL, vagrancy ordinance, overturned in 1972 for its vague nature, lumped jugglers into a category with some shady folks.

 

It stated: "Rogues and vagabonds, or dissolute persons who go about begging, common gamblers, persons who use juggling or unlawful games or plays, common drunkards, common night walkers, thieves, pilferers or pickpockets, dealers in stolen property, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons, common railers and brawlers, habitual loafers... shall be deemed vagrants and, upon conviction in the Municipal Court, shall be punished as provided for Class D offenses."

 

Times have changed, says Larry Pritchard, legal advisor to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Department.   "Now the city council is considering a busking ordinance that permits and encourages the furtherance of sidewalk arts and crafts," he said. "If that passes, I guess we'll have come the full circle in regards jugglers."

 

Even if it doesn't pass; Pritchard said jugglers will find Jacksonville a friendly city in which to perform. The only time a performer could run afoul of the law would be if the performance obstructed traffic, Pritchard said. Passing the hat is OK, too, though there are city ordinances against out-and-out begging.

 

With the legal path clear, jugglers might find Jacksonville lucrative. Pritchard says there aren't any regular performers around. He recommended the city's central plaza, Hemming Park, as a good spot to catch the lunch crowd.

By Ben Decker and Kit Summers, San Diego, CA

 

We all went to see the Globe Trotters last week, or should I say the "Barrett Felker Show" with the Trotters as a side attraction!

 

Felker did excellent three, four and five club routines. With three clubs he performed continu­ous through-the-Iegs throws from front to back.

 

He ended in a double pirouette. He did four clubs with kickups, back throws and ending with a two­and-two spread. Following five rings, he pulled five rings from his bag. A highlight of the show was his five ring half pirouettes.

He then did six rings with an over-the-head finish. For his finale he did one, two and three ping pong balls from the mouth with pirouettes.

 

Barrett is always inspiring to see. His showmanship is very good and the act went over well with the audience.

 

A major producing firm is looking for non-union jugglers, mimes, magicians and unicyclists for summer employment. Send picture and resume to Katie Scharre, Kings Productions, Cincinatti, OH.