Block says he does it "with lots of practice. You have to play with it until you find out what works." He began with a normal nine box stack, then added boxes to the top. That led to boxes out the sides to support more on top.

 

For more than 10 minutes he constructs the stack, using regular cardboard cigar boxes. Some boxes only hold the rest together during construction, and are removed when the stack is lifted to balance. Interestingly, he says, "Each time I build it, it's a little different. It's almost like figuring out a puzzle to devise a way to keep them up there."

 

He's been at it less than a year, and figures his capabilities are far greater than 40 boxes. A high school senior in St. Joseph, Michigan, Block performs up to 18 boxes in his local appearances. He has juggled since age 10. Additional props in the show are top hats, ping pong balls, clubs, balls and rings.

 

1. Bruce Block of St. Josephs, Michigan, with 40 cigar boxes.

 

2. This is the basic stacking move. It is explained in detail in the December 1983 Juggler's World and in Reginald W.Bacon's book The Juggler's Manual of Cigar Box Manipulation and Balance. W.C. Fields performed this move in the movie "Sally of the Sawdust."