Convention Report from the July 1948 "Bulletin"

"Frankly, reporting the doings of the First Convention of the IJA is one of the toughest assignments we've ever undertaken. We've been to several conventions and read reports of many more, but never have we enjoyed one as much as this one. In fact we were so busy enjoying it that we failed to make a single note and it was only in a post-convention meeting at Lind's that we jotted down some material. But notes or no notes, the highlights of the convention can never be forgotten by those attending...

"The minute we stepped into the Hotel Jamestown and registered we knew the convention would be a success because Art Jennings, George DeMott, George Barvin and Dr. Crosby were already there and had things in full swing. These men did a lot of preconvention work and kept it up the entire convention. It wasn't until the next day that we met Mrs. Crosby and we found out that the billing should be Dr. and Mrs. Crosby, Convention Co-Chairmen.

"When George DeMott said that Fox Movietone and Look Magazine would cover the convention he meant it. Mr. Blair of Fox Movietone took pictures of the 25 or more jugglers gathered together at Allen Park doing every conceivable type of juggling until he was blue in the face, or we should say red, for exposing some 1,800 feet of film in three hours didn't leave much time for rest. Phil Harrington, "Life's" representative, was a hard­working young man who left no stone unturned to get the pictures he wanted. Equipped with the latest and best in camera and strobe light apparatus, he took some 1,000 pictures of every possible situation.

Some of the publicity shots that took place all over Jamestown were designed to create local and national interest in the doings of jugglers. There was the hotel kitchen juggling by Talent and Jennings, cigar store scene with DeMott, the balance of a full sheet of newspaper in the Post-Journal offices by William Schillinger, Dottie Dell's juggle on top of the Jamestown Hotel, and DeMott, Lou Meyer, and Barvin at the photo club with a model. And as a finale, that traffic­stopping, club-passing foursome - Al Barnard, Jack Greene, Harry Lind and Buster Barnard.

"The convention opened officially by convention chairman Crosby and president Jennings on Sunday evening. Father Bryzana and Rabbi Minsker each skillfully blended their thoughts to form one of the most interesting and inspiring invocations ever heard.

"After returning from Allen Park the following morning, Vin Carey displayed an elaborate table full of props all made by himself.

"Your editor followed with various types of foolishness such as bouncing putty, the rigid rope and the vanishing cane. Jack Greene, a truly great juggler, but you'd never guess it for his modesty, followed with reminiscences of vaudeville juggling during the 'golden era.'  Climaxing the educational forum was Lind who, after a brief talk, removed his coat and demonstrated the evolution club juggling from single and double swinging moves. Bobby Jule was introduced and favored us with his routine of club swinging and tossing done with the precision that is characteristic of his work.