JW-vol49no2-p68

Mike Fitzgerald had about the only successful "big" act of over five people (Willys had six people in their act for a time). The act was called Mike Fitzgerald and His Eight Club Juggling Girls. He had the act together for about 10 years.

Passing six clubs is not the limit, as seven and eight clubs have been passed successfully on the stage. Seven clubs have been passed by many jugglers. First woman to pass seven was Rose Sheldon of the Tossing Tabors. She gives credit for the seven club routine to the Kenyon Bros. (Cal & George) and Tom Allen. The Kenyons afterward taught the Jewels (Winnie and Bonnie Tucker) to juggle seven clubs. The first to pass eight clubs were Jack Greene and Joe Piche. Cal Kenyon and George Dewey both did the the trick on the stage, each with Dan Mahoney as partner. George Kenyon is perahaps the easiest juggler I've ever seen, and he was the first I ever saw do the three club kick-up. He has has been doing it for 30 years. I also saw Kenyon Bros. and Allen pass 10 and 11 clubs between the three people.

I believe Arthur Ward was the first person to juggle six hoops, but now Howard Nichols really holds the record by juggling seven hoops on the stage. In ball juggling, Fielding was the first to juggle six balls and I believe Frank LeDent still has all jugglers stopped by juggling 11 balls. Some jugglers claim he only "flashed" them, but anyone knows that jugglers have to be able to do a trick better in practice before trying it on the stage before a critical audience.

Kathie Gultini is the only person I ever heard of bouncing eight balls. She used a drum and stood on the stage. Ball bouncers claim that to do over five you must stand on a chair or table, but Kathie stood right on the floor with a drum about four inches high front of her and she really juggles them.