Paul Cinquevalli facts for kids
Paul Cinquevalli (born June 30, 1859 – died July 14, 1918) was a German entertainer. He became very famous for his amazing juggling acts. He was popular in English music halls during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Paul Cinquevalli first came to England in 1885 and quickly became a big hit. He decided to live in London. There, he performed in many circuses, music halls, and pantomimes. In 1912, he was one of the first performers to appear in the very first Royal Command Performance for the King and Queen. He is well-known for being one of the first "gentleman jugglers." This means he juggled everyday items like bottles, plates, glasses, and umbrellas.
Paul Cinquevalli's Life Story
Paul Cinquevalli was born in a place called Lissa, which was then part of Prussia (now Poland). His birth name was either Paul Kestner or Emil Otto Paul Braun. When he was two years old, his family moved to Berlin. He started his circus career at just 12 years old. He was discovered during a school gymnastics show.
Paul Cinquevalli was very good at promoting himself. Because of this, some stories about his life might be fact, and some might be fiction! When he was 14, he ran away from home. He joined an acrobatic group led by an Italian man named Giuseppe Chiese-Cinquevalli.
At first, Paul performed on the high wire and trapeze. But after a fall, he had to recover. During this time, he started learning to juggle. He quickly became very good at it.
Becoming a Gentleman Juggler
Even though he wore a special costume with a leotard and tights, Paul Cinquevalli is seen as one of the first gentleman jugglers. This is because he used everyday objects in his act. He would juggle things like bottles, plates, glasses, and umbrellas.
One of his most famous tricks is still done by jugglers today. He would throw a full bottle into the air. Then, he would catch the bottle's neck on the sharp tip of an umbrella. As the liquid poured out, he would open the umbrella!
Paul also showed off his strength in his act. One of his signature tricks involved holding a chair in his teeth. On the chair sat an assistant reading a newspaper. On the assistant's lap was a desk. All while Paul juggled three balls!
Later Life and Legacy
When the First World War began in 1914, Paul Cinquevalli faced difficulties. Because he was German, he was not able to perform in England after 1912. He decided to retire from the stage. Paul Cinquevalli passed away in Brixton, London, in 1918. He was buried at West Norwood Cemetery.
