Issue #23 (Jan. 1, 1959) Nissen Employees Enjoy Christmas Party

Christmas -1958- at the Nissen Trampoline Company!

This January issue begins with photos from the annual employee Christmas party. My father always enjoyed attending these, as this was one of the only occasions that he could see and thank everyone at once. The Nissen gang also enjoyed having a rare glimpse of George as well!

Those sewing tables where the trampoline beds were made sure were beautiful...notice the parquet wood inlays that were hand built  by the expert craftsmen back in the shop.

Ted Blake, Managing Director of Nissen Trampoline, Ltd. in England flew with his family to Cedar Rapids in order to join in on the Christmas party. The next day we all took off for Sarasota, Florida to be at the National Gymnastic Clinic. The clinic registration table over at Florisota Gardens counted 500 attendees. This 1958 clinic was one of the largest clinics yet. The next week was spent inside and out back of the Sarasota High School gym, a day at Lido Beach plus, the big exhibition/North-South meet held at the Municipal Auditorium.

A couple of quick photo comments:

Bud Beyer (below) ace tumbler from the late 1930s, was now teaching at the University of Chicago. Later, in 1961 he would join the Nissen Company as Director of Promotions & Public Relations. Here is a LINK to nice article about Bud Beyer.

 Paul Kridler - was my father's grade school P.E. teacher and was responsible for teaching Dad how to do a handstand! Years later, when Paul finally left the field of teaching, Dad hired him to work in sales and as a liaison with the national school associations.

Back in 1954, an unsupervised can of paint drippings caused a devastating fire to the factory. It took a full year for the business to rebuild and recover. So this recent second fire shook everyone up a bit. Luckily there was no serious damage...and everyone took it in stride.

Including poking a little fun at Dad (upper left photo).

Speaking of poking fun - - the newsletter editor took advantage of the holiday spirit by not only rattling off an immense amount of "newsy" updates on the Nissen gang...

but included quite a few humorous "quips" here and there, as well. 

I'm looking forward to posting the next (Feb. 1959) issue, as it's full of photos and events...

the Nissen gang picks up rhythm and 1959 will prove to be even more exciting

than last year was!

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"

Issue #22 (Dec. 1, 1958) Danish Gymnastics Team Visits Nissen Factory

The year 1958 was certainly significant for the Nissen Trampoline Company as Europe was beginning to learn about, and now embrace the trampoline. Sales were up, shipments were going out the door and everyone was looking forward to more, more, more!  

So, this "end-of-year wrap-up issue" is jam-packed with great photos!

Frank LaDue ; General Sales Manager for Nissen's, now accompanied my father
on his many cross-country trips.

Here, they're in California with a photo below that records a gathering of a very iconic group.

Roger Bartlett went on to open a thriving trampoline center in Los Angeles. Stan Mattox and Rich Harris are Nissen sales reps. for California. Rich went on to a long career teaching trampoline classes at San Mateo College, as well as authoring a book on trampolining. Xave Leonard (who taught school in California) never missed a chance to meet up my father; they were hand-balancing partners back at the U. of Iowa. (Xave had been the bottom-man in the "Three Leonardos" act) So, this leads to an interesting note: In just a few years, Xave will have young student Dan Millman in class...Xave will ask Dan to join the after-school trampoline club, and then...well, the rest is history! (Dan Millman became the 1964 First World Trampoline Champion) 

Meanwhile, Kurt Baechler completed his year-long plan to promote the trampoline in what seemed to be "just about every nook and cranny" of Europe! His latest and last conquest: Italy. Including the Italian police departments, military, springboard diving team.

He even fit in a few demonstrations in nearby Belgium.

Note the photo with the Italian diver wearing the twisting belt invented by Charlie Pond. He and my father collaborated on the production and marketing of the belt; thus, it became the "Pond-Nissen Twisting Belt." Here is a LINK to Charlie Pond's biography that contains the story

 behind how his invented the twisting belt.

The photo of Kurt Baechler's home brings back happy memories for me. During the summer of 1958, while my parents joined Frankie and Kurt for the many trampoline demonstrations throughout Europe...I spent many an overnight at Kurt's home enjoying the hospitality of his wife Hannie. Kurt's two boys, Urs and Tomas were about my age as well; soon I was introduced to the neighborhood kids and we spent our days swimming, careening on wooden T-handle-bar scooters and of course,

bouncing on the trampoline in the backyard.

Anyone with a traveling trampoline act knew that they could make a quick stop at Nissen's and repairs, repainting, whatever needed for their trampoline would be quickly taken care of. Here a trio by the name of "The Kovacs" stop by before heading on to England.

This page hints at three important activities... for which photos will appear in the upcoming post with the  January 1959 issue:

The annual Nissen employee Christmas party; a special time when the sewing room is transformed into Santa's North Pole. Then, the big gymnastics clinic in Sarasota, Florida will be held during the last week of December. Ted Blake is even flying his family over to attend. 

Finally, note the visit to Cedar Rapids by Louie Green. If you ever wondered "just where did all that nylon fabric come from that was sewn into a trampoline bed?" - - The answer is Louie Green!  The Nissen Trampoline Company proved to be his best contract for many, many years!

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"

Issue # 20 (Oct 1, 1958) Nissen Trampoline Invades Hollywood

Last month's "great trampoline tour of Europe" is finally over.

Just in time, because it's getting busy again all across America.

Interesting update on Frank LaDue: During his recent military stint in Germany, Frankie fell in love with physical therapist Sabine Pfauter and asked her to marry him! Their wedding was held in Ludwigsburg, West Germany (photos will be in next month's issue)
after which they flew to New York, so that Frank could introduce Sabine to his family...then,
they flew to Cedar Rapids where Frank joined Nissen's as General Sales Manager
(and Dad's right hand man!).  Sounds like Frankie learned a few of Dad's globe hopping tricks!

The following photos capture the public's growing excitement with trampolines.

We also meet University of Iowa star trampolinist Walter Patterson. Walt joined the famous flying act The Zacchini's...and traveled the world being shot out of a canon!
Plus, my father giving trampoline lessons to "Madman Muntz." LINK to a bit of Madman's history!

This page contains one of my favorite photos: it's of my grandparents (Oma & Opa), Frankie, Mom and me. My grandparents lived in Amsterdam, Holland but they were able to join us in Brussels and watched my mother and father perform on the trampoline at the World Fair.

Trampolines always made for fun parade floats throughout the years...and in 1958 a trampoline in a parade was still a very unique sight! Here we see the Koehler's performing in Flint, Michigan.

The rest of the page is filled with all the news of the factory and office employees traveling, visiting and hosting relatives and otherwise having a great time on their weekends off.

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - A Great Place to Work!"

Issue #18 (Aug. 1, 1958) Trampolines in Belgium, Sweden and Germany

It's a busy summer at the Nissen Trampoline Company.

Dad was alwsys thinking of the folks back at the factory and sent them a cheery
 letter describing his vist to Russia for the World Gymnastic Games.

Page 2: A quick mention below of the trampoline exhibition at the Brussels World Fair Convention for Physical Education. 

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We also meet the Koehler's, THE very first official trampoline demonstration troupe hired by Nissen's to travel the school assembly circuit. During the summer months Rusty, Yvonne and Jerry - - pick up odd shows at fairs, festivals and ballgames. This past month they were at a Sports Festival in Minneapolis, Rockefeller Center in New York City and even the Cedar Rapids Memorial Stadium  for the WMT Family Night!  However, when there were no bookings available, my father always made sure that there was part-time employment available for the Koehler's back at Nissen's.

At the bottom of page 3 is a nice description of the trampoline demonstration in Sweden. Plus a short article relating my father's travels (plus Mom, Frankie, Kurt and me) to Wuerzburg, Esslingen and Stuttgart, Germany. (More in the September issue)

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Finally..some local news! Nissen employees enjoying the Iowa summer with family and friends.

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - A Great Place to Work!"

Issue #17 (June 30, 1958) Nissen Announces New Profit Sharing Plan

The summer will become extra busy for the Nissen Trampoline Company; both inside and out - -

this bears out in the next several newsletters. In fact, there was no July newsletter - -
but two printed in June, due to the company's announcement of the new "Profit-Sharing Trust"
fund offered to all employees.

It's an interesting read if you enjoy learning how these programs rolled out in the late 1950s,
and to compare it to the types of benefits now offered to many workers in 2013.

On page 4, we get a hint of BIG things yet to come: the Nissen family is off to meet Frank LaDue

 and Kurt Bachler in preparation for the Brussels World Fair and the German Turnfest in Munich. Look for photos and news of these big events in the August & September newsletters.

(Which are already posted for you to read now #18 & #19)

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Page 3:

Page 4:  A few photos and notes...but the real news begins next month!

Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - A Great Place to Work!"