The billboard (July 1911)

Vol.XXin. No. 26. CmCIKNATI—NEW YORK—CHICAGO July 1, 1911. Expositions in Their Amusement Aspects By CLAUDE L. HAGEN. . E.\)Mi9liiuuii wltbout question are tbe most iDivrasting mm attractive forms or alvenion fur eutertainmeDt, Instruetlreiiesa and Interest to -the class *aDd mass ever devised. Buatcesti men. mauiiractarerK, :aDa ttie consumers Join \toeetlier for a mutual benefltreacn trying to give and se- cure the most tbey can for tbe least cost, and all with a view of booitinE'the territory In. which tbey are- ihteresred. and all thlii can be dooe with a prollt If properly conceived and executed by honest and ex|ierlenced men. It ml^t be tboneht that buabness mea,' politlclaas, contractors, archi- tects, engineers, etc.-, who have retired, or are not very busy, wonid be the Ideal persons, and would be only too slad to get In hatness to con- duct an exposition, for a few months for tbe honor and glorir of tbe town and the welfare of the young follra. But no. The best men are those who ate the busiest, that have the great- Mt responsibilities, who turn down big proposi- tions, as tney have not the time to consider them—mm who do tiUngs. But an exposition, tbe band playing amidst flying flaga and ban- ners, tbe crowds, the seat of honor, "Fellow citliens," etc. Tben the president and the governor, tbe banquet and the "ahs" and "ohs." Well, what liVB wire could resist? So that when Cincinnati, O., decided, after having the first exposition in this country, to have the last one to dale, tbey selected a busy man for president, the direct connected tension Joist ont of the factory, Robert E. Reynolds. Then he made a lot of direct connections to otiier live ones, and turned on the switch. Tben tbings began to bum In tile old Springer Mnsic Hall. A few years ago, Theodore Boosevelt sounded tbe first tocsin for the Improvement of the Olilo RJter, tie only river In the world which is navigable from its month to Its source (some- times). So. Cincinnati decided to have a "blow- ol" to celebrate tlie closing of the largest mov- able dam in the world, located a few miles below "s.clty—one of the many ImUdlng, and to be bollt. at a cost of sixty million dollars, which win make tbe ObI6 Biver navigable at all sea sons'of the year. Tben 'tlie live ones got busy on a guarantor's fnOd. and when finished, bad nearly $500,000 guaranteed by the business men ot Cincinnati and the railroads entering therein. It was decided to call It The Ohio Valley Expo- sition, to open August 2», and exhibit tour weeks,' During,this preliminary work, the writer was engaged as technical director of the New Theatre. New York City (let us hope It will soon mold into a regular theatre with experi- enced' and . bonest management). And therein one- day 'walked Oie live wire firtjm Clhcionaii and asked, would the T. D. object,to being asso- ciated with the O. V. E. I assured.him I would iiae a conjunction, so we soon arranged details. Alter attending' to'some preliminary details , of the _opcra Paoletta, I reported in Cincinnati April 5, 1910. . ' In tbe meantii^e various committees had been Dusy on plupa^ I found that the plans were made to nse the public park across the street tiom the exposition buildings.'" This I did , not approve of, as the only* means of connection was .^'J?^* by bridge.. I, was ixipiveeted with the Fall Festival In 1908. and observed that after Tisitora crossed the bridge. whieh''was a aif ?""^y •'W not return freely., So" 1 set aoout to make plana whereby every dolnt of in- terest would be visited freely, with rt-si places and ilivprtlog subjects. The permanent .exhibi- tion biilldlngs faced Elm Street: the .rear faced rium Street. whlcTi was 130 f.'et wide, through thp .enter of which ran a canal.40 feet. wide, known as "The Rhine." I planned to place ex- rl } . buildings on each side of the canal In 6b«l form covered with steel.. .Tliose wprc 30 f«'t wide. 12 feet high at back and 32 teet.hlgb »t '-nnal edge; {he supporting posts-were set bai-k two\ti-|pt 'fifOM,-«e-«Klge of tjic. canal with ach forming..n ledge; o'n s In Ijoxe^ were placed, anal Iwing covered with lattice to tbe' top of the Imxcs .con- " MM at the 15tb Str^t l<-1>nllt to stop all TllbHsb n - „ .1-. U>f , dairy .exhibit of tiie French- fk"'"-!,'^'?'*' '"^''"' ^'I> l'«0 feet on both sides, ibou 'tui* nufouinblle' and motor boats. , which «o l*** Street bridge, imdqr fUlfb tile Tlsltom.passed..tn, a Jars|e jejt place and Poultry Building, Texas Cotton Palace,' Waco, Texas. and garden filled with beautiful flowers In bloom, with gravel wslks. fountains, etc.. with bridges provided to cross the canal. This space was a hundred feet along tbe canal opposite tbe rear of the pi.-rmanent machinery hall. Next came the Fire Fighters on Ship and Shore, a new gigantic fire spectacle, the grand- stand seating 1,800 arranged with doable ar- cade nndemeath same for a passage way, booths, etc. The stand was at tbe rear ot Music Hall and was one of the first tilings Imilt and its floors and seats contained boxes In 'WUCb flowers extending over tbe canal at. sufficient height to allow boats to pass anderneath. tJnder the seats on the east side was a large arcade arranged so that all the small ponies and carriages used by tbe lUIputlan circus were on exhibition to the public, and also a bally-hoo for the show. Runways extended from the arcade to the west end of the stage. Tbe parade was formed In the ari!ade and driven up the runs to the stage, where the performance started. There was no roof or cover over tbe grand-stand, only flags and streamers. Tbe stage was covered with Mr. Claude .L. Hag^n, well known exploiter of Big City Fairs and Expoaltionsj, and vines were growing, for decorations. The grand-stand extended' from' the' rear of 'Music Hall to tbe curbstone ot the street, which was paved. The fire show buildings were constructed along the edge of the canal and in..the canal. On a canal "lidat was built a fuHisized ocean steamer, wiilch, during the actio*'-of«fhe show, took Bre from^ an explosioii-and;,was then pulled out while' the fife tugs were playing their streams on It. The flames from the ship started the building on the wharf afire, this fire -being put out by regular firemen after they rescued the Inmates.. Next to the Fire Show was ^ garden. -Vt .the rear of the Fire" Show on the opposite side of the canal was a promenade 450. feet long^ cov- ered with vines and' filled with seats, cl^air;,, restaurant, booths, etc.; for the familyj'folkSi This i)romenade ;also cared for the' circulation of .visitors lon tbe*we«' side -of. the«csiiali <i^Next came tbe Hippodrome Building, seating l.SOO. halt a tent, the high pointTfqwatiJ'^the audlen.cc,' supported from poles eacli.slde: " UndecMthS a^age was built a grotto. > » '-' '' ; ;i '•'.- Next to the Hlppodrouie caine a'garden: iTlien tbe Swiss Chalet building- "or . restaurant.- A cafe was upstairs, seating 2,0p{t;.jrene;iunents and ^mall penny concessions downstttfrs; a con Cert stage Jn the' cafe was.sJarge chough to 'accomLm6date>''a-troupe .of" JSnssian dancers and other -entertainers. ■ The-. whole place .was. cov- ered With'flowerSj hanging baskets; vings, trees, etc., with large balconies on the end facing tbe garden; :On-tbe,east ,alde of the garden was the aquatic show, known as The Sea Nymphs, which contained a' bevy of iieaatifol "divine :girla vbo ai^ared and .dissj^ared at.rWlIl In' tbis iepth. of watiaa.- "'Wli«c" ' do^tlifey. come . from?" ■.V^Wheie'dO'tbeRg6?'*.waB'lbe.'<ibestl6ni i '- ;;'' • 'I^avliil^' ttii^ cafe^^o^^^^ ^ Tfsltorsi ipassed nndemeath ; ae^'' < 12tb^ - Street bridge- Into the mereantlle exUblts, SOO ' feet long, on botb-sides of tbe•caiul. In the-center was an island In the CSnsli which widened out at this point. This .tmilding was .tifaed coh- strnction as first one desalbed. - The-faces «r all the sheds were provided with awnings as also wag the roof of tbe restsiirant biilldlng. Bridges to cross the canal were provided at solt- ahle places, all treated with flowers, vines .'and . trees. After the Mercantile Building came a turn In the canal, leaving a block between the builiiing and Elm Street, which was treated as a sunken garden, the canal floored over .300 feet,'tvlU<^ formed a place for an airsUp, which ascendM daily. This platform or floor was also a landiiig place for tile varlona jnotor. boats, ieoixdolaiil'etc.* ' wbieh plied the canal from end to end oT balld- ings, carrying passengers, musicians, singelta, etc., on tbe Island. In tbfe Mercantile BuUdinjg were Infant Incnbators. So It will be noted that there were only four amassment attraction,' all so situated that they did not interfere wltii eadi other, and all did capacity business. 'Wheq vis- itors became tired of walking there ■ma^ an In- viting place of rest and amusement h'andy. In Music Hall was produced at an expense of : $70,000. Paoletta, an opera composed 'by Paul Jones of the Strobridge Uthographlng Co.: music by Floridia. Moat ail tlie music was sung and played by Cincinnati talent. Tblnk of the pride of tliese oennle to do Jinch things, and yet It was not supported . and .caused -tlie only loss daring tbe' exposition. It Is partly explained by Presfdent Reynolds, who wiis: the prime mover in this','as' in evei^tbing. tiiat when the'music was-flrst-^ sketched .it bad a beautiful theme in it eqiial to The Merry Widow 'nralta or Madame Sherry.'.and that, dating the development of the -music this. ' theme was obliterated. All of. which teaches as this lesson, that no matter'how great may be-the Interest through civic pride tbe mass will not support , tbings tliat-do- not iotereat them. Tbe writer, although engaged as technical di- rector and director ofamaaements of tbe O. V; B.. was Intrusted-tv execute his plans and Ideas of the buildings and as superintendent of construction did personally 'direct' and e'xecute same, signing all- vouchers' and' auditing nay rolls, etc. For 'this -porposo- 'a separate office on tbe grounds was ^ estalillBhed. cadled .the -.der partment-of wor.ks, with.two architects,, book? keeper and assistant..' stenographer -and' -time.- keepers. One man was employed only- to measure In lumber , and-mate^al and keep':ea,ch. Job snnplled. No attempt was made .to.-keep track of material on ekctajlob, l>d$:.'laliO,r waSi. Atter the bniiding waa- flnUncd It^nutena'-ira^ tben checked up. three vouchers weee.lfisned for every order, of-'-matertal. One went ta:rlie dealers, one to tbe auditor and one retained, in the office before tbe bills were paid, to wldcli must be at- tached the' voucher; it was approved by the material men who received same, the bookkeeper who entered-same..; and myself.- When payrolls -Were made up separate checks ivere Issued--to-each naine by. the bank, .wbioh acted 'as 'treasurer." Whe'n .the men were to be paid, two' meii were sent from the Innk. one with the Individual checks, tbfe.other with money to cash same. The -checks - wfere .dl^tributeil to the men-on the Job'Inr time keepeftC JAs eacn man came up. to.lhfc-pajL-wlndow-.he~*odorsea5i.w bis check, banded it lii,.aiid.at.th« next window received'his, money In'casn. Bach btilldlng was in charge of a superintendent, who in turn em- ployed a foreman, who_in turn employed work- men. The grea't'est trouble I had .was. with :or- ganized lalx^r. and often changed a. whole build- ing plan to a'void trades making trouble. But there were man.v good, lo.val. honest men. Once during mv absence from tbe works a strike was called that caused a loss ot $900 in wages to the men In one da.v. yet this tronlile was fixed by the payment of $20 by one of the superintend- ents. From these employiees can be selected good attendants- and watcbmeii,;darlng tbe exposition. It is best to have' men who are "familiar -wltb each other and';- the- '.grounds.-.1 .We ran , a four- inch line of water pipe on each side of the ca- nal ;fuir length of gtonnda. At the end of., each length of jiipe we pnt In^a tee with which con- nections could be made'any place: 'niese^.idpes were not nnderground,-but' lay along tbe edge of (Coiitlnaed on page 02.^ Agrlcaltnral Building.. Canadian National Exbl- bitlon; Toronto, Ont.