Page 23                             Summer 1997    

HISTORY  1960 - 1963

Compiled by Eric Shibuya

Basing on the book "Das Wunder der tanzenden Balls" (The wonder of the dancing balls) by A.H. Kober, the Revue "A Ball Rolls Around the World" runs over the stage of the Friedrichstadt Palast in this month. Not taking the name of the juggling wonder - here the exame of the famous juggler is Enrico Nardini, represented by the young German juggler Ernst Montego, who plays the part with charm... A new juggling star is coming - Ernst Montego. (IJA Newsletter, January 1960)

 

I should like to tell you about very interesting and diligent work executed by Bobby Barell, juggler (Berlin). He has written down 222 routines with three balls, adding exact drawings. Revising this work I really have to say it is worth to be printed. Hope it will be done one day. (IJA Newsletter, March 1960) 

 

On jugglers George "Red" Kenyon and his younger brother Cal: 'George juggled five clubs. Probably he was the first person to do the three club kick-up. Cal believes they were the only jugglers to juggle six clubs with their feet: they would exchange clubs with kick-ups!" (IJA Newsletter, September 1960)

 

The Highest Paid Juggler in all History! Alptegin, a slave owned by Ahmed, Prince of Samani, because he could juggle while riding a horse at full gallop was granted his freedom - became commander of the prince's army and governor of a province - and in 960 became King of Afghanistan! The former slave founded a dynasty which ruled Afghanistan and a large part of India for more than 200 years. "Ripley's Believe It or Not" clipping sent in by Betty Gotham (IJA Newsletter, September 1960)

 

"The Antic World of Irving Harmon" had him juggling three 'balls. During the show he did a comedy three ball routine, the ball on the string gag and the apple eating trick while juggling two balls. Harmon is an old burlesque comic and has been doing this stuff for years. (IJA Newsletter, September 1960)

 

Tip: With a little colored plastic Mystic Tape, some cotton, and some paint applied in the right places on a chopped-off, sanded-down wooden mixing spoon, one can provide himself with a professional looking mouthstick for ball spinning and balancing. Cost is about 25 cents. Roger Dollarhide (IJA Newsletter, October 1960)

 

September 11 broadcast of the Ed Sullivan show featured Spanish juggler Rodriguez. Among his tricks is trapping a club with his right  knee and then taking it away with his left hand. This is done continuously as a repetitive trick.  (IJA Newsletter, October 1960)  

 

On Carl Carlson: "The only juggler I have ever heard of who can actually juggle three lacrosse balls behind his back without seeing them in any way." (IJA Newsletter, January 1961)

 

The sequence of ways in which Francis Brunn, over the years, has produced before the public a ball spinning on a ball on his right forefinger: 1) In the beginning the top ball was placed. The two spin together in a tower on his finger. 2) Then he got better. The top ball is tossed onto the first (from the left hand). 3) Then tossed on from the right foot - after juggling it between the feet while spinning balls on the forefingers. 4) By now he is getting very good. While spinning balls on both forefingers, he bounces a third up and down of on the head. Then, without stopping, bounces it onto the ball which is spinning on his right forefinger, where it spins on top of it. 5) By now he is sensational. Twenty years have passed and we come up to the present. He spins on his finger a beach ball, balances on his forehead a junior basketball. Then, rolling the basketball to the back of his neck, where it drops down over his back, he bounces it off his right heel back up over his head - to land on the beach ball and spin on top of it! Adrian Sullivan (IJA Newsletter, May 1961. A video of this can be seen on the Juggling Information Service web site)

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