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Report from the Benefit Show

By Charlotte Paris Santa Barbara, CA

The IJA benefit show took 14 jugglers to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for three shows on the wards during the hospital's BastilIe Day celebration. The show was arranged by Gene Jones, IJA president.

Cottage Hospital is the largest acute care general hospital between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Founded in 1891 by eight women concerned by the lack of a hospital at the resort city, it now boasts 465 beds, (800 employees and 460 Auxiliary members.

Airjazz brought enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Robert York turned on imaginations to the giggles of a crowd from the Children's Center Child Care for hospital employees. His top hat manipulations brought wide-eyed wonder and the question, "Where's the rabbit?" "I don't know, but I know where the turkey is!" York retorted.

Rings of imagination in his hands became eyeglasses, elephant wedding rings, earrings, and (against his shirt) "a black hole in inner space. " "Rings around the colIar" could be cured if Robert "shouted it out," he declared to the audience's delight. His balance of three folding chairs weighing 37'h pounds on his chin was popularly received.

Bill Barr and his experienced hat taught volunteers from the audience to juggle, even with the obstacle of a baby in one mom's arms. Hospital patients must have been on laughing gas from the chuckles that emerged.

Edward Jackman convinced Ben Decker to assist as he worked up from three to seven balls, then rings, and maneuvered devil sticks in every conceivable position.

A three club routine on "things Enrico Rastelli never did" found Edward hitting himself on the head and bouncing props off his head in intricate juggling patterns. Enrico never did these things because his clubs were made of wood, Edward later admitted.

The day's newspaper covering a hula-hoop gave Edward the opportunity to make a diving somersault through the barrier while juggling three clubs, tossing them in the air and catching them after the dive.

Passing Fancy Jugglers performed a ten ring passing routine with its three members. Tom Dewart, Larry Wakeman and Ron Rourke surprised the audience by changing the white rings to rainbow colors. A three club relay routine was gradually worked into a 12 club passing act for the show's grand finale.

Convention attracts more female jugglers

The dance held following this year's convention banquet was a great success, due in part to the larger number of women at the convention. Their increased presence was obvious on the gym floor and welcomed by males who have tired of seeing mostly other men at the past few conventions.

The only female competitive winner was Kezia Tenenbaum of Boulder, CO, who won the team competition as a member of "Airjazz. "

Two other women juggled in the team competitions; Sharon Kapp with her husband, Tim, and Renata Fossett, who appeared with Dan Westacott as the Fire and Water Jugglers.

No women entered the numbers competition, though at least three - Tenenbaum, Lisa Denker of Los Angeles and HolIy Greeley of Amherst, MA - juggled five clubs and Susan Kirby of Branford, CT, juggled seven balls. Nor did any women participate in the joggling or unicycle juggling races.

Much work, little help

The nitty-gritty administration of the convention depended heavily on volunteer assistance from a handful of people, and pointed up the need for more help in that area in subsequent years. Ginny Rose, IJA assistant secretary/treasurer, was helped at the registration desk by Sue and Barry Bakalor, Glen Ceponis, Eric Roberts John Robinson and Paul Neupert.

Rich Chamberlin and Dennis Nuernberger sold paraphernalia and signed up more than 30 new members at the IJA's official booth, while Greg Moss and his assistant championships director, Andy Lintz, signed up competitors and orchestrated those events.

President Gene Jones tendered and safely deposited all registration money at the local bank and entertained many media and other inquiries. Convention co-chairman John Luker organized the Saturday parade and made himself generally available to help.

Thanks also go to Ernie Edwards and Tom Dewart of Eugene, OR, who served as the official convention videotapers and provided the IJA with a copy of their work.

The IJA lost several hundred dollars when newcomers found no guard checking tickets at the door and joined the festivities without paying the required $4 daily registration fee. Due to the absence of security personnel at the gymnasium's many entrances, the scofflaws could not be identified or made to pay.