Show World (July 1909)

July 3, 1909. THE SHOW WORLD 15 SIDE TALKS WITH CIRCUS PEOPLE The Difficulties Encountered In Sep¬ arating the Truth From the False¬ hood in the Reports of Doings in the Tented World. BY WALLACE PEPPER The most difficult and delicate task assigned to the circus editor is to de¬ termine the measure of truth in the reports. which reach Chicago in re¬ gard to the doings in the circus world. Truth and error, although radically different, are not so opposed that they may not be mingled together and be¬ sides the observations and statements of-circus people are largely influenced bv & deep-seated prejudice. False statements in regard to af¬ fairs of the circus world are by no means intentional. The general agent of One show invariably sees the billing matter of the enterprise he represents and hardly notices the advertising of his rival. In spite of a desire for fair¬ ness, he is so prejudiced that he dwells in his own mind on the advantages of a location his assistants have secured and belittles the judgment of the op¬ position in giving up a large number of tickets or possibly money for a dead-wall on the opposite side of the thoroughfare. The prejudice evidenced on all sides results in a defective vision and while there is generally found an intention to speak the truth, an honest error is just as injurious as a premeditated lie. The Aim of The Show World. The aim of The Show World is to speak the truth and to do this it is necessary to inquire into the ability as well as the integrity of those who provide information before a decision can be reached regarding its credibil¬ ity. The Show World prints the news the; same week in which the events occur, in most instances, and as this makes it impossible to verifv all the reports which come along the line, it will be readily seen that great care is necessary to separate the wheat of truth from the chaff of error with which it is mingled. Ih this connection it will be noticed thaf The Show World always prints a rumor as a rumor. It is often im¬ possible to run down a report in the short time allotted and in the event of a false rumor being printed, succeed¬ ing! issues will invariably set the reader straight. Other amusement journals do not attempt to print the circus news until weeks after the events happen, ff at all, and it is a great compliment to The Show World when circus folks avree that the reports printed in these columns are much more reliable and of much greater value than the ac¬ counts circulated by other channels. Ill is impossible to rate at too high a value the circus news printed in The Show World. The successes and fail¬ ures, the encouragements and disap¬ pointments of those prominent in the circus world are of the greatest im¬ portance to those who gain a liveli¬ hood by their connection with tented aBrprises and to that great body of people who are not at present en¬ gaged in that business but whose in¬ terest is centered in the doings in the‘.white top field. Where Publicity Aids. As each general agent feels that his advance is the most capable handled, so does each circus proprietor feel that his performance is the most wel¬ comed by the public. As each per¬ former feels that his tricks are the best calculated to awaken enthusiasm, so does each biller feel that it is upon his Individual efforts that the success of the enterprise depends. Tp remove this spirit from the cir¬ cus world would be to displace the a upon which it stands and while ^_city may in some instances tend to_ discourage the beginner, it is cer¬ tain in the long run to place ability at a Pfomium and rid the circus world of that class of men who promise in ^^Brence to performing and who boast instead of billing. The perplexity of the circus editor hesdn determining correctly among ujgywarring probabilities with which the reports which reach Chicago are laden. Men may consciously or un¬ consciously state that which is not true regarding their own or opposi¬ tion enterprises, but the truth is not affected either by their misapprehen¬ sion or misstatement. The truth is what is sought by The Show World and while the communications from circus proprietors, general agents, raliroad contractors, billers, perform¬ ers and ticket sellers are welcomed, it is advisable at all times to give the whole truth in regard to an episode for failure to do so lessens the cre¬ dence with which reports from the same source are received in the fu¬ ture. The Rumors Extant. The circus world is a hot-bed of ru¬ mor. There are so many conflicting statements circulated that a journal noted for reliability is welcomed, as is proven by the prosperity and growth of The Show World. The other day a railroad contractor sought to contract a certain number of towns on a line of railway and asked the usual question in regard to what shows, if any, were soon to be on the line. The railroad man re¬ plied that there would be no circuses on that line unless W. P. Hall opened his show on July 15 as was reported. The rumor in regard to Mr. Hall’s likelihood of putting a show on the road was printed in these columns several weeks ago. The following week a statement from Mr. Hall him¬ self was given equal prominence in which he emphasized the fact that he had show property for sale—a propo¬ sition opposed to the organization of a circus, even if not a direct state¬ ment <jn the matter. This must not be taken as a denial of the rumor that W. P. Hall will start a show. It is very likely that he. will do so, either this season or next. The report that the show will open July 15 is, however, absurd on its face. Another rumor, regarding a possi¬ ble split in a firm which is the most important factor in the circus world, was denied by one of the interested parties and by the one who is the least incline;! to talk his personal af¬ fairs or the operations of his firm for the fun of seeing a look of astonish¬ ment cross the countenance of his hearers. Rumor after rumor comes from the west where an organization which has been unsuccessful in the past was ex¬ pected to prosper under new manage¬ ment. There are reports of discord, stories of petty moves made in the endeavor to have certain interests profit at the expense of others, and occasionally a published statement borne out by the facts which indicates mismanagement in some departments. Plans for 1910. It is impossible at this time of year to forecast the plans of circus people for 1910. Many who consider them¬ selves in the possession of the most reliable inside information, are jump¬ ing to conclusions which have no real foundation. False premises are cer¬ tain to lead to false conclusions and that they do so is evident from the blunders men are constantly making. Those who are interested in the de¬ velopments which are astonishing the amusement world are advised to read these columns carefully. The Show World gets as near the truth as it is possible to do and those who have faith in its prognostications and who have confidence in its sources of in¬ formation will find themselves the best posted in the long run. In regard to the outlook for 1910, it is reasonable to conclude: That the Forepaugh-Sells show will take the road. That Rhoda Royal will have a much larger circus this winter than last and that success (which appears certain) will likely lead to his invad¬ ing the tented field. That Walter L. Main and W. P. Hall are likely to become prominent figures in the active circus world. That in the event of the success of the Two Bills’ show at Riverview Ex¬ position (Chicago) it will lead to cir¬ cuses appearing there in the future. That an innovation in press work devised by Walter K. Hill and im¬ proved upon by Louis E. Cooke, will probably revolutionize the advance work in that department. That the disposition among bill¬ posters to have anti-bannering laws passed will lead to more extensive lithographing and to additional news¬ paper advertising. The various topics discussed by showmen have been considered in reaching these conclusions. The cir¬ cus editor has carefully weighed them, measured them, probed them, con¬ trasted the arguments advanced with the result that it is not believed that the array of facts warrant a single addition to the above list. As stated in the beginning, it is a difficult task to eliminate falsehood from truth in the circus world and the tact with which these matters have been han¬ dled is a criterion by which the circus department of The Show World must be judged. GENTRY SHOW WILL NOT PLAY CHICAGO. Plan of Making a Visit to the Big City is Abandoned Although the Route Includes a Day at Evanston. The Gentry show No. 2 will not play Chicago. For a time the idea was considered by Lon Williams, the gen¬ eral agent, but the route has now been definitely arranged and the nearest points to the city proper will be a day at Evanston and a Sundae at Ham- The No. 2 Gentry show was origi¬ nally booked to be in New England at this time of year, but there was some switching done and last week was spent in determining just which direction it was best to go in search of dollars. Ed Knupp says that Lon Williams is playing Evanston just because it will provide a good opportunity for Mrs. Scott Brown to give a theater party. Mr. Brown juggles with the railroading for the tented enterprises. GOLLMAR SHOW WILL MAKE THE IRON RANGE. The Gollmar Brothers will make the Iron Range territory, as is shown in the routes published in this issue. The advance cars have begun the billing in some of the towns. That section is said to look very good and the show is expected to have a big busi— CAMPBELL BROTHERS HAVE SWITCHED ROUTE. The Campbell Brothers will come back into North Dakota instead of making Butte and Spokane, as was originally intended. Frank Macin¬ tosh, formerly press agent back with the show, is now general agent of that circus. Wallace Show Liked. BUTTE, Mont., June 29. — The Hagenbeck - Wallace show exhibited here June 24 to good business, con¬ sidering the counter attraction of the Parker Carnival company (H. S. Ty¬ ler, lessee). The local press unani- bously voted it the cleanest, most novel, smoothest running and alto¬ gether niftiest circus that has ever visited Butte. The trained animals was the best feature. Carnival week ended Saturday and the Parker show played to capacity during the state Eagles’ convention.—BILLINGS. Sues Buchanan Circus. WEBSTER CITY, la., June 28.— William Jennings, a hotel proprietor of Dell Rapids, la., has brought suit against the Yankee-Robinson circus proprietors, claiming thev “gvpped” him out of board and lodging bills amounting to $33.16. J. Broderick and Edwin Carlberg, two discharged em¬ ployees, have also brought suit, claim¬ ing $74 each.—TUCKER.