Variety (September 1908)

VARIETY 13 GIRGUS NEWS. "GOV." ROBIMSOH EL0P1S. ClarkaviUs, Tenn., Sept. 23. Evading relatives who aoaght to prevent the wedding, "Governor" John Robinson, the millionaire circus manager, yesterday married Maude Logan, a trained nurse who has been his constant attendant for some months. The bridegroom is seventy-five yean old; the bride but twenty-five. The wedding took place in the "Gov- ernor's" private car with the show. The Witnesses were Lillian Robinson, a niece of the circus man, and E. CL Cullen, as- sistant manager of the circus. Monday night the "Governor" made an unsuccessful attempt to secure a marriage license in Hopkins ville, Ky. He was pre- vented by Horace Stevens, a relative at- tached to the show. Stevens suspected that the "Governor" might try to have the ceremony performed in HopkinsviUe, and during the day went to the local license bureau.and told the clerks not to issue a permit. Relatives, he said, were opposed to the marriage on the score of the "Gov- ernor's" advanced age and precarious health. When the officials refused to give him a marriage license later the circus man flew into a.rage. The license under which the marriage was performed here was obtained yesterday by,Cullen. While the ceremony was going on rela- tives of the bridegroom were racing toward Clarksvijle by special train in the hope of preventing it. Judge Howard Ferris and John Robinson, Jr., arrived from Cin- cinnati three hours too late. Miss Logan has traveled with "Gov." Rob|nson this season. The circus man was subject to attacks of heart trouble and never left home without a doctor and trained nurse. During his trips to New York on business the physician and nurse were scarcely ever out of call. a exmouv vad day." (From the Hagenbeck-Wallace "Stake and Chain Hewa.) A town Is Judged by Ue circa* folk By the way the elrcan farce; A Aace la "pope," th# people are "broke," When the boys eaa't ertl their waree. A city la "Iwua."; the people are damn. And show fnlka *'geep Away." When the tewnera fan to cone And the etrene hae a bad day. The men ate eere; the women c The comedy la aeldom fenny; Woralngmen even fear" the bom. When the snow doemft set money; The ticket seller* are always bine. The clowne are never fey. Pleaaant things are always few, When the drcne baa • bed day. The man with a eomp la frowned upon, The men with a bill Is roasted; The 94 boor men Is (lad to be gone. Leaving a town of which he boaated. The eon never ahlnea en bright, ■ The hours do not lit away, It'a easy to see no heart la light. When the drcoa has a bad day. The performances don't ran well. The band does net play In tone; "The big Set lokes.* r "the rider fell. "The loach waa rotten nt neon." The showman growlo till ne'e in a rage, ■ven the lions keep roaring away. The bookkeeper even biota the page, When the drcoa has s bad day. The ootsMc ticket sellers are glnm. The candy stand men are fretful; The balloon men And solace In ram. The connection men are forgetful; The Habere are not near polite. The aanoaneer haa leaa to say. Wo ginger to performance nt night, when the dreua haa a bad day. ALLEGES DISCMMWATIOlf. Oklahoma, L T., 8ept 18. The Ringling Brothers and the Sells- Floto people have locked horns in this territory, and the fight which haa up to now taken the form of opposition billing promises to get before the Interstate Commerce Commission. J. N. Tammen, of the Sella-Floto Circus, declares that he will bring a complaint before that body charging that the railroads of the South are discriminating against independent circus men and in favor of the Ringlings. The two shows played Oklahoma on the same day, Sept. 21. The Sella-Floto show reduced its prices to twenty-five cents, as a result turned, .people away at two performances. Immediately after this stand the Sella-Floto route was changed with the intention of getting into the Ringling towns two days in advance of the opposition. At the same time application was made to the Railroad Commission of Texas for the issuing of "emergency orders" direct- ing certain railroads in that territory to carry the Sella-Floto outfit. It was as- serted that the Ringlings were enjoying a "shut-out" on these roads. Speaking of the affair Mr. Tammen said: "We are in it now for a fight to the finish. Our Mr. Webber will be de- spatched to Washington, and we have pre- sented our case to influential Senators and Representatives from Colorado. Backed by these men we propose to go before the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion and have this matter of railroad die- crimination in favor of the 'circus trust* thoroughly threshed out. "We are asking no quarter and giving none. Next year the Sella-Floto show will be increased to a forty-car organisa- tion, and we will then be more than willing to hook up against the Ringling people for a finish fight." During the stand here the Sella-Floto show distributed big handbills headed in a big black line "CIRCUS WAR, $1,000,- 000 will be spent to force a square deal —The Public Gets the Benefit." ADDING ACTS FOR CHICAGO. When the Hagenbeck -Wallace Circus commences its two weeks' engagement at Chicago, Oct. 5, there will be added to the roster temporarily The Seven Merodias, bicycle; Jesse Keller Family, bicycle; Ten Kuduras, Japs; Kramer Trio, aerial, and the Stublenfield Trio. After Chicago, the circus will travel south, closing its season about Nov. 15. H. B. Marinelli booked the additional acts for Chicago. The Japs follow the engagement with another at the New Hippodrome, procured through the same agency. FREEMAN IN CHICAGO. Chicago, Sept 24. W. W. Freeman, of the Ringling Broth- era' forces, returned here after an absence of one year. Mr. Freeman will remain in the city until next month, when John Ringling ia expected from the Coast with tfn Baraum & Bailey show. PARKS AND FAIRS Chicago. Sept. 24. It ia denied by Aaron J. Jones, secre- tary and treasurer of "White Qty," In Chicago, that that summer park will re- move from ita present location. It waa rumored that "White City" would go to 79th Street. Mr. Joner, aays there's noth- ing in this. The "White City" lease has six years yet to run, with an option on ten more after the expiration. Knapp's Millionaire Band of forty solo- ists will give Sunday night concerts in New York City. John Graham will direct the tour. M. E. Robinson, of the United Book- ing Offices Fab? Department, aaya acts are now being placed under contract let? the rammer season of 1900, and many fsirs have also been taken in for that time. The Fair Department Is yet In the throes of organisation, but Mr. Robinson reports rapid progress, stating it waa not the in- tention to take an active interest In the bookings for this summer, the plan of in- corporating fair bookings with the other divisions of the United having been arrived at too late to do that raccessfully. What will go down in summer park history as the worst season on record ia drawing to a close, for which many mana- gers are devoutly thankful. The records will never evidence what a disastrous year 1906 has been to the outdoor amusement purveyors from the smallest to the largest, and more so the latter. "Creation" at Atlantic City, recently opened down there, has an immense sign outside the entrance reading "This ia not a moving picture show." From appear- ances the throngs passing the door were indifferent to what it was. Paris is to have a "Midget City." It will open next April in the Jardin de Acllmation. H. B. Marinelli is financially interested. Frank Melville, the park promoter, is in Europe. He will be away for several months engaged in furthering a new enter- prise the nature of which remains secret. Mr. Melville has retired entirely from the summer parks at Camden and Bayonne, N. J. Both are in the hands of a re- ceiver. Fred M. Barnes, the Chicago fair agent, has closed contracts for $72,000 worth of attractions to play in Florida during January and February, when the circuses he has annually booked occur. New Orleans, Sept. 24. A company has been formed, capitalised at $15,000 for the purpose of remodelling the building and grounds, formerly occu- pied by the Coliseum Skating Rink, into a summer park. The rink itself will be a theatre. Alex. Spencer, former musical director at "White City," is the man be- hind. "White City" closed Sunday, Sept 6th, showing a loss on the season. The New York Electrical Show for 1906, of which Thomas W. Edison ia president, will be held at the Madison Square Garden, New York, early in Octo- ber. MARDI GRAS BEAUTIES. The present nameless two-act piece utilised by the "Mardi Graa Beauties 1 ' wilt need a vast amount of attention be- fore it can be classed aa good burlesque entertainment. The first act is identical in the main with the opening of the "Morning Glor- ies.'* It deals with the selling of a hotel by misrepresentation to an unsuspecting Irishman, who ia blinded by the wondrous talea of ita earning capacity; an old story, anyway. The second act holda nothing excepting the bunco man, repentant, returning the Irishman's money. Edmond Hayes is featured above even the name of the show, and the entire re- spoaribility rests with him. He is the ssnty nsrisMripal who haa anything of im- portance to do, excepting James Collins, the "con" man. The comedy consists mainly of dialogue between the two, made funny throagh Hayes' method. Much, however, is tiresome. The two beat bits are the burlesque drama and the supper table scene. The former is screamingly funny. The dinner scene is also very funny but exceedingly rough. Some of the business is not of the drawing room brand, such aa blowing crumbs out of the mouth in other's faces. There are one or two other bits that should be modified. Sixteen girls are employed in the chorus, for the most part of the weighty sort (not truck-horsey, however). They work fairly well and look extremely nice, regardless of the handicap of old and soiled costumes. There must have been a run on the cotton mills when this bunch started to buy hosiery. Not a pair in the outfit that even looks like silk. The numbers, were they properly cos- tumed, would be all that could be desired. "Are You Sincere?" led by Harry Fran- cis, received several recalls. "Sahara" was also pretty, led by Marie Janeen. "Mum Is the Word" has a chorister, May Sheldon, at the head, and ia the big num- ber of the show. Miss Sheldon deserves special mention. She haa appearance and a voice a long way ahead of the burlesque standard. A yellow cheese-cloth dress with blue shoes and stockings worn by her make up a cruel combination. The number in which the girls appear in tights is featured on the program, and wore the costumes up to the girls it would deserve the attention given it. Harry Francis, aside from Hayes and Collins, is the only other principal among the men. He has little to do, but sings a couple of songs capitally. Miss Janeen, only female principal, is not prominent. She is a striking looking blonde, dressing quietly and attractively. Much more or her would be welcomed. There is no olio, but several acts are introduced at intervals. Blanchard Broth- ers and Randolph, a straight musical or- ganization, fit in nicely. The music, ex- cepting the finish (when the cornets are employed) is uniformly good. The selec- tions could be brought more up to date. McDervitt and Kclley danced themselves into favor. Dank. Billy Morris, the minstrel man; Bertha Sherwood, of Miner's "Americans," and OUie Metz, of Iyottie Williams' "Tom Boy Girl" Company, have formed a vaudeville combination.