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The Throwback Series from Variety Arts Press

The Throwback Series aims to serve both the recreational and professional juggling community by:

(1) publishing annotated reprints of selected late-19th/early-20th-century instructional literature on the juggler's craft that is now in the public domain;

(2) publishing the remaining works of R.W. Bacon, some close to 50 years in the making, on acrobatic juggling, prop-building, practice, training, and performance; and

(3) publishing new research and interpretation of vaudeville, circus, and variety entertainment.

Video --- now more accessible than ever before --- has supplanted print for documenting, teaching, and communicating about juggling. But for conveying insight and ideas, there is still the utility of language and the printed word. For jugglers who share that persuasion, welcome to The Throwback Series.

About the author, editor, and publisher: R.W. Bacon enjoyed a 35-year performing arts career ---from cobblestone streetcorners to palatial theatres --- from circus arena to Hollywood productions --- as an acrobatic juggler, comedy tap dancer, and jazz/ragtime musician. For most of those years he worked in dazzling synchrony with his wife, L.J. Newton, in their nationally touring theatrical show, Mr. Slim's Goodtime Ragtime Vaudeville Revival; and in their circus/variety act, Mr. Slim & L.J. --- Classic Comedy Juggling. Aside from books about his stage performance specialties, in a post-showbusiness museum career he is the author of a dozen books on varied history topics.

Circus Arts:
Juggling, Manipulation, Equilibristics,
& Acro-Juggling Specialties

Welcome to The Throwback Series, which presents new editions of selected early juggling instructional literature now in the public domain; and the newest works on acro-juggling technique, training, and performance by R.W. Bacon. Forthcoming new works will augment two juggling "best-sellers" from Variety Arts Press, The Juggler's Manual of Manipulative Miscellenea (1984), and The Juggler's Manual of Cigar Box Manipulation & Balance (1983).

Below are publications in this category currently available. Click on any book title below and you'll go to a page with a more detailed description of the book, a preview of selected pages, and a link to purchase and pay via PayPal.

Click on any title below for more information,
and to read the contents and introduction.


The Juggler's Trilogy
of Timeless Techniques:
All Three Rare Books
of Arcane Early-20th-Century
Juggling Artistry in One Volume

Compiled with Context & Commentary
by Reginald W. Bacon
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 2021)
6x9 softcover; 320 pages;
175 diagrams & illustrations.
ISBN: 978-0-9977528-7-8
LOC: 2020951882

$30.00 (US) includes
book-rate shipping in the U.S.
(Inquire for additional international shipping charges.)

Payment accepted by PayPal
(see "Buy Now" below or on the full description page).

OR! ... ORDER BOTH the Trilogy and Anthology for $55.00. Save five bucks! (See the separate "Buy Now" button below or on the full description page).

To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.


The Juggler's Anthology
of Venerable Veracities:
Practical Instruction, Applied Physics, & Insightful Observations
from Early Published Works
on the Juggler's Craft

Compiled with Context & Commentary
by Reginald W. Bacon
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 2021)
6x9 softcover, 320 pages;
150 diagrams & illustrations.
ISBN: 978-0-9977528-5-4
LOC: 2020951886

$30.00 (US) includes
book-rate shipping in the U.S.
(Inquire for additional international shipping charges.)

Payment accepted by PayPal
(see "Buy Now" below or on the full description page).

OR! ... ORDER BOTH the Trilogy and Anthology for $55.00. Save five bucks! (See the separate "Buy Now" button below or on the full description page).

To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.


Other titles still available:


The Juggler's Alphabet Book:
The ABCs of Inspiration,
Encouragement, History, and Fun
for Literate Jugglers of All Ages

By Reginald W. Bacon
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 2019)
64 pages; 78 photos, 47 illustrations,
bibliography, & sources.
ISBN: 978-0-9977528-6-1
LOC: 2019904856

$14.00 (US) includes
book-rate shipping in the U.S.
(Inquire for additional international shipping charges.)

Payment accepted by PayPal
(see "Buy Now" below or on the full description page).

To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.


The Juggler's Manual of
Manipulative Miscellanea:
The Classic Skills with Top Hat,
Cane, Plates, Nesting Cups,
and Assorted Objects

By Reginald W. Bacon a.k.a "Mr. Slim"
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 1984)
104 pages; illustrated
ISBN: 978-0-9817945-1-8
LOC: 85-050557

$15.00 (US) includes book-rate shipping
in the U.S.
(Inquire for additional international shipping charges.)

Payment accepted by PayPal
(see "Buy Now" below or on the full description page).

To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.


The Juggler's Manual of
Cigar Box Manipulation & Balance

By Reginald W. Bacon a.k.a. "Mr. Slim"
(Newburyport, Mass.:
Variety Arts Press, 1983)
100 pages; illustrated
ISBN: 978-0-9817945-0-1
LOC: 83-050036

$15.00 (US) includes
book-rate shipping in the U.S.
(Inquire for additional international shipping charges.)

Payment accepted by PayPal
(see "Buy Now" below or on the full description page).

To order by postal mail, send order details, your shipping address, and payment by check to Variety Arts Enterprises, P.O. Box 489, Newburyport, MA 01950.


Throwback Series titles in the works:

- The Juggler's Manual of Peripheral Paraphernalia: Acro-Juggling Combination Stunt Performance on the Unicycle, Rola-Bola, Rolling Globe, Pedestal, and Tightwire, by R.W. Bacon.

- W.C. Fields On Juggling: Observations of a Master Stage Artist, compiled with context and commentary by R.W. Bacon.

- Insights from Genius: Cinquevalli in His Own Words, compiled with context and commentary by R.W. Bacon.

- The Juggler's Gallery of Vaudevillian Antecedents: The Famous and Forgotten Jugglers of American Vaudeville 1880-1930, by R.W. Bacon.

- The Juggler's Manual of 3-Ball Artistry: A Foundation for the Stage, by R.W. Bacon.

- The Juggler's Manual of Sensational Synchrony; Tandem Techniques to Wow the Crowd, by R.W. Bacon.


Looking for R.W. Bacon, showbusiness version?

To those looking for the veteran acrobatic juggler/unicyclist, jazz tenor banjoist, and comic dancer --- Yes, that's me. I am several years retired from a 35-year career in commercial showbusiness, but still keep much of the repertoire stage-ready, and include performance excerpts in the Vaudeville history presentation for museums, "A Vaudeville Retrospective." My wife and partner, the sensational club-juggler L.J. Newton, retired from 25 years on stage in 1999. We are still happy, healthy, and injury-free after a well-traveled career. (See the Variety Arts Enterprises web site for additional information, especially the profiles on selected mentors and friends.) Since I was a journalist, editor, and publication designer before showbusiness, and a researcher, historian, and author during, the transition to publishing and the museum/history field was a natural fit. To distant friends, longtime fans, fellow performers, and former juggling/circus arts students, I would be glad to hear of your recent adventures. To new friends and museum/history colleagues intrigued about the performing arts career, please feel free to explore the various links at the Variety Arts Enterprises web site. Thank you. --- Reg Bacon