Mary Blank began training as a juggler at the age of ten and became a part of the Josef Blank Company, which consisted of her brother, Josef, another brother, and their father. The company formed in 1911. After World War I, she married Wili Rohde and formed Mary Blank and Company. She was often advertised as the “World’s Greatest Woman Juggler” or something similar, and even as the “World’s Greatest Juggler.” This is quite the claim, considering that Enrico Rastelli was performing at the same time. Like her older brother Josef, Mary juggled six plates while balancing a pole topped by a tray holding four filled glasses. She also juggled hats, umbrellas, and bottles. Despite her skill and fame, finding photos or illustrations of her is almost impossible, as you’ll see.
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Very oddly, few photos or illustrations of Mary Blank have been found by modern researchers. The four below are among the few found.
Mary Blank
Mary Blank is included in a famous group photo from 1933. It shows a 13-year old Trixie surrounded by some of the best jugglers of the period, including Felix Adanos (in the back directly behind Trixie), Bela Kremo (to the right of Adanos), Howard Nichols (second from the left), Rob Carry (far left), and Mary Blank (just to the right of Trixie).
Mary Blank retired in 1934. Unfortunately, she became ill and paralyzed just a few years into her retirement and spent the rest of her life in a nursing home. She passed away at the age of 59 in 1953.
David Cain
David Cain is a professional juggler, juggling historian, and the owner of the world's only juggling museum, the Museum of Juggling History. He is a Guinness world record holder and 16 time IJA gold medalist. In addition to his juggling pursuits, David is a successful composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and singer as well as the author of twenty-six books. He and his children live in Middletown, OH (USA).