JOE MARSH'S
NOVELTY JUGGLING
A novel start for club jugglers.
One club balanced on forehead, other in hands --
Club is allowed to slide forward off forehead, head giving it extra movement, and club turns over and comes into the juggle.
Jug. brings on prop hen, which promptly lays him three juggling balls!
(Balls are inside hen, which is tipped backwards)
New novel comedy gag. !
Three rings are juggled first before being placed down on fourth - which is fastened to line.
(Rings are slowly pulled by assist.)
Jug sets up complicated-looking balancing trick (as picture) having placed four rings on stage near to same. When jug reaches down for rings they have moved and are too far away, so he takes down all the balancing props, and sets it up again near rings. But once again rings have moved! Repeat 'till rings are off stage. Jug walks off.
A very good tip on the making of juggling plates is to build them up in paper mache over tin or aluminum plates. This idea has been attempted by many jugglers before but failure has come because of the impossibility of pasting or glueing paper to metal, no matter how carefully done. The vibration of catching and dropping the plates soon brings the paper from the metal. Now the secret is to cover the metal plates with a few layers of adhesive bandage evenly all over, and then well glue the first few layers of paper to this, and then build up as usual to the thickness required. Very good plates are made this way.
STUFF AND THINGS by DOUG COUDEN
Elizabethtown, Ky.: Eddie Johnson reports sub Clem Foust now U. of P. grad. Eddie scribes, "I suspect that Joe Marsh is Roger or yourself. Perhaps Jug Juggleson has made me too suspicious. If you'll turn to Rog's Breeze on p. 93, Eddie, you'll see Joe is a jug from Manchester, Eng. Russell, the juggling jeweler infos the two Russells I mentioned in Feb. issue are one and the same. Pardon, pal. Philly fellas note. Charlton Chute located a house there and will sell his wigwam in Webster Groves, Mo. He reviews subs Pryde and Day with their "emphasis on charm of youth and much comedy". Sub Jim Aitken, of old vuade contortion fame, pens, "The J. B. has instructive articles every month, valuable to anyone interested in juggling." Take a bow, Rog, Marty Lynch sends list of jugs who worked in 80's and 90's and comedy stuff such as, "We have two rooms in front and she has a flat behind". Fred Hazelwood, Ky sub, reports Bobby May, on 5th year with Skating Vanities, amazed him with off-the-record nifties. I have standing order with our editor for jug books. Latest in; "How to do juggling" by Eng. clown, John J. Mills. Has stiff board covers, 45 pages with numerous sketches. Itza buck'na'haf. Overheard: lst school kid, "Do you believe in juggling?" 2nd s.k., "Yes, but I can't do it." For sale ad in spring edish of Billboard, "LaCrosse balls for juggling. Very white rubber, good balance, good traction. Box 304, Rochester, Indiana" Gent snapped is Harry Froboess who plays fairs and parks with 8 minute acro act on 80 foot swaying pole. At one time he did comjug as 2nd fair act. Now he just does a ball bit, teetering on one foot atop the pole!
JUG JUGGLESON'S LETTER
Dear Roger, Take my advise and don't never join no carnival. I heard this rag bag didn't do so hot in the regular season, no dough for winter quarters so they stay out all year to save storage rent. On the side show they all call theirselves actors and John Barrymore would roll over in his grave if he could hear them. And cold, say pal, this is the worst Ive hit since that wing up through Canada with the old Beerbaum circus when we got stuck in the late fall. Carnies do everything backwards, they should watch a circus crew guy out the top and tie off the ropes. I left my heavy props like the manhole cover and ball and chain at Kelly's and all I brang was them rubber balls the Iowa chick sent me when I was a guest at the Minnepls hotel, ha, ha. So I hit up the side show mgr for some dough for juggling props and he slipped me a buck. Instead of clubs I use 3 milk bottles and open balancing them on my chin while I take off my coat which the inside lecturer, a side show name for M.C., who also does magic, takes. I can't bounce no balls on the small platform in the pit so I just do my regular ball juggling routine. Everybody envies my white tux, real class. In the Winter they don't pay no salaries but just a commonwealth plan where the mgr dukes you some change after last show at night. Most I've got any night yet is 6 bits as the suckers don't come out to get gyped on these cold nights. The front of the tent is wide open so I quit taking off my coat, too cold. After the show all the hungry actors make a rush for the grab joint for hamburgers as Grease Joint Johnnie who runs the joint don't want no hamburgers left over and he puts plenty in the hamburgers before closing up. After the 2nd night I started rushing myself and was the first there, some sprinter. The lst Sat. night when we tore down it rained cats and dogs so I had to tear down in my white tux which is now full of wrinkles and covered with mud so when we opened at the next spot I surprised everybody when I sprang with a tramp juggling act. So long, pal, jug.
A YOUNG JUG IN THE ARMY by HUGH SHEPLEY
Fort Dix, N.J. The entertainment branch of R.T.C. Special Services allowed one enlisted man, a Sgt., but they're letting four of us stay with Special Services until they find some other job for us. However, two fellows have already lined up other jobs so it looks like the outfit will fold up in a few weeks. This means I'll probably go into a Casual Co. here and then get shipped out. I figure I have about 7 months left to go, so I may get out by next Christmas. Another difficult trick along the acro-juggling lines as pictured on page 117 of J.B. is to have the top man (see fig. 6) stand on one foot on the bottom man's head and spin four hoops on neck, wrists and ankle while bottom man spins one on each wrist.
Bill Ruesskamp, Cape Girardeau, Mo. sub types, "In Ken Murray's show now running in Los Angeles, one of the vaudeville acts is an old time Plate Spinning Act. Haven't their names but it's clicking nicely I'm told. At one time they have 15 plates spinning on a long board. Another act in the same is a troupe of trained parakeets. The feature of this novelty act is a bird that juggles a ball with its feet while lying on its back." Jim Aitken sends an interesting bill of 1934 vintage, featuring the Tierney Troupe at Elk Circus in NOLA.
SHOOTING THE BREEZE! Roger
Neat publicity shots of Alphonso Loyal-Repensky result of get-together with Al Barnard and Alphonso who were both here during Hamid-Morton Circus stand. We can't think of a better publicity angle than doing a juggle while reading a mag having a cover pic of a child balancing a soap bubble on finger--and it happened quite by accident.
Here's the latest dope on the jug Session: After reading the last Bulletin we see that we didn't make it very clear as to whether the session would be in the morning or evening. 'Tis the morning of June l7th in the Ballroom of the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa. Doc Baldwin writes that there will be other events scheduled for the room about 1 p.m. but that if some of the boys still have the urge to throw things about after noon, we could get back in the room later that night. Chances are the morning session will take care of most of the juggling activities.
In addition to meeting plenty of jugs, here are some of the features you may look forward to seeing at the session:
Larry Weeks types, "Unless something drastic happens to change my plans at the last minute , I will be at the convention. Will have with me both 16 mm. sound and silent films as well as 8 mm. silent film. Also about 100 juggling photos for inspection as well as photos and books to swap."
Larry has suggested and we think its a great idea, that a swap fest be held. Bring duplicates of photos, bills and collectors items and trade them for something you want to add to your collection.
In addition to Larry's film we have in our possession over 1000 feet of 16 mm. m contributed by Francisco Alvarez and Al Barnard featuring the action of the Elgins, George DeMott, Francisco, Barnard, and others.
Among other things exhibited for the first time will be some items in the development stage that will be of interest to all Jugglers. For example:- there will be on exhibit a new reflective covering for juggling props. Two new comedy ideas- THE CASE OF THE RIGID ROPE and BOUNCING PUTTY will well be worth your attention.
Doc Baldwin writes that Don Caper and the Bamfields are being contacted; Doug Couden will be there if at all possible -- and we expect many others who have not yet written. If you do plan to be there drop a line to Art Jennings, Derry, Pa. or the Bulletin, And don't forget to bring a few things to toss around. So as things shape up and the time grows nearer we can only conclude that on the morning of June 17th, 1947, you'll see more juggling action and hear more juggling talk than has ever before been concentrated at one time.
DOUBLE BOX SPIN
This is another move demonstrated for us by George DeMott and which makes an excellent follow-up to the CENTER BOX SPIN. The ROI and TAN boxes are imparted a rotation as shown in 10A. When the two boxes are at about a 45 degree angle, the right hand is withdrawn from the TAN box. The two boxes continue their rotation and the right hand grasps the ROI box as shown in 10B. The two boxes, upon completing their rotation are caught as shown in 10C.
COMEDY GAGS WITH 3 BOXES
Cigar box routines in addition to being legitimately funny can be further added to with gags and bits of business.
One of the cleverest of the faked box gags is accomplished by running a strong elastic through the ends of three cigar boxes and tying a knot in each end as shown in Fig. 11a. When folded the boxes appear as in Fig. 11b. In this position they are shown to audience. Right hand grasps lower box and left hand is held on top box so that the elastic will not prematurely expand the boxes. The hands make a slight upward toss and the left hand is removed from its position at top of stack. The elastic causes the boxes to flip up into a position similar to that shown in 11c. After acknowledging the applause for such a stupendous feat of Jugglery- the performer walks off stage still balancing boxes. As he nears the wings the boxes are dropped, the right hand still holding its box and a good laugh is garnered from the exposure of the feat.
Another clever gag that can best be worked as an encore to a cigar box routine uses a box to which a stiff wire is attached as shown in Fig.12. The free end of the wire is stuck in the belt so that the box is "floating" horizontally about a foot in front of performer. Right and left hand each hold a cigar box against the faked box so that to the audience it appears that you have three unfaked boxes in the "three box start" position. Now a simple move or two are executed (such as "the single box turn-over" or even a "double crossover") and at the conclusion the right and left hand drop to side with their boxes and performer turns and walks off-stage with the wired box "floating in front of him".
Even the dropping of a box lends a chance for comedy. When a box is dropped instead of stopping the routine immediately to pick up the box, continue to whack the remaining two boxes together, still in time to the music. Then slowly stop-look puzzled at the two boxes in hands, and then surprised to see the box on the floor- Quickly pick up the missing box and go on with the routine.
After dropping a box, put the right and left hand box against sides of head and go through a few moves as though the head were the center box. Drummer hits a loud beat each time the boxes contact the head.
Another dropped box gag which was a favorite of the late W. C. Fields is illustrated in Fig. 13. The right foot is placed next to the box on the floor. Left leg raises and makes a kicking motion to the left while at the same moment the right foot is turned on the ball of heel sharply, causing box on floor to slide rapidly to the right. To the audience it appears that the kicking of the left foot in the air causes the box on the floor to move. A little practice in balance is necessary for this feat since the entire weight of the body rests on the pivoting ball of the heel of right foot for an instant.