Page 5 September 1983
Following
Ziethen's films, a dance band held
forth in the dining hall as a large crowd of jugglers enjoyed
body manipulation in time to the music. Free beer and wine enhanced
the festive atmosphere of this event, which was held for the first
time at the Santa Barbara convention in 1982.
This
year, there were more workshops than ever before, educational
cauldrons for the fermentation of
ideas on all forms of juggling, other forms of object manipulation,
juggling and health, and the direction of the IJA.
Workshops
were scheduled activities, but spontaneous shows developed randomly
several times a day on the gym floor. One person (usually well known
and talented) might demonstrate a trick for a small group of
friends. Depending on the circumstances, the gravity generated by
that small seminar attracted more spectators. Soon, the size of the
crowd would induce other people to perform, and the show was off and
running. They seemed to dissolve as mysteriously as they formed.
One
of the earliest shows was a demonstration of artistic bicycling by a
group of Europeans, who were in this country primarily to attend the
Unicycling Society of America's convention the previous week in
Syracuse. They showed an impressive variety of moves on two wheels,
moving in all directions in a variety of postures (including a
headstand!) .
That
spontaneous generation of activity and
friendship on the floor of the gym is surely the main reason IJA'ers
continue to return to convention after convention.
Three
of those present in Purchase, George Barvin, Bill Dietrich and Stu
Raynolds, claimed attendance at the first IJA convention ever, in
1948 in Jamestown, N.Y.
Raynolds
said that the increased size of conventions has dealt a blow to the
folksier atmosphere of yore, but that 'getting together with that
many people who are interested in the same thing you are is
wonderful. It balances out.'
Another long-time member, official photographer Roger Dollarhide, joined the three aforementioned gentlemen on the roll of IJA Honorary Life Members. He was unanimously approved on the basis of his service in all top IJA elected offices during his 28 years of membership.
As
founder of the championships in 1969, Dollarhide undoubtedly
observed with some insight the open disappointment of some people
with results of the U.S. Nationals competition. Anthony Gatto
enthusiasts claim that the 10-year old was robbed, as his almost
flawless performance with up to 7 balls and rings and 5 clubs only
won third place. He earned the highest technique score of the day,
but was edged out by higher performance scores for Edward Jackman
and the winner, Allan Jacobs. Jacobs divided his act into club
swinging and 3 club juggling, both performed in tight
synchronization to lively music.
To
Jacobs, Dollarhide and others, it was a clear indication of the
judge's commitment to the entertainment value of an act in making
their decisions.
Gatto
went on to win the 5 club for time competition in the second-best
IJA time ever. Another steady competitor, Tony Duncan, shattered the
7 ball record with a third and-final try of 20.89 seconds.
Gatto finished third there.
During
two sessions with the board of directors, some members questioned
the board's choice of Las Vegas as next year's convention site.
Previously, members had picked the following year's convention site
through a vote at the business meeting. It was explained that the
process is not meant to discourage members from suggesting sites and
producing conventions, but to establish an orderly and
one-year-ahead site selection system. The majority of people were
enthused about going to Las Vegas, though the date of the convention
is not yet set.
In
response to a motion at the 1982 convention, the board unveiled a
new plan to allow all members to vote, through the balloting-by-mail
system explained on page 16.
The
Public Show disaster closed out the week on an unfortunate note. A
sold-out crowd of 1,350 were on hand, and the acts which performed
were marvelous. But, even substituting a 1-minute 7th inning stretch
for intermission, there was too much talent for the allotted time.
At 10 p.m. the house lights were turned on and the jugglers sent
away, a harsh reminder of the 'real world' that conventioneers
returned to the next day.
But,
for a week and for the 36th time in a row, the 'real world' was
distilled down into a gathering of jugglers for those who chose to
come to Purchase. The fun and joy of their togetherness assures
their return every time.
JUGGLING
FILM BUFFS GET AN EYEFUL Film
Night was an especially well received part of the convention this
year, thanks to Karl-Heinz Zeithen of Berlin, Germany. Zeithen, author
of '4,000 Years of Juggling,' assembled two hours of footage of
jugglers from 1903 to the present and carefully chose music to
accompany each act. There was a printed list of acts for the audience.
The event was held with more than 500 viewers seated on bleachers and
on the floor of a hot gymnasium.
Zeithen
has the largest juggling collection known. For more than 25 years he
has diligently begged, bought and collected juggling literature,
films, props, books and posters. He joined the IJA in 1963 on a trip
to Brazil, when he met performer and former IJA president Tommy
Curtin.
Everheart,
in a 1901 clip demonstrated the fine art of hoop rolling, which has
not been seen at IJA conventions recently. Viewers saw Enrico Rastelli
in slow motion juggling four batons. Bobby May skated across the
screen... The Six Willys performed an eye-pleasing juggle of hats down
a line of up to six people, and passed clubs from free-standing
ladders. Another little-seen manipulation that showed up on film was
ball and mouthstick work by Rastelli and Francisco Alvarez, an Arizona
IJA member. Chinese vase manipulation interested many viewers as well.
One
show-stopping scene impressive enough to humble most IJA champions was
Ernest Montego's performance. Mounted on a 6-foot unicycle, Montego
spun three rings around one leg, balanced two ball-and-pedestal setups
on his head, spun a ball on his finger and juggled three rings in the
other hand!
Some
interesting data was gathered during the IJA's establishment of a
Guinness World Record for the most number of objects juggled in one
place at one time. The event took place Saturday morning, and 477
people signed in on the spot to participate. They juggled a total of
1,870 objects, which means that everyone did an average of 3.935
objects.
The
average was brought down some by two single object jugglers (a cane
and a balloon). 5 people juggled two objects, and 205 juggled 3
objects (almost evenly split between balls and clubs).
Of
the 1164 object jugglers, 104 did balls. Of the 128 5 object jugglers,
116 did balls and II did clubs. Six people did six balls, 12 people
did 7 balls and 2 people said they did 8 balls! |