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Horn's 9-11 minute act was fastpaced and blended with comedy.

The five ball routine was a highlight. The pattern went from a cascade to behind-thebacks, then over the head throws. He held each pattern for an effective length of time. His 7-balls off a drum was a terrific crowdpleaser he can still perform on request.

For comic effect he flipped a spoon from his foot onto his forehead, then with a quick head roll (and a grin), the spoon lodged itself, sideways, behind his ear.

After the spoon trick, he juggled 7 rings with a stick balanced on his forehead. Finally, the trick from which he gained the greatest renown - tossing 10 tea-cups and saucers from his foot (each one placed by an assistant) onto the top of his head while idling on a giraffe-unicycle.

He always included a minute of controlled disequilibrium to thrill the crowd all the more before he completed the trick.

His career seemed to pick up momentum with every performance. It also took on a partner during a Scandinavian sweep when he married his assistant, Helga. It was the beginning of a lasting relationship on and off stage.

In 1968 while appearing in Tehran, he was invited to give a private performance for the Shah and 1000 diplomats.

He was forced to take an entire year off in 1970 due to a torn Achilles tendon. However, he went right back up to record speed for the next four years. He made a return trip to England , had bookings in Portugal , Monte Carlo , always Krone and Circus Knie, and made one final journey to Australia .

In 1975 he retired in Bertchesgaden, within the Bavarian Alps . That's where Rudy Horn now lives happily ever after with his wife and two sons as a tennis teacher!

AN INTERVIEW WITH RUDY HORN

JW... Who did you admire as you got started in the business and what did you learn from them?

HORN... I never saw other jugglers in the beginning. The tricks that I did in my act, I created myself because there were never other jugglers on the same program.

JW... What was your juggling style?

HORN... I liked to combine difficult tricks with comedy. .. fine comedy, because the audience wants to see a little more than just technique. I wanted them to realize that skill level was high, but that I could also make a gag with it. And in each country I learned a favorite comment or expression and added. this to the act. It made tbe audience feel like part of the show. During the difficult tricks, I held out each trick for a certain length of time, because I wanted the audience to know that I had the control. For example, I never did 7 rings for less than 5 times through, because otherwise it's nothing.

JW... Did you ever have the problem of other jugglers using your material? How do you feel about this?

HORN... Yes, In '1971 people started copying the tea cup trick. I don't know why people don't have a brain to think of something else to throw on their heads! I started to toss up champagne glasses because it was different! If jugglers ask me to show them a certain trick then I do, because I always was a juggler who showed everybody my tricks... why not? If they can do them - great! They'll live after me and that will keep it going. Besides, the way they do the trick will not be the same.

JW... Did you feel like the public held you in high esteem as a juggling artist?

HORN... Yes, I was the only German artist to receive the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the government, an award for high achievement. Also, in 1973 I won the Rastelli Oscar. I was probably more well known in England because I played there for nine years. Out of 33 years in the business, I only played three in Germany .

JW... Why did you decide to quit?

HORN... There were several reasons. The pay stopped increasing, I had to pay an assistant since my wife was staying at home with our son, Michael, and I had other good income from investments. Plus I was having difficulty with my eyes watering and trembling and with my nerves, so I made a decision. If I had trouble with the drum in the act, then I would stop. So one day I had problems, and that, simply, was the end.