The New York Clipper (February 1912)

Fbbbuaey 17 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. 45 SEASON 1911 WILLIAMS J 2BI6 I. shows! I SIM WILLIAMS' ASON 1912 ATTRACTIONS H. W. & SIM WILLIAMS' IMPERIALS 2 milk HELEN VAN BUREN riWA DONNA CLOSING THE OLIO WITH SIM WILLIAM'S "IDEALS," SIGNED FOR LIFE watch us grow JOE- rsaklng -tho Rooord for l_ a u AND PRINOIPAL OERI With SIM IKTZX* AN AND JEW OO <« IDE , 9 9 THE ENG LISH SHO W SHOP, BI FBBD "EQUES" VJlBTIN. A show shop Is generally an empty prem- ises situated in some busy thoroughfare, where you can view a freak or peculiar per- formance tor one penny—two cents. Some- times twopence Is charged for admission. Covering the window tram floor to celling Is a large, typically English show painting In oils, fixed In two split rollers. On the can- vas Is portrayed an exaggerated likeness of the wonder within, surrounded by all the crowned heads of Europe who, forgetting the dignity of their soclnl position, are llteral'y fighting to shake hands with It Around the throne on which the vagary Is seated are pictured a number of old gentlemen with long hair and white whiskers, holding watches In their hands. They are doctors. All show painting doctors have long hair, white whiskers and watches in their lunula. Why this Is so I cannot lay. Perhaps they are gambling on how long It will be before the regal auditors are plunged Into an Inter- national fiasco over first right to shake hands with the "penny show star." In the window of the shop are large cards bearing such untruths at "Engaged at an Enormous Salary," "Money Returned If Not Satisfied." "Doctors Speclnlly Invited, Free," "From the World's Fair, Chicago." Dozens of these 1 shop showmen are Igno- rant of Chicago's location, but they know there was a "World's Fair" there once, and are very proud of It. In fact, the English ■bowman Is very proud of America alto- gether, and many talk with a liome-grown nasal twang that Is as strong as an East wind when they commence to talk with you, but It wears oil during tho course of the con- versation. At the door sounds a seedy looking Indi- vidual with a piece of cane In his band for Introduction to small boys who pass critical remarke on the show. He Is known aa a "dooreman" to bis employ or, but prefers to Describe himself as a ''lecturer." He has a line air of patronage and finality, and ad- dresses his auditors as "People." Almost every "doorsman" hss the same spell, which runs something like tble: "For- ward, people, no waiting, one penny admits all classes. A sight for a lifetime, must be seen to be believed. If not as represented, jour money returned with the same freedom and civility as we take It at the door. Hurry up If thero are any more. On view the mo- went you enter, we don't wait for large par- ties to assemble before 'commencIn".' r Then Pomponlous Demosthenes will strike the door, whistle, or shout to a gentleman In- side behind the painting, who will proceed to grind tabloids ol "Hiawatha." "Bill Baileys" or some other impious musical monstrosity out of an asthmaflcaJ piano-organ. No matter wherever you encounter the shop show "doorsman," or whatever attraction he is engaged with, his tale Is the some. For Ms services he receives the princely remuner- ation of £1 (15) per weak, which Is payable In nightly Instalments. Beside the painting sits the boss of the "hop, taking money. The "doorsman" does not handle tile takings, but he counts every person that enters, as he Is Invariably em- ployed by the "novelty," who Is In many cases engaged on sharing terms. Inside the shop, perched on a large packing case that is covered with a cloth, and perhaps addi- tionally decorated with a bilious looking Union Jack flag, alts the freak, reading, until the gentleman at the door deems the audi- ence ]«thln large enough for him to "lecture" to. Then, with swaggering gait, he walks down the shop to where the crowd has gath> ered round the freak, and begins: "How, YOU CAN WEIGH "What You Should Weigh You can, I know it, because I have reduced 25,001) wo- men and have built up as many more—scientifically, naturally, without drugs, in the privacy of their own rooms; I can build up your vitality—at the same time I strengthen your heart ac- tion ; can teach you how to breathe, to stand, walk and relievesuch ailments as ner- viiiism-sH, torpid liver, cira- sllpntlon, ludiiri'Ktlon, etc. One pupil writesi "I weigh 83 pounds less, and I have gained wonderfully in strength." An- olh<trisyst"LastMay I weigh- ed loo pounds, this May I weigh 120, and on i I feel so WELL." Write to-itny for my free booklet, SUSANNA COCR0FT. Dc e f t -<24Hldilgaji BLChlaio Author of "Growth In Silence," "Self- Suulclency, etc, SEASON I9M-I 4 MacNALLYS THE MOST VERSATILE ACT IN THE WORLD Playing Parts, and Featurod in th«» WITH Sim "Vtrilli<*ixi.s' (IDE ii THAT NIFTY PAIR CLARK and TURNER With Sim Williams' Ideals Co. PLAYING PRINCIPAL, 8TRAICHT AND 80UBRETTES Presenting Singing and Dancing Sketch in the Olio GEO. KLEIN With IDEALS rsople, If you'll stand a little further back. II Introduce this wonderful sight to you. Then the freak beams at the audience, while the doorsman proceeds to show off its pe- culiarity, and records a short account of bis or her life, concluding with, "Now, people, for those of you who would like to know more about the life of this wonderful freak of nature, a little book 'as been written, glvln' you the 'lstory from birth to the pres- ent day. On the front la a picture taken from a photo. The price of the work is • copper coin, a penny. Every purchaser Is al- lowed the privilege of shaking 'ands with the wonder." when the audience la sup- flled with the hook, he announces, "All over his time, thanking yon for your kind and polite attention. Trusting you will recom- mend it to your friends as you 'ave found lb—a truthful and a 'oneit one. The lady (or gentleman) will now wish you one and all good-night" "Good-night and thank you one ana all," squeaks the wonder. The boas, who is still Insfde the doorway, hearing that the show Is concluded, addresses the young- sters round the door something In this style, "Git back there, you boys: 'ow many more times am I ter tell you} D'yer think I'm a 'hicc' cream merchant an* goUt' ter give tasters away—nip orf I" The dooreman giving the organ gentleman a signal to resume, rushes to the door with "Now they're Just comln* out. Enquire the character of the exhibition as they retire from the blldln'. When the audience bas vacated the shop he recommences his first oration, and so on until closing time. There are no agencies for freaks In Eng- land at present, though the late Count Ortoff controlled one some ycurs ago in Liverpool. About the same time, one was opened in London, but shortly after Its Inception proved Itself an unprofitable undertaking. Salaries range between fifty shillings (twelve dollars) and four pounds (twenty dollars) per week. In many instances, the "novelty" —as shop shows ars generally termed—can heve the preference oil a salary or a nnlf share of the takings at the door. When on sharing terms, the rent of the piano-organ, and several other minor expenses have to be divided with the proprietor of the shop. The receipts of a show Shop largely depend on Its location. Some streets that a stranger would consider Ideal for such a buBlnees. would prove utterly useless. The Jews are good sup- porters of a show, and. as a sequence, they fcavo had almost every novelty In the country in Whltechapel, the Jewish quarter of Lon- don. The "shopping season" Is at Its best in the Winter because then the people confine them- selves to the brilliantly lighted thoroughfares of the city, -while during the two Bummer months they go out into the parks and coun- try walk* located on the outskirts. Business does not commence until seven o'clock In the evening, and concludes about half-past ten. On Saturdays they commence at one o'clock, and remain open as long as audiences continue to come. There Is no such thing as a license required for a shop show, and this method of exhibition has been freely adopted by showmen until It has bo- come quite an Important factor of the show business of England. In bygone years It has proved the theme of many fortunes, In fact, to-day It la the principal, I might say, only method of exhibiting freaks. There Is no side-show attached to the English circuses, the proprietors being of the opinion that such an addition would prove detrimental to the re- ceipts of the circus proper. It is not every novelty that has strong, attractive powers; different classes of freaks attract different auditors. Midgets will bring women and boys Pat girls, which are Invaria- bly exhibited as "Norfolk Dairymaids." are decidedly a masculine magnet Tho "kle," or wild man show, produces audiences of men and boys. But with all these shop shows busi- ness could be Immensely Increased If the pro- prietor woud engage a fluent outside speaKer. The everlasting banality of the English "doorsman" of course has nothing in It to arouse the attention of the people. Shops have now become very difficult to ncure owing to the practices of unscrupu- i showmen, who shatter the prospects at the business In the following mannor. A shop to let In n good locality is sighted by one of these gentry, who proceeds to the estate agent's office to Inquire the rent He will pose as a merchant who Is desirous of opening a business In the district, and eventually take the shop for three months, paying one Installment of the rent for that period, which entitles him to the key. His next move Is to put In a "kle" show, which always has a disastrous effect on the future letting of the shop and the business of the adjoining premises. This brings the estate agent round, who Immediately gives the showman notice to quit The showman ig- nores this and offers the agent his next week's rent, which, In the Just nlcntltude of his Indignation, he refuses. The showman SEASON 1911-12 WITH WILLIAMS' IMPERIALS PETE GRIFFIN PLAYING IMPORTANT COMEDY PARTS INTRODUCING NOVEL DANCING 8PECIALTY THE TOY COMEDIENNE VIOLET HILSON >A/avfcoh tho Llttlo Ona Clayton Frye LEADING CHARACTER ACTOR Walter A. WOLFE M LEE Margaret The Minstrel BassoaiThe Happy Soprano HARRY L. COOPER »V HEINI Prlnolpal Comadian With SIM WILLIAMS' IMPERIALS N I3II-IJ ROENE A Feature with Sim Williams' Imperials GEO.W.WILSON COMPANY In "BACK PENSION" By ROBEET n. DA VIA. Author of "The Welcher" Address JOHN O. PEBBLES, 402-1493 11'WAY, N. Y. has a witness to the refusal of the rent, and says he will not accept notice. The agent will go away, and the next week put the bailiffs In possession—or try to. But the wily showman has anticipated this and keeps the place bolted and barred until six o'clock p. m., the legal recognition of sunset, when the bailiffs are forced to retire from their vigil outside the shop, at after sunset It la illegal to effect an entry. So the showman opens and does his even* Ing's builneis as hs would hare dona if be bad acted honorably. One showman, who had been a big business man formerly, and knew every loophole In the law, several years ago had shops all over London In this way. lie never lived on the Fremlaes, but In good style In the West End. have known him to saunter down the street of an evening, Immaculately dressed, and, as the bailiff's men were going away, stand on tho 'opposite side of the road, hold the key up In front of them and smile. Landlords have frequently given blm a bandaoms anm to give no possession sad a receipt of pay. ment to oats for the rent ha owed.