By Bob Nelson, San Francisco, CA

 

Since my last report in November, several remarkable and talented jugglers have both come and gone from the Bay area.

 

In March and April, Alan Jacobs visited, leaving a trail of fledgling club swingers behind him (me included, as he and his lady, Sandy, stayed at my home for a while.)

 

Tom Murphy and Ben) Marantz of Mountain Mime in Vermont performed at Pier 39. They presented a first rate act combining mime and gymnastics, along with superb club swinging and a four-way juggling act with their wives, Linda and Jean.

 

Ray Jason, the "father" of San Francisco street juggling, returned from a 254 day round-the-globe tour. His itinerary included street juggling in New York, then London's Leicester Square, where he developed a style he calls "guerilla busking" because of police hassles. Next was Paris, which he called "bizarre" because of the competition he faced in front of the Pompideau Center - rat­eating, chain-wearing, glass-stepping extortionists. (And that's putting it mildly, Ray says!)

 

In Warsaw and Leningrad, Ray says he did shows but did not pass the hat. Something about "human rights. "

In Tokyo, he was stopped by the police, plugged into a computer and told that if he performed again they would 1 )take away his visa  2)take all his money  3)throw him in jail.

 

He arrived in Seoul, South Korea just as they imposed a curfew and a ordinance limiting gatherings to four people, which doesn't make passing the hat very profitable.

 

 In Hong Kong, Peking and Canton, China, Ray was allowed to perform, but not to pass the hat.

 

There's good performing at the weekend market near the Grand Palace in Bangcock, says Ray. His competition there was a snake teasing act and cock fights.

 

In Australia, Ray's street performing was welcomed and generously rewarded. He put on shows in Melboume and Sydney's Kings Cross.

New Zealand was nice, but bad weather prevented him from getting a solid idea of the market for street juggling.

 

People in Tahiti are arrogant, he said. No fun or profit there.

 

Finally it was back home to San Francisco... Welcome home, Ray!

 

ZuZu, a local juggler, followed Ray around the world as he toured with the Circus DeLuLu recently.

 

Steve Mock and Bill Galvin (Dr. Hots Thermal Therapy Show) were last seen heading for London and Amsterdam for the Festival of Fools, after performing all over the Bay area for about four months.

 

Half of the Fly By Night Jugglers, Frank Militello and Robert Lind, are still performing around the city in comedy clubs, at Pier 39 and the Cannery.

 

The Bay City Reds are performing a two-man show at Pier 39.

 

The Mizmos, Fred Anderson and KIt Trueblood are doing their excellent club passing around town at Pier 39, The Cannery and Ghiridelli Square.

 

Mike Davis, a one-man vaudeville show, was doing his show in Bermuda, preparing for Hawaii. He was showcased for the Wisconsin college circuit and "killed," booking several appearances. He also has plans for some television work, and still appears at the Cannery on weekend nights with his incredibly funny show.

 

Gary Calder, San Francisco's best technical jug­gler, is leaving soon for a three-to-six week gig in Alaska, but will be back at Pier 39 after that.

 

A. Whitney Brown has just completed a six­week tour of northeastem colleges.

 

The Butterfly Man (Bob Nelson himself) is just too weird to write about. He is still doing his wild show at Pier 39 while "getting his head" into stand­up comedy clubs as well.

A Fictional Five-Ball Love Affair

By Mike Howden Lake Oswego, OR

 

He walked Into the gymnasium with his mind set on but one thing: to get five balls going for more than just a flash.

 

She walked In to watch. She had never seen him juggle five balls before.

 

He worked his way methodically, but dropping too often for she made him nervous. And  she encouraged him by her attention and once, when he had It going she clapped too loudly and he forgot what he was doing and everything went astray. But he rebuilt his pattern beginning with three ball exercises and it started to flow as balls arced around his back, over his head, and under his legs In ever widening scribes until once more they landed about his feet.

 

She laughed and then as If embarrassed by her freeness she quieted.

 

He listened to the pulse of patterns created by the swirling spheres and realized his own Involvement and immediately muscles stiffened, stifling their now, but he determined to succeed, tightened his grip upon himself and gradually overcame.

 

And she loved him for his determination.

 

Yet he paid her no mind, his attention being riveted on the balls and the paths they occupied.  Soon they did his bidding but almost as soon they scattered again causing him to question his progress.

 

And she marveled at his persistence.

 

Five balls crossed one another.  He couldn't believe it, and in that moment of doubt the balls fell about his feet once again. 

She noted his powerful shoulders as he bent to retrieve, she shivered at his litheness and she watched again as he worked his way with the balls until they did his bidding.

 

Suddenly, It happened, as five balls danced their particular tune across the passage of time and none ventured nor veered from their appointed path as If they too had become hypnotized by their achievement, and he melded into the beauty of It all.

 

And she watched.

 

But he thought not of her as the five balls danced..and danced...and danced.

 

THE END