News

 IJA Launches Its Web Site

The IJA launched in mid-June its new presence on the WWW. Visitors will find there a wealth of information about the IJA and its activities, including photos from past IJA events, the IJA store page, the latest information on the 50th anniversary festival and links to other juggling related sites.

 

Thanks to the new domain name, you can now reach the IJA via e-mail. If you want to reach a particular individual, you will find e-mail and postal addresses for IJA officers and employees on the "Contacting the lJA" page.

 

The IJA offers thanks to Barry Bakalor (and his benevolent employer, HAL Computer Systems) and the Juggling Information Service (JIS) for hosting an IJA home page in the past. The IJA hopes browsers will traverse the links between these two sites, which will complement each other as the world of cyberspace juggling continues to expand.

 

And the Board Goes On!

About 300 IJA voters said "We like 'em!" in the annual election this summer at the Rapid City festival. The members reelected all three directors seeking reelection - Perry Rubenfeld, Bud Markowitz and Steven Salberg - and added newcomer Sam Kilbourn to that mix as the new member around the board table. The new board reelected Rubenfeld as its chairman for his fifth term.

 

Three outside challengers were turned back by the largest turnout of IJA voters in history. Secretary treasurer Richard Dingman reported that 82 members sent in mail ballots ahead of time, and 215 more voted on-site. Vote totals were Steve Salberg (146), Sam Kilbourne (140), Perry Rubenfeld (131), Bud Markowitz (131), Laura Green (105), Jack Kalvan (90) and Walt Szeezil (40).

 

Auctioneer Looks to Stock Shelves for 50th

Auctioneers Braidy Brown and John Phipps annihilated the nay-sayers at this year's Rapid City festival by raising $5,500 during two auctions, boosting the IJA's Archive Fund to more than $10,000.  .

 

The dynamic duo sold out of merchandise in Rapid City, encouraging them to set their sights even higher for next year's Golden Anniversary festival. You can help out by sending along any juggling-related collectibles - programs and props signed by performers, antique props, photos and posters, paintings or statues depicting jugglers, costumes formerly owned by famous jugglers, and rare books about juggling. For more information about making donations, contact Brown at: Binghamton, NY.

 

Among the top selling items at this year's festival were the 12 rings Albert Lucas used at the festival to tie the Guinness record. Nine different individuals purchased them for between $60 and $100 each, spending a total of $815. Other high ticket items were a juggling-themed oil painting by the Great Ballini ($700), a painting of Bobby May ($300), Bob Bramson's hoop ($150), a Kris Kremo hat ($105), six Doubble Troubble cigar boxes ($40), Lottie Brunn autographed photos, Karl-Heinz Ziethen's autographed post card book, Donald Grant's original sketches for his diabolo book, and an Anthony Gatto costume.

 

Heavyweight Jugglers Square Off For Bowling Ball Record Attempt

by Steve Salberg, IJA Director

 

The BBC's longest running show at more than 25 years, "Record Breakers" contacted the lJA this summer to consult on a "Strong Man" bowling ball juggling challenge. They invited Bob Whitcomb (IJA member and the holder of the unofficial record) and John Sullivan (a recognized heavyweight juggler and IJA member) to compete at Thunderbowl Lanes in Detroit.

 

I was invited to officiate and was joined by members Jerry Carson and Ken Krackett, who served as judging assistants.

 

For the opening of the show they wanted the host, Ronald Reagan Jr. (an immensely likable guy... and I'm a Democrat!) to be seen throwing a strike. The shots were set up so that Ron would be seen throwing a ball, cut to a big smashing strike, then back to him to introduce the show.

 

I was to serve as Ron's bowling stand-in. I got my shoes and wristband on, did some stretching, then turned around to see that they'd plopped the camera down right in front of the foul line in the middle of the lane! I would have to make the shot from way over on the left side near the gutter.

 

With no practice I set up for my first practice toss, tried to look smooth and confident, and threw the very first ball for a strike! I threw up my hands, turned around and said "I'm done, see 'ya!" and headed for the door as the crew applauded wildly. The hard part was over... or was it? On to the juggling...

 

THE FORMAT: Two guys each juggling three 16-pound bowling balls, trying to beat the (unofficial) record of 47 catches, held by Bob.

 

THE RULES: You drop - you're out. The other guy continues until he drops. If the record doesn't fall, they do it again (if they can). Jerry will be counting John's catches and I'll count Bob's. We agreed to start with a countdown. I would give them warnings at 15 seconds and 10 seconds. At five seconds they would pick up the balls and start on the call of "Juggle!"

 

The crew was ready, the jugglers were ready, and the judges were ready (or so I thought)!

 

THE COMPETITION: I called out 15 seconds, but completely forgot to call out 10! When I called out "5" Bob realized I had missed "10"and hurried to gather his wits about him and get started. I continued "5 - 4 -3 - 2 ­1 - JUGGLE!" John started off fine, but Bob, perhaps flustered by my mistake, dropped his very first throw! Without hesitation he bent down, picked the balls up and started again. I didn't say anything because I wasn't exactly thinking about the rules at that moment, I was concentrating on Bob's catches, and being embarrassed about screwing up!

 

 During the run John made a bad throw and started moving to adjust. Camera two had to move with him... and slammed directly into me! As if that weren't enough, at the very moment the camera hit me, John dropped all three balls.

 

In all the confusion, I looked away and stopped counting Bob's catches. He claimed to have gotten 51 catches, breaking the old record.

 

Ron ran over to me to get the count and I explained what had happened. The director asked Bob and John if they would be willing to go again.

 

Bob, who believed he had succeeded in setting the new record, and knowing that he would be risking his title, demonstrated that he is an incredible gentleman by saying, "Yes, let's go again." John was gracious in his acceptance of Bob's offer.

 

According to the rules, Bob was disqualified from that run by dropping his first throw. His 51 catches were not legal, and because John had only gotten 38 catches the record was not broken. Since Bob had consented to another run anyway, I didn't say anything.

 

We set up the shot again and I counted down correctly this time. For this run, John got 47 catches (tying the old record) and Bob broke the record by getting 62! While the audience was going crazy, Ron got the official count and announced it for the cameras.

 

Consider just how impressive an achievement this is... Juggling Exerballs is one thing, but juggling 16 pound bowling balls is quite another. Just try tossing a single one up from hand to hand for a couple of catches, then imagine what would happen to you with three!

 

When you "Brits" see this "Record Breakers" episode, don't laugh too hard when you see me looking gravely serious as I'm counting catches. That was shot after everything was finished... I was actually watching a waitress delivering our lunch!