Apolonia Van Voorden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Apolonia Abeen
April 14, 1926 |
| Died | November 11, 2012 |
| Resting place | Highland Cemetery |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Other names | Miss Loni |
| Citizenship | American |
| Occupation | Foot juggler |
| Employer | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus Vargas, Harlem Globetrotters, et al. |
| Spouse(s) | Frederik Jan Van Voorden |
| Awards | Queen of the Circus (1961) as voted by members of the International Circus Fans Association |
| Signature | |
.jpg){kind=small} |
|
Apolonia "Miss Loni" Van Voorden (born April 14, 1926 – died November 11, 2012) was a famous Dutch American circus performer. She was known as a foot juggler. This means she could lie on her back and juggle things with her feet! Miss Loni started her amazing career very young, at just 10 years old, in her father's family circus in the Netherlands.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Apolonia Van Voorden was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1926. She moved to the United States on March 28, 1950. Soon after arriving, she performed with the famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She worked with another juggler named Francis Brunn.
Becoming a Star
Miss Loni's talent was quickly noticed. She even met the famous movie director Cecil B. DeMille. He asked her to be in his 1952 movie, The Greatest Show on Earth. This movie was all about the circus! Ten years later, in 1962, she appeared in another circus movie called Billy Rose's Jumbo. On July 9, 1963, Ms. Van Voorden officially became a citizen of the United States.
A Busy Circus Career
Miss Loni had a very long and exciting career. Besides the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, she also performed with:
- Circus Vargas
- The Polack Brothers Circus
- Minsky's Follies
She performed in many different places. These included fairs, festivals, nightclubs, and special events. For two years, Miss Loni was also a special half-time act for the Harlem Globetrotters. They are a famous basketball team known for their tricks!
Queen of the Circus
In 1961, Miss Van Voorden received a special honor. The International Circus Fans Association voted her the "Queen of the Circus." This shows how much people admired her incredible skills.
Filmography
Miss Loni appeared in two movies, playing herself or a circus performer.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Herself | |
| 1962 | Billy Rose's Jumbo | Circus Performer #7 | (her last movie role) |
See also
In Spanish: Apolonia Van Voorden para niños
