ALL OUR YESTERDAYS

 

Old Performers Never Lose The Urge

by Bill Giduz

Enrico Rastelli, the Italian juggling phenomenon, died in 1931 , but his feats inspired many a young European to dream of an artiste's life. Gus Lauppe, growing up in Pforzheim, Germany, was among those captured by Rastelli's spell.

 

"I was fascinated by juggling, and everyone was still talking about Rastelli," said Lauppe, who was interviewed about his career at the IJA convention in Baltimore this summer.

 

But it was a troubled time to be growing up in a fascist dictatorship, and Lauppe had to follow his dream through war and travail to find a satisfying artistic career.

 

Born on Sept. 8, 1922, there were no other jugglers in Pforzheim for Lauppe to emulate as he grew up. But at age 14 he heard from a friend about a nightclub juggler who did a mouthstick and ball routine. Fascinated by the reports, Lauppe wrapped a ruler with tape, found a ball and began practicing. Soon thereafter he met a juggler named Eldino who taught him some basic patterns with three balls, and the lessons were enough to inspire four hours practice per day.

 

He was prime age for the draft in Hitler's army when World War II was declared, but Lauppe sought to avoid military service by begging an engagement in a cabaret in Bavaria. There was another short job after that, but he was called to serve in the Luftwaffe in May 1941.

 

He drew a non-combat assignment walking guard duty at an airport at first, and practiced juggling whenever he could. His talents were not unappreciated, and he performed some for military units. But when Hitler decided he could fight a war on two fronts, Lauppe was sent to fight in Russia in the brutal winter of 1942-43. Luckily, his toes froze and he was sent back to a field hospital. Happy enough to be off the front lines, Lauppe scratched at his toes to keep them from healing... and hopped around on one leg practicing in the hospital!

 

He was sent to Denmark to work in an office for the remainder of the war, which made him much happier. "I was a juggler, not a soldier," he said. "I was crazy about juggling!" 

 

The end of the war meant he could pursue his career again. He worked solo for two years after the war in Germany, performing with five stage balls and doing a finish trick with eight rings. He also did one trick rarely seen today -- balancing a ball on a mouthstick and one on his foot then switching the two in one swift move.