In most trivia contests about jugglers, we obviously focus on their juggling achievements. However, many jugglers have been successful in other endeavors or have a family member who is particularly noteworthy. Here are the questions and answers to the recent trivia contest focusing on the non-juggling achievements of jugglers or their close family members.
A. What IJA Champion has won a coveted Academy Award / Oscar?
The answer is Michael Kass, who was the IJA Individuals Champion in 1980. He won an Academy Award for his groundbreaking work in creating physically-based clothing and hair animation software that was used in various Pixar films.
Michael Kass
B. What jugglers have written five stage musicals together, one of which has been performed across the United States and in the UK?
David Cain and Scott Cain
C. What regular IJA Fest attender has written dozens of songs for the famous children’s show Sesame Street?
Sky King
D. What famous juggler’s father coached Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) in the 1960 Olympics and also coached the 1976 U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team?
Dan Menendez
E. What famous juggler appeared in a featured role in the 1974 horror movie It’s Alive?
Daniel Holzman
Check out the trailer for the movie below and see if you can spot a young Daniel.
F. What juggler was better known as the “Father of Information Theory”?
Claude Shannon
G. What juggler went on to become a movie star, Governor of California, and the President of the United States?
Ronald Reagan
H. What former IJA competitor went on to become a top television and movie star in the USA?
Patrick Dempsey
I. What legendary juggler was one of the first people to get a German pilot’s license?
Salerno
J. What famous juggler witnessed the Hindenburg disaster in person?
Gil Dova, whose father was a passenger on the Hindenburg
K. What famous juggler was offered a recording contract by Polydor Records as a singer, but turned it down to continue his juggling career?
Rudy Horn
L. What juggling group opened the zoo in Les Sables d’Olonne in France when they retired from performing?
Reverhos Trio
M. What famed juggler became the head of the property department at Columbia Pictures Corporation in Los Angeles, California after retiring as a juggler?
Serge Flash
N. What juggler found fame as the top Argentine Tango musician in the UK after retiring as a juggler?
Teddy Peiro
O. What famous juggler is also known as the top trainer of house cats in the world?
Gregory Popovich
P. This talented juggler has also worked as a drummer for such well known acts as Lewis Capaldi, Lily Allen, Take That, and Leona Lewis.
The answer is Freddy Sheed.
Q. This juggler won the title of top classical music teacher of the year in the UK in 2013.
Matthew Tiffany
R. This German juggler was married to one of the top female European music acts of the 1950s and 1960s.
Eric Van Aro, who was married to Italian singer Caterina Valente
S. This juggler was married to Italian movie star Liana Orfei.
Angelo Picinelli
The first person to correctly answer all of the above questions was Steve Bags. He will receive a free one year membership to the IJA and a $20 gift certificate to the IJA Store. Congrats, Steve.
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).