The Billboard 1919-04-05: Vol 31 Iss 14 (1919-04-05)

frome a “cs. y, eo — sande a TTA tions and the courage : Though devoted primarily to thier and functioning chiefly and more or le > UL not only aims but contrives to be something more than a mere broader, in deed, than a class publication ~because it serves no special interest, possesses convic that springs from them and never distorts, bends, colors or ediis the news: to fit anyone’ purpose, its own least of all. — heey ae ox : = bed business end of the’ a . ca pee S*5:« Fe By ss usefully inthat modest capacity, trade paper—something bigger and o fession — Copyright, 1919, by The Bill board Publishing Company. —_ CIRCUS COLOSSAL COMBINING THE TWO UNEQUALED INSTITUTIONS OF THE SHOW WORLD |RINGLING BROTHERS’ BARNUM : BAILEY’S COMBINED SHOWS The Above Is the Billing This Year of America’s Greatest Tented Attraction, Which Opened at Madison Square Garden Saturday Afternoon, March 29 New York, March 29.—The circus was born again here this afternoon. Like a great, gorgeous and resplendent butterfly emerging from its chrysalis (for the winter quarters is truly a place in which beauty gestates, but where beauty “hain't’), it bursts upon its devotees year after year, ever fresh, ever impressive, ever regally rich in color, ever iridescent and shimmering With spangles and the sheen of gold, ever pulse quickening and ever new. It may be that it is rather unchanging, but when you come to think of it S0, too, are species and genus. These evolve at a rate that makes the pace of a glacier comparable to the speed | of light by comparison. Circus is making towards new faster than that. Fortunately mere form or disposition is a minor consideration The circus is unchanging merely as is the order of the seasons We will never tire of its advent until We lose interest in the coming of spring, and, as long as we joy in the one, we Will continue to revel—to soak ourSelves in the delights of the other. There is no spectacle this year. That makes a big difference, and in The Billboard's estimation a welcome one. the type At least Spectacle minus scenic investiture is always more or less lame, and, as the fXikencies of arenic presentation will always preclude vieing with the thea ter in this direction, its elimination is Wise. Also it makes room for many More numbers, features and acts that never drag—never fail to entertain. When John Agee blew his whistle as 4 signal for the doors to open at the jend of the Garden, and the first con|tingent of what constitutes the grand entry or introductory pageant made its appearance, the juvenile portion of the | vast audience went into ecstasies—for | lo and behold the circus was here. Not |} the ordinary, old-fashioned Barnum & 3ailey Circus that they had seen before, for they knew from the gaily colored pictures adorning almost every vacant spot on the billboards in and around New York that the great Ringling ‘Brothers had combined their World's Greatest Shows with The Greatest Show on Earth for this season—the world’s super circus was here. And they were not disappointed. In ‘fact, if the Ringling Erothers had heard the unrestrained laughter of kiddies, young and “grownup,” at the antics of the clowns, had heard the ejaculations of surprise and wonder But why pay attention to infinitesimal differences from other years? This is the greatest circus in the world, and, while no big thrillers were in evidence, the show ran so smoothly, the acts on the whole were so classy, the clowns were so excellent, the entertainment offered being of so diversified a character that the Ringlings’ claim to the title of The World's First Super Circus is not exaggerated in the least. One regrettable and unfortunate feature was the absence of little May Wirth. When Lew Graham made the announcement a murmur of sympathy was heard all over the edifice, for the brilliant equestrienne, the greatest of all female riders, had met with an accident the previous night at the full dress rehearsal, which in all probability will keep her out of the program until the middle of next week. The nervy young lady wanted to work today, but her physician, Dr. West, positively refused permission. Fred Bradna, the equestrian director, Was unable to be at the opening, having not yet sufficiently recovered from a recent attack of pneumonia. Mickey Graves, the irrepressible, the impresario of the properties, seemed to be in every part of the arena at one time. In fact, no matter where you looked there was Mickey tightening up some rope or showing some of his assistants where to place something or other. Merle Evans ably conducts a band , of twenty-eight pieces and deserves a |}special mention. It is a real circus band, and Evans can be proud of his | aggregation. Display No. 1 was the grand entry, following much along the same lines as in previous years, except for the innovation of a float being drawn by camels. All of the pomp and glamor, | with dazzling wardrobe and trappings | always a delight to the eye, seemed to be more bejeweled this year than ever, Display No. 2—‘‘A Quarter-of-aMillion-Pound Elephant Act,” presented by George Denman, Oscar Voght and 3ert Patridge. In addition to the usual routine several new stunts were introduced by these GENERAL STRIKE May Be Called in England Announcement of C. B. Cochrane, Well-Known London® Manager, Stirs Alliance to Action New York, March 30.—Theatrical /circles are deeply stirred here today | by cables from. London, featured in all the daily papers, announcing that an ; actors’ strike is threatened in The | United Kingdom. The Executive Com;mittee of the recently merged Actors’ | Association, Vaudeville Artists’ Federation, Musicians’ Union and Thee atrical Employees’ Federation de;cided March 29 to recommend a gene eral meeting to be held today to cone |sider the advisability of adopting a resolution forbidding any member of the association to appear on any bill or in any cast not wholly composed of members of the association. | This action was taken after C. B. Cochrane, a leading London manager, !announced yesterday that hereafter he | will have in his companies no actor who belongs to the association. The Actors’ Association has been agitating for better conditions and has demanded especially that salaries be paid during rehearsals. | Yeaders of various organizations in |} the empire are urging the Government (Continued on page 75) To Honor Mrs. Fiske New York, March 31.—In recognie tion of her services to the American stage and in appreciation of her genius as an artist Mrs. Fiske is to be tendered a dinner by the Arts and Sciences in the grand ballroom of the Hotel Biltmore at 7 o'clock Sunday night, April 6. The committee of are } rangements is headed by J. F. Hirsch. ment at the aerial stunts, had heard } marvelous pachyderms, the telephone | The speakers and guests of honor will gasps of astonishment and admiration for the beautiful costumes, they could | the kids did love these elephants. Just | J0nn Drew, Otis Skinner, Julia have shaken each other by the hand in mutual congratulation that at last |here was the ideal circus. One or two minor differences were noted from other circus openings in the historical Madison Square Garden. One somehow missed the usual band coneert while patrons were being conducted to their seats by Chick Bell and his corps of assistants, which procedure, it is needless to remark, was handled in the customary efficient manner. Then again a critical observer failed to see the gaily hued fringe decorating the ring bank, a plain colored band taking its place. | bit being especially clever. And how as sure as the skies are above us. and just as sure as is the law of gravitation, just so sure it is that the circus will live forever, as long as they have elephants. Display No. 3 seemed to fill the | whole amphitheater. The Seafords, 'The Cromwells, The Tybell Sisters, | whose beautiful aerial butterfly act | stood out very prominently: The Roo neys, The Eugenics, The Hortons and Miss Tiny Kline, who gave a sensa | tional performance up in the dome of | the Garden on a revolving trapeze. Display No. 4—Feats of strength by the Levards, gymnastic novelty by (Continued on page 10) include Henry Miller, William Gillette, Marlowe, Geraldine Farrar, Patrick Francis Murphy, E. H. Sothern, John Luther Long, Julia Arthur, David Belasco and Walter Pritchard Eaton. Lease Ziegfeld Theater Chicago, March 30.—Fred Linick and Ray Jacoby, who operate unde! the name of Linick & JacoBy Enterprises, have just secured a five-year lease, totaling $100,000, om the Ziegfeld Theater, and will take possession immediately. The house will be used for first-run exclusive feature pictures, with admission prices of 25 and 50 cents. The Edition of This Issue of The Billboard Is 40,000 Copies “ast Week's Issue of The Billboard Carried 1,320 Classified Ads, Totaling 6,544 Lines, and 544 Display Als, Totaling 17,732 Lines. 1,864 Ads, Occupying 24,276 Lines in Al Oe. J arte a ae.