The billboard (July-Dec 1896)

H BILLBOARD ADVERTISING. In regard to the questiou as to whether fakirs should be obliged to pay in ad- vance, it seems to us that there is too much leniency on the part of secretaries toward traveling or transient fakirs. Secretaries of County Fairs as a rule, are goodnatnred, easy going men, while the fakir is generally speaking, a man who will do yon if he can. They plead poverty and poor bnsiness, and just at the last moment, like the witches in Macbeth, they make themselves air. They are used to it Many of them come to a fair never intending to pay a penny. With local people buying privi- leges, credit may go. But if the secre- tary wants to do bnsiness in the right way he will make the foreign fakir fork up in advance. Don't be unmanned if a cheap Johnnie protests his poverty. "If you have tears" don't let them get the better of you. Insist on the coin before you let his royal fakirship on the grounds, and' you will get it. Nine out of ten of them will go down into their pockets and fish up a roll of bill that will surprise you, and rather than go away, pay in advance. . The experience of the many .secretaries is, that these fellows do them year after yeiar, and unless they get the money in the first instance they never get it at all. ^The General Admission Ticket. .. One of the most important questions requiring a correct solution is the General Admission Ticket. What style of a ticket shall it be? Where will it be had ? What assmance is there that duplicates will not be struck off? And on the question of tickets it may be said that a ticket which may give entire satisfaction to the committee for a chicken pie sociable, is likely to prove unsatisfactory to the secretary of a fair. In the fair business it is necessary to have a ticket that can, first, be counted quickly; second, be sold quickly. The ordinary country printer has not got the facilities for furnishing this kind of a ticket To be sure he can print "Admit One," etc. on any number of pieces of card board, but this is not what the fair manager needs. He needs a ticket that he knows is accurately counted when he gets them. An attraction that cannot fail to prove a success on Children's Day, is that of littie Charlie Kinzer, of Canton, Ohio, with his trotting dogs. Charlie is a thoroughly up-to-date kid and has suc- ceeded in training one of his dogs "Sheppe," down to ^-mile in i 21. Pneumi.tic sulkies and fine trappings make this a good attraction. He has five of these canine campaigners. Kennedy Brxis., of Bloomington, HI, have an educated pair of running steers. They are booking as special fair attrac- tions. - ■ The Doubt Family, under the manage- ment of Frank K. Davis, Rock Island, ULi is a musical organization ready to sign as an attraction. -"^ One of the things that every fair man- ager ought to have is a self-locking, self- registering turnstile, such or similar to the ones in use at the World's Fair. One of these turnstiles is su£5cient for the ordinary county fair, and with its use there comes to the secretary a peaceful feeling of security that can be obtained in no other way. A turnstile makes a dishonest gate- keeper-into a useful and honest man for a week at least, and will more than pay for itself the first year. It is a sure cinch on ticket brokering by the gatekeepers. / The above cut represents a ticket that cannot be surpassed. It is the notched strip ticket, manufactured by the Globe Ticket Co., of Philadelphia, Pa. These tickets come in rolls, each roll containing exactiy 1,000 tickets, consecu- tively numbered from 1 to 1,000, and so rolled that ticket number 1,000 reels off first, thus enabling the greatest possible accuracy and convenience in accounting for tickets. The roll of tickets revolves on a reel which is screwed to the table or wall. They are a good thing. The old style of ticket wants to be laid on the shelf as out of date. The following is an extract from a pa- per written by R. A. Elter, secretary of the Green County (Wisconsin) Fair, on the subject of Premiums: In the various classes comptising the ladies' departments, I wish to make one stip^gestion. It appears to be the custom of most of the societies to pay a premium of from one dollar to two dol- lars for first premium and ahout fifty cents to onedoUar forthesecoiid premium. Thisaffords a splendid opportunity to professionals who make it a business to follow, the fairs and exhibit their jjoods Of late years this has been done to a considerable extent, and while it is true that they make c. splendid display, it is hardly fair to the local Indies It has a tendency to discourajie them, and thereby the real object of the society is thwarted. I would therefore recommend that all professionals be prohibited from entering: in these departments, and that each society offer a special premium for the best general display by professionals. In the boys and girls' depart- ment, I would recommend that a third premium be offered, even if the total premiums be not increased. I would reduce the first and second so as to make the third. ^Ve made this chantEC two years ago, and we found that it pleased the little folks very much, and that our entries in these departments were more than doubled last year. The amount of premiums in these two departments is not of as much importance as the number. Every premium received, be it ever so small, pleases and encourages the ex- hibitors, and they are the ones upon which will depend the display of future fairs. I have given you my opinion regarding classes and depart- ments upon which premiums should be in- creased, and will now endeavor to point out instances whereby' some of us, at least, might economize. The examination of ten premium lists of last year's fairs shows premiums offered to the amount of nearly $400 for the best displays of farming implements. Now, while I do not con- tend for a moment but that it is perfectlj- proper, and in fact an essential feature, to have a dis- play of farm machinery at an agricultural fair, I do insist upon a display. Many of you will no doubt agree with me, that since the manufac- turers of threshing machines, engines, harves- ters and binders have agreed among themselves hot to exhibit at any of our fairs, our displays in this line have been a farce. The few plows, drags, etc., which are usually exhibited by the local dealers, are not worth a dollar to the fair. And, under these circumstances, I would abolish the caish premium and offer diploma in place. The same ten premium lists also offer abont $400 in premiums to manufacturers of carriages, buggies, etc. This is another instance where we might economize. The manufacturers of these goods can afford and will exhibit them without the cash premium. Likewise can the merchants, with their various display.s. also the manufacturers of pianos, organs, .sewing - ma chines, etc. The society that erects and main- tains a building for their use ana furnishes from i.coo to 10,000 people daily during the fair to examine and inspect these goods, does more for them than the small cash premium that -me can afford to offer. They, themselves, I believe, are willing that we should use this money elsewhere especially so if we can demonstrate to them that we can use it to increase the attendance. I am also of the opinion that the various societies of the state pay out annually quite a large sum of jnoney to articles that are really unworthy. I find that in fifteen classes of our premium list last year, consisting of 513 different lots, there were 112 lone entries, without any competition whatever. It goes without saying that each of the 112 was awarded first premium, regardless of merit. It is fair to presume that somewhere the same ratio will apply to the other fairs of the state. If so, this demonstrates the fact that thousands of dollars in premiums were paid last year by the fairs of Wisconsin to articles that were not compelled to compete. Some of the societies have adopted a rule instructing com- mittees to pass without award all articles which in their judgement are unworthy. All who have tried this rule are ready to pronounce it a failure. The committees will not enforce it, and it is hardly fair to except it of them. In view of this fact, I would recommend that one of the conditions of entrj- in all classes where no entry fee is charged be that all articles with- out crompetition Ije entitled to 50 per cent, of first premium only. To the Editor of Bil.i.boaiu> Adtsktistro : The Rhode Island State Fair Association has projected an amusement idea of magnitude and novelty for iu forthcoming fair in September next. This is a series of bona fide balloon races on each day of the fair. In addition to a guar- July, 1896. antee to each aeronaut making a successful as- cension, two hundred dollars per day will be awarded In prizes. It is contemplated to start off ten lialloons each day. The affair piomUe'i to be highly .successful and enterprising. Aeronauts can reap glory and profit through this nice. The entry list will lie open until July 10. KiiouH Island Statis Fair Association. FAIR NOTES. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. In answer to the questions in .the last issue of Billboard Ad\^rtisin(j. 1. How do you manage the Helper's Ticket problem? 2. Who ought to come into the gate free? The following from the Lone Star State will be of interest: Bditor Billboard Advertisino, ' • Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir—I have been a xubscriber to your magazine for some months. I like it. Think it is the best thing of the kind in the United States. I enclose short contribution to your "Fair Notes" and may send others from time to time. I hope this feature will produce a decided suc- cess. 1. We allow one owner's and two helpers' tickets to each horse, but require payment of stall rent before ticVets are issued. Even with this liberal allowance horsemen sometimes kick and clamor for more. I think that one, or at the very most two tickets for each hotse would be sufficient. If a rule of this kind was enforced mauy of the "hangers on ■ who are objectionable to the fair managers as welt as to the better class of horsemen, might be gotten rid of. 2. My opinion is that none but active working officers of the .Association should be admitted free. I think it would be better for the fairs and for the newspapers to do away with the complimentary {.asses. Let the Fair Associa tions pay the newspapers for all the advertising they do, and the newspapers pay the Associa- tion for their tickets. This in the end would prove satisfactory- to both parties I am pleased to see you have started your column of Fair Notes. Think it will prove interesting and beneficial to all persons iuter- esteJ in County and State Fairs. Yours truly, L. K. Tarver, Sec. Bell County (Texas) Fair Association. More improvements have been made on the Chippewa Falls (Wis.) fair groimds than on any other in the State in the last two years. The merchants of the city took the matter in hand and interested the County Board in the improvements, and with their assistance made large ad- ditions. The location is a beautiful one, and with the new buildings presents a fine appearance. The County Fair meets September 14-16, and is followed for three days by the Northwestern Wiscon- sin fair, which is a union of several coun- ties. The attendance promises to be large. J. H. Johnson is superintendent of speed at the Bushnell fair, Bushnell, 111. $Jo,oao in premiums is offered by the new circuit, consisting of Wyoming, 111., Spring Valley, Kewanee and Prine- ton C B. Riggs is General Superin- tendent of the Saybrook (111.) fair. Marion C. Reiter, secretary of the Fulton County fair, Rochester, Ind., claims that they have the best half-mile track in northern Indiana. It has a pace record of 2:16 by Deck Wright, owned by Dan Hisey, of Rochester, Ind "The Eastern Farmers' CamivsJ" in a catchy headline evolved by John Guild Muir- heid, secretary of the great Inter-State fair at Trenton, N. J « ■' July, 1896. BILLBOARD ADVERTISING. IS America's Famous Death Defying AERONAUTS. LeROY SISTERS. Justly styled the Dauntless Queens of the Air Now arranging dates with the leading Parks, Summer Resorts, Fairs, Celebra- tions, etc., for single and double BALLOON ASCENSIONS, Balloon Races, Sensational Night Ascen- sions, all with Parachute Leaps. The greatest drawing attraction in America, Notice to Managers: We furnish everything complete, take all chances on weather and property and guarantee every a.scension as per agreement or don't ask a cent of your money. Furnish all kinds of printing. For terms and particulars, address lehoy sisters. Billboard Advertising, Cincinnati, O. THE MNETEENTH ANNUAL PAIR of PEPIN GO. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY will be held at Durand,Wls., Sept. 33, 24 & 35. 1896. We have the best half-mile traok in the State, pleasant grounds, good accommodations bU 'round, and always have a successful Fair. p. J. RYAN, Pres'L J. J. MORGAN, Sec SECRETARIES! If you want to make your Fair a success, use Advertising Novelties. Puzzles, Money, Duck Caps, Fire Crackers, Advertising Soap, Gum Labels, and a thousand and one tilings. Send for prices and samples, quick. For references, John Guild Muirhead, Secretary, Interstate Fair, Trenton, N. J. "Write him as to our goods. He has tised them for years. Palmeris Novelty Adv. Co., BROOKLYN, N. Y. Entry Books and Account Books FOR Fair Managers* My Books Fit the Btisiness. Pull out of the rut and ride on the rail. The old system was good enough in Noah's day, but there has been an idea or two even in this business since he was secretary of The First County Pair. Send for Sample Leaves,. PRIVILEGE RENTERS, Attention. Fair of the BERKSHIRE Agricultural Society occurs at Pittsfleld, Hass.. Sept 15 to 17. 1896. Space 8 ft. in depth, at |i.oo per front foot. Fair open evenings. Write at once to LUTHER L. ATWOOD, Supt. of Rentals, PITTSFiELD MASS. If you want to pay $5.00 for a good thing. Ass't Sec'y Wis. State Fair. MAOISON, WIS. The Pickaway Breeders' Association Company. State Fair and Races—Cireleville, Ohio. July 21, 22, 23. and 24, 1896. W. E. HORRIS, Pres't. W. S. SMITH, Treas. A. J. GRIGSBY, See'y. EXCELLENT RACES. LARGE PURSES. A Great Fair Attraction. Kemp$i$ter$ l)ippoarome ana li)M (Ue$n Congress of fancy ana Kougb Kiders and Crack Sbots. a. p. KEMP, ManaetnE Proprietor. Permanent Address. EL PASO, ILL. RIVILEQES Parties desiring any of the pri- vileges of the Mcintosh Agricul- tuial So. Fair will please write to C. F. tANMAN. Sec'y, Mcintosh, Minn. Stevens Point, Wis. AUGUST 25-27,1896. We want special attractions. We want bids for wheel, pool and other privileges. GEO. E. OSTER, Sec'y. c c o i i § .1 o ^ I 55 f S <3 Ji ^ M. g.ARTH AT.^„.: ^ I .0 I Ok 9 1 P 3 3 c Ok ^ B M s > 3 M