FEMALE COMPETITORS

(Kezia Tanenbaum's win in the juniors division championships at the Fargo convention prompted this research into the history of women in IJA championships by Roger Dollarhide of Hartford, CT, the IJA's official photographer.)

 

The first woman to compete in championships was Judy Burgess, who placed second in the auxilary equipment category and fifth in object manipulation in 1973. Hillary Carlip placed third in the junior division. Judy and Hillary also entered the 1974 championships, where Hillary won a third place and Judy got another second.

 

The first female champion was Pam Doyle, who won the object manipulation competition in 1975 by twirling and juggling up to six batons at age 15. In 1977, Ann Christie and Judy Burgess entered, but neither placed. In 1978, Peggy Hannon was the only female entrant, but didn't place. At the Amherst convention in 1979, Anne Christy and her partner Elliott Freeman placed seventh in the team event, but won a special prize for best costume. Maria Alcarese placed second in the junior division that year, and Judy "Patty" Sloan entered the senior division.

 

(Roger comments editorially) "In summary, very few women have entered the championships and verty few of those have fared well against the guys. This is an unfortunate situation and hopefully will be remedied in the future."

 

JUGGLING LEGEND

Alptegin, a slave owned by Ahmed, Prince of Samani, because he could juggle while riding a horse at full gallop was granted his freedom and became commander of the Prince's army and governor of a province and in 960 became King of Afghanistan! The former slave founded a dynasty which ruled Afghanistan and a large part of India for more than 200 years.

From May, 1960 Believe It Or Not

 

CIRCUS FESTIVAL

Two outstanding jugglers, Dick Franco and Michael Chirrick, performed at the Monte Carlo Circus Festival recently. Franco opened with a fast presentation of balls, rings and clubs. He was awarded three honors, including the Silver Crown. Chirrick did an astounding bit of ball manipulation, and involved the audience by catching with a mouthpiece a ball thrown from the crowd.

 

Eva Vida appeared at the Loews Hotel in Monte Carlo. She had an outstanding act involving parasols, color-changing rings and balls. Upon closing there, she was to perform in Paris for four months.

-Richard Johnson, Jackson, MS

 

FRANCO IN STOCKHOLM

Dick Franco, former IJA president and current Circus World Champion Juggler, knocked 'em dead in Stockholm recently during a three-week engage­ment at the big Grona Lund amusement park.

 

Occasionally, he almost knocked himself dead, performing on an outdoor stage in the harsh late summer Swedish weather.

 

Dick did his fast, well-choreographed three and four balls, three and four clubs, five and six rings (color changes with five) and climaxed by juggling three ping-pong balls in his mouth. All this amazed the crowd, but what amazed Dick's fellow jugglers was that he often did it all in high winds on a wet stage in a light mist. Bounced balls would often splash in a puddle of water, and he was forced to move quickly around the stage to keep his six rings and three ping-pong balls aloft.

 

Dick's wife Carlene helps out with props while his 7-year-old daughter Noel actually performed a diabolo routine and spun a ring on one arm while balancing a spinning ball placed on the finger of her other hand by her father Noel may have the best pirouette and bow in all juggling and gets about as much applause as her dad. After the Franco stayed with us for three weeks, my 6-year­old son was ready to take his new diabolo routine out for some street performing.

- Lloyd Timberlake, Stockholm, Sweden

A JUGGLING GAME

Speaking of juggling games... MOTHER-MAY-I?   The leader faces a line of students. Students try to imitate the leader's tricks. If successful, pupils move a step forward. Drops require them to stay in place. The first person to advance to the teacher wins. An alternate way is for the teacher to try out different tricks on each pupil.

 

FIND-THE-LEADER Six or so players are needed for this one to work best. One person leaves the room and the remaining five select a leader. The absent person rejoins the group. The five begin juggling, switching to new tricks as their leader does so. The picked individual tries to find the leader.

 

The idea is for all five to move as one when changing patterns, therefore camouflaging the leader in their midst.

- Becky Norris, Los Angeles, CA

A FIVE BALL TIP