39-2,p75

I was finishing my two weeks when he came in on Sunday and we sat on the porch and talked things over. He was a little nervous, which wasn't characteristic for him because he had plenty of guts. I stayed over Monday since he wanted me to start applause for certain moves and give him my opinion on the whole arrangement. He did fairly well and I left.

He became acquainted with a team of Irish comedians, the Spencer Brothers, who were on the bill with him. They persuaded him to go out with a Turkey Burlesque Show called "The Monte Carlo Girls" and he accepted. It was one of those affairs that paid you according to the business done, I heard. He met his wife, Hattie, who was in the chorus, and she proved to be a good assistant.

He survived the season and was engaged for the next season by Fred Irwin for his burlesque show, "The Majestics." He worked the full season and improved his act wonderfully. He was engaged for the second season and about the middle of the season, Martin Beck saw the show in Chicago and immediately booked him for the Orpheum Circuit at a good salary. Now he was on the road to fame.

I often think he might never have attained the heights he did if I had not landed that Fortesque date for him.

(Newsletter, December 1957)

Brunn comes to America

"Denver was impressed with the performance of Francis Brunn, juggler colossal, during his recent appearance with the Polack Brothers Shrine Circus. One impressive act given by Mr. Brunn was juggling three beach balls, at the same time passing one beach ball from foot to foot, while at the same time skipping a rope handled by his assistant.

This is a new routine for Mr. Brunn, requiring endless practice which is continuous every day, and it is an act which is extremely well accepted by his audiences."

(Newsletter, November 1951)

Before 'Lite' Commercials

Probably the first time a juggler appeared in a beer advertisement was in 1946 when Trixie, "The Ice Skating Girl Juggler," was displayed in a "moving electric light sign" advertising Schaefer Beer with their slogan, "Our hand has never lost its skill."

Before Cat Juggling

We have this suggestion from the July 1946 "Juggler's Bulletin:"

"For balancing with other than inanimate objects, a small dog broken to front and hind leg walking is socko. This pooch juggling with the tossing, catching and balancing biz has great audience appeal and has been used by few jugs.

Sharp Start for Kenyons

Cal Kenyon started juggling when he was a little shaver, around 1902, with his brother, George. They were self taught, as most American jugglers were in those days. Instead of the conventional clubs, they used pop bottles to practice with.

I can imagine the heap of broken glass that stacked up around their back yard, to say nothing of the cuts from flying glass when they crashed together. Cal says they must have broken many thousands of bottles in their practicing sessions.

Cal and George Kenyon broke into show business as professional jugglers with the Guy Brothers Minstrels with their double act under the name of the Kenyon Brothers. Callater joined the Five Elgins, who were himself, Jim and Rose Baggett, Lillian Millar and Tom Breen.

Their hat routine was hilarious, with the small dunce hat always landing on Cal's head. Their multiple boomeranging of the hats over the audience was very good. Cal and Tommy passed three clubs with continuous shoulder throws. Their rule was to never practice unless they had a foul-up in the act that day.

For the finale they did the box and a feed to Cal, who caught all the clubs.