So I've been doing some research into a circus family called The Hoffman's. They performed at a variety of circuses across America in the 1940s and 1950s and they performed under many names:
The Hoffmans; The Six Hoffmans; The Five Hoffmans; The Six Willys; The Five Willys; The Two Willys.
I only have bits of information gathered from newspaper clippings, adverts and posters:
* The Six Willys aka expert “Indian Club Sextet.”
“Ladder balancing, while club tossing act.”
* Eugene, Clara and their son, Yaro Hoffman: jugglers and plate spinners. “The race of the plates”.
* Elizabeth and Willy Hoffman and daughter Wilma.
* They were known as The Five Hoffmans/Willys when Bill (Willy) went to war.
* Gene (Eugene) Hoffman appeared as an actor in the film, Hail The Woman (1921), a plate spinner in an episode of Super Circus (1952) and a juggler in the film, My Fair Lady (1964).
Here are two videos that I've found and they're both on the same YouTube channel. Although the second video is called The Marcus Family, I believe that they are in fact, The Hoffmans/Willys.
The Six Hoffmans/Willys
https://youtu.be/XmO1yfIeXJA
The Five Hoffmans/Willys (starting at 15 seconds)
https://youtu.be/iy5URz-m7cg
The Hoffmans; The Six Hoffmans; The Five Hoffmans; The Six Willys; The Five Willys; The Two Willys.
I only have bits of information gathered from newspaper clippings, adverts and posters:
* The Six Willys aka expert “Indian Club Sextet.”
“Ladder balancing, while club tossing act.”
* Eugene, Clara and their son, Yaro Hoffman: jugglers and plate spinners. “The race of the plates”.
* Elizabeth and Willy Hoffman and daughter Wilma.
* They were known as The Five Hoffmans/Willys when Bill (Willy) went to war.
* Gene (Eugene) Hoffman appeared as an actor in the film, Hail The Woman (1921), a plate spinner in an episode of Super Circus (1952) and a juggler in the film, My Fair Lady (1964).
Here are two videos that I've found and they're both on the same YouTube channel. Although the second video is called The Marcus Family, I believe that they are in fact, The Hoffmans/Willys.
The Six Hoffmans/Willys
https://youtu.be/XmO1yfIeXJA
The Five Hoffmans/Willys (starting at 15 seconds)
https://youtu.be/iy5URz-m7cg
Here's another video of The Six Willys from 1945:
https://youtu.be/jetbZr6LFT0?si=jzPo-gOmkoba1r49
Late edit: I've just made contact and been speaking with a chap in Missouri, who's stepfather was Yaro Hoffman, son of Eugene and Clara. I'll be speaking to his sister soon and hope to get more information.
