Show World (August 1909)

August 14, 1909. THE SHOW WORLD S WHO IS THE BEST CLOWN IN CIRCUSDOM? Change of Table Found Necessary in Order to be Fair to All “Providers of Comedy at a Circus ” At the weekly editorial conference, the most interesting topic of discus¬ sion this week was the Clown Contest and it was considered pro and con several hours. One of the most momentous con¬ clusions was that the original table of values was entirely inadequate and did a great injustice to many circus comedians who could not be included within its range of figures. The editors decided, in the first place, to accept the definition of a circus clown as was given by one of the Ringlings to a representative of this paper. This, in his own words, was: “A furnisher of comedy at a It was readily seen that such def¬ inition should therefore not only in¬ clude such clowns as actually worked in the sawdust but also those who “provided comedy” in the seats or outside the tent and who were in fact a comical adjunct to the show when viewed from any standpoint. Former Table Unfair. The absolute unfairness of the form¬ er estimate may readily be perceived. For instance, ten per cent is allowed for personality. Just what was meant by this could not readily be deter¬ mined even by the circus editor him¬ self, who originated the table. Did he mean the “street” appearance of the clown? If so he was crediting nature with a share in this contest and surely nature has no right to enter into consideration in such a matter as this. Did he mean the “make-up” of the clown while in the ring? If so, why should that be called personality? Was it not rather to be considered as originality? The editorial conference believed that the entire ten per cent allowed for personality should be added to the percentage,—not of originality,— but of public approval, for in the end the public must decide whether the outward appearance of a clown is funny or unfunny; even an inexper¬ ienced showman may go wrong in judgment upon such a matter as make¬ up, outward appearance, and delivery. This decision increased the percent¬ age of public approval to thirty-five. Versatility Discounted. It was then decided that it was un¬ fair to allow twenty-five per cent for the number of offerings. Versatility is more or less at a discount today in the amusement field. It has been proven time and time again that the “jack of all trades is master of none” and that what is most desiredtoday is a man who can perfect himself in one particular line of endeavor, wheth¬ er it be in the commercial or the world of entertainment. However, it was not deemed advisable to detract all the credit from the man who by sheer force of endeavor, operated, not one, but many strings in an effort to capture the approbation of his em¬ ployers and his audience. It was de¬ cided, therefore, to reduce the award of number of offerings to fifteen in¬ stead of twenty-five per cent and that the remaining ten per cent should be added to public approval. This increased the percentage of public approval to forty-five. The matter of doubling in concert was discussed at some length and it was decided to reduce this award from fifteen to ten per cent and to give the five per cent difference to public approval. In other words, the main point of discussion and determination of the editorial conference was that public approval was half the battle in such a contest as this paper has been conducting. This re-arrangement of the table will naturally affect the award. FORTUNE IN DAMAGES ASKED BY WALLACE Showman Sues Grand Trunk Road to Recover $125,000. Circus Clown Has Nose Broken. WAUKEGAN, Ill., Aug. 6.—During ; the performance of the Sells-Floto i Shows here this afternoon, “Bill” : Harris, a clown, had his nose broken in a most peculiar manner. He was : working with his partner “Nemo” : and came to a point in the act where i Nemo is supposed to strike him on the face with a muffled slap stick. Ordinarily the slap stick is secreted beneath the circus stage. Nemo has i to act very quickly. He reached down for the slap stick, got hold of some¬ thing that felt like it, and swatted his partner over the face with it. It was ; a crowbar. VALPARAISO, Ind., Aug. 12.— Benjamin Wallace, the showman, filed the largest damage suit ever recorded in the Porter Circuit Court. The Grand Trunk Western Road is de¬ fendant. On Aug, 7, 1903, while the show was en route to Battle Creek. Mich., the train was run into by a fast train. Nearly all of Wallace’s show was demolished in the wreck and a number of showmen killed. He asks for $125,000 damages. Circus People at Banquet. RICHMOND, Ind., Aug. 12.—The Richmond local, Theatrical Mechan¬ ics’ Union, gave a banquet here in their lodge rooms, in honor of the vaudeville performers who assisted the local in its recent performance in this city. In addition to the guests of honor the crew of the Barnum and Bailey car No. 1, now in this city, participated in the event. John S. Fitzgibbons a well known real estate and insurance man has purchased the Theatorium of John Broomhall. Mr. Broomhall is now located at Hamil¬ ton, Ohio, in the theatrical business. —HAMILTON. MONKEY BITE CAUSES BILLPOSTERS BANISHED HEAVY DAMAGE SUIT FROM ROCKAWAY BEACH Carnival Company Sued in Pennsylvania for $5,000 on Account Of a Savage Simian. Odd and Unusual Sentence Imposed On Knights of the Paste and Brush by an Eastern Judge. BUTLER, Pa. Aug. 12.—William H. Martin and William McDowell, attor- neys for A. R. McDowell, commenced proceedings against the Johnny Jones Carnival Company and Johnny Jones, the proprietor, asking for $5,000 dam¬ ages because of injuries sustained by Thos.^ McDowell, a young son of the plaintiff, who it is alleged was bitten by a monkey while he was at the car¬ nival. In the statement of the case, which was filed, the plaintiff sets forth the biting of his son by the monkey and possible danger of complications which might arise by reason of the lad having been bitten. For the pain suffered as well as for the mental s ™ering, etc., the damages are fixed :at $5,(100. After the filing of the statement in the case, the court sitting in chambers was asked to fix bail for the appear¬ ance of the defendant for a trial of the case at the September term of court, and $1,000 was decided on as the amount of the bail required. Sells-Floto Physician Injured. Dr. Ellett, physician with the Sells- hloto Shows is suffering from a badly ’ a _ ce , rate £. arm. Some days ago the agle which is carried with the show, "uttered against its cage and broke LT e ' J Dr ' Ellett h ad the bird caught and was endeavoring to ad- EM remedies when the eagle sunk its talons into his arm. ' ,* x P e "!?. nce wit h the eagle was i different from the exper- ence the physician had with “Shorty” Maynard’s goose, whose leg was broken by getting too close to a trunk that the property boy of the show was trying to juggle. When the doctor arrived, he spoke to the goose, which laid down and submitted to the operation without winking an eye- Circus Makes a Cleanup. RACINE, Wis., Aug. 5.—The Sells- Floto circus, which exhibited in this city on August 5, made a good clean¬ up, as that was payday in several of the big factories. The public certain¬ ly received their money’s worth, as it was the cleanest exhibition seen in this city in several years, everything being run in the best possible order. Although the town was poorly billed, a good business was done in the after¬ noon, and at the evening performance they packed them in. When this show plays this town again they will not be able to accommodate the crowds un¬ less they increase their seating ca¬ pacity.—PRAM ER. The Hobsons Visit Show. Mr. and Mrs. Homer Hobson, well known riders, visited the Sells-Floto Shows at Chicago Heights last Sun¬ day and met many of their old friends. They are at present at their home in Chicago having closed three weeks ago with the Ringling Show on ac¬ count of Mr. Hobson’s health. They have broken the record for riders with one show, having been with the Ringlings for eleven consecutive sea- BROOKLYN', Aug. 12—Banish¬ ment from Rockaway Beach for a period of six months was the unusual punishment imposed on August Ro- gensburg and Louis Dannenberg, bill¬ posters, who were arranged before Magistrate Gilroy, in the Far Rocka¬ way police court on charge of mali¬ cious mischief. This exile, at the height of the gay season there, was proposed by the counsel for the pri¬ soners, who for the second time in a short period, had been forced to plead guilty of destroying or misusing bill¬ boards controlled by a rival theater. August and Louis stick bills and “snipes” for the American Music Hall at Rockaway. They were arrested for misusing billboards controlled by the Morrison Theater there. They had previously been found guilty and a suspended sentence hung over them. A Main-Jones Circus? It is said that Walter Main and J. Augustus Jones are figuring upon combining and putting out a circus for next season. One wellknown cir¬ cus man said: “That’s easy enough, but who will bring it back?” Bonfils Win Out. KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 10.— Fred Bonfils, one of the owners of the Sells-Floto Shows and who is one of the largest tax payers in this city, bought, some years ago, a piece of property which he believed would be in line with the new railroad improve¬ ments. It is said that he paid $30,000 for the plot of ground. It is now known that it is within the site of the proposed new union depot in this city. He sold it the other day for $ 120 , 000 . McIntosh Joins Lena Rivers. F. W. McIntosh, press agent and advance manager of the Campbell Bros.’ show was in Chicago this week after closing his second season with that show. He says that the show has done some wonderful blusiness dur¬ ing the season. At Edmonton, June 30, it got more business with one per¬ formance than for any two perform¬ ances in the season, despite the fact that it charged one dollar admission. The Canadian trip, he says, was a fine success. He will go out with Nicolai and Nixon’s “Lena Rivers” (Central) within a few days. Gollmar in Town. Wallace Gollmar and his wife were in Chicago Sunday en route to Mount Clemens, where his wife will take the waters in the hope that they will benefit her. Mrs. Gollmar has been ill for many weeks. She is also ac¬ companied by her baby. Bonfils at Kansas City? KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 10.—It is rumored here that Fred Bonfils is dickering for the Hippodrome with the intention of establishing a winter circus and zoo for the Sells-Floto Shows.