Apolonia Van Voorden
Born
Apolonia Abeen

(1926-04-14)April 14, 1926
Amsterdam, Netherlands
DiedNovember 11, 2012(2012-11-11) (aged 86)
Highland, Illinois
Resting placeHighland Cemetery
NationalityDutch
Other namesMiss Loni
CitizenshipAmerican[1]
OccupationFoot juggler
Employer(s)Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus Vargas, Harlem Globetrotters, et al.
SpouseFrederik Jan Van Voorden
AwardsQueen of the Circus (1961) as voted by members of the International Circus Fans Association[2]
Signature

Apolonia "Miss Loni" Van Voorden (née Abeen; April 14, 1926 - November 11, 2012) was a Dutch American foot juggler who began her career at the age of 10 in her father's family circus in the Netherlands.[3]

Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1926,[4] Apolonia Abeen emigrated to the United States on March 28, 1950[5] and gave her first performance there with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, working in a display with juggler Francis Brunn.[6][7] After being introduced to Cecil B. DeMille, she was asked to be in his 1952 movie, The Greatest Show on Earth.[8] Ten years later in 1962 she was cast as a circus performer in the movie Billy Rose's Jumbo.[4]

Van Voorden became a naturalized United States Citizen on July 9, 1963.[1]

In addition to performing with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Van Voorden's extensive career also saw her juggle with Circus Vargas,[9] The Polack Brothers Circus,[10] and Minsky's Follies.[11] She regularly performed at various venues such as "... fairs, festivals, night clubs, and special events."[12] For two years, she was featured as a half-time act with the Harlem Globetrotters.[3]

Van Voorden was voted the "Queen of the Circus" in 1961 by the International Circus Fans Association. [2]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1952The Greatest Show on EarthHerself
1962Billy Rose's JumboCircus Performer #7(final film role)

References

  1. 1 2 "Apolonia Van Voorden; Illinois, Northern District (Eastern Division), Naturalization Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Housewife-Juggler Featured in Circus Which Opens Today". Nevada State Journal. August 2, 1961. p. 6.
  3. 1 2 Granville, Kari (May 9, 1977). "Life Under the Big Top: All the World's a Stage". Orange County Register. p. 31. (1) She was born into a family that owned a traveling troop of jugglers, acrobats and animal trainers (2) She also performed with the Harlem Globe Trotters for two years as a half-time act.
  4. 1 2 Miss Loni. Biography. IMDB
  5. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists 1909, 1925-1957: 7811 - vol 16955-16956, March 28, 1950". Familysearch. New York. March 28, 1950. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey 1950 Program". Circus Historical Society. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2016. Display No. 16 - The World's Most Amazing Exponents of the Juggling Art ... Miss Loni, Holland's foot juggling wonder. First time in America.
  7. ↑ "Miss Loni looks back on glamorous life as traveling foot juggler" , Dispatch Argus QCOnline, July 18, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Of Local Origin". New York Times. April 6, 1951. p. 31. Miss Loni, a circus performer, has been signed for Cecil B. DeMille's "The Greatest Show On Earth"
  9. ↑ Anderson, Fran (May 1, 1976). "Performer enjoys life". Arlington Daily News. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Circus Star Performs Homemaking Chores in Trailer; Applauds Advantages of Travel". Charleston Daily Mail. November 8, 1961. p. 22.
  11. ↑ Ollmann, Benn (July 26, 1952). "Night Club - Vaude Reviews: Tic-Toc Club, Milwaukee". The Billboard: 17+.
  12. ↑ Parks, Bill (January 28, 1976). "The flying feet of Miss Loni!". Hayward Daily Review. p. 19.
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