The Billboard 1910-10-22: Vol 22 Iss 43 (1910-10-22)

The Billboard OCTOBER 22, 1910. q THE SELLS BROTHER MURRAY & artnneotlatuaritsingl (INCORPORATED.) ip roof ends; red and white stripe; 8-ft. wall: ased one week; price, $55.00. ponen’ un roof; 6% ounce drill; 8-ft. wall: used one month; price, 00. 24x75, round end front and gable end back; 8 ounce khakl; elde wall 8-ft. high In front, Pen Pictures of a Famous Family of Showmen, Drawn from Memory, "otis !2, back: est on Site stripe: o-ri 30x40, hip roof; red and white stripe; 10-ft. wall; used one week; price, $70.00. by One Intimately Acquaint ed with Their History 300.00 30x60, round and gable end; red and white stripe; loft. 8 side wall; used two weeks; price, | “Ox 75, round “oo end; 6% ounce drill; 10-ft. wall; red, white and blue curtain; used | two weeks; price, $ By J. MILTON TRABER. "$200.00. The Billboard, in presenting to its legion of readers, portrays the showman’s life of this family of Central or Western State celebrities. One can not take a single life to give a picture, as the whole family as a whole were so closely associated that the lives of the entire family must be given to make a successful unit of completion, therefore I will give a brief pen picture of each member. The Sells Brothers enjoyed the unique distinction of being the oldest managers owning and managing one show without intermission for a longer period than any other managers in the world. They never, from the start until their death, failed to send out a show each year. Never a break, but one continuous season practically speaking. The Sells Brothers were born on a farm near Columbus, Ohio. Their father was a very industrious and earnest farm gardener of extraordinary mental capacity and remarkable moral character. He was a great bible student and acted during the later ears of his life as a lay preacher in the ethodist Episcopal church. The sons all inherited from him a rather serious turn of mind and an inherent integrity that time and business could not impair. While the brothers were very young, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1854, and engaged in various pursuits, the two younger brothers, Lewis and Peter Sells, being conductors of the first street cars that were ever run in the city of Cleveland. After service in the civil war, and tiring of that vocation, they engaged in various pursuits for themselves. Mr. Peter Sells engaged in the newspaper business and held various editorial and business positions on one of the leading daily newspapers of Cleveland. Eventually the family returned to Columbus, where they engaged in the auctioneer business, until in 1872, when they organ ized the Sells Bros.’ Show. The original owners | were Ephraim Sells, William Allen Sells, Lewis Sells and Peter Sells. The entire family of | boys have passed to that land above where no troubles and cares are known. The show was a small undertaking at the start, but it was excellent in quality, and successful in business methods, and succeeded from the very outset and did a very profitable business. It traveled from town to town for six years in Wagons drawn by horses. In 1878, it abandoned the wagons for railway trains. They exhibited their show in all the important cities and towns in every state and territory of the United States and Canada. In November, 1891, they took their show to Australia, and returned to this country in June, 1892, after having a most successful season in the Antipodes. In the winter of 1878, Sells Brothers im wted the first pair of hippopotami ever rought into captivity here, and continued to exhibit them throughout the Union, during which time they grew to enormous proportions. In April, 1896, their show was consolidated with the Adam Forepaugh Show in a perpetual unior, This consolidation brought together in one enterprise the four oldest in experience, greatest in wealth, progressive in enterprise, and famous throughout the world, circus managers in existence, Messrs. James A, Bailey, W. W. Coles, and the Sells Brothers. The career of the Sells Brothers is one that should inspire every youth of the land with ambition to succeed in whatever he undertakes. They were entirely self-made men and have built their careers upon the solid foundation of honesty and incessant industry. Their shows Brothers were to them more a matter of pride than a means of profit. The four sons left each a fortune that is now being enjoyed by their wives and daughters. Mr. William Sells, who died a few years ago in New York City, and was known some years ago as ‘Master Willie, the boy bareback riding wonder,’’ also in later years as a partner with the Hummel, Hamilton and Sells Shows, The Sells-Gray Show, The Sells-Downs Shows, and last, but not least, the now famous SellsFloto Shows, was considered as a young manager and proprietor to thoroughly understand the circus business, was an adopted son of one of the brothers. Sheldon Hopkins Barrett was born November varents to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1855. Here they ‘came neighbors of the Sells family, the head | of whom (the father of the Sells brothers) and the elder Barrett became fast friends. Young Barrett and the three younger Sells Brothers {Allen, Lewis and Peter), went to public school together and were playmates. : When the Woodward avenue street railway t was established as the first street car line in Cleveland, Ohio, 8. H. Barrett, Lewis and Peter Sells were employed as conductors. After nearly three years of this sort of service, Mr. Barrett was tak~n into the office of the comany and became the cashier, which position | e continued to hold until 1880. Several years : previously the Sells Brothers had removed to Columbus, Obio, and in 1872, they began their career as showmen, putting out a wagon show under their name. z In 1878, they bought the majority of the re oe was sold at Louisville, Ky., and converted the Sells Brothers’ Show into a railroad show. ra They sent out also their old wagon show, to which other property was added, under the name j and direction of James A. Anderson, of Colum : bus. : In 1880, Mr. Anderson retired from the man . 4 agement of the show, and the Sells Brothers . then induced Mr. Barrett to resign his position ; with the railroad company in Cleveland, and assume the management of the Anderson show, which was changed from a wagon show into a railroad show and became kpown as the 8. H. Barrett and Co. Show. Charles Castle had been engaged as general agent for this venture, but he was taken ill immediately prior to the starting out of the show in the season of 1880. Mr. Eugene A. Weiler, a well-known agent was appointed car manager and did good service with the com The writer was also associated with Mr Weiler as his general assistant, having held a similar position under Weiler with the Mont gomery Queen Shows (which was the writer's , hip roof; 10-ft. wall; 8 ounce drill top; 6% ounce drill wall; used three weeks; price, 60-ft. round top, 30-ft. middle, and 10-ft, wall; 6% ounce drill; used two weeks; price, $240.00. Gret experience, actively, im the circus business, | 640-648 Meridian Street, CHICAGO. Send at once for our big list of Second-hand Tents. 1878) Mr. Barrett never having had any experience in the show business, assumed charge of the | advance, and although the show continued under his direction for a period of six years, he al| E x Cc E Pp I I oO NJ A L ways remained in advance of it. His success and natural ability as general | agent was made clearly manifest under the | | circumstances. | In the spring of 1888, the Sells Brothers and S. H. Barrett Shows were merged into one, and Mr. Barrett became the general agent for them (which in 1896 were forther, combined with the 7 Feet Seek etehussbicees ree Each 15 Feet ccccccccoccececseee EMER Adam Forepaugh ow), Which position he hek x ‘“ until bis death. ‘ Ree / s—9 een ae oe = escce Rien r. Barrett, at_ the time of his death, was ‘ee sean cue o002000800008600 J a member of the York Lodge of Master Masons 10 Feet .....s0e0e01 and the Webb Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of 1 _.. wahnenansenns tee 22 Regal.........+-200.00 Cleveland, a charter member of the Aladdm | Temple of Mystic Shrine, and a charter member Oe) ie ccikauanenh cnx Gu 25 Regal..........300.00 | terment. This ended the worthy career of one | Mr. Willis P. Cobb, the famous monkey, dog during the last days of the lives of the Sells | 9, 1845, at Albion, N. Y., and removed with his | property of the Montgomery Queen Circus which | of the new Consistory of Knights Templars, Columbus, and was also a member of the LOUIS RUHE, 248 Grand St., New York Thirty-second Degree of the Scottish Rite Masonry. In 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss | Rebecca F. Sells, a sister of the Sells Brothers, who, with two sons, survives him. Mr. Barrett died May 16, 1900, at the United Mi i ge 8 _-UNIF OR S I E N I S . ; e i“ Soon to fits home in Columbus, Ohio, for inFor ds, Military, Minstrel First Part, OF EVERY DESCRIPTION more of nature's noblemen. and pony trainer, married one of the Sells | instre arad : . need and wna = who now is well and alive in M 1 P e, Now 1s ee d oe work Columbus, Ohio. Can give quick action and close price. The Long Family of horse and animal trainUshers, Bell Boys, 8 q P ers, composed of Charley, Montgomery and Bas Ball, EF Ball, QUALITY THE BEST merrell — une + gyno a with the Sells e oot THE COLUMBUS TENT & AWNING C0 rothers’ Shows for the past thirty years, are | | still in harness and working every day. Basket et Ball, etc., —. , Sead for CATALOG. COLUMBUS, OHIO CIRCUS OR SHOW? Be Sere and. Mention Western Uniform Co, 8046. GiaRK ST. CHICAGO San Francisco, Oct. 15 (Special to The Bill| board).—There would have been serious trouble | for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show if Supervisor O'Dowd, chairman of the license committee, could have had his way during the stay of the show in this city last week. Tire wild west show paid in advance to the tax collector a license fee of $5 a day, the usual charge for any ordinary show. However, Supervisor 0’ Dowd, who had been looking over the governing ordi nances, noted that a circus was charged a BC YEARS REPUTATION BACK OF EVERY TENT license fee of $100 a day. There could be no WE HAVE FOR LEASE, CARS, 50 ft. long, for doubt, he insisted to fellow members of the y shipping scenery, automobiles, advance, baggage, board, that the wild west show, however named, J privilege, stock and merry-go-rounds. Desirable was to all intents and purposes a circus. for show and circus companies. Reasonable Representatives of the show, hearing what rates, THE ARMS PALA HORSE CAR CO., was going on, made a hurried visit to the Super ‘a a Room 614, 193 Michigan Avenue, Chicago. visor’s office and voiced energetic protests against x any increase of the charge, insisting that the show was no circus, but simply what its name . Ben, fore —— yea. . “show, ,... differing in no other | particular from any of the $5-a-day-license shows | except in its extent. : suck TENTS circus | O'Dowd was not satisfied, and, with the \ acquiescence of his colleagues of the license | committee, referred th t ‘ i S0x160, SOx120, 50x80, 30x60, 30x “attorney with a warning to the showman (hat (\/V—hCR MMMM ECOL C oe E eS Diack, ‘300 camping tents and 2,000 ft. of 10-ft if hi tention in th He ; side wall, D. M, KERR MFG. CO., 1007 W. the extra money would have to be paid, arrears SEND FOR NEW CATALOL AND SECOND MAND (/ST Madison St. (Old No. 280), Chicago. “Long Dis and all, or steps would be taken to have the Ihe J. C. GOSS CO." risen tance Phone, Monroe 944 . . Mite de. sheriff close the show. WILLIAM BARTELS CO. The city attorney rendered an opinion to the effect that as the tax collector had already accepted the $5 license fee, so establishing the ~ a 4 Dealers in Wild Animals, status of the show, nothing more could be done i . about the matter. Supervisor O’Dowd declared Phone Canal 3664 Established 1865 o> Cones Seen, ee oe himself still unsatisfied, and announced that at i= gy a = Se Seas = would introh Vy di | IMPROVED ACET YLENE “e esolution « shichey . be the more advisable, defining the exact ste I omson & andiveer For Tents, Circeses, Parks, etc. | tus of the show, so that hereafter the city will not be in danger of losing any money on it. MANUFACTURERS OF SSS SWZ As a mere statement of fact, and not as any thing having a bearing on the proceedings in =Fls this matter, it may be set forth that the Buf__— falo Bill management, for some reason or other. | : * THE ALEXANDER MILBURN CO. ZZ ae has, this year, entirely forgotten to send TENTS FOR RENT. around to the office of the supervisors, the usual | thick bundle of complimentary admission tick 816 East Poor! Strest, CINCINNATI, ote 3 507 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore, Md. SUIT AGAINST BUFFALO BILL. | ENT SHOW PAINTINGS Redding, Cal., Oct. 13.—Buffalo Bill was ows B ~) ‘. ite” N.Y — a ee last Thursday in a $2,500 SHOW TENTS, BL a sanre, CANDY TOPS, roacway, . o Se amage suit, brought here by Mrs. Augusta MERRY-GO-ROUND COVERS Dorn, who claims that sum because one of the and onsyting in canvas. Send for catalogue. slocn TYPE. Zinc | buffaloes belonging to the Two Bills’ Show, ° ~ while being driven from the show grounds to DOUGHERTY BROS. TENT t AWNING e0. | Cinoinnati, Onle the train here, Sept. 26, tossed her on its Theatrical-Cirous Photographers. horns, She was conducting a lunch counter on 108-11 South Main Street St. Louis, Mo, | the side walk and the herd stampeded as it passed her place. Circus and Juggling Apparatus ~ EN IE T Pa. ene 9 an Bag —y apy nae Sep GE Clubs, Batons and Novelties, Stamp for cata. D 3 and as e result of wounds inflicted, an operation was found neelogue. EDWARD VAN WYOK, Cincinnati, 0. essary. THE FINEST SHOW PAINTINGS AT LOWEST | 2 BEARS, SNAKES, MONKEYS, BABOONS NOTES FROM LOCAL NO. 10, MINPRICES. Tell us what you need and we will Freaks, Monster Snakes, Chameleons. PUTce “ ; NAM'S WILD ANIMAL STORE, 490 Washington NEAPOLIS |, A, B, P. B. te send Lowes ootimnet ne soe Serect, Bu@alo B. Y. Our old friend, Charles Duffy, who for the | SCENERY AN AINTINGS past 25 years has been with the Breslauer | Y D SHOW P Posting Service, has left that firm and will l e Ow ainti $ an JOHN aw now be connected with the Duffy Iron Works | Boone Street Gincinnati, Obie. ;of St. Louis, of which his brother is presi: dent. Duffy left for St. Louis October 10. } F. 0. Rossman, by the looks of things, will SI EGMUND BOCK = MON KEYS—ANIMALS aoe > ee instead of managing « bur 723 Blue Island Ave., Chicago, His. | on8 all kinds of stock and song birds for S "es ‘a onFi a ya od PORTABLE ey, 4S . Erickse pi . J. ‘Grip’? McDonald. : ’ M ; a —_ 4 — ‘ed a week with two R A L LIGHTS rh P partic a, ATLANTIC AND WACIFIC | bill posters who winter here. . 4 ‘ r “hie Carl Munson, who is with the Wallace-Hag| FOR BIRD STORE, 238 East Madison St., Chicago. enbeck Show will return home at the close of | ALIVE _s a Monkey-Faced | the season, and get ready for a five-day deer POSES Spotted Lynx, y onkey Fa hunt around Ed. Clark's farm in Clam Falls. ALL PUR ‘Erick’? Erickson left for Winter, Wis., in behalf of a Swedish society to try and get a peaceful settlement with John Dietz, the Cam| eron Dam outlaw. Our business agent, Harley White, is busy looking for men he expects to put on an extra Owls, $8; White Opossum, Gey Opossum, $3; Odorless Skunk telenk) "ies: hesus (ac climates) Monkeys, $10; Chinese Dragon, $4; ame THE BOLTE &WEYER C0. Kear Cubs, $40 each; Prairie Dogs, $°> 8 E. Michigan Street, oy Chipmunk, bes Poreupines and other CHICAGO, ILLINOIS animals in stock, LINWOOD FLINT, Nortb ’ Waterford, Maine,