By David Cain In November of 2025, the Museum of Juggling History finally acquired something for which we’ve been looking for over a decade. This is a diabolo that was wildly popular in England and France in 1812-1813. Known as The Devil on Two Sticks, or just The Devil (Le Diable), it was made of a single piece of hardwood …
Ollie Young and April – Vaudeville Diabolo and Soap Bubble Jugglers
By David Cain Author’s Note: In 2015, I introduced the juggling world to Ollie Young, an important and innovative juggler who had been almost completely forgotten. In 2025, I was contacted by an attorney who lived in Columbus, Ohio, Ollie Young’s hometown. He told me that his great uncle had been a very close friend to Ollie’s widow and that …
Ollie Young and Brother / Brothers
By David Cain Author’s Note: In 2015, I introduced the juggling world to Ollie Young, an important and innovative juggler who had been almost completely forgotten. In 2025, I was contacted by an attorney who lived in Columbus, Ohio, Ollie Young’s hometown. He told me that his great uncle had been a very close friend to Ollie’s widow and that …
Dana Smith Obituary
By David Cain The juggling, busking, and entertainment communities have lost a long-time member, Dana Smith. Dana was born in Oakland, California in 1951. His father was a milkman, and his mother was a housewife. Dana studied dance and gymnastics as a teen. After seeing juggler Ray Jason and mime Robert Shields street performing in San Francisco, Dana was inspired …
Ollie Young – The Early Years
By David Cain Author’s Note: In 2015, I introduced the juggling world to Ollie Young, an important and innovative juggler who had been almost completely forgotten. In 2025, I was contacted by an attorney who lived in Columbus, Ohio, Ollie Young’s hometown. He told me that his great uncle had been a very close friend to Ollie’s widow and that …
The Old School Spinning Card Prop
By David Cain In July of 2025, the Museum of Juggling History was given a box of props and memorabilia that belonged to The Great Knetzger, a juggler who was active from the 1890s until at least the 192os. You can click here to learn more about Knetzger. Among the items in the box were six old playing card props …
The Picture Frame Trick
By David Cain Salerno was one of the “Big Three” jugglers at the end of the 1800s and beginning of the 20th century, along with Paul Cinquevalli and Kara. All three specialized in using common household objects rather than prop made specifically for jugging. One of the most famous of Salerno’s tricks is also one that he is rarely given …
Valazzi – New Information and Photos
By David Cain Author’s Note: After the publication of an earlier article on Valazzi, I was contacted by his family and provided with further information and photos. The article below integrates this new content with the content previously published. **** I often come across jugglers who seem to have been quite talented, but who failed to leave much of a …
Product Review: ND Moreira Juggling Cigar Boxes and Flowtoys LED Cigar Boxes
By David Cain Niels Duinker is a well-known juggler, publisher, and prop manufacturer from the Netherlands. In the past, he has released plastic bottle clubs and cuphead clubs that have become popular within the juggling community. Niels has continued to expand his prop line recently with cigar boxes, clubs, and spinning plates. Today, we’ll look at two versions of a …