Artists from all over the world have asked Max Koch for advice. We are sitting in a corner watching balls, clubs and knives and forks flying through the air. The young man, Ernst Montego, a professional juggler at the Krone Circus, performed with balls and clubs. The older gentleman throwing the knives and forks through the air was Max Koch.

Many young artists visit him, Max Koch, in his apartment, and ask for advice in the art of juggling. Koch has a huge library of about 600 books dealing with this subject and also nearly 5,800 pictures and related material from 2,000 jugglers.

Koch's ambition in his younger days was to become an artist and a juggler but his father was determined that he do his juggling with figures and so Max became a bank official till his recent retirement. Today at 69, he is still juggling as an amateur with balls, bottles and canes. He never missed a Variety show in Berlin. 

Big jugglers like Adanos, Bobby May, Francis Brunn and Paul Conchas were visiting him to find out if their new art which they were about to perform is really a new one or an old forgotten one. He still has an old ball which Rastelli left there when he visited Koch. Translated from the " Berliner Morgen Post" (IJA Newsletter, September 1958)

Horace M. Lorette, whose real name was Horace C. Layre, died on October 17. A stage and vaudeville performer for over 50 years, from 1895 to 1952, he is survived by his widow, Christina Maier, who appeared with him for 35 years under the name of "Morton & Lorette." He was the "Original Dancing Juggler..." IJA members will remember Lorette's articles, "Echoes of the Past" which appeared in our newsletters for many months. 

Pres. Gus Clark writes -"Old jugglers never die, they just pass away" (IJA Newsletter, November 1958)

Nick Gatto, who was formerly with the Los Gatos Trio, presenting their Jitterbug Acrobatic Trio both here and abroad appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour on Sunday, March 22, and did his single juggling act without a drop or miss. He did three and five ball juggling, three balls to pockets on a belt around his waist, 3 spools and 3 clubs. Time prevented him from long routines but each trick was accomplished in a finished manner. (IJA Newsletter, April 1959)

The Whiz Kids are a group of youngsters doing a unicycle act. They are taught to ride as soon as they can walk, their father being Mel Hall, the famous cycle artist. James, seven years old, is now tossing cups and saucers to his head with his foot while on a high unicycle. (IJA Newsletter, May 1959)

Sunday, August 2, was a treat for all jugglers as Ugo Frediani with his continuous kickups with three club routine and the Alsettys with their great plate spinning and balancing were both on the Ed Sullivan Show. Both acts were marvelous, as usual.  Hats off to Ed Sullivan! (IJA Newsletter, August 1959).

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