The Balloon Man Performs For Local Library

* Originally published in the Fort Stockton Pioneer 24 June 2021*

Robb Holladay brought his Magical Balloon Show to Imperial, Texas as part of the celebration to kick off Imperial’s 2021 Summer Reading Program. Holladay used a combination of magic, ventriloquism and expert balloon twists to encourage his audience to read. 

“I went to the library as a kid and checked out books on magic and balloons,” Holladay explained his dedication to the library and the reading program. “I didn’t know I would have a job doing it when I grew up.” 

The childhood reading led to a magical career that Holladay shared with an audience ranging from toddlers to nonagenarians (someone in their 90’s). Opening with a blast of children’s rap music, the magical balloon guy created balloon figures that included a giant red and blue heart, a large octopus, simple swords and a complex gray elephant. Figures included Daffy Duck, Elmo and a tiny pink puppy which was inadvertently popped and subsequently revived through magic. 

Magic and storytelling were a large part of the show. Holladay brought children to the front to act out the story of the Three Little Pigs, complete with balloon hats that represented each of the three pigs and a simple balloon house that was passed from one ‘little pig’ to another as the story unfolded. Ella the Elephant borrowed a rope, accidentally allowed it to be shredded, and learned to make it whole once more using magic. 

Holladay ended the show with a performance of the giant man-eating balloon, stepping into a large balloon and breaking his way out of the rubber prison with a satisfying bang.