Apolonia Van Voorden
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Born | Apolonia Abeen April 14, 1926 |
Died | November 11, 2012 | (aged 86)
Resting place | Highland Cemetery |
Nationality | Dutch |
Other names | Miss Loni |
Citizenship | American[1] |
Occupation | Foot juggler |
Employer(s) | Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus Vargas, Harlem Globetrotters, et al. |
Spouse | Frederik Jan Van Voorden |
Awards | Queen of the Circus (1961) as voted by members of the International Circus Fans Association[2] |
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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]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Herself | |
1962 | Billy Rose's Jumbo | Circus Performer #7 | (final film role) |