The addition of a private qualifying session for junior championships competitors steered the not-ready-for-prime­time entrants to a more appropriate venue

for their work - the new Showcase of Young Talent. Joined on the big student union stage by some experienced talent, they entertained several hundred local children bussed in from programs around the city. The event was later commended by the city council.

 

The eight competitors who did qualify for the evening juniors competition all presented impressively polished acts, further heating the debate between proponents for competitions and those for a juried showcase presentation of the art. Scores of people responded to a questionnaire on the subject circulated by championships director Laura Green.

 

The U.S. Nationals championships built on the juniors as an impressive showcase of well-constructed acts. Mark Nizer, who moved to LA just a few weeks earlier, made a splash in his new town by winning the event with some skillful ball spinning, an artistic three ball routine, head rolls and club juggling. He was rewarded with the IJA's Lucas Cup and the $1,000 first prize.

 

A Mexican circus juggler, Carlos Rodriguez, was happy to go home with second after a skillful routine with five volleyballs, sombrero hat tossing and top hat manipulation. Perennial competitor Dan Holzman finished third with a gentleman juggling routine that featured hat, ball and cane manipulations, five balls and five disks.

 

Presentation of IJA awards to volunteers and staff was interspersed between U.S. Nationals acts. People recognized by emcee Dave Finnigan came forward to pick from a dozen different styles of masks. At the end of the event, the masked band of jugglers mounted the stage for a most unusual and colorful group picture!

 

The top award of the night enshrined Mary Wilkins of Chino, Calif., as an Honorary Life Member for her service. She proved her dedication again during festival by setting up a display of historical material in the pavilion and by organizing a benefit show for deaf children in the LA school system.

 

Two Ply Press, the monthly juggling newsletter headquartered nearby, sponsored one of the week's more creative contests - a sand surfing challenge held at intermission of the Starlight Dance. Who could best interpret Dirk Spiv, the comic juggling hero? Rebel Bailey juggled a trout, a mussel and a fresh lemon on the wavering board, then thrilled the crowd by biting the head off his fish for a finale. But Jimmy Schafer of Berkeley won by doing seven balls on the board and asking for more waves.

 

Exposure to allied arts was exciting to many people, as a large contingent of experts in other fields attended. Yo-yoists worked out with dedication, witnessed in their taped fingers and string patterns of Gordian knot complexity. More than 30 of them, including Bob Rule, a.k.a. "Mr. Yo-Yo," held a mini-festival of their own as part of the IJA gathering.

 

There was even a new twist on an old prop - the juggling club. Ron Wirgart of Reflection Company in Virginia brought along 250 of his new "Soft Clubs" - models fashioned by injecting polyurethane foam in a mold around a wooden dowel. His stock went quickly to curious patrons, and to people looking for relief for sore hands. There was speculation that the new prop might be just the ticket to bring combat juggling back into the IJA arena.

 

The after-hours action was equally novel. The three stands of Club Renegade, the midnight cabaret, gave folks a chance to try out material in front of an unpredictable crowd. More than one found their routine shattered by the rhythmic cIapping that signaled disapproval, but for others it was just the right forum.

 

Where else could last year's graceful champion, Cindy Marvell, eat an egg in public? In a more practiced appearance, Marvell and collaborators presented a dance juggling piece they played in a New York theatre. Another stand-out act was Dale Myrberg's "world's hardest yo-yo trick" ­ knocking a quarter off a volunteer's ear with a yo-yo. Emcees Ngaio Bealum, Scott Meltzer, Bob Mendelsohn and Miz Tilley engaged the crowd with witty humor and fashion statements between acts.

 

Hosts Sandy Brown and Ginny Rose made sure that festival souvenirs conveyed the flavor of the region. California cool was reflected in the neon-colored hats, buttons and "Juggler" -imprinted sunglasses. Brightly colored rings of the festival logo emblazoned an official t -shirt that most agreed was the finest ever issued at an IJA event.

 

Jugglers were warmly welcomed in that place. Mayor Tom Bradley and his city council declared a "Things Are Looking Up Juggler's Week," thanks to good promotion from Linkin Communications. Jerry Linkin also arranged for Kentucky Fried Chicken's sponsorship of the Young Talent Showcase, and further festival sponsorship from Budget Rent a Car, Volleybird, and L&R Distributing Company, maker of the Rugbee.

 

The thrills climaxed in Saturday night's "Cascade of Stars" public show. Producer Dan Holzman presented a well-balanced mix of jugglers and variety artists in a high quality production. LA's favorite weather personality and standup comic, Fritz Coleman, was emcee. From the opening curtain when Michel Lauziere crawled inside a giant balloon until the final curtain that crowned Kris Kremo's double pirouette behind three cigar boxes, the entertainment was superb.

 

It was a looser audience and livelier show than most known in the beautiful, staid confines of Royce Hall, but the mag­nificent 1,800-seat structure seemed to enjoy the evening's laughter.

 

Lauziere's balloon got things off to a bang. Chuck Gunter then repeated his winning juniors championship routine, and was followed by the Passing Zone (Owen Morse and Jon Wee), whose highlight was two-high juggling machetes on a rola bola. The Sand Skippers showed some fancy rope skipping, Dennis McBride did two-handed yo-yoing, and Scotty and Joan Houghton presented delightful comedy unicycling.

 

In his stark style, Michael Menes presented club swinging perfectly choreographed to music. Next it was Rob Salafia, hooded and draped in black, speaking and tap dancing for his life-size puppet, Dr. Bosco. Holzman appeared on stage with his Raspyni Brothers partner, Barry Friedman, for some precision club passing, and the first act closed with Mark Nizer doing ping pong balls and his trademark bowling ball, machete and butane torch.

 

Dan Menendez opened the second act with the routine that earned him exposure on the Tonight Show - juggling up to five balls off a floor piano. The audience responded most warmly to his rendition of the early bars of " Stairway to Heaven." Fred Garbo, the man with inflatable toys, tossed three large airy cubes around the stage, then donned his Fred Zepplin suit for an outrageous inflated fat man dance.

 

Teresa and Sem Abrahams showed gymnastic artistry on unicycles, finishing with her standing high atop his shoulders. Teams champions, Darn Good & Funny, reprised their winning act of two nights before, demonstrating the never-be­fore-seen simplicity of partners juggling two balls and each end of a pole. The guest of honor, Kris Kremo, gave a finale presentation of balls, hats and cigar boxes with style and no drops, demonstrating why he can write his own ticket at clubs and circuses around the world. At the end of the show Coleman presented Kremo with the IJA's Award of Excellence.

 

There was the feeling that the show made a statement about the IJA - there in the heart of the entertainment world. Our show and our performers were as good as any!

 

The public looked in on it all mostly through the eyes of the media. Winners and no-names alike entertained many queries from reporters during the week. And as every juggler knows, almost every reporter will ask, "Why do you do this?"

Wasn't it obvious? Wasn't it clear that the patterns in our hands were things of beauty to control? And that some special people in that place were pure geniuses at it?

Jugglers call that a good time!