I recently acquired these pictures of Alfio Silvestri- there's not a lot of information about Alfio available, so I've posted what I know here hoping that somebody might know more. He was, by all accounts I've read, a very skilled juggler.
In the graveyard of variety artists in England lies Alfio
Silvestri, once hailed as ‘the greatest juggler on earth.’
He was born in 1909 and in his early years lived in Milan. When
he appeared on the British variety
circuit he was introduced as a famous continental
juggler, and it’s probable that he honed his craft in the theatres of France
and Italy.
In 1932 he debuted in the English variety theatres, he was
22, a slim young man with a polished act. He claimed to be the only person in
the world who could juggle 10 balls while standing on one foot.
Between 1932- 1955, he appeared in all the major music halls
in England, Scotland and Ireland with this act.
Alfio Silvestri died in 1992 and was buried in Twickenham cemetery
England by the Variety Artistes Benevolent fund.