Variety (February 1909)

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16 VARIETY GIRGUS NEWS PARKS AND PAIRS HAS "S. P. w "SHUT OUT." San Francisco, Feb. 18. The western opposition in the tent line teems to have wavered a few points in favor of the Norris & Rowe Show through the latter having secured a "shut-out" contract with the Southern Pacific under which that circus is given thirty days' protection on the S. P. lines. No other circus will be transported by the railroad until Norris & Rowe sre out of the ter- ritory. It is generally talked about out here that sfter tho Sells-Floto Circus opens at Denver on March 28, it will strike out for these parts. With the "shut-out" on the Southern Pacific, the Norris-Rowe outfit has a big advantage, but the knowledge oVi\ in advance may enable W. E. Frank- lin, the general agent for the Sells-Floto Circus, to re-route, instead of walking into an expensive opposition at the outset. It is reported that Messrs. Bonfeils and Tammen, owners of the Sells-Floto, have given Mr. Franklin a free hand after the show leaves Butte, Mont., Mr. Franklin Saving notified the proprietors he would assume no responsibility for the route in the west up to that point. H. 8. Rowe, of the Norris & Rowe Show, can now testify to the value of a good name for business integrity. Although it was known his show was deeply involved (owing more than $60,000) his personal Mends who had advanced him money not only preferred to allow his obligations to stand, but offered to lend him more. It was finally decided best to have the indebtedness confined to mostly one way. Consequently the Donaldson Lithograph Co., of Newport, Ky., bought in most of the claims and when the show was put upon the block Archie Donaldson bought it in and he in turn re-sold to Mr. Rowe. The latter has lost many of the old lieutenants, but new men are being en- gaged and the circus will go out well or- ganized, and apparently capable of pro- tecting its immediate territory from in- vasion. Archie Donaldson, who has been out around here for fourteen weeks, has returned to Cincinnati. The Sells Floto Show will open its sea- son March 28 under the auspices of the local Mystic Shriners of Denver. The en- gagement there will be for ten days or so. After that it is settled that the show will jump into southern territory to es- cape the cold weather. It is regarded as possible that if the Denver outfit works along the Southern Pacific it will be under some sort of billing agreeement with the Norris & Rowe people. GO GET A STETSON. Orders have been issued that all mem- bers of the Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill advance wear wide-brimmed soft hats this season. The theory is that the western headgear serves as an advertisement of the coming show. The orders go even for the spruce Arthur Degnon, Louis E. Cooke's secretary and excursion agent, as well as Walter K. Hill whose tastes run to the derby of the effete east. The heads of departments at the New York Hippodrome have organized "The Hippodrome Beefsteak Club." Jos. Han- rahan was the boss of the first meeting. GEORGE COLE WITH MILLERS. George S. Cole, for twelve years con- nected with the John Robinson Combined Shows, has signed for the coming summer tour with the Miller Brothers' "101 Ranch." He will carry the advertising banner for the wild west outfit. Mr. Cole is one of the oldest circus men in the field. His son, Bert Cole, is eastern rep- resentative for the Hagenbeck-Wallace interests. BUY THE LEMEN CIRCUS. Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 18. The Lemen Brothers Circus has been purchased by Smith Brothers, of Nor- folk, Neb., and A. O. Perry, a ranchman of Atkinson. The circus will be trans- ferred to Norfolk in winter quarters un- til the season opens, when it will go out as "The Perry & Smith Consolidated Railroad Shows." Perry, one of the buyers, was formerly of Perry & Leftwich, succeeding in tho firm Doe Hurlburt, who was burned to death in Norfolk twenty years ago. The show formerly quartered there. SIEGRIST HAS HOUSEWARMING. Toto Siegrist celebrated the opening of the cafe at 46 West 22d Street under his own management Monday evening with a reception to professional circus perform- ers and others connected with circus busi- ness. Some seventy guests sat down to dinner in the upstairs dining room. After- ward chairs and tables were removed and dancing was in order. Among the visitors were George Mc- Manus, the cartoonist; Steinegans, a newspaper artist; James and Frank De- Wolf, Fred and Charles Hutchinson, George S. Cole, of the Miller Brothers' show, Ella Bradner and Fred Derrick, Lot- tie Aymar, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Silbon, Will O'Dale and a host of others. »» CIRCUS AFLOAT. Cincinnati, Feb. 18. James Robinson, a grandson of "Gov. John F. Robinson, the veteran showman, will shortly organize a two ring circus, to tour the inland waterways, moving from place to place on barges. Several barges will be towed from stand to stand. Sleep- ing and eating quarters will be provided on board. Some years ago the Robinson Combined Shows traveled in this way. The equip- ment was loaded in the boats and unload- ed by means of a thirty-foot gangplank which was lowered to the river bank. Loading and unloading was accomplished more expeditiously than to or from a train. Eight-horse teams even were driven directly from the lot to the proper place on the boats. "Gov." Robinson, who will no longer be actively engaged in running the Robinson Shows, will spend the coming summer traveling about in his private car, which has all modern hotel conveniences. The tour will take him through California, Colorado and the Southwest. According to present plans, the "Governor" proposes to start out without any definite destination. He will have the car sidetracked wherever he chosen, remain as long as he likes and go on when the spirit moves him. Youngstown, 0., Feb. 18. Avon Park, which has had an eventful career since it was opened several years ago and which closed early last season, is to be opened again next summer. The New York office of the H. B. Marinelli agency reports that 112 midgets have been secured for the "Midget City" in Paris which opens at the Zoo Gardens in the French capital on April 11. The anti-racing bills passed in several States and introduced in the Legislatures of others have proven of grave concern to the various fair associations through- out the country. Horse racing is usu- ally the main attraction at a county fair, and the annual "meet" brings out crowds of people who might not otherwise at- tend. Atlanta, Feb. 18. The lease on the Ponce De Leon Park has been renewed for the coming season by Jake Wells. Hugh L. Cardoza will be the general manager. The Atlanta Con- stitution, which printed a story on Mr. Wells' theatrical enterprises, carried a de- nial from the manager of his recently re- ported severance of connection with some show enterprises. Mr. Wells said the re- moval of the Bijou headquarters to New York City, leaving the offices of the Leath Circuit as they were, gave rise to the re- ports. Cincinnati, Feb. 18. At the annual meeting of the Mad River and Miami Valley Fair Circuit, at Eaton, O., the following dates for county fairs- were agreed upon: Winchester. Adams County, Inly 27, 28, 20 and 8u; Xenla, Oreen County, August 8, 4, 8 and 6; Rlcnwood, Trl-County, August 8, 4, 8 and 6; Car- thage, Hamilton County, August 10, 11, 12, 18 and 14; Springfield, Clark County, August 10, 11,12 18 and 14; Urbane, Champaign County, August 17,18, 19 and 20; Keaton, Hardin County, August 17, 18, 10 and 20; GreenTllle, Darke County, August 28, 24, 25, 28 snd 27; London, Madison County, Aug* ust 24, 28, 28 snd 27; Washington, O. H., Fayette County, August 24, 28, 28 and 27; Bellefontalne, Logan County, August 24, ?&, 28 and 27; Wspa- koneta, Anglslve County, August 80, 81, September 1, 2 snd 8; Columbus, Ohio, State Fair, August 30, 31, September 1, 2 and 8; Dayton, Montgomery County, September 8, 7, 8, 0 and 10; Baton, Preble County, September 14, IB, 18 and 17; Leb- anon, Warren County, September 14, 18, 18 and 17; Marysvllle, Union County, September 7, 8, 0 snd 10; Troy, Miami County, September 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24; Marlon, Marlon County, September 28, 29, 30 and October 1; Hamilton, Butler County, October S, 8, 7 and 8. The Louisville & Nashville Railroad has not yet announced whether or not it will take circus money this year. Freight business on their lines has improved so rapidly lately that it has intimated it may decline to do business with the cir- cuses this season, notwithstanding the L. & N. wan delighted to secure the show business last year. Notice has been drawn to the fact that although the opening date of the Ringling Brothers' circus is now only about a month off, the New York newspapers have not so far carried a single reference to the firm. Under the management of James A. Bailey the Barnum-Bailey name was worked into occasional mention in the metropolitan news during the entire win- ter. The United Booking Offices Park and Fair department, under the direction of M. E. Robinson, is signing up a large number of out-of-door feautres, for con- secutive summer time. Chicago, Feb. 18. Ethel Robinson, of the Western Vaude- ville Association, closed contracts with A. A. Andrews, president of the Winne- peg Industrial Exhibition for all the at- tractions for Calgary and Alberta, Can- ada, including an aeroplane imported from Paris. The machine is said to be the only one of its kind that can be controlled with practicability. Youngstown, O., Feb. 18. Joseph Wess, at one time manager of Avou Park in tbjs town, will have charge of Lake Erie Park, Cleveland, this coming summer. Buffalo, N. Y., is to have a big water carnival on the lake August 10 to 21. Crystal Beach, Olcott Beach and Fort Erie Beach, near Buffalo, are being pre- pared for their opening Decoration Day. The Buffalo Industrial Exhibition will be held at one of these resorts beginning June 10. The Leavenworth County (Kan.) Fair Association will hold its fair on Sept. 20. It is on the Kansas Grand Circuit, includ- ing Parsons, Chanute, Ottawa, Topeka and Independence. John H. Tibbetts, of St. Louis, who has the direction for the coming season of the summer parks formerly managed by Col. John D. Hopkins, at Forrest Park High- lands, St. Louis, Kansas City, Louisville and Memphis, has placed the booking of sensational numbers and amusement de- vices with the Atlas Booking Circuit. Manager Mangold, of the Dallas, Tex., park, placed his vaudeville bookings for the coming season with the Atlas Circuit this week. The Atlas expects to have an uninterrupted route to the far south. It has taken hold of the concessions also for the Dallas park. Joe Wood will book twenty acts to a bill in Fort George, N. Y., next summer. 'This bill will be divided between the Trocadero and Paradise Park, both in the same neighborhood. Ten acts will play each house, alternating at afternoon and evening performances. Henry J. Gold- smith has bought an interest in the Troc- adero. which will be managed as usual by Sam Bernstein. London, Feb. 0. A receiver has been appointed for the Crystal Palace, upon the application made by the attorney for the holders of tho Crystal Palace Company's first debenture bonds. The father of Sir Douglas Fox (who represents the bond holders) was one of the engineers who constructed the Palace. A scheme of reorganization is hoped for.