...Geno...

         Where did you first learn to juggle?

 

...Lottie...

My father taught Francis and I in Germany . He learned in a prison camp and later on showed us how. Francis learned way before I did. He went to Berlin to learn acrobatics and wrote home about the things he had learned, such as three balls in one hand. I said to my father, "That's impossible!" I was just learning to do three with two hands!

 

When Francis came back from school, he practiced eight hours a day and I stood around to assist him. Then I started practicing. By the time I was 14 I could do eight hoops and eight rings. We inspired each other and did a lot of tricks together.

 

We did nine little balls between us and a lot of other passing.

 

But, I never would have learned to be a juggler if it hadn't been for my father. He told me I would be the greatest. He loved to watch me practice. He was a great inspiration. He always traveled with Francis and me. He was the one who helped us get out of Germany after the war. Then we all came to the U.S. together in 1948 to be with the Ringling Brothers Circus. In 1957, he went back to Germany to get my mother and two brothers. I hadn't seen my mother for 12 years. My father did everything for us. When he died I couldn't even touch a ball for two weeks. He was such a part of my work... a part of my life and my act died with him.

 

...Geno...

When you were practicing with Francis, did you also assist in his performances?

 

... Lottie...

I did in the beginning. I remember an ad in a German paper that said, "Which juggler can afford an assistant who juggles eight rings?" When Francis started with Ringling, I was his assistant, but I also did some juggling on my own. I did the first trick, which was a balance with three rings. Then we did six rings together and later the finish. Nobody knew who I was until we came to New York and they wrote, "His assistant is an ace juggler." Working with Francis was a good experience.

 

...Geno...

Have you ever appeared as a solo act alongside Francis?

 

... Lottie...

Never worked together, no.  I would love to. but Francis likes to work alone. Francis always plays places where there is just one act and he has never done circuses with three rings like I have.

 

...Geno...

When did you start working by yourself?

 

...Lottie...

I started alone at the end of '51 - '52 when I spent one year on tour with Spike Jones. Then I worked with Billy Hutton and with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Spike Jones had two or three acts in his show. He put out some humorous advance publicity on me, saying, "Our newest German importation: juggler Lottie Brunn, considered the world's best woman juggler, and the only woman to ever juggle eight rings. I hope by the time we reach your city, she will be able to catch them'"

 

He was a terrific emcee. Each night at the end of my act he announced, "Now she is going to do eight rings." So, I would try to do my eight rings and drop one on purpose and try again. When I finally caught them the house would come down!

 

...Geno...

Have you worked many night clubs? Whats your favorite type of place to play?

 

...Lottie...

There just aren't that many night clubs left for an act like mine to play in. One thing (like about night clubs is that the people are close, but I feel more free in the circus. The space is larger and the lighting is better. Night clubs are mostly set up for singers and dancers. I love to work an indoor circus. I love the height and the room to move. (worked a lot of ships last year and that was pretty tough. I had to work on my knees because the ceiling was too low. One time the ship rolled and ( fell down with everything.

 

...Geno...

Do you still perform in Europe ?

 

... Lottie...

 No, not anymore. The last time I was in Europe I also played in Japan and China. In China, the audiences don't applaud during an act - they wait until the end. That took a while to get used to. But, I don't think I would like to go back to Europe anymore. I prefer to be in the United States. I like to travel but I would never travel like I used to.