The billboard (Dec 1911)

DECEMBER 16, 1911. The Bi 1 l b o a i* d 23 the management for tlie entertainment and amusement of the patrons of the Jai Alal. The contests are open to every patron of the rink. In fact, t-ue management urges skaters to enter all contests. pbnxaNT NIGHT. •Many of the large and-popular roller rinks hold what they call Pennant Night fox the ladles. The wearing of a pennant and 10 cents admission will admit any lady all the way. Dancing is given In connection with most of the rinks who hold Pennant Night, and in most cases It has been a most decided success. It also makes a very pretty ■ effect to see pennants of all descriptions pinned on the •arms, coat lapel and In many other positions on the fair damsels who take special delight in trying to outdo the others. DES MOINES (IOWA) SKATING OBAZY. Starting with "the wonderful exhibition of skating and racing by the Racing, Girl, Miss Adelaide ..D'Vorak, who stirred the skaters up to a high pitch by ber grand>skatlng and won- derful speed which , she displayed against the fastest skaters in Des Moines, and followed by moonlight skating party;-rmasked carnival, and novelty events that have been held ever since has set Des Moineg crazy. The last night Miss D'Vorak gave her exhibition and race there were 809 skaters and.,043 paid admissions, or a total of 1452. The 'Moonlight Skate was a grand success and the rink was crowded to the doors, for the people liked to skate by the light of the moon. .The management has de- cided to run another soon. Thanksgiving eve- ning the Mask Carnival was held, and was the best event of its kind ever held in the Iowa city. There were over, .400 masked skaters, in costnane, while 200 more were wearing only the masks. Over 700 spectators paid to witness the grand event. . and some of the antics displayed by' the skaters were truly laughable. Three sessions were given on the day of thanks in order to please the patrons, and In the after- noon session : there were 791- skaters, while the evening 669 skaters were on the floor, and over 400 spectators paid to look on. The next attraction will be a circle contest and will be held December 16. while the first race of the season will 'be skated- on December 8. and will be a novelty pursuit race, which Manager George will introduce to the skaters for J the first time. The first real race will, be held on December 12, and will be an unknown distance, 'somewhere between twenty and forty hours,. This may seem funny to some,of, the skaters, but Manager George Is going'to give the skaters something to skate for. and will make every-contest a con- test worth seeing. . The skiters are gradually becoming members of tlie Western Skating As- sociation, and claim -that before the season is ■over there , will be more records to be recorded for the skaters In Des Moines. Mr. O. *M. Oviatt.'the present two-mile champion, is a very, enthusiastic follower of- the roller game In Iowa and with a few more like him the game would not be lacking in any branch of the great sport. BIG TURRET RAFFLE. There were twelve great, big- fat turkeys given away to the skaters, In ■ a raffle held by the management of Madison Garden's Rink, Chicago, on Wednesday evening, November 29. And oh! what a . crowd present. The lucky ones that took home with them a nice big turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, were In- deed thankful to the management for the very thoughtful idea of giving the patrons a chance to win a real live turkey without having to ac- count to the Chicago Vice and Gambling Com- mittee now in session In the Windy City. . . '"' *. BREAK TRACK RECORD. That great, teijm. x>f skaters, 'Howard Beau- mont and' Ambrose Read, 'again showed in front at the-finish of the 30-mIriute. team race held at » the Sans ! Souci Rink, Chicago, on Friday night. .December fc.before a crowd of over 2,000 skating crazy fans, and broke-, the track record for the. distance, skating nine miles and five laps in the , thirty minutes. .The former time was nine miles even. Carl Carlson and Wm. penning were second, while Pruno Angelica and Leo Kitnm' finished third. There were ten teams who competed in the race and among the other fast speedsters were two of the former crack skaters of the West, namely Nip Mclzer. the midget stenter. and Frankie Neul. also one of the lightest skaters In the came. These two former cracks were out to show the fans that they could come back, especially Melser. who has been out of. the game two seasons, and they were making a grand fight for It until after the nrst fifteen minutes wrre skated when Nenl met with an accident, which put the team out of the running. The showlne mode by these skaters wis very creditable and they will make another start in the next race. INTERESTING POINTERS TO MANAGERS. It lias been som», time since I have written ymi In.regard to the:skating game, but the fact or tit" matter Is that I have been about as busy as anyone In the roller game. I want to tell you what, has been doing along the lines of reviv- ing skating in a city that was supposed to be dead as far as skating was concerned. My rink is located in -the heart of Buffalo, and jnst because the rink was not in the downtown district everybody thought that skating would not be a* go.: Tlgurer tell.-'a 1 different story now, as over 100,000 people have skated at the Casino during, the' year-just closed. We a8 „ on<> of our-chief amusements at the umte .City during the.-summer,or park season, and Independently during -the -balance- of the season. We have only missed ten days of skating during the past year, and have had a. most prosperous season. I was somewhat skeptical about this Tun during the summer season, but to my surprise- it was as large as the winter, season- , The crowds- change, but the fact remains the same, that, once a skater always a skater, which has proven itself .very roreeably to me. All that is-needed Is the right kind of a place, a nice smooth surface, skateskept in good condition, courteous attend- ants, from the manager down to the skate boys; toe .absence of, graft, such as working beginners rpr, private,-lessons at an exorbitant rate; the Inattention of the manager and floor manager to people who are ar little timid at starting out arter a lapse of a year or so on the Tollers. I "are found that it is very essential for . the inaniger, to -see to-it' H>at:-Jiis" patrons. »re .all trented whh the same, courtesy from all ot the employees. , There-' is not ~a minute daring * session that •this, is,not-essential, and leaving tin" matter to a poorly paid instructor as a rule will not do: Tfcey figure that they do so much for the. amount they receive and the patrons will get this amount of attention from ;??'"'.'. Tne worst feature-I-have observed along this' Hue in many of the rinks in this part or the country Is the playing of favorites by employes, while the money patrons as a general rule, can shift for themselves. The skate boy to the floor manager have to be kept under the manager's eye daring any session, as they will neglect, no matter how good they 1 are. This fcas proven to be a fact in all the rinks I ever saw. The place for a manager of-a rink is right out among his patrons, seeing that they get all of the attention they require, and not in the private office entertaining a-few friends during a session. People are alike. In this re- spect, and like the attention from the head of the place. If they feel that they.can bring to the attention of the manager any .discourtesies of the employees, they feel better than if they would have to report It to one of the under managers. If a manager will work every session among his patrons for one -year, he will find out by his experience that he has discovered lots of defects or places where his business has suffered from his help: How little an effort It requires to give them - all a- smile -and' ask them If they are getting along all right. This .wUl.do more than all the advertising you can do, as far as keeping; them coming to you every week. - Yet-how'many managers do not follow this advice. If they will make a try at this sort of boosting for their place, they won't regret -having done so. AVIATION PLAN FOILED BY CUPID. During the aviation meet held in Chicago last August three men watched the-different types of aeroplanes in their wild flight for $50,000 in prizes. One man was beard to say to the other two. one of whom was his man- ager, the other his chum: "There are two things I have never tried yet, one la marriage, the other aviation. Now, I am not-going to try the first game, but I hope , to own my own aeroplane next spring. A few days later the some men were on Lake Michigan bound for Muskegon, where the athlete of the three toped to get a week's rest before taking up his dangerous and strenuous life of racing and '•shooting the chutes" on roller skates. Wnile in- Muskegon he was discovered to be the original Dare Devil. Hamilton, or. as he Is known in private life, Mr. Clarence L. Hamil- ton, bolder of many world's records on the little .wheels. He lived up to his professional record while in Muskegon, oy taking his life in his bands to shoot the chutes into eleven inches of water for an amateuer circus. Ham- ilton was badly smashed up and forced to go into a hospital, in which he remained several weeks. On: his recovery he started managing the Merrill Roller Rink with bis manager, Mr. B. E. Follmer. While there he met a young lady who immediately absorbed his attention to such an extent that from time to time no more was heard of his taking up aviation. Now, Mr. Hamilton Instead of signing a contract with the Wright Brothers to fly for them next spring, siened up with Miss Lorietta Fletcher, who has disarranged all his well-laid plans tor life. The ceremony of signing the important contract took place a few days ago at the home of Mrs. - George H. Stevens. Muskegon. Mich. Hamilton is now in the pbotography business in Muskegon. SKATING PERSONALS AND RINK NOTES. D»s Moines, la.—Mr; Buck Plain, floor man- ager of the Palace Rink, is a great man with the school children of this city. Saturday morn- ing last, during the school children's session, Blick gave the children a special attraction^ He gave them some of his comical skating and plaved the part of Fussy Wuzzy, and the kids are" still talking of : what-, a- great skater old man Buck is, and are wondering If he will ever come back and skate for them. . Winnipeg. Man.—The city council on Novem- ber. 30 appropriated $5,000 for .the entertain- ment of *be Scotch .curlers, who will visit the United States in.-the early part of 1912. _It would be a good thing- for some city In- this country to appropriate a sum of money of proo- ablv' a great deal less for the championship of the world among the rollers. The Vernons, Frank and Lillian: I wish to thank you for the turkey you so kindly sent to me for Thanksgiving Day, and must say I was somewhat surprised upon opening the package. Your kind remembrance will never be for- gotten. I spent a most enjoyable Thanksgiving and was reminded of yon several times. Chicago, III.—Frank Neul. one of the pluckiest speed skaters in this part of the country, made his debut for the season at Sans Souci Rink in company with Nip- Melzar as Ms teammate on-Frlday night last In- the thirty-minute team race. The accident to Neul was the only thing that marred their re-entrance into the game. La Junta, Colo.—Miss Adelaide D'Vorak, the great skating girl, opens a week's engagement starting December 4. Reading, Pa.—-Jesse Carey, who won the twentv-four race in Paris, France, last Decem- ber, Is a very much putont skater. Carey was to receive word from the French promoters when to start, and did not receive his letter of noti- fication until too late to get there, and the race was skated and won by the young Frenchman Nicod who bad dropped out of last year's race and now Carey, oh. well, what's the use. J E. Eckford.—Nothing further has been heard about the proposed match race between vonrsolf and ' Davidson's unknown. Harley Has got a place to hold the race. . Frank Goldie,. the Eastern professional speed skater will hook up In a series of races soon at the Scranton .and Honesdale, Fa.. Tlnks. Goldie is the crack New York skater, and has >» 'fine string of victories to his credit.- - Western Skating Association.—The annual elec- tion of officers for 1912 to be held on Monday night. December 4. in Chicago, will have a slate that has never" before Tieen beaten, if the men nominated by tbe : members at the special meet- ing are elected. Mr. Peter-B. Olsen will be the next president, and a-better, man" <»uld.never have been selected for tbe^offlce than •Mr. Olson. He has been before the people of the city of Chicago for a great many years. He was in the city and county's service for over twenty years, and held the office of county clerk and numerous other positions in that .time. He .Is a great lover of skating and. Ib an old time skater, htmscir. and has been ; an offlcial at all of the big cWv championship meets and local races for many vears. The Board of Control of which eleven active memheTs. from .Chicago are to be elected has among the nominees some of Chi- cago's greatest business men. and- if elected will make one of the strongest associations in the world of Jts kind.- Of course" tha office otSee- rctary-Treasnrer Is only a minor office, and for that reason.-the skaters will nrobably place the present secretary back in office. I wish there were more «nefi'to an these minor offices that understand the vrork well: enough and would dev^-one-half of. the time that I have giver* "Bridgeport.' Conn.—The El Hey Sisters closed a very successful week ending December 2 at the Park City Rink. Wherever Music is Required Established 1832 First Prize Wherever Exhibited An tuad in Picture Theatre WE MAKE MUSIC. NOT NOISE. KINGSTON CONSOLIDATED BAIL- WAT COMPANY'S PARK. Kingston Point, H. T. Replacing a band of twelve men that played here for ten years. As used in Merry-Go-Round. As used In Park Oaaino. Your band or orchestra is your most expensive item. Why not let us save you this money. Our instruments are noted for their musical quality. Our patrons have them forty years old and playing. SEND FOR CATALOGUE, M. WELTE 273 Fifth Avenue, - & - NEW YORK, THE BEST RINK SKATE We believe it. Thousands of others know it. Order a sample pair and be convinced. Write for free catalog. We carry a complete line of rink supplies. We supply parts for other makes of skates. CHICAGO ROLLER SKATE COMPANY, • 1123 Washington Blvd., CHICAGO, HIS Made to Surface Rink and Daica Run Ovtr 1,000 In'usa. Mads In threw else* For Roller Rinks, Amusement Companies. Dance Hails, Contractors and builders everywhere. Machine easily rented to Contractors and Bond- ers at a net profit of not less than $10 to $25 a day. It is very easily operated, as when the handle is raised, it is inclined to move forward of its own accord. Built on the only correct principle. Guaranteed to be the BEST machine with which to produce an even, smooth surface on any kind of wood floor, old or new, hard or . soft. Will surface from 5.000 to 7,000 sq. ft., once over in 8 hours. Two to four times over will, make it-smooth and level. Send for our FREE TRIAIi PROPOSITION. X. L. 8CHLTTE- TES, 103-105 N. Canal Street, Chicago. HL; Hew York Office, 1001 Flatiron Building. NOTICE TO ALL, SKATERS AND MANAGERS All skating news, photos, inquiries and other Information desired or anything to be sent to me should be addressed to me at 2S58 W. Madi- son St.. Chicago,. 111. In the past mail, photos and other information have been sent to me in care of either the New York or Chicago office of The Billboard, and by the time they reached me it was too late in many cases to comply witb your requests. Mail direct tome. RIN K NO TES. One of the most remarkable feats of endur- ance on roller skates .was witnessed at the Waynesburg (Pa.) Roller Skating Rink Wed- nesday and Thursday. November 29 and 30. Five men entered the endurance race and after 25 hours and 30 minutes the race was called off with Jerome Spragg and Charles Stllweil still in the fight for supremacy. The men were permitted three minutes out of each hour to be attended by their trainers. The contest was called at the end by the management be- cause it was thought some Injury might result to one of the contestants because of a continu- ance. Both men finished in good condition. Ben Specht of Pittsburg, will be in Waynes burg Friday, December 8, and will race with Ezra Sayers in a two-mile contest. With the reopening of Convention Hall, Wash- ington. D. C, the capital's largest and most beautiful roller rink, skating in that city has reached its lentth. Over 2.000 people attended and all indications point to a very- successful the opening of the mammoth rink December 4 season. Mr. Oscar 3. Ricketts is -.manager and promises his patrons many extra -features in the way of racing and skating, and on the strength of this statement many of the fastest skaters of the vicinity are making prepara- tions, among them Wilson, Shipley and Whiting of . Baltimore: Moore, Woodwaxth and Cumber- land of the District* and Carroll Donnelly, the Southern mile record bolder. The Armory Rink, Kankakee, 111., reopened Thanksgiving Day and is doing a capacity busi- ness. A new floor has been laid and two hun- dred pairs of new skates are now in use. Amateur races will be held every Friday night. Friday, December 15, Kid Blessing, the cham- pion speed skater of Kankakee County, will race James Rlerdon of Paxton. 111.; the champion of Ford County, 111. This race promises to be a spirited event as both skaters have been waiting to get a chance at eacb other. SEATS FOR SALE 300 A. H. Andrews Opera Seats. No. 40. Good as new. Can save purchaser $230 or more. Want to Bell quick. Remodeling. T. H. C. A., XARION. DTD. FOR SALE Two 60 ft. Stock Cars, one 50 ft Flat Car, one 60 ft. Flat Car. All 30 ton capacity. Used prac- tically one season only. As good'as new. Will paint and letter to suit purchaser. Cars can be seen here at. our plant. MT. VERNON CAS MFG. CO.. Mt. Vernon, QL FOR SALE CHEAP—Two handsome Wagons. Band and Ticket Wagons, good as new; price. $200.. Handsome Throw Mule. 44 Inches high, fat and pretty; price. $75. Large blue Leaping Hound and Hlghdiving Fox Terrier and Ladder; Price, $30. WILKE BROS.. 125 Lee St., Montgomery, Ala. FOR SALE—Tent. 70 ft.. 30 ft. Middle. 10 ft. WaU; good condition: $100. Best Uptown Wa- gon, $125: swell Advance Wagon for small show. $80: Boxball Alley. $40: Slot Machines of all kinds cheap: good, lond Crank Piano. $50. J P. TEDROW. Box 391, Nelsonville. O. FOR SALE—Moving Picture Fifm; fine lot of feature film; all first-class condition: $10.00 and $15.00 per reel. Powers and I.ubin Moving Pic- ture Machine at a bargain. FRED SCHAEFER. 1610 N. Second St.. Phila. FOR SALE—Cheap, an M. Welte * Sons Im- ported Orchestrion, with sixty rolls of music, la first-class condition. Arranged to run by elec- tricity or weight. Can be seen, or address T. H. BROCK, Port Jervis, N. T. FOB BALE—New Roman Ring. Trap Rigging and. Trunk; complete outfit. $45.00. Inquire Physical Culture Training School. A. M. OXI- VER. 42d & Grand Blvd.. Chicago. HL FOR SALE—Smallest Bull In the world. 34-to. tall; weight. 220 pounds; age. 10 years. Ad- d ress WM. MAN1ES, San Angelo, Tex. • s Peter 3. Shea, for a number of seasons man- ager of the Wayne Garden Rink, has severed his connections with this rink. He bas not a* yet announced his future plan?.