Images(8)

Hat, Magic

Object number2013.31.8 a-h

Manufacturer Tamasu Company, Ltd.

MediumStraw, fabric, plastic, tape, wire

Credit LineGift of Joseph Pegnato

DescriptionRed and white straw magic hat with seven (7) magic props. Oval, red and white straw hat. Alternating zigzag rows of red and white straw. Red hatband with a bow on the side. Props: Red, fuzzy ball attached to a circular metal washer. Brown piece of rubber shaped like a cigar. Two small holes on each end. Black, silver, and red strips of tape are around the center. Yellow, plastic case with two raised bumps on the top and bottom. Contains two white ping pong balls. Clear, plastic film canister with a black lid. Contains 46 round pieces of cardboard. Rectangular, long, black piece of crepe material. Clip-on bow tie with pink material surround. Wire connected to a battery pack with a clip. At the end of the wire is a green plug with a button snap attached to the material around it. Clip-on bow tie base with blue material surround. Wire connected to a battery pack with a clip. At the end of the wire is a green plug with a button snap attached to the material around it.Dimensionsa) 12.75" L, 11.25" W,
b) 3.00" diam., 2.00" H
c) 4.50" L, 0.50" diam.,
d) 3.25" L, 1.625" W, 1.25" H
e) 2.062" H, 1.375" diam.
f) 34.00" L, 5.375" W, 0.062" H
g) 40.00" L, 5.00" W, 2.00" H
h) 40.00" L, 6.5" W, 1.375" H
Inscriptions(c)
"Butterfly / TAMASU CO.,LTD/".
Historical NotesPart of a collection related to Joseph Pegnato's prolific career as juggling superstar Bobby Jule. Pegnato was a juggling prodigy and begun touring his act as a teenager. During his career, he performed in the United States, the West Indies, Europe, and Asia and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. During the 1940s, Pegnato appeared on the same stage as bandleaders Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown, and Charlie Spivak. His act was set to an original ten piece arrangement by Pittsburghers Joe Schaeffer, Frank Jarema, Kloman Schmidt, and Raymond LaFevre. The Indian clubs in his kit were handcrafted out of wood by Harry Lind, who was the sole manufacturer of the prop at the time. Today, Indian clubs are mass produced and made of plastic, making wooden clubs a rarity. The rubber balls Pegnato used are similar to those used to play Lacrosse. Contemporary jugglers use silicone balls. Pegnato's juggling kit is unique to his stage performance because he engineered the internal mechanics of stand, which was designed to propel balls into the air.

Previous owner Joseph Pegnato

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