Page 8                                                        Summer 1997

Audience participation stunts have seldom been used with juggling acts. [...] The type of participation we have in mind involves representatives from the audience coming up on stage and becoming for a few moments part of the act. Considerable care and thought would be necessary to work out a practical and entertaining routine. A few points to watch in forming such a routine - There must be no stage wait time getting the helper to the stage. The action once he is up must be fast, preferably funny, interesting, and without embarrassment to the helper. There should be some reward or souvenir for the assistant when he returns to the audience. Unsigned, presumably Roger Montandon (Juggler's Bulletin #13, October 1945)

 

Woodrow, the clever 16-year-old English juggler, who has been creating such a sensation with his excellent three cigar box work, is in his fourth and final week at The Roxy Theatre. His father, Stetson, well known English hat juggling comedian, is here in America with his talented son, and has a real right to feel proud of the boy. Larry Weeks (Juggler's Bulletin #19, April 1946)

 

The sledge hammer and three rocks is my opening trick. I balance sledge on my chin and juggle the three rocks. One night a guy hollered, "How long are you in for?" I took the sledge down and hollered back, "From now on." That layed them in the saw dust so I put it in the act. Jug Juggleson (Juggler's Bulletin #22, July 1946) 

 

Francisco Alvarez, just back into New York and again at the Wivel, where you will recall from a previous Bulletin paragraph he set the record of 35 continuous weeks at the same spot. We might state that in addition to good food, the Wivel has good tastes when it comes to picking jugglers. Frank does a swell job of keeping audience attention and that's no small job when eating is going on all the time. We particularly liked his clean handling of sticks tossed like clubs and his ball and stick combinations.

 

Between shows, Frank Portillo, Larry Weeks and I dashed back to our hotel room where we ran some 16 mm film of Lew Folds in action, taken by Frank. Both the film and the juggler were good. We got so excited watching the film that we forgot our duties and when the lights went on there was film all over the floor. So we ran it backwards - ever see a juggler work backwards? Pretty good. Roger Montandon (Juggler's Bulletin #19, April 1946)

 

The St. Louis meet was attended by all the above jugglers with the exception of Leo Rullman, and in addition Charlton Chute, Richard McKinney, and Art Jennings were present. There was too much going on all the time to really get together all the jugs at one time but we did all get together for a session one morning. The Vents were holding a meet in the same room, so midst much dummy cackling and club and ball dropping a good time was had by all. 

 

A picture of everyone tossing objects was taken but the pay-off was that all the negatives taken by the photographer were ruined in the dark room - must have made him nervous to see all those missiles whirling through the air. Art Jennings presented his comedy tramp jug. act at one of the shows. Art's break-away club, yo-yo plates and giant clubs are tops in comedy juggling effects and he garnered plenty of laughs and yucks for the act.

 

Well, we're in the groove again - late as usual. But at least we'll get out with the latest Get-To-Gether dope. Bob Blau reporting on the Society of American Magicians meet in Washington D.C. writes, "In addition to my brother Herbert who accompanied me on the trip, those present were, Frank Portillo, Lou Meyer, Chas Carrer & Dell O'Dell, Leo Rullman, Joe Fleckenstein, and Doc Baldwin. We all got out on the lawn of the Wardman Park Hotel and had a real jam session as I had taken my props with me. A lot of pictures were taken, both movies and snap.  

 

Art uses plates that look and above all sound like real plates. They are heavier than most jugs care to handle, but the realistic sound adds plenty to the plate juggling routine. 

 

Charlie Carrer upheld juggling traditions on the Headliner Show by stopping the show with his clever juggling and balancing. Carrer's act is a refreshing change from the standard toss acts. Roger Montandon (Juggler's Bulletin #21 June 1946)

 

Cabwaylingo State Forest , W.Va. : Hugh Shepley reported in the May '45 Bulletin that seven jugglers met in the Boston Y.M.C.U. Larry Weeks tells of seven more lads getting together in N.Y. and in the last issue Roger mentions another meeting of seven. These get-togethers are a good thing for juggling and may be the forerunner of an eventual national gathering. On the last meet in Davenport, Betty Gorham writes, "Sure had a pleasant surprise when Jack Greene, the Elgins, and Glen Phillips all came out and we practically had a jugglers' convention in our back yard. Jack Green did several moves with four clubs that seemed almost impossible, one being shoulder throws at once out of the four-club juggle. The Elgins all agreed that he is one of the best club jugglers there is." (Juggler's Bulletin #21, June 1946)

 

Trixie, The Ice-Skating Girl Juggler, is also playing (but not in person) in the moving electric light sign which advertises Schaefer Beer. Their slogan, "Our hand has never lost its skill," is truly appropriate when they're featuring artists of Trixie's caliber. The four plate routine and catching the ball on the mouthstick, as well as a series of handspring on ice skates are all quite recognizable. Larry Weeks (Juggler's Bulletin #22, July 1944)

Betty Gorham Willer, now an Honorary Life Member, was an early member of the IJA

Betty Gorham Willer, now an Honorary Life Member, was an early member of the IJA

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