The billboard (Aug 1911)

AUGUST 5, 1911. The Billboard 5 OPEN-AIR PLEASUR E RESORTS Status of Amusement Parks in Wheeling, W. Va., and Wilmington, Dela., and an Examination of the Merits of Attractions (Tbese are the second Id the series that will appear regularly daring the balance of the park season.) n- a larger business than in any season since be park was opened eight years ago. This la 'ue iu large measure to the fact that A. B. UorrtMU, the manager, and bis associates, all ,( whom are idcntlded with the city's Interests, lave found that in order to make money U ijvi to spend money judiciously in providing he best class of amnsements. This season the park Is playing the best andeville acts from the Orpbeum Circuit In Ur theatre, while numerous free, outdoor at- ractions have also been offered. The vaude- ■il!e is in consequence better than that usually 'ound In the average summer park in a city ,f 150.000 population and the attendance shows hat the people who are seeking summer amuse- ueot appreciate the efforts of tbe pars: man- leement to fnrnlsh a high-class of amusement. On July 25 there was given as the free out- loor attraction an exhibition of fireworks which ttracted a crowd which filled the park, and he theatre was sold out long before the opening lour. For two weeks the Fearless Gregg*, the into nends who loop the loop In midair witli vco autos, furnished the special feature nttrae ton. Hue park has also many special features rulcb are new this season. Besides some trenty-nve or thirty large concessions, and in- umerable smaller ones, the cafe and large ancing pavilion are new. The cafe is man- ned this year by Sidney G. Abbett, formerly unager of the Peabody Hotel Cafe, the leail- iz cafe of tbe city, who has made it a popular lace for dinner parties before and after the heatre. H. Woods is floor manager of the slicing pavilion. The orchestra is also a feature of the park us rear. There are fifteen pieces In tbe thea- re orchestra, under the leadership of John X'. [anson. leader of the old Jefferson Theatre or- iieitra. The orchestra Is spilt In two for tbe ancing, with Ike Eabn as assistant director t the dance orchestra. A feature for the ist few weeks has been singing with the nr lestra, for which several prominent local vo- ilists have been engaged. Louis Carline. treasurer of the Orpbeum The- tre, is theatre ticket-seller for tbe summer sea- m. Louis Is known to every theatre patron in Memphis for his politeness and his accomnio- <tln R manner. The Bate ticket-seller Is Chap e Sloan, who has several assistants on us; ignts. E B. Carroll Is general park treasurer, band- og the receipts from the various concessions i well as from tbe. regular amusement enter- rises. Tbe theatre doorman is Henry Moil. Vannah Taylor, who has been connected wit' irious theatres as advertising agent for five ' six seasons. Is advertising agent and he Is BOOd one. Mr. Taylor la also well known i local musical circles and may reorganiz s male quartet next winter, which made a stinct success two years ago at the Jeffer- n. Among the other well-known men In charge various departments are: Jack Beamish, age manager Will Wlltke. property man: enny Lewis, stage electrician: H. Huddleston. irk electrician: J. Hurt, assistant manager concessions: J. Fletcher, manager of tbe Ice earn and candy booth; and F. F. Sample, irk watchman. Memphis has. besides, fifteen public parks. h. White's Municipal Band of twenty-five •res has been engaged for tbe season to fnr- sh music in five of the larger parks. The in,i piavs Saturday afternoons and Sundays Overton Park to audiences of from five to " thousand people, two nights a week In wt Sqnjre, in the center of the downtown ,hT| , . """"""""t «he other nights at other irss in the suburbs. Director White has a fine body of musicians and may bold them together for an early fail concert tour of the South, having received a number of offers. Fritz Horn Lake Park Is being kept open for boating, fishing and bathing, and large crowds are In attendance every Sunday when an orchestra is provided for dancing, although tbe vaudeville and motion pictures were dis- continued early in the season. It was found unprofitable to continue this feature, owing to tbe lack of sufficient car service and the time required to reach the park from the city. ARTHUR J. FORBES. WHEE LING , W. VA. The park business In this vicinity has been nothing to boast of for the past few seasons, and but one is running this season, that being Wheeling Park. . Mozart Park, the hilltop resort, did not open at all this season, and was only open a short time last year; and Coney Islanu has not been open for two years, but the latter was always handicapped by bad transportation facilities. Wheeling Park, designated as "the snot beau- tiful," and it deserves tbe term, opened tbe season May 14, and is drawing as good as could be expected under present Industrial conditions existing in this neighborhood. This park Is owned by the City and Elm Grove Traction Company, and Is leased by the Ohio Valley Amusement Company, of which. Mr. J. A. Moore of Martins Ferry, Ohio, is manager. Musical comedy or vaudeville is eiven each day and evening, and It is an exceptional day when one or more picnics are not given there, either large or small. The park Is located on the City and Elm Grove Traction line, about four miles east of the city, a very pleasant half hour's ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CINCINNATI. - This park with its wealth of shade trees and beautiful lawns. Is the finest of the Queen City's pieasur ■ retreats. This season the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is rendering a musical program twice dally. A few years ago the parks were not molested in the sale of liquor on Sundays, but since they are not allowed to sell at all on that day. It has put a big crimp Into the receipts, as the sale of liquor was tremendous on a Sunday, and there Is no way of making up the deficit. ride from the heart of the city. Tbe roller coaster, the largest concession on the place, Is controlled by Mr. Harry w. Rogers, the able manager of the Apollo Theatre of this city, and the bar and bowling alley privilege is run by Mr. Edward Muhn, a very popular young man, also of this city. These are tbe only con- cessions not run by tbe park management them- selves. WILMINGTON, DEL., PARKS. Never before In the history of this city have our local parks been as up-to-date as they an this season. During the fall and winter and spring months men have worked and trans- formed tbe pleasure resorts Into attractive- places. Especially may this be said of Brandy- wine Springs Park, located five miles from this city. The ride on the cars of tbe People's) Railway Co. Is Indeed a delightful one. The park Is filled with historic points closely asso- ciated with the struggles incident to the Revo- lutionary War. It is replete with amnsements. all of which are popular-priced. The most popular Is the -Manhattan Opera Co.. under tbe. management of Mr. Robert Kane. For a park aggregation this company Is far above the aver- age, and tbe soloists and comedians are of t^rst water. Comic opera and musical comedy an given, with a change of bill weekly and a matinee on Thursdays. The company numbers twenty-five people and no drones, and in con- nection a first-class orchestra of nine pieces plays the entire performance. This week's bra Is the ever-popular Bohemian Girl. Tbe large and picturesque lake has been trans- formed into a water village. Japanese In effect, with bridges spanning It. villas built In It and a large and commodious dance hall In the center, make it a beauty spot, especially at night. Other amusements Include: tbe great racing automobiles, the scenic railway, the popular merry-go-ronnd. boating on lake and creek, the largest skating rink in Delaware, tbe fascinat- ing toboggan, an np-to-date restaurant, a motion picture theatre, the standard swings, Japanese ping-pong and arrow target, photograph gal- lery, pool, snuffle-boards and bl'llards, the fun- oy Katzeniammer Castle, mutoscope parlors, box-ball alleys, bow and arrow targets, taffy candy (made on tbe spot), ice cream pavilion (cream made on grounds), novelty, souvenir and postcard booths, the circle swing, special weighing scales. Gypsy fortune teller. b!eyc» racing game, fruit, candy and peanut stands, baby throw game, rough boose, the striking machine. Sacred concerts are in vogue each Sunday afternoon and evening. An augmented orchestra of twenty pieces and the opera company give an enjoyable program. Special days are also a feature. These include: Baby Show, Dou- bnby Show. Farmers' Day and Grangers' Day; with excursions from nearby states a dally occurrence. At the head of this entire resort is Rtcbard H. Crooks, who by bis supreme exec- utive ability has made this park one of the garden spots of the stste. Strsnge to state, but nevertheless true, this park has been used as a pleasure ground since 1775; being first noted for tbe medicinal valne of Its mineral waters, and even now these health-giving waters are free to all visitors. - SHELLPOT PARK. Sbellpot Park is located Just outside of our city's limits on the Philadelphia Pike. It Is leased by the -Henry & Young Amusement Co.. with James E. Henry as manager. The -cars of the Wilmington & Philadelphia Trsctlnn «••■ run direct to the resort and a rapid schedule is maintained. The-park this year presents a delightful ap- pearance. Thoroughly renovated and with tbonsands of additional incandescent lights artistically arranged, make it a welliligbted re- (Contlnued on page 60). Svno near lake nt end of concession, Fritz Horn Lake I'ark, Memphis, Tenn Steps leading down to bathing beach. Fritz Horn Lake Park. Memphis, Tenn.