Bob Bramson

1933 -

I always wanted to be a good artist. Not necessarily the best, but a good one.

From Juggler's World, Vol. 48 No. 1, Spring 1996

In the contemporary world of entertainment, the name Bramson is synonymous with hoop rolling and juggling. Bob Bramson, born in Berlin in 1933, comes from a well-known family of performers. His grandfather, father and mother were all outstanding and original juggling artists and hoop manipulators.

In 1945, after the war, Mr. Bramson began performing as a young boy, with his parents as a trio called "the Bramsons". Bob, who had been practicing since the age of six, had not only his schoolwork, but a heavy training schedule as well, which included ballet, piano and guitar lessons, and juggling practice.

In 1953, Mr. Bramson's father, Paul Renner suffered a heart attack on stage at the Apollo Theatre in Dusseldorf, and died after a career also spanning more than fifty years. Bob then carried on the family act with his mother until 1964, when he went on to work solo.

In 1968 Bob married Elizabeth, also a juggler. They performed together until Elizabeth retired from touring to raise their daughter. Today she runs a ballet school.

Bob Bramson's performance, full of original ideas and many difficult juggling moves, is still unique among contemporary acts. In his own fifty-year career, Mr. Bramson has worked in Europe's foremost circuses and on the world's greatest stages and TV shows such as the Ed Sullivan Show in 1962, 1966 and 1968. In 1965 he performed at New York's Radio City Music Hall. In 1971 Bob was seen in Los Vegas at the Tropicana "Folies Bergere Show" and at the Dunes Hotel in 1975-76. In 1989 Bob took part in London's Royal Command Performance.

Bramson's farewell performance at the 1996 IJA festival, reviewed in Juggler's World Vol. 48 No. 3, Fall 1996

Bob Bramson didn't steal everyone's heart, because we gave them up gladly. His work is incredible, his manner lovely, and we were lucky to have him close his professional career on stage. The four hoop body rolls are gorgeous, the hoop rolling legendary, he numbers juggles with a face balance, AND he tap dances. Booking Mr. Bramson for this fest was a very, very good thing, and I'm sure it pleased him to be so appreciated - could you ask for a better crowd?

Here's the biography of Bramson published by the IJA when he was awarded their Historical Achievement Award in 1996.

This is an interview with Bramson, published in the Summer 1996 edition of Juggler's World.

The Juggling Hall of Fame is maintained for the Juggling Information Service by Andrew Conway. Comments and suggestions to fame@juggling.org