Apolonia Van Voorden
Apolonia Van Voorden
 | |
|---|---|
| Born | Apolonia Abeen April 14, 1926 |
| Died | November 11, 2012 (aged 86) |
| Resting place | Highland Cemetery |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Other names | Miss Loni |
| Citizenship | American[1] |
| Occupation | Foot juggler |
| Employer(s) | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus Vargas, Harlem Globetrotters, et al. |
| Spouse | Frederik Jan Van Voorden |
| Awards | Queen of the Circus (1961) as voted by members of the International Circus Fans Association[2] |
| Signature | |
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Apolonia "Miss Loni" Van Voorden (née Abeen; April 14, 1926 - November 11, 2012) was a Dutch American foot juggler who began her career at the age of 10 in her father's family circus in the Netherlands.[3]
Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1926,[4] Apolonia Abeen emigrated to the United States on March 28, 1950[5] and gave her first performance there with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, working in a display with juggler Francis Brunn.[6][7] After being introduced to Cecil B. DeMille, she was asked to be in his 1952 movie, The Greatest Show on Earth.[8] Ten years later in 1962 she was cast as a circus performer in the movie Billy Rose's Jumbo.[4]
Van Voorden became a naturalized United States Citizen on July 9, 1963.[1]
In addition to performing with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Van Voorden's extensive career also saw her juggle with Circus Vargas,[9] The Polack Brothers Circus,[10] and Minsky's Follies.[11] She regularly performed at various venues such as "... fairs, festivals, night clubs, and special events."[12] For two years, she was featured as a half-time act with the Harlem Globetrotters.[3]
Van Voorden was voted the "Queen of the Circus" in 1961 by the International Circus Fans Association. [2]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Herself | |
| 1962 | Billy Rose's Jumbo | Circus Performer #7 | (final film role) |
External links[edit]
- Miss Loni page at IMDB
- Portage County Historical Society page on "Extraordinary Circus Artists - Miss Loni"
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Apolonia Van Voorden; Illinois, Northern District (Eastern Division), Naturalization Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
- ^ a b "Housewife-Juggler Featured in Circus Which Opens Today". Nevada State Journal. August 2, 1961. p. 6.
- ^ a b Granville, Kari (May 9, 1977). "Life Under the Big Top: All the World's a Stage". Orange County Register. p. 31.
(1) She was born into a family that owned a traveling troop of jugglers, acrobats and animal trainers (2) She also performed with the Harlem Globe Trotters for two years as a half-time act.
- ^ a b Miss Loni. Biography. IMDB
- ^ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists 1909, 1925-1957: 7811 - vol 16955-16956, March 28, 1950". Familysearch. New York. March 28, 1950. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ "Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey 1950 Program". Circus Historical Society. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
Display No. 16 - The World's Most Amazing Exponents of the Juggling Art ... Miss Loni, Holland's foot juggling wonder. First time in America.
- ^ "Miss Loni looks back on glamorous life as traveling foot juggler" , Dispatch Argus QCOnline, July 18, 2008.
- ^ "Of Local Origin". New York Times. April 6, 1951. p. 31.
Miss Loni, a circus performer, has been signed for Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show On Earth"
- ^ Anderson, Fran (May 1, 1976). "Performer enjoys life". Arlington Daily News. p. 1.
- ^ "Circus Star Performs Homemaking Chores in Trailer; Applauds Advantages of Travel". Charleston Daily Mail. November 8, 1961. p. 22.
- ^ Ollmann, Benn (July 26, 1952). "Night Club - Vaude Reviews: Tic-Toc Club, Milwaukee". The Billboard: 17+.
- ^ Parks, Bill (January 28, 1976). "The flying feet of Miss Loni!". Hayward Daily Review. p. 19.