Famed foot juggler Chester Cable passed away on February 5th, 2025, at the age of 93. Hailing from the Allentown, Pennsylvania area, he ran away from home at the age of 17 and joined the Cole Brothers Circus in 1949 as an usher. Before too long, he became part of a Risley act (where you foot juggle another human being) named The Three Bogarts in 1950. He immediately started practicing with props rather than people and learned very quickly. He soon left The Three Bogarts and started his solo career as a foot juggler. He also learned juggling with his hands, practicing with jugglers in the circuses where he did his act. These included Mexican juggler Carlos Ricci and juggler Slim Gerard. Chester soon added a traditional juggling act to his repertoire as a second act for his circus work. This act included four torches as well as battle axes performed on a rolling globe. His true fame, though, came from his foot juggling.
Chester was most famous for foot juggling especially large and heavy objects, including a 10-foot-long, 137-pound metal table and a large, 48-pound wagon wheel.
He joined the Army during the Korean War and ending up performing in a special services entertainment troupe along with juggler Johnny Lux. After leaving the army, he moved to California and continued his performing career, working in circuses and performing halftime shows with the Harlem Globetrotters, which he did for 8 seasons.
Chester Cable sometimes was asked to foot juggle with odd objects for a promotion or publicity stunt. These objects included a refrigerator, a lamp, a couch, and a Sumo wrestler!
He was best known for his work with the huge table, for which he has been listed in the Guinness World Records book since 1981!
Let’s take a look at some videos of Chester at work.
Chester Cable was a working foot juggler for over 60 years and is revered as one of the greatest ever. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.
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).