TED & FLO VALETT
| Number 19 | P.O. Box 711, Tulsa, Oklahoma | April- 1946 |
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TED & FLO
VALETT
AL CONNER
CAN YOU TOP THIS
Here's two snaps of Harry Lind taken at the same spot, doing the same feat of tossing four clubs- one taken in 1898 the other in 1943.
Bob Blau writes, " I expect to be at the I.B.M. convention in St. Louis starting June 16th. How about agitating for a jugglers meeting there?" Any one planning to make it write to Bob, 4301 Canal St., Houston, Texas. Frank Portillo also writes that the S.A.M. convenes in Washington the last two days in May and lst of June. His present abode is 1358 Harvard St., N.W., Washington-9, D.C. Which brings up the subject of a JUGGLERS JAMBOREE? What say?
Eddie Johnson clicks with, "I'm getting a couple of veterans interested in juggling. They will be potential subscribers soon." Eddie sends two copies of rotogravure page of Woodrow from March 17th Philadelphia Inquirer. Six high speed shots catch this 16 year old son of Stetson going to town with cigar boxes. Mailed copy to Spud Roberts who inquired about box stuff. Eddie has several more copies. He's home from the wars at 1405 7th St. Altoona, Pa. "Getting some dates. May get black light outfit", prints Eddie, "Thanks for ball on string gag. (Fasten ball on string or black thread and attach other end of thread to vest button. juggle 3 balls, let string-ball drop and swing between legs and back juggling again). I can't over emphasize how much the bulletin has meant to me. How about sport clothes? Too many tuxedos. Been using Bert Hansen's 9-ball juggle and it gets laughs. (see page 24) I do a gag not in the J.B., the ever lit cigar which you can put in your pocket while burning. (Max Holden, 220 W. 42nd St., N.Y.C., $1.50)" Thanks, Eddie. We like sport clothes too but here's a thought. There is only one juggler to about a quarter million population. Rare birds should wear rare plumage. (See Truzzi's wardrobe, p. 2) Instead of tux why not tropical evening dress; white mess jacket, red sash, and black trousers- more juggleresque. Write to Roger about black light.
Re Roger's comments on vaude and magi, we believe vaude was the greatest employer of flesh in the history of show biz; therefore the many more jugs of yore. W.C. Fields sez, " A non-fumbling juggler can yet make a dollar on those stages but it isn't the same". The big increase in magicians is due, we think, to the clubs bringing in new members, dealers handling thousands of tricks, books, etc., several mags, and numerous conventions. Juggling may well glean angles from the magis.
Spud Roberts would like to see a juggling dealer emerge with a wide variety of juggling supplies. So would we. At this writing a new dealer looms in the person of Arthur Mann, 3278 Wabansia Ave., Chicago-47, Illinois. Kindly mention the Bulletin. Spud would like more in the J.B. of value to a Johnnie-come-lately: more tricks with sketches, "Things- Gadgets-Stuff" (how about that, Roger?) also tips on wardrobe, make-up, music, lighting, etc. Thanks for the tip, Spud.
Here's an idea to decrease your learning time on any given trick. P R A C T I C E T 0 M U S I C . It is a recognized, scientific fact that suitable music increases the efficiency of workers in various lines of endeavor. There is probably no field where this would be more applicable than to juggling practice. Music will add zest and lift to your efforts.
To decorate white enameled hoops glue a 5/16 inch strip of foil paper around concave or outer part of hoop. The hands do not come in contact with this as much as on the inner side - foil will stay put and remain brilliant longer.
Hugh Shepley submits, "Mouthstick Tricks I've Seen". #1 and 2 were performed by Francisco Alvarez and #3 by one of the Canestrelli Troupe. #1 shows stick and ball being revolved by movement of head causing barber pole effect. #2 shows stick and two balls being kicked up, stick caught in hand and balls as shown. #3 is a spinning bowl, balanced on stick which is swiveled to revolve when head is moved.
1. 2. 3.
WOODROW, the clever 16 year old English juggler, who has been creating such a sensation with his excellent three cigar box work, is in his fourth and final week at The Roxy Theatre. His father, Stetson, well known English hat juggling comedian, is here in America with his talented son, and has a real right to feel proud of the boy.
PAT HENNING, who juggled at one time, and whose father and mother were both jugglers, is currently being featured at the New York Paramount Theatre. Don't believe that he does juggling anymore, as his billing there reads, Pat Henning, "The Atomic Comic".
PAUL GERRITS, roller skating comedian, M.C., and club juggler, holds forth at present at The Radio City Music Hall, and THE THREE SWIFTS are once again playing Loew's State to delighted audiences. The Swifts followed BEN BERI who just completed a two week engagement there, into the State theatre.
The next show going into the Capitol Theatre is also going to have a juggler in it according to Broadway rumor. As a matter of fact, it's pretty hard these days to go to a show and NOT see a juggling act.
Caught THE BANFIELDS doing their ball bouncing act at the Royal Theatre in The Bronx last week. The male half of the team is one half of THE ALEXANDER BROTHERS, who had such great successes in the old days of Vaudeville.
FRANCISCO, clever ball and stick juggler, just back from Southern Theatre tour played a one nighter at the exclusive Fifth Avenue Hotel prior to opening at the Lotus Club, Washington, D.C.
At Bothner's Gym had a get-together with LEW FOLDS; ARTHUR WARD, the Hoopologist; CHARLES NOLAN, acrobatic dancing juggler, and FRANCISCO.
Also around town are LORRAINE VERNON, Trixie's cousin, and ANITA MARTELL, the English dancing juggler.
FREDDIE WERNER, who is Rastelli's half-nephew on his mother's side is currently appearing with Bobby Clark in "The Would Be Gentleman", and WALTER HULL whose name is known to all old timers as Walter Nelson of The Nichols-Nelson Troupe, is currently holding down the juggling spot in "Carousel" created by "The Magical juggler", LEW FOLDS.
LEW, incidentally who produces all of his many and varied juggling props from his cape, is also around town doing club dates at this time. Went with him to catch his show at the Hotel Commodore last week, and he turns in a very creditable, attention-holding performance, which proves that new ideas will always pay off in bigger and better bookings and to better audience reaction.
So that's the New York news to date. (March 2, 1946). The permanent address is always 441 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn 25, New York, for those that care to drop me a line.
Our first major stop was in Washington, D.C. where by some super talking of our business associate we landed on the eighth floor of the Statler -- with radio, beds, and all of those modern conveniences. We called Frank Portillo who came up with his juggling friend. We can't remember his name but he looked like Doug's friend Jug Juggleson sounds. With the highly inebriated look on his face, he was pretty "highly strung" that night and with Frank's skillful manipulation of the strings did tricks with a couple of balls that we'd like to be able to do with one. Frank has really put some work into the character and has a partner that won't walk out on the act unless Frank pulls the proper strings. Over an Italian bottle of wine we spoke further of juggling, but just what was said seems to slip our weak memory. The next day after paying our respects to the police department as well as a fine for illegal parking (and the pay-off was that the guardian of the law let us park in a no parking zone to pay the fine for parking in a no parking zone -- That could lead to a vicious circle) Frank went with us to Baltimore, Md.. There we met Lou Meyer, comedy juggler who keeps them laughing around that part of the country with screwball juggling. Lou hadn't heard of the Bulletin (can such a situation exist in this civilized country of ours?) so we proceeded to enlighten him (as well as lighten him of three bux for a subscription). Lou, we forgot to ask you for an action picture and a gag or two for future publication -- how about it?
And so on to New York City- our home for two weeks. Our real reason for being in the big city, we might as well confess, was to demonstrate "the most exciting horse a kid ever rode" - Whoa Boy, made by Wait Manufacturing Co. of Tulsa (plug) (I mean the sentence is a plug not Whoa-Boy). That critter's got more action than a wild Oklahoma mustang -- and we're in a position to know -- we still hunt out the nice over- stuffed chairs.
We found Larry Weeks at a magic meeting -- the magi were holding a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion so we didn't stay -- two weeks later we went back and they were still heatedly discussing, but we presume about something different. The following evenings we got together with Larry frequently and snooped out considerable juggling activity which didn't necessarily occur in the order we are about to relate.
Francisco, just back into New York and again at the Wivel, where you will recall from a previous Bulletin paragraph he set the record of 35 continuous weeks at the same spot. We might state that in addition to good food the Wivel has good tastes when it comes to picking jugglers. Frank does a swell job of keeping audience attention and that's no small job when eating is going on all the time. We particularly liked his clean handling of stick-tossed like clubs and his ball and stick combinations.
Between shows Frank, Larry and I dashed back down to our hotel room where we ran some 16 mm. Film of Lew Folds in action, taken by Frank. Both the film and the juggler were good. We got so excited watching the film that we forgot our duties and when the lights went on there was all the film on the floor. So we ran it backwards -- ever see a juggler work backwards? -- pretty good.
We mentioned wanting to get some pictures to take back home so we got together the following Sunday and barged in on Lew Folds in the Astor Hotel. Lew's first words as we recall them were, "Gee, I thought you'd be an old man". With that Lew pulled out his case of props, spread them all over the room and everyone went to it. Wonder what the people downstairs thought -- I know what the two maids who came in shortly after we arrived thought. Frank got the camera all primed and took a hundred foot reel of Lew doing devil sticks, balls and tube, tambourines, and five ball bouncing in slow motion; Larry working with clubs; and Frank with balls. We didn't see the films before leaving town but we have now and they came out fine. Thanks Lew for a most pleasant afternoon.
After Larry gave us a Guide of New York Subways and primed us on the phone with all the latest hazards between his place and our hotel, we hopped the sub and managed to get off at the right place. After asking a half a dozen natives where Brooklyn Ave was we found one who knew and it being only a couple of blocks away we arrived in due course of time. To get to "JUGGLE INN" from the Weeks' apartment was easy -- just across the street and take the elevator to the basement of the house and there you are. Quite a den -- well filled with props and a wealth of photos, books and magazine articles pertaining to juggling. We were still there at 4 a.m. and darned if we didn't miss looking into a couple of trunks at that -- eh Larry? Needless to say we had a grand time and picked up some collector's items that we didn't have.
Another evening we had the pleasure of enjoying the show and between show visit with The Willys who were playing at the Latin Quarter. Not having on our shiny shoes we slipped up the back way. There's an enthusiastic troupe with a great flash act -- and friendly too. Thanks for a pleasant memory.
Though there wasn't as much juggling activity as reported in Larry's column we still got to see several acts. We scalpered our way into Carousel to see Walter Hull. Ted and Flo Valette were doing their flashy baton manipulation act at Radio City and were soon to be headed for a South American tour. Regini opened at the Victoria with ball and mouthpiece work and a clever variation in handling of the comedy ball on parasol.
We learned from Max Holden that he was contemplating a book on juggling. We called Leo Rujiman and had a pleasant chat by phone but never managed to get over to his place.
After leaving New York City we spent a grand afternoon with Mildred Rouclere, Jr., her son Raymond Yull, and his wife Grace. There we saw the marvelous scrapbooks of Harry Rouclere who started out in show business as a boy juggler - then later became famous as a magician and mentalist, developing the well known act of "Mildredism". We'll have some pictures and a story in a future Bulletin.
We took a chance and luck was with us for we found Harry Lind at home in Jamestown and spent the day talking juggling, seeing his large collection of photos, and watching him work out with the clubs -- he's got a new move or two that'll make the club boys hop -- and seeing the shop where the famous Lind clubs are made. There is real craftsmanship in a club.
Then on home via Chicago -- and we're still trying to catch up. So if your letter hasn't been answered yet - have patience. The pile is growing smaller -- but slowly.
The trip netted several new subscribers. Welcome to our organization and remember - don't just stop at being a subscriber - drop us a line from time to time and let us know the latest dope from your corner of the globe.
Al Conner 120 E. 28th St., Houston, Texas Jim Reynolds % Red Mill, Little Valley, N.Y. Ted and Flo Valett 745 W. 87th St., Chicago, Ill. Herman Makower 10 Monroe St., New York City Francisco Alvarez 339 E. 117th St., New York City Charles Nolan 6740 North 5th St., Philadelphia, Pa. Paul Caruso 6805 17th Ave. Brooklyn, N.Y. Richard D. Patter 377 Montgomery St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Walter Hull % Al Grossman, 1270 6th Ave., New York City Lorraine Vernon 905 8th Ave., New York City
George Russell writes of the untimely death of his brother Bertram B. Russell who passed on at the age of 53 on March 31. The two brothers worked together and later both worked single. As a juggler and a musician he knew many troupers.
Along publicity lines - Truzzi breaks into Life magazine, April 8th, with pic of plate juggling. Gus Kiralfo with a biographical sketch in the San Antonio newspaper "The Light".