Acrobat (magazine) 4 issues 1949-1950 GLENN SUNDBY Gymnastics Circus Physical Culture

Title: Acrobat (magazine) 4 issues 1949-1950

Author: G. M. [Glenn Marlin] Sundby (editor)

Description: Four issues of Acrobat magazine. Stapled wraps. Bit of minor wear to covers. Each issue is about 30 pages. 9.25 x 7 inches. Two issues are found on OCLC (New York Public Library: Vol. I, Nos 1 & 5 only).

Issues:
Vol. I, no. 1 (Mar-Apr 1949).
Vol. I, no. 4 (Sep-Oct 1949).
Vol. II, no. 1 (Mar-Apr 1950).
Vol. II, no. 2 (May-Jun 1950).

Magazine of acrobatics, gymnastics, physical culture, balancing, circus performing, and tumbling. Some topics covered: the Wayne-Marlin Trio, Renald and Rudy, beach and park balancers, Charlie Shaffer [Schaeffer?], judo, photos of acro-beauts and acro-brutes, acrobatics in Cuba, the Syrettos (who balanced on cycles), William J. Hermann (turn-of-the-century physical culturist of Philadelphia), Jack Starnes (adagio dancer with Ann Anavan), Karin Lindberg (Swedish gymnast and Olympic gold medalist), the New York Turn Verein society, trampolining, and more.

Acrobat was Glenn Sundby's first magazine and had a short publication run of two years. He later founded The Modern Gymnast Magazine in 1956. Acrobat's associate editor was wrestler, bodybuilder, and Sundby's act-partner, George Long. Contributors included Ray Van Cleef, Frank Wells (tumbling champion and Olympic coach), and Newt Loken (NCAA gymnastics champion and coach).

The editor and publisher, Glenn Marlin Sundby (1921-2009), was an important figure in American gymnastics. He was one of the founders of the United States Gymnastics Federation (1962), co-founder of the U.S. Sports Acrobatics Federation (1975), and the founder of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1986). He received notoriety in 1949 when his feat of walking down the Washington Monument's 898 steps on his hands was illustrated in Ripley's Believe It or Not!.

Binding: Staple bound soft cover
Condition: Good+

Publisher: Acrobat, Inc.
Place: New York
Year: 1949-1950

Keywords: gymnastics, circus, acrobatics, body building, athletics, Wayne Marlin Trio, physical culture, Turn Verein, tumbling,