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Occasionally reluctant to speak about his own performing career, Homer prefers to romp with visitors through his vast photo collection, complete with anecdotes and commentaries on almost every item. The 21 photo albums contain everything from early signed photos of W.C. Fields to an array of vaudeville and circus jugglers to contemporary shots of current IJA favorites. Some photos he acquired during his performing days, a few collections have been turned over to him, and others were given to him over the years by individuals.

Many of juggling's greatest names come up in conversation. Bobby May was a close personal friend until an unfortunate quarrel severed their friendship. Homer met Francis and Lotte Brunn soon after they arrived in the U.S. from Europe and began their Ringling Brothers shows. He saw Rastelli and Paul Cinquivalli perform on the circuits. He made one of Albert Lucas' first set of clubs. Dozens of other jugglers were acquaintances. "I've known nearly every juggler that lived. I guess I met 'em somewhere or other."

Stack is at his best working with aspiring performers to shape an act. When Merlo and Dave Apte learned to juggle from a book 16 years ago, they never saw another juggler until a year later when a friend tried to locate some "real" juggling equipment and was directed to Stack, a "real" juggler.

"We went on a Saturday and came back every weekend for a month," Larry remembers. "He taught us a 10 minute routine and we learned it in a couple of months. "

"The boys," as Homer fondly refers to his young students, went on to do several lucratively successful seasons at the newlyopened Marriott's Great America theme park. "We were very pleased with the routine he advised us on," adds Merlo.

A small storage room above his garage serves as a juggling workshop and museum of sorts. Cardboard boxes, stacks of packages, and photos and memorabilia on the walls provide surprises at every turn. In one box Stack pulIs out some Harry Lind clubs. "They were wood, you know, quite heavy. You couldn't do the stuff with these that you can do today, but they're well-balanced. "

Another corner reveals an old photo of a 1955 IJA convention banquet dinner. On a far wall is a large Barnum and Bailey circus poster featuring Francis Brunn "Greatest juggler the world has ever known." And next to the door hangs a homemade birthday greeting collage "To Homer, from Bobby and Emily May. "

"He'd have a great collection of stuff but he keeps giving a lot away," Merlo explains. "He'lI tell me he opened a carton and found three new Harry Lind clubs and right away gave them to someone."

He readily hands out advice and opinions developed over the years as a vaudeville juggler. "If you do a straight act you should have real good look so your stuff looks good, see. And if you're gonna do comedy you should have certain comic aptitudes - so you look funny in certain positions.

Bits of homespun wisdom are also freely offered, particularly about the financial impracticalities of the juggling life. Despite being an avid fan, Homer warns aspiring newcomers to save their performing money and have some other source of income to fall back on!

Though Stack is definitely moving more slowly as he approaches his 94th year, he's busy making spinning plates and basins of his own design. The aluminum props are specially designed to make spinning easier and drops less likely. He also produces a juggling stick with a rubber ball on the end, lighter than a club but still well-balanced.

With so many other jugglers in the area fewer people come to call on Homer. He hasn't juggled much in the past year, but his coaching skills are still as sharp as ever. In a recent lesson he taught several complex hat moves "there's nothing that dresses you up as much as a silk hat, " how to accentuate an otherwise simple 3 ball trick "slow it way down, you've got lots of time," and suggested ways to improve visibility in some 3 club tricks.

Stack regards his own contribution to juggling quite matter of factly. "I'm not a religious person, but I believe we're all put here with different talents. We all have different abilities. I could never learn to play a musical instrument but I could juggle from when I first tried."

His modesty together with his ability to share his juggling skills and enthusiasm have earned him the love and respect of generations of Bay Area jugglers.