Amazing Juggler - Francis Brunn - 1955

Juggler extraordinaire Francis Brunn (1922 - 2004) left quite a mark during his lengthy career, which began in the 1930s. Inspired and heavily influenced by the sensational and innovative Italian juggler/acrobat Enrico Rastelli, Brunn would go on to develop his own tricks and style. As a youngster Brunn began training in acrobatics and wrestling, and soon added juggling to his passions. Playing soccer (aka football) helped him learn to balance a ball; a skill that would come in handy for his later profession. He's believed to have been the first performer to juggle 10 rings, and, like Rastelli, his acrobatic skills added an extra dimension to his performances. But while most of his act moved at a frenetic pace and displayed his incredible speed, it was the minimalist routines -- sometimes involving just one ball -- where it was possible to fully appreciate his exceptional rhythm and balancing skills. The ball would sometimes appear to defy gravity and was mesmerizing to watch. As far as the performance in this 1955 video goes, by his high standards Brunn would likey have considered this an off night due to the uncharacteristic misses that occur -- but even one of his off night performances could rival that of most jugglers. You can find videos here on YouTube of Brunn performing some of these same routines over a decade later without the misses, but this one's still worth adding to the small handful of his early performances already present; and it does feature some nice close-up shots. I believe this may be the only video currently on YouTube of Brunn performing in the 1950s (the black & white Jack Benny Show video is from 1961; an even earlier black & white one is from 1941). His assistant here definitely deserves some accolades; not only for tossing the items to him on time and on target, but also for managing to run backwards so effortlessly in heels! Later in his career Brunn studied flamenco dancing and incorporated it into his performances. It was a perfect fit. He embraced juggling as an art form, not just a series of tricks, and has left behind enough of a legacy to inspire future performers just as Rastelli had inspired him.