The billboard (July-Dec 1895)

12 BILLBOARD ADVERTISING HAS THE LARGEST CIRCULATION AMONG THE MANUFACTURERS: BILLBOARD ADVERTISING is the Official Organ of the Illinois Bill Posters' Association. 13 The Rochester Bill Posting Co., 1 EDW. A. STAHLBRODT, Manager. f BILL POSTERS, DISTRIBUTERS No. 16 and 18 AMI Street, ROCHESTER, N. Y. THE ERIE BILL POSTING CO. EDW. A. STAHLBRODT, Manager. AND GENERAL ADVERTISERS, NEW YORK OFFICE, 6ai Broadway. No. io North Park Row. ERIE, PA I. N. DOUGLAS. The above portrait is an excellent likeness of Mr. L N. Douglas, of the Southern Bill Posting Co., Knoxville, Tenn. He is affectionately and familiarly known among a large circle of friends as "Ike,** and enjoys a splendid reputation and a good credit. Mr. Douglas is one of the orig- inators of the Southern Bill Posting Co., having bought out the old company in October, '94, and taken in Mr. Barnes, his present partner. * He was born in Joncsboro, a little hamlet just east of Knoxvillev which was the first capital or Tennessee, and was raised and educated in the immediate vicinity. He is an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Golden Chain, and several other orders. - Bill Posters' Gossip. The Ancient Order of Prowling Prudes has broken out afresh in several sections of the country during the past month', and are minding other, people's business with their usual zeal and activity. Of course they are regulating the billboards and calling down the wrath of God on bill posters and theatrical managers; but that' is to be expected. We only refer to it because the newspapers have given their . frothings more than usual space. They never accomplish anything, in fact, seldom occasion even slight inconr venienceon the part "of those whom they have singled out for attack, because no fair-minded person pays any- attention to a pack of old maids and superannuated clergymen in matters of this kind. The cupidity and malice of, the pub-, lisher, however, seldom fails to get the better of his judgment on these occasions, and the temptation to throw rocks at the bill poster under cover of the silly reso- lutions of a lot of old women is more than he can withstand. That is all there r is to it. Brush, up "your office with the new year. Get in line with your enterprising and progressive feIlow-craftsmen,whose count- ing rooms^are as handsome and commo- dious as a bank. It will help you and reflect credit on the business at large.Jj One of the most encouraging evidences of the excellent service rendered to ad- vertisers by the Chapman Bros., of Cin- cinnati, and of the high esteem in which they are held by their patrons, lies in the fact that over a dozen large firms allow them to exercise their own judgment en- tirely in regard to all paper put out. The Liggett-& Meyers Co., of St. Louis, are guided solely by Messrs. Chapman Bros' advica, both in- regard to quantity and locations. of the Association members, but President Campbell has quite a following who want him continued in office. C. D. Hammond & Co., of Pittsburg, Pa., have plenty of good boards, but the greater part have been contracted for by the theatres. Arthur M. Plato, of Frisco, will attend the next annual meeting in Cleveland. Otting& Sons, of Newport, Ky., have an especially fine line of commercial patronage. No field of industry has undergone more rapid development of later years than that of the. afficheur. O. P. Fairchild^of Covington, Ky., is one of the distributors who does distribut- ing, and does it right ..... .._. Jus. A. Curran is a presidential possi- bility next year, and Geo. Robinson, of Dallaj, is mentioned for vice-president. Miller Bros., of Columbus, 0§io, have bought up most of the boards of the opposition instituted by the Barrium & Bailey shows, . " .—V The American Bill Posting and Adver- tising Co., of Chicago, has had a splendid run of patronage from the Chicago papers. Competition is keen among the journals of the Windy City, and has resulted in their all reducing their prices to one cent and using space on the billboards in ex- travagant quantities. - ? ; -, ''Prompt answers to all correspond- ence " is a legend we would like to see prominently displayed on all bill posters' advertisements and stationery. Many bill posters are adding a depart- ment devoted to mural signs and painted bulletins to their business, and it may be all very well for those who are able - to attend to it property, but for one who cannot run bill posting alone it is nonsensical. r ' The New York City Association contin- ues to preserve peace and harmony, and is thereforeL.:to. be .commended most highly. Just; fahy Messrs. Munson and Reagan & Clark should not now be eli- gible for membership in the A. B. P. A. is to us past understanding. There will likely be two tickets in the field when the election takes place next summer in Cleveland. Al Bryan is want- ed for president by a considerable number A subscriber -writes as follows : "I am much interested -in your publication, and though onlya retailer in an interior city, I read it from"beginning to end with great pleasure. I was mucb.sUrprised to see in Mr. Btardot's interview.'in the November number, that he prefers tnoronghfares to residence'streets upon,which to display his posters. If it was an article that men buy there might be reason in his choice, but as it is the housewife who* buys the soups, to; my mind the paper ought to go where she will see it oftehest, and that is on the outskirts trf.jhe cities." When madam com2s dowp^pwa^etgnirid K: on her shopping or--tM~ intmediattejjivork which she has in hand, consequently her mind is not in a receptive state j-atid the posters on the walls fail to make a strong impression. . "Advertise cigars, shirts, magazines, clothing, or men'sxare in the heart Of the city, but put women's ware, foods, etc., where the lady of the house can survey it at her leisure. I am sure this is right for I know that, even in my own case, the first posters that I see after leaving home in the morning always im- press me strongly, while those that are displayed down town, which I encounter during the busy hours of the day, are hardly noticed." P. F. SCHAEFER,. President, ' "Chicago, Ills. P. G. STOUT, 1st Vice Pres't, St. Louis, Mo. W. J. HORIT, 2nd Vice Pres't, Springfield, III. P. B. rlABER, 3rd Vice Fres-'t, Fon du Lac, Wis. CHAS. C. MAXWELL, Treas. Lincoln,-lit. CLARENCE E. RUNEY, Sec Waukegan, 111. P. G. STOUT, D.SPENCER, G. HEBERT, C E. PERRY. Inter-State Bill Posters' Protective Association. Scale of Prices Adopted for Listed, Protected and Renewed. 30 DA YS ' DISPt-A Y. Population Per shert 1,000 to 5,000 3 cents 5.000 to 10,000 4 cents 10,000 to 30,000 5 cents 20,000 to 40,000..... 6 cents 40,000 to 60,000 8 cents 60,000 to 150,000 9 cents Over 150,000. 13 cents One Sheets, 15 days.... 3 cents A. H. CARNEGIE, F.P.MEYERS. L. E. TIEM ANN, C. STAR KS A.D.GOODMANN, A. J.TURNER, C H. GRIKBEI-. L. ROI.EY, TARRANT & KRONSHAGE, Milwaukee.—Attorneys—MAXWELL & MAXWELL, Lincoln, CHAS. B. KITTREDGE, Waukegon—Traveling Inspectors—C. E RUNEY, Waukegon. Address all Correspondence to the Secretary. When yon write, mention BUOoara Advertising. WmmiSM JOHN A. LAKIN, Whose portrait appears above, is the- veteran bill poster who does the hustling in Cooperstown, N.. Y. Mr. Lakin has been in the bill posting business since 1S6S, and has managed the Opera House, in Cooperstown, for a number of years. He has also put in part or his career on the road, having been connected with the Old John Rob- inson Shows, and several theatrical organiza- tions.. .Mr. Latin is also a veteran of the late ANSWER ALL CORRESPONDENCE PROMPrLY. Numerous complaints have reached this office from advertisers regarding the difficulty of obtaining answers to corres- pondence from various bill posters. The evil is evidently very prevalent, which is a matter much, to be deplored. A busi- ness man, and a bill poster is a business man, who fails to answer a business letter is unworthy of the name. He is rude, uncivil, in fact, a little short of boorish. Discourtesy of this nature does more to hurt the calling than all the other evils that assail it. _ Every bill poster should make it a point to render all reports, receipts and acknowledgments promptly, and to bear in mind that every letter of inquiry, no matter how trivial, deserves an answer. Cincinnati will be the objective point towards which many bill posters will turn their faces early in January. The occasion will-be the annual meeting of the Protec- tive League of American Showmen, of which many knights of the brush are members. There will be much shaking of hands and 110 little conviviality. The paste brush made by Elder Jenks and Raborg, of Philadelphia, is highly spoken of by all the firms who use it. If you want to please the advertiser give him good service and charge him for it, but do not advance the price until you have justified the i icrease by well-ordered boards, carefully selected locations, and a corps of efficient employees. THE DONALDSON GUIDE 3d Edition now in process of compilation. Will embrace every town of over four hundred ami fifty inhabitants in the United States and C:i nada, with a full and complete description of each. It gives the population of the town. It gives the population of the county. It gives the name of the bill poster. It gives his street address. It gives the name of the distributer. It gives his street address. It gives the name of the opera house. It gives the name of the local manager. It gives the names of the halls. It gives the names of their managers. It gives the names of the newspapers. It gives the names of the editors. It gives the date of publication. It gives the names of the dramatic critics It gives the names of the dramatic cor- respondents. It gives the name of a good attorney. It will be a manual of useful informa- tion for advertisers, showmen, and the- atrical managers and agents. The book will consist of over four hundred pages, 7x10,14, handsomely bound in cloth and gilt. In addition to the Directory the book will embrace the complete GET code of the Donaldson Cipher, VflllR *^ e showman's encyclopedia and TUUri ^j, e International Professional NAME Register. The whole work will mbe carefully revised and brought up to date, and will be the mo::t complete and exhaustive guide ever issued. The compilation is a work of prodigious labor and great expense, which is not wholly warranted by the sate which the book "enjoys, consequently Wv-i publisher feels fully justified in PUT calling upon bill posters, distri- am buters and show printers to pat- iVr ronize the advertising columns, AD and render all necessary aid in |*J furnishing data, information, "■ etc. Blanks are provided for this purpose by the publisher an.l can hs had upon application. It is to the interest of every bill jwsK-r ami <*.i-*- tributcr to have his town properly represented and described. Let the advertiser Icikav its re- sources and the nuraberof people he can reach. Let the showman know the circus license and whether their is a desirable lot. Tell the theat- rical manager what kind of theatres, opera houses, or halls you have. It will bring you business. Recause it will be consulted almost daily by the advertisers, showmen and theatrical managers of the country. If your town or city has increased much in population since the census of 1S90, put in an advertisement immediately following the description of it, stating the present population, together with such other ad- vantages as it may possess. The advertis- ing rates are very reasonable. Tweuty- _ five cents per agate line for "a ADS year's advertising is in fact ex- it pp ceedinglylow. At this rate a *y JJ5 . _ space of "half inch single col- UHEAP unin conies to fi.75, or an inch to $3.50. REMEMBER, that the DONALDSOtf GUIDE will henceforth lie published large- ly in the interests of bill jx>sters, distribu- ters and advertisers. Heretofore it has l>cen given over almost entirely to mana- gers of opera houses and showmen, but from now on this will be changed. Give it your endorsement. Talk __,,_ it up. Enlist the interest SEND of your local managers. In FflR fact, aid it in any manner «m«»«» you can. It's ngood tiling, BLANKS and if accorded the support it deserves will lie a big thing for all parties interested. The price of the Ponnldson Cuidc is £5.00 ench, and it is worth many times its cost to those who nee! it. To i«rr»ons, however, who have not yet had an opportunity of examining the work, 01 neentswho desire to canvas for subscriptions or advertisements, a copy of the current edition, ol which a few ore still on hand, will be sent upon receipt of $1.00. Address all communications or inquiries to the publisher. W. H. Donaldson, Cincinnati, Ohio. Happenings in Several Cities. Another State Association. The bill posters of Connecticut have formed an association, to be known as the Connecticut Bill Posters' Association. The organization took place at Bridge- port, Conn. H. H. Jennings was elected president and treasurer, and Wnt.McGuin, of Tliomaston, secretary. Police Censorship in Four Cities. William Davis, employed by the Old Colony Bill Posting Company, at Provi- dence, was fined £5.00 and costs for post- ing a bill which did not meet the approval of the Chief of Police. It is a misdemeanor in Schenectady, X. Y., for any person to ring the door bell or arouse the attention of the occupants of a house when leaving a hand bill or advertising sheet. Bill posters are pro- hibited from posting bills on rocks or trees adjoining the highways without the consent of the owners. There are penal- ties of f 100.00 fine and six months im- prisonment attached to the offenses. The Sin Francisco city council is con- sidering the manlier in which the fences of the leading streets of the city are at present posted with large, and, in some cases, objectionable bills. A resi lation was adnpted by the board expressing dis- approval of this display of advertising on fences, and particularly those of an objec- tionable nature. The Indianapolis Commercial Club has laid before the Board of Public Works in that city a resolution expressing the opinion that is was unfortunate that any portion of the public buildings or bridges of the city should be let for advertising purposes. Two boys were arrested in Kansas City, for posting bills on the telephone poles there. They were not in the employ of Mr. Hudson, but were doing the work * surreptitiously for the Lincoln Tea Co. The boys were discharged as the antkori- ties were unable to locate the agent of the Tea Company, who was really the guilty party. SUCCESS ASSURED. Dashawar: —Jagway has just invented a new cocktail. 1 saw him yesterday and I guess it*s going to lie a success Clrivrton : —What did he say about it ? Da.shaifay: —He couldn't talk.— Life. The following little story shows con- clusively the attitude of the public toward theatrical attractions which " bill ": Wm. R. Hayden, who is managing Stuart Robson this season, is the man who first "circused" Shakespeare. He was an old showman, and he hit upon the plan of advertising Shakespearean plays as if they were so many Jumbos, fat men, or broken neck freaks. He spread thous- ands of miles of dead wall with Othello and Iago in the "quarrel scene," Hamlet on the platform at Elsinore, arid Richard and Richmond battling to a finish on the Bosworth downs. Tom Keene, the trage- dian, was the star of this "circus" scheme of Hayden's, and people flocked to the theater, brought hither by Mr. Hayden's spectral lithographs, to see who this star could possibly be. Keene, who was then in his prime and vigor, was sufficiently robust to capture the hoi polli, and he made a fortune. Mr. Hayden and Keene differed as to who was responsible for the success of "circusing" Shakespeare, but the popular impression went abroad that Billy Hayden and his Shakespearian "circus poster" made Tom Keene. \ That this happened long ago has no bearing, as the feeling is as strong to-day if not intensified. This fact is abundantly proven by the success of all shows which ara well billed. George H. Meade, has appointed adver- tising agent of the Chicago Great Western Ry., -with headquarters in Chicago. His duties will be broader than those of the ordinary advertising agent, as he will have charge of all affairs of the road con- nected with advertising, including office signs, etc. In addition to the title of ad- vertising agent he -will hold an entirely- new title, never before known among railroad officials, which is "chief of the department of publicity," which title covers the duties not usually attached to the advertising agent's office. A correspondent writes as follows : " I have had rather an unfortunate experience with bill posters. On a recent tour I found that paper left at six different towns had been only partially posted and that two of the firms had sold what they did not post to the manager of a rival attraction." With all due respect to our informant we wish to state that none of the six were bill posters. They are a bastard sort of vermin, who are masquerading as bill posters. As a type they are almost extinct, but occasionally one meets with them even yet. We would like to have the names of all of them. It would afford us great pleasure to take a few falls out of them. ^ h^I^^mA««Am Bright Ideas IN YOUR ADVERTISEMENTS Will draw the public to you and to what you have to sell. You may -write good ads yourself, but -with my assistance your ads wiil be better. The better the ads and the more convincing they are, the more goods they will sell—that's certain. 1 charge $1.00 each Tor writing ads, sometimes more, and will submit my work for your approval before asking payment if you say so. Let me help you to make your ads better. CHARLES A.WOOLFOLK, 446 West Main Street, " Make Your Business Grow." LOUISVILLE, KY. When you write, mention BUlboard Advertising. 1 ■» < v •»■»■ DENVER NOTES. Smith Turner, agent of 'Tast Mail," was here, and played Denver week of December 2d. ' Mr. John Moran, traveling agent, repre- senting the Kohler Manufacturing Co., of Baltimore, Md., was with us in Denver this past month, dnd will visit Pueblo and Colorado Springs on his way West We highly recommend him to all bill posters. Mr. Hogle representing J. P. Primley, Chicago, Ills., manufacturer of Primley's Pepsin Gum, was in Denver with five salesmen^' and, checked up his paper in Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs, and was highly pleased. Mr. Hogle is a rust- ler and one of the best advertisers who visits this section of the countrv. The English Syndicate Shows, owned by Wm. Sells, Rentfrow & Holton, ran into winter quarters last week, in Denver, and will be all ready to start on their merry tour in the Spring. John Moore, the prince of all hustlers, is piloting at the head of Chas. E. Schil- ling's Minstrels, on his way West. The only trouble with Moore is, he carries a cane and tries to explain to every bill poster how to post bills or hang litho- graphs. In the hereafter he may know bitter. Chas. E. Schilling's Minstrels are doing a big business through Colorado. They opened the season this last month in Denver. Opposition in Salt Lake City. Auderson Bros, have controlled the bill posting situation for some time, but now they are contested in the field by a new company, under the control of Peter Elliott. The competition has been lively, and both companies have been hustling, and now both have commenced to resort to building boards on the same lots, shut- ting in the other fellows, and such little things as that. Some bill posters hate opposition like the devil hates holy water. Claude Robinson, of McLeansboto, Ills.,, combines bill posting with sign writing. Clarence E. Runey, of Waukegan, Ills., who has done much toward the orgariiza- of the Inter-State Bill Posters Association, is editor of the Waukegan Journal. Democrats read a democratic paper, and republicans read a republican paper, but everybody reads the posters on the wall. Associations, like trade unions, when they attempt to run counter to the great. principles involved in. the law of supply and demand, are as powerless as a toy boat in a maelstrom. Charles S. Fee, G. P. A. of the Northern Pacific Ry., takes exception to the new poster issued by the Southern Pacific Ry., wherein St. Paul is represented by an ice: berg, and Los Angeles by an orange-tf ee.