Assisted by his father, Nick Gatto, the young man ran through a cart of varied props, picking up at one time or another five balls, four rings, a jump rope, a rubber soccer ball, a balancing pole topped by a toy duck, a mouthstick and five clubs. During the past year, both Gatto's stage presence and juggling skill have improved, and people are awed to realize the many years of youth and increasing strength left for further improvement.

 

His small hands are already sure and fast, controlling the complex pattern of motion in a quantity of objects that most nine year aids can only count. Unable to hold five clubs in his hands at once, Gatto begins that trick by balancing one on his forehead, juggling four and tipping the balanced one over into the pattern. He kept five clubs going for over 75 seconds to take fourth place in that competition the previous day.

 

Edward Jackman and Michael Marlin, two successful comedy jugglers, tied for third place and elected to conduct a three-minute runoff to decide the matter. Marlin did comic imperson­ations using rings, five balls with a neck catch and clever balance of ten cigar boxes.

 

Jackman, unabashed and spontaneous on stage, juggled four rings in one hand and a devil stick using only one hand stick. "The Amazing Spinning Edward" capped his three club work with a triple pirouette to catch one tossed high.

 

He also gathered three in one hand, threw them up, spun around once to catch the first two and again before catching and juggling the third.

 

As a foil to his frantic style, Jackman chose Ben Decker to play the part of a totally deadpan prop assistant.

 

Even though they didn't win, the rest of the competitors were generally entertaining, and at worst brave, for showing their acts to their fellow jugglers and others in the 1,000 member audience.

 

Bob Nickerson, juggling hatchets, taught the audience a plethora of puns on the word "ax" as he juggled three of them in the day's first act. Tom Dewart showed some fine four club juggling. Daniel Holzman bounced three balls around like a pinball machine, using unexpected puts and odd combinations. His twirling of devil sticks and clubs was also notable.

 

Paul Cohen parodied racism and social problems with a two-white-ball and one-black-ball routine. He demonstrated fine control. At one point he extended both arms straight out with balls balanced on the inside of each elbow. He then passed the third ball over his head from outstretched hand to outstretched hand flawlessly.

 

Larry Merlo performed with four rings, and also tossed a ball high in the air, flipped backward and caught it. He was the only person to toss three clubs into the air from one hand and catch them all in the same hand. Dale Jones introduced himself with some two ball poetry and proved himself a good entertainer throughout the rest of his act. He used tennis rackets and a cane for balancing and juggling, and never dropped once.

 

Juggling John performed the unique act of juggling a scarf, a tennis racket and a bowling ball. Robert York did hat tricks and multiplex work with five balls. Michael Skocko juggled red, yellow and green glow balls to live guitar accompaniment.

 

Steve Norwood led off after intermission with five ball and five club tricks to a new wave tune. Tim Kapp performed a more circusy act with a glittering costume, three club juggling on a unicycle and four rings while spinning a ball on a mouths tick and spinning a ring on his leg.

 

Larry Vaksman began with two basketballs in one hand and a unicycle in the other. He then cascaded the three. The act got zanier and more complex, until he amassed and kept in motion five hula hoops, three balls, a club and a basketball while standing on a rola bola and balancing a stick on his chin.

 

Then followed Marlin, Jackman, Davison, Beckner and Gatto, mentioned earlier.

 

Alan Howard and Daniel Menendez finished the three hour event. Howard juggled cigar boxes and three clubs, using dance steps and body motion to good effect. Menendez performed head rolls, six balls and a five club flash.