Peter Davison- hands down.

Good call...

My personal favourite is Kris Kremo. Dick Franco too.

Plenty of other great jugglers, but they're more into numbers and combinations.

ML

Michael Moschen.

I dont know these people! What tricks did they do that were so amazing?

Antony Gatto, also watch out for Vova and Olga... those two are amazing now, wait until they hit adulthood.
And from the past... Paul Cinquevalli and Enrico Rastelli.
My opinion anyway
Jester

Gatto is great, but I think he truly stands out when it comes to numbers. His 3 ball stuff is professional, but I don't reckon it's his specialism. Paul Cinquevali - well, he was by all accounts outstanding. Rastelli - he's not best known for his 3 ball stuff - numbers and balancing is noted more often. I think!

Cheers

ML

I would agree with Missing Link - Kris Kremo got the most value out of three balls I ever saw. It wasn't a huge range of tricks (like the ones which people have evolved over the last few years) - just dynamics. So fast, so tight, so clear, so confident. I saw him on tv, of course, but I also saw him live in a huge circus ring (2000 seater? I am not sure) and he sold it to us from there - including humour, contact with the audience, and WOW factor. That was when I realized numbers were not everything.

Indeed, numbers are far from everything. They will impress the juggling fraternity, as will subtle variations on a trick, or site swaps. But for non-jugglers, all they see are balls moving in pretty patterns. 3 balls look impossible, 5 even more so, but anything over that is pretty much academic. Audiences love to see fast movement, humour and variety in juggling. There are so many things you can do with 3 balls that doing numbers isn't really important. Unless you're Jason Garfield of course!

Another name: if you ever have the opportunity to see old footage of Kit Summers' ball routine that he did at Bally's Casino in Atlantic City, you'll be bowled over! Great stuff.

Cheers

ML

I can't believe that I didn't think of this guy earlier - Bobby May. Brilliant and, at the time, innovative 3 ball juggling. Very funny facial expressions too. There is a documentary video about him available from http://www.dube.com and other juggling retailers. Dick Franco's "3 ball digest" and Kit Summers "Juggling with Finesse" have some great photos of Bobby (and other 3 ball jugglers) in them. Essential reading I'd say.

ML

Oops, yes it was 3 ball juggler... sorry, I was just thinking jugglers
oh well!
Jester

Let's resurrect an old thread and suggest Michael Menes. Probably the act most deserving of winning an IJA gold and not getting it (if I recall correctly). Of the other jugglers listed I reckon I'm a better 3 ball juggler than Gatto, I don't rate Kris Kremo for his juggling (whereas his cigar box and hat stuff is brilliant) I've never seen Michael Moschen do any juggling not in a triangle and whilst that was entertaining and original it wasn't truly brilliant. As for Peter Davison didn't he play Dr Who?

Nigel

I like Jack Kalvin, or Rick Rubenstein, and Rastelli was known for his 8 ball juggling.
Al Angello

When you have a chance check out josh caseys myspace page and look at his routine, simple tricks, but timed to the music really well!

James

Michael Karas. One of the best, and one of my favorites.

http://www.jugglinginsanity.com

-Brian

I've changed my mind. I don't think there is ONE.
Al Angello

I agree with Al on this, there is no ONE "greatest three ball juggler".

Although I've always admired Bobby May's stuff.

For those that don't know him he was a vaudevillian juggler that, if I rememeber rightly, inspired and taught Dick Franco.

You should really try find The Juggling Fool (I think its called).

Correction. It was Bobby May: The Great American Juggler, and actually has an interview with Dick Franco.

You can get it here if you haven't already got it: http://www.dube.com/store/cart.php?m=sea......obby+may

I also found this site: http://www.juggling.org/fame/may/index.html#May

There's a couple of video clips that you can download from there too. One of Bobby doing a short 5 ball routine and the other is him doing 4 clubs.

Both acts would hold up for an audience today.

You are right to admire Bobby May's juggling - he was far ahead of his time. Some of his tricks have never been reproduced. Not only was he a direct inspiration to Franco but Anthony Gatto as well. I believe Bobby referred to (and signed a photo to Anthony) referring to a young (8 or 9yr old) Anthony as "The King".

Cap'n Mike
==================

Hey SeasideShowman
Welcome to the magic Café. You are right about that Bobby May & Anthony story. I tried to check you out, but your web page did not come up. Are you originally from Florida?
Al Angello

Hey Al,

Thanks for the welcome. I updated my profile since you pointed out the dead link for my website. A link to my site can also be found at http://www.fettucinibrothers.com . I was born and raised in Columbus, OH but lived on the Gulf coast of FL for awhile (Venice). I'm currently out of Myrtle Beach, SC. I'm a Life Member of the International Jugglers Association and am a graduate of RBB&B Clown College having formerly toured with Ringling's Red Unit back in the 90's.

Aloha-ha,
Cap'n Mike
===================

Thanks for the extra info about Bobby May. I didn't know he had met Anthony.

I love the way that Bobby's stuff always pushed the boundaries artistically. His glow ball routine alone is proof of this... long before the days of AeroTech too!

What I also like is the fact that even though he could juggle 8 balls he very rarely (if at all) juggled more than 5 on stage. Such a cool guy.