The GREAT South African Trampoline Safari: Part 2

1960
"How the Sport of Trampoline was Introduced to South Africa"

Following his successful trampoline tours of Europe and South Africa, George Nissen's trampoline business continued to flourish.

In December of 1959, while making plans to attend the annual National Gymnastics Clinic, held in Sarasota, Florida - - George received a letter from Olle Areborn in South Africa.

Olle wrote that Sӧren Jonsson's fledgling trampoline school in Pretoria was doing extremely well. The Pretoria Police College was happy with their trampoline, the Pretoria Teacher’s College had just purchased one as well and a trampoline was now being used at the Wanderer’s Club in Johannesburg. Finally, Olle shared the real reason behind his letter: the Witwatersrand Easter Show in Johannesburg wanted another U.S. trampoline team to return to South Africa for a series of performances in March 1960 - - now, only three months away!

George knew he could possibly pull a demonstration team together from the many trampoline athletes attending the Florida clinic. Luck and opportunity prevailed; while at the clinic George happened to ask U.S. trampoline champions Ed Cole and Ron Munn if they would be interested in a trip to South Africa. The two young men quickly accepted the offer - - and even promised to assist George by personally hand picking the rest of the team.

Ed Cole and Ron Munn quickly contacted Charlie Bates, Chuck Clarkson, Ann Coleman and U.S. tumbling and trampoline champion Barbara Galleher, who all eagerly agreed to join the tour.

Ed Cole's car parked at the Nissen Trampoline Company - 1960

By late January 1960, the six athletes met up in Cedar Rapids and spent the next four weeks in the Nissen factory gym rehearsing their performances, which included a demonstration of synchronized routines using four trampolines. Meanwhile, George contacted Ted Blake at the U.K. Nissen factory and arranged to have the trampolines shipped directly from the U.K. over to Olle Areborn in Johannesburg. 


March finally arrived and the excited team began their adventure: a 42-day tour of South Africa to demonstrate the trampoline.

But, at their first stop in Paris, airline officials pulled the group aside. 

Seems that during all their frenzied pre-planning, the team had failed to obtain visas for South Africa!

A short discussion with representatives of Union de Transports Aériens (U.T.A.), the airlines servicing South Africa from France resulted in the use of a special rule - - that allowed the team to travel forward only if they all signed special forms that released the airlines from any liability. 

Relieved, the six Americans quickly added their signatures to the paperwork and boarded the U.T.A. prop-plane for the 36-hour flight to Johannesburg, including the then required fuel stops in Nice, Tripoli, Kano, Brazzaville, and Salisbury. 

Luckily, Olle along with the Witwatersrand Show representatives were at the Johannesburg airport to welcome the very tired travelers, and assist with navigation through customs and immigration.

Chuck Clarkson, Ron Munn, Charlie Bates, Ed Cole
arriving in South Africa. 1960

Barbara Galleher arriving in  South Africa -1960

Following their first night in Johannesburg the group then traveled by train to the coastal city of East London, where their pre-shipped trampolines were waiting to be assembled. One week of performances at the East London agricultural show helped the Americans adjust to the nine hour time difference and to fine-tune their performances. 

Ron Munn checks out the trampoline team's loaner car in East London - 1960

Train that took the team from Johannesburg
 to East London, S.A.

A train ride back to Johannesburg delivered them in time for their scheduled three weeks at the Witwatersrand Easter Show.

Ed Cole and Barbara Galleher performing on the trampoline - 1960

April 9, 1960 - - Opening day at the Witwatersrand Easter Show. Many of the country's top dignitaries were seated in the large grandstand, including the country's Prime Minister, Dr. Hendrik F. Verwoerd. Already in their performance uniforms and waiting for the rest of their team to join them, Ed and Ron thought they'd sneak a peek at the show and check out activity already going on in the arena. Suddenly - - above them from where they were standing, a small commotion in the grandstand caught their attention. Looking up they watched as a man with a handgun ran up to P.M. Dr. Verwoerd, and - - fired off a shot!

From their vantage point below, Ed and Ron not only witnessed the country's Prime Minister being shot, they also watched in awe the chaos that followed. This included the herding of animals and people from the arena, an ambulance driving in to whisk away the injured Dr. Verwoerd and law enforcement officers grappling with the shooter.

Needless to say, neither the American trampoline team nor any of the other attractions performed that day!

But within days, the show did go on - - and thankfully remained uneventful for the remaining three weeks of scheduled performances.

Charles Bates, Ron Munn, Ann Coleman, Olle Areborn, Barbara Galleher, 
Chuck Clarkson and Ed Cole. 1960

Trampoline demonstration at the Rand Show - 1960

During the remainder of the tour, Ron fell in love with South Africa, so when Olle offered up the idea for Ron to stay back to further help promote and develop the sport of trampolining in South Africa - - the decision was an easy one! 

Their plans included the continuation of shows and performances by Ron throughout the country as well as the idea of opening trampoline jump centers, similar to those becoming popular in the United States at that time. With these ambitions in mind, Ron and Olle shook hands to become partners in their future endeavors.

But first, Ron needed to fulfill the last of the group's tour obligations, which included stops in Freiburg, Germany, and Zurich, Switzerland, for the first international trampoline competition between athletes from the U.S.A., Switzerland and Germany. 

As the current 1959 United States national champion and now, winning these international competitions, Ron realized he held the title of being the best trampolinist in the world. Which helped him feel better about his surprise decision to return to South Africa. 

Following the competition in Germany, the team began their long journey home to the United States and while at the Zurich stop, Ron followed through with his plans and cashed in the remainder of his ticket to the USA for a return ticket to South Africa. 

Ron said his good-byes as the team took off for America and by afternoon he was anticipating his own flight back to Johannesburg - - and looking forward to what would be an adventure of a lifetime.

But life had a few curve balls headed his way!

At the Zurich-to-Johannesburg gate, airline officials noticed that Ron lacked an entrance visa for South Africa.

"No problem..." Ron told them (remembering how easily the issue had been resolved at the start of the tour), "...I'll just sign your release form and be on my way."

"Big problem," the officials replied, "The release form only works if you have a letter of invitation from someone in South Africa."

Seems the handshake and verbal agreement Ron made with Olle Areborn didn't count!

Only one flight left Zurich for South Africa every Wednesday and Sunday - - and today was Wednesday! If Ron missed this flight he’d have to wait four days before catching the next flight out! Checking his pockets Ron discovered that no matter how he counted, he didn't have enough money for an unplanned stay in Zurich. 

Fortunately, the airlines offered to take care of the visa application details and even offered up a free hotel room while he waited. Relieved, Ron quickly sent a cable to Olle who, anticipating Ron's speedy return had already built up a busy schedule of trampoline performances. Suddenly, it would all have to be put on hold!

Three days of waiting passed and when Saturday arrived Ron received bad news. The airline representative called and said they couldn't obtain Ron's visa; Ron would have to do it in person at the South African embassy - - which was not in Zurich but - - located 77 miles away in the city of Berne. Then the airline representative added, as of Sunday morning they would no longer pay for his hotel room! 

Receiving this shocking news and in total desperation, Ron made a collect phone call to his father in Texas hoping for a small loan to help tide things over. Luckily the loan came through and the following Monday, Ron rode the train to Berne, walked into the South African embassy, completed his application and returned to Zurich to wait until Friday - - four long days away. 

On Friday, Ron made the 77-mile trip once again to Berne - - and with much relief, he collected his hard-earned visa.

Sunday couldn't come fast enough and when it did, Ron eagerly boarded his flight to Johannesburg - - to follow his new-found dream:

To begin his business ventures with Olle Areborn and help the trampoline expand throughout South Africa.  

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