Juggler's Bulletin

MONTANDON MAGIC
P.O. Box 711, Tulsa 1, Oklahoma


Number 48, October 1948

VIN CAREY'S JUGGLING BARTENDER

The illustration shows the props as used. The table is constructed in the form of a three fold screen with an overhanging top which is about 18 by 24 inches. Front panel of screen is 18 inches wide and overall height is 34 inches. Side panels are 14 inches wide. The sides are hinged to flat to front panel. There is a shelf set about 12 inches from the top and makes a place to dispose of various articles after they have been used in act. In the illustration, articles are numbered as follows:

1. Table made as above.

2. Three juggling rings about 12 inches in diameter, painted and lettered and hung on table to represent the "Ballantine" trade mark.

3. A bowl which will fasten onto top of pole # 10 for chin balance. It contains juggling balls painted to represent fruit and the bottom has some confetti in it.

4. Juggling balls painted to represent fruit. If juggler desires he can use real fruit: oranges, lemons, etc.

5. Trick pitcher sold by magic dealers as "The Milk Vanishing Pitcher".

6. Spinning tub representing a small champagne tub. This is either wood or painted to represent a wooden ice tub.

7. Artificial ice cubes made from pieces of plastic.

8. Three bottles turned from wood and painted to represent champagne bottles with labels from regular bottles. The necks or handles are painted with gold paint to represent gold foil on regular bottles. These are juggled like clubs.

9. Large white napkin wrapped around one of the bottles.

10. Balancing stick for the fruit bowl.

11. Stick for spinning tub.

12. Stick for spinning the napkin. (These three sticks rest on hooks on the back of the table or can be in a sort of a quiver fastened to back leg of table.)

Routine for the act:

Juggler pushes on the portable bar. He is dressed in white shirt and black tie, bartender's short white jacket and black dress trousers, shoes and socks.

1. Does his best routine of 3, 4, or 5 balls using fruit or balls painted to represent fruit. Balls can be replaced in table on shelf described above.

2. Three rings removed and routine of usual ring or plate moves. Rings replaced on hooks to make sign on front of table.

3. Fruit bowl is placed on top of balance stick, (being actually fastened to it by means of a bayonet catch arrangement) and wine from trick pitcher is apparently poured into the bowl and all is balanced on chin. Juggler fakes balance to make it appear that he is going to have a spill and walks toward audience and bowl tips spilling confetti instead of wine. (See Staff With Staffs, Bulletin 36)

4. Three bottles are removed from tub, and club routine done with bottles.

5. Napkin that was around bottle is now spun on stick. Stick has small pin in end.

6. Fake ice cubes are removed from the tub and tub is set spinning on stick # 11 and balanced on chin. Three ice cubes (or four) are juggled while balancing spinning tub. Finish with high throw of ice cubes and knock stick from underneath tub and catch tub, then catching ice cubes in tub for finish.

Apparatus can all be assembled in or on table and pushed off. This is just my idea of a routine, many other tricks may be substituted but to my knowledge no one is doing a routine as described and it is original with me.

STUFF & THINGS by JACK GREENE

Geneseo, Ill. At our convention last June in Jamestown I witnessed many jugglers who were very clever. In fact some of them could be considered among the Greats. Their work was admirable and they deserved the hearty applause they received for their efforts. I have no fault to find with their juggling but their over-all failure to promote new and original tricks was apparent. Very few jugglers there presented new tricks. Those that were featured, with few exceptions, we had done 40 years ago.

These old tricks still being performed standout because they are cute or flashy. For example, a showy trick, the spread, with 3 or 4 clubs, popularized by Stan Kavanaugh years ago, is effective and an applause getter, but too many jugglers have hopped on the band wagon and used it.

With many jugglers doing the same tricks, there is too much sameness to the juggling acts. No doubt you've often heard the expression about circuses, "When you've seen one, you've seen them all." Of course show people know this is not true but the general public thinks it is.

When a juggler popularizes a trick, let him have that trick as his own. This will make every juggling act have a different appearance. Although it is rather difficult to originate new tricks, you can do it if you put your mind to it. If you can't originate you can improve on old tricks or maneuver it around so that it will look different. Several new-looking tricks at the convention were really modifications of old ones. These tricks with a new twist gave them that "New Look". You can do the same thing yourself with the result that both you and the entire juggling profession will profit by it. (Anybody else have any ideas? If so, send me your S & T and I'll type it and send it in to Roger--Doug)

ABOUT EUROPEAN JUGGLING by DICK HARRIS

Hello, American jugs, here is a new guy in your ranks. I am a Dutch jug fan, and absolutely possessed, mad and crazy about juggling. I think for colleagues that introduction is sufficient---- Hoping to add something from Europe that will be interesting for you each month; here comes the first:

General difference between European and American juggling styles is that Europe puts the strong accents on technique and skill, U.S.A. on showmanship and fun. Here in Europe almost all great jugglers of today follow the so-called school of Rastelli, that is, they work with the "classic" objects- bails, rings, clubs, mouthstick, and balances and not cigar-boxes, hats, canes, little white balls, etc. They wear the equally classic silk suit and hate smoking and tails. They are silent workers and would prefer to change their profession to speaking during their act. They all perform the same classics: catching ball on mouthstick, juggling 6 and more rings, juggling four clubs with the two left-two right feat, spinning balls on fingertips. They made juggling famous and beloved here. Their names are: Angelo Picinelli, Francis Brunn (now at Ringling's), Paolo Bedini, Edoardo Raspini, Jacky Lupescu. Remember these names, for they are top-men in the profession. In America some great jugglers can be added to this list, as Massimiliano Truzzi, and Roberto Chiesa. The last can spin two balls on one finger (see Bulletin 47), but many of you will not know that "our" Picinelli, Brunn, and Raspini can do the same. (Which doesn't diminish my admiration for this terrific feat!) Another well-known classic they all perform is standing with one hoop spinning around the leg, balancing stick and ball on head, and flashing eight rings. Because flashing means to throw and catch each ring only one time, and juggling means to continue the action, publics prefer seeing six rings juggled above 8 rings flashed. The only jugs able to keep eight rings in the air for a longer time (so real "juggling") are, as far as I know, the late Enrico Rastelli and today Angelo Picineili. Will tell you later some more about this school of Rastelli, and bring to a close now. Next month about another group of European topmen, those, who chose comedy and fun as basic principles of their act.

JUGGLERS' JUNCTION by BETTY GOREHAM

Here and there: Val Setz just closed at the London Palladium--- Doug and Lola Couden are putting the finishing touches on their new house in Capistrano Beach, Calif.--- Rudy Cardenas, Mexican wonder Jug, is headed for England, and Francis Brunn may appear with a British circus next season--- Saw Lang and Lee here with their comedy act. They did two numbers, one mostly comedy and the other featuring some fine club passing--- Roberto Chiesa (not one of Ringling's Chiesas) is now at Cirque Medrano, Paris.

>From "anonymous" comes this bit of humor: An "old-fashioned" act billed as "Haig and Haig" was presented some time ago in a "Canadian Club". "Old Grandad", the male half of the team, was pretty good with his "highball" specialty, but what really brought down the house was the trick where he juggled "three feathers", and, blowing them through a tube one by one, caught them in a balance on his nose. His partner, an "old crow", used to balance a large vase on her forehead while juggling "four roses", tossing them one by one into the vase for a finish. When "Old Grandad" used to juggle 7 balls, the "old crow" would yell, "Seven Up"! But "Old Grandad" missed so many times on that trick that they had to buy a dog they called Ginger as a "chaser", but running after the balls so much made "Ginger ale" so they broke up the act and all went back to Milwaukee.

JUG JUGGLESON'S LETTER by DOUG COUDEN Illustrated by JOE MARSH

Dear Roger. I been thinking about an actor, ha, ha, on the carnival side show who was so lazy he done his act laying down. You know yourself Roger I aint lazy but I do a lot of practice so I think it aint a bad idea for one laying down routine anyways. The carny was Mant the Balloon Man. He laid down on his back and put the end of a rubber hose in his mouth and he got somebody to pump his belly with a bicycle pump. You will note here Roger the guy used his noggin and didn't do nothing but lay down while the other guy did all the work. Well I couldn't figure no way for the other guy to do the juggling but I got a swell laying down juggling routine when I'm tired. I lay down on a table and do my milk bottle juggling. At first it was hard to do as when I'd drop a bottle it would konk me on the beezer but now since I lernt it my nose is starting to heal up. For a smash finish I do the milk bottles and then start 2 hoops spinning on my legs which brings down the house. In the old days when a pal of mine and me done a 2 act under the name of Paul and Jorg, Heavyweight Jugglers, our peace de resistance was catching a 500 pound canon on our shoulders which we jumped up from a teeter board. The canon was only 87 pounds but you have to fool the public once in a while, ha, ha. But it busted right through the boards in Chi once when it slipped. Now get this. I seen an ad in the Billboard for a guy for a canon act for a full G per week so I wires and what do you know Roger I got the job so we're packing up and heading for Fla. In case the G is a larrie I told the mgt at the Waldorf I had to lay off a while so the Doc could cure my nose which they fell for like a ton of brick. When Paul and me split up when he eloped with a dumb dame from Detroit I left my props in the boarding house so Roger if you got any heavyweight juggling props will you ship them fast freight to Miami. So Long, Pal, Jug.

THE BALTIMORE SCENE as seen by VIN CAREY

Baltimore continues to be on the "Juggling Map". The week of October 7th to 13th found the one and only famous Jean Bedini at the Hippadrome theater aided and abetted by Joe Melanio in a comedy and skill juggling act to please the most fastidious. They open with Jean, the straight man, and Joe the comic presenting the passé Bottle and Glass trick with the stooge stealing the bottle and the magician still completing the trick with a great deal of fine comedy and showmanship. Jean then does some of his well known plate juggling with the feature, the bottle and plate using a standard Scotch fifth bottle and a plain china plate. Joe does a bit of three ball juggling and of course some mimicking of the plate work of Jean. They were a decided hit on a strong Gay 90 bill.

The State theater comes up with two new jugglers to the U.S.A. on its current bill, Oct. 14-16th. Direct from Buenos Aires come the Piero Brothers. What an act-- Atilic and Hector Piero, two handsome young Latinos with a swift routine of clubs, spinning hats and outstanding routine of devil sticks. Tall dark and handsome with flashing teeth they whirl through the fastest routines with ease and apparent enjoyment that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Three clubs, taking clubs from each other all the while exchanging hats and cigarettes. Later passing three clubs and sailing three conical hats from one to the other as they pass the clubs. Atilio does the Devil sticks and can do two at the same time, what a routine! They finish with spinning hats on slender sticks, sticks on outside of hats and passing the hats from one to the other. Plenty of cute comedy angles throughout.

After last nights show they went out to my home and we had a big time passing clubs and trying out some of the many props I have been making, some of them new to them. They are on their way to N.Y.C. having flown in to Miami from So. America and breaking the jump at the State. They expect to stay in the States at least two years and should be a sensation. They had never seen any Lind clubs before and have Harry's address so that they can order some as the ones they are now using were made by a retired juggler in Buenos Aires. Seeing them was something like the time the Chiesa Brothers showed up in Pittsburgh.

SHOOTIN' THE BREEZE with Roger

Overheard at the Waterford, Pa. Community Fair: George Lerch- "Well, Bill, I've got Strobelite now." Bill Dunham- "Keep your chin up, George, maybe they'll find a cure for it." --- Russell Torello garners publicity with a pic in November issue of "Friends".--- Jim Aitken says New Orleans audiences will soon know all the juggling tricks having had five or six jugglers in the last ten weeks or so. Among the latest invaders of N.O. hospitality have been Regini, Jack Parker, and Will Wright.--- Some new contributors to Bulletin pages but not anywhere near enough. --- Caught RBB & B show recently, only kick being that there is too much good juggling going on at the same time. Renewed acquaintance with Homer Goddard, Johnny Tripp and met Bert Molay Turner. --- Bobby Winters in recently with some slick juggling- we like the guy in spite of being unable to sell him a sub to Bulletin or on the IJA. Elwin Shaw reports plenty of jug activity in the New England area- Hal Sayers, fairs; Jack Clauncey, Bert Handly, Dutch Jordan, and Frank Ferranti, night clubs; Herbie Taylor, fairs; Billy Pelley who after considerable mental strain has become the father of a girl, plans an invasion of mid-west. --- IJA sec. Violet Carlson advises that the new rosters and Constitution and By-Laws are ready and will be mailed out in November.

Last summer, just before convention time, we had a pleasant visit from Joe Taylor, pictured below. Joe was pioneering a new field in juggling- that of presenting a juggling act on a baseball diamond. There have been many players on specialty teams that have done a few juggling moves as part of their regular playing but to our knowledge Joe is the first to present an actual act of juggling on the diamond. More power to you, Joe!

COLUMBUS WORLD - 4/7/48

PITCHING PHENOMENON

Those unpredictable Indianapolis Clowns have come up with a new pitching "find" in Juggling Joe Taylor, who besides hurling a variety ot balls, pitches clubs, dinner plates and whatnot all over the diamond. Fans everywhere applaud Taylor's feat of rolling a baseball around his neck from ear to ear and concluding by balancing same on his forehead. Quite an exhibitionist this 19-year-old colored "find" is really an accomplished juggler. Juggling Joe will be one of the features with the Clowns when he meet the Birmingham Black Barons at Golden Park on Tuesday April 20 at 8 p. m.


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