Billboard advertising (Jan 1911)

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*iffij JANUARY 7, 1011: The Billboard 5 (EDITOR'S NOTE.—Tbla U <t» second tiutillmeiit o( tbc hlitorj of the Htm of famous showmen. Last week were published revlewi of the careen of P. T. Barnum, James A. Bailer. Adam Forepancb, I. A. Van Amburcb, Jobs Boblnsoa, and Jsmes L. Hutcblnaon.) Admittedly one of the greate t clowns that ever pranced on the hippo- drome track was Dan Rice. "Col. Dan," as he was affectionately known, was born in New York City, at the corner of Mulberry and Chatham streets, Jan. 25, 1823. At an early age, Dan was employed as a milk peddler, delivering milk to the customers of his employer. Wearying of that business, Dan drifted to Pitts- burg, and became a stable boy, race rider and hack driver. He began his life as a showman by exhibiting an educated pig. Upon the death of the learned porker, Rice returned to. the turf. In 1839, he joined Old John Robinson's Circus, and won a dancing contest for a prize of $50 against Ed. Davis. His dramatic debut was made in December, 1839, in a spectacle at the Museum, St. Louis. In 1841 he organized a min- strel troupe in Pittsburg. In Octo- ber of the same year he appeared at the Masonic Hall, under the man- agement of H. A. Paylor, uncle of P. T. Barnum. Soon after he was engaged by Dr. Spaulding, of cir- cus fame, to do a clown act, sing comic songs, appear in feats of strength, perform a negro part, and undertake to whip any three men who offered to meet him after the tent was down; he also drove a four-horse team, all for $15 a month "and keep." In 1847-48, Dr. Spauld- ing paid him $1,000 a week. In 1844 he was at the Bowery Amphi- theatre, New York, under the man- agement of John Tryon. During the season of 1845 h * toured with Seth B. Howe's show. In i860 he went South with a steamboat show, getting out of Dixie "by the skin of his teeth," at the breaking out of the Civil War. He appeared at the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadel- phia, in March, 1862, in the face of an angry mob who doubted his loy- alty. Dan Rice received his title of "Colonel" at the hands of President Taylor, and was a member of his personal staff. At the breaking out of the rebellion, Col. Rice was ac- tive . in raising the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers from Erie County. After the war, he erected a handsome monument to the memory of the patriotic dead, at Erie, Pa. He developed the best trained horse the world probably ever knew, the stone-blind, milk-white stallion, Excelsior. He purchased the Paris Pavil- ion after it returned to America, and sent it en tour, introducing a novelty in management by having as an attache a press agent with the show in the person of the late David S. Thomas. In 1882 he visited California with John Robinson. For several seasons, at the outset of Adam Fore- paugh's career, he commanded the salary of $1,000 per week. He died in Long Branch, N. J., February 22, 1900. To have spent over fifty years under the white tops, was the record of Louis B. Lent. His first engagement in the circus field was in 1834. when he became agent with June, Titus and Angevine's Menagerie. In.August of the same year he purchased an interest in I. R. and W. Howe's Menagerie, which was considered one of the best in the country. From 1835 to 1838, inclusive, he was co-partner in Brown and Lent's Circus, traveling by steamboat on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and exhibiting in New Orleans, Natchez, St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati and Pittsburg. From 1839 to 1842, inclusive, he became again associated with June, Titus and Angevine's Menagerie and Circus. In 1843 he be- ame a partner in and manager of Rufus Welch's National Circus, and the following year was co-partner in Sands and Lent's American Circus, which exhibited in England. He returned to America in 1845, and be- came again a partner in and manager 1 f Rufus Welch's National Circus. During the next three years, he was co-partner and manager in three dis- tinct shows, all newly fitted out—Van Amburgh's Menagerie, Sands, Lent and Company American Circus, and June, Titus and Angevine's Menag- erie and circus. The season of 1849 he passed in California. The fol- lowing two years he was again a partner in and manager of Rufus Welch's National Circus. In 1852- 53 he was partner with Seth B. Howes and P. T. Barnum, and manager of Barnum's American Museum and Menagerie, exhibiting among other curiosities, General Tom Thumb, and ten elephants. During the next three years, he was a partner with Rufus Welch, in the National Theatre and Circus in Philadelphia, Pa. The show was announced as Welch's National Cir- cus and L. B. Lent's New York Circus Combined. Welch's wagons were painted with vermillton, and Lent's ultramarine blue. From 1857 to 1863, inclusive, he managed L. B. Lent's National Circus. The next three years he was proprietor and manager of the Equescurric- ulum, National Circus, Adams* Grizzly Bears, Hurdle Buffalo, troupe of trained dogs, ponies 1 _ monkeys. From 1865 to 1872, in- clusive, in the fall and winter, he managed the New York Circus and the Hippotheatorium, New York City. In 1873-74, he managed the New York Circus, Museum and Menagerie. During 1875, he was railroad agent of Howes and Cush- ing's Circus and Menagerie, and the succeeding year he held a like position with J. M. French's Circus and Menagerie. In 1878, he was manager and railroad agent of the Van Amburgh and Company's Men- agerie, and the following year he was director for Adam Forepaugh, and at the end of the season revived the New York Circus at the Globe Theatre, New York. He died in New York, November 29, 1887. Dr. Gilbert R. Spaulding's first venture in the circus business was through the nedium of a loan of a sum of money to Sam Nichols, a circus manager. Previous to his first circus enterprise, Spaulding was a druggist in Albany, New York. Associated with him in his first circus venture was Charles J. Rogers, a prominent showman. In 1848, the firm of Spaulding and Rogers introduced as a parade feature a forty horse team, driven abreast by one man. It was Dr. Spaulding who in- vented and used quarter poles, eleven tier seats and extra front seats. He introduced these improvements over the old facilities in 1850, during the first tour through New England of the Spaulding and Rogers Circus. The firm then built a floating palace, upon which entertainments were given on the western rivers. In 1851, David Bedwell was admitted to the partnership, and for several years the trio controlled a number of ventures of magnitude in the theatre and tented field. In the spring of 1S62, the firm put up a portable amphitheatre, touring for three years in Brazil, Uruguay, Buenos Aires and the West Indies. In 1867, Avery Smith, Gerard C. Quick, John J. Nathans, G. R. Spaulding and David Bedwell combined in sending to Paris a grand all-star company, to ex- hibit in a unique canvas top, portable wooden structure, built in Albany. (Continued on pa(e 45.)