Page 38                                Summer 1997   

Man juggled in space for the first time on April 15, 1985, but he ate the evidence! Don Williams, pilot of the NASA shuttle Discovery, manipulated apples and oranges in what he described as "a slow-motion act" as part of a Houston scientist's "Toys in Space" project. He would like to have used his own set of bean bags, but NASA only allowed two pounds of toys for the experiment in weightless play, so for efficiency's sake the on-board fruit did double-duty." "The Joy of Zero-G Juggling" (Juggler's World, Summer 1985)

 

German jugglers took attendance honors among 10 nationalities represented at the Second Nordie Convention in Copenhagen.  The parade through the city center was blessed with fine April weather. High distance passing highlighted games in the plaza. Marianne Stamp impressed the 202 registrants with skilful ring juggling. Circus Baldrian clowns tangled and untangled themselves. Felix was breathtaking as he passed clubs under the leg on an eight-foot unicycle. American performer Tony Duncan weaved a spellbinding act by rolling a single ball all over his body. The applause roared endlessly. Fellow Yankee, ventriloquist Steve Bernard, was also well-received. After the show people danced, drank beer and enjoyed fellowship until almost sunrise. What a night! "From Scandinavia" (Juggler's World, Fall 1986) 

 

Anthony Gatto came to San Jose to win, and did so big-time. After finishing second and third in previous years, he scored the highest point total of any U.S. Nationals winner and did some of the most difficult tricks seen in that event. The 13-year-old Las Vegas resident and professional juggler opened with balls, doing five with backcrosses and overhead throws. He did a seven ball cascade with a perfect sequential toss back into a net held by his father, Nick. Working with rings, Anthony did a pirouette and more than a dozen pancake throws with five. With a coyote prop balanced on his head, he juggled eight rings and flipped them up to be caught on the coyote's nose and hand. He cascaded seven rings, pulled down four and then worked them back into the pattern, all without interruption. He finished with clubs, doing five with one balanced on his head. He tipped the balanced club over into a six club juggle.

 

From his opening trick there was no doubt in the audience of Gatto's superior juggling ability. His appearance in handsome long pants and long-sleeved shirt instead of the shorts and sport shirt he used to wear conveyed a message of professionalism.

 

With Gatto's act stronger than ever, people were left wondering what his eventual accomplishments will be. "Gatto, Juggler's Juggling Giant, Sets New Standards at Age 13" (Juggler's World, Fall 1986)

Airjazz

Airjazz (l-r, Peter Davison, Kezia Tenenbaum, and Jon Held) were one of the most popular IJA troupes of the 1980s.

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