Henry Maar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Henry J. Maar
Born	1921
Died	1992 (aged 70–71)
Nationality	American
Known for	Balloon Twisting

Henry J. Maar (1921–1992) was a very talented American performer. He was known as "The Sultan of Balloons." Many people believe he was one of the first people to create amazing shapes by twisting balloons.

Henry Maar was a regular on Bozo's Circus for over ten years. This was a very popular children's TV show. His son, Joseph Maar, thinks his father might have invented balloon twisting. Joseph Maar is a famous TV producer and director. Other balloon artists, like Larry Moss, find Joseph's story interesting. If it's true, it would change what we know about the history of balloon twisting.

The Story of Henry Maar

Joseph Maar is a well-known TV director. He has won three Emmy Awards. He worked on popular sports shows like Sports Center and Pardon the Interruption. Joseph has shared his father's story. Many people now see it as a possible origin of balloon twisting.

How Henry Started Twisting Balloons

When Henry Maar was a child, he had a lung illness. He spent several years in a special hospital. To help his lungs get stronger, he had to blow up many balloons. This practice later became very useful for him.

In the 1930s, Henry became a vaudeville performer. He was a magician. One day in 1938 or 1939, something unexpected happened. Joseph Maar says his father's magic tricks were stolen from his car. Henry had no tricks for his show.

So, Henry went on stage and performed using only balloons. He twisted them into different shapes. The audience and agents loved it! The agents told him to stop doing magic tricks. They said, "Everyone's doing regular magic tricks. But no one is doing the balloon tricks!"

Henry's Career as a Balloon Artist

For the next ten years, Henry performed under the name "Johnny Ford." He entertained soldiers with the USO during World War II. After the war, an agent offered him more money. But there was a condition: he had to wear a clown suit.

Joseph Maar believes this was the start of clowns doing balloon acts. From the late 1950s to the mid-1970s, Henry Maar was very busy. He was a regular on Bozo's Circus. He also appeared on other children's shows. A newspaper article from 1968 mentioned his appearances. He is even listed in the credits of a Bozo's Circus episode from 1977.

Joseph Maar also thinks his father invented 'face painting.' Henry would sometimes have trouble with his clown makeup. This happened during long outdoor events. To fix his own makeup, he would invite kids on stage. Then, he would "make them up" like clowns. This was a fun way to touch up his own face.

Other Ideas About Balloon Twisting's Start

While Joseph Maar's story is interesting, it's not the only one. Other people are also given credit for starting balloon twisting.

• Val Andrews wrote a book about balloon modeling. He said H.J. Bonnert from Scranton, Pennsylvania, was "the daddy of them all."
• John Shirley wrote in a book that balloon animals probably started around 1920. But they became popular after World War II. He said the person who invented the one-balloon animal is unknown.
• Jim Church III wrote that Frank Zacone from Youngstown, Ohio, was doing a balloon act. He was performing in the 1940s and had been doing it for some time.