The Billboard 1901-01-05: Vol 13 Iss 1 (1901-01-05)

) « ee ey DEPARTMENT. Mirth from the Midway. Buffalo has already received a foretaste of the Pan-American Midway. A few nights ago the Concessionaire Association expended apout $2,000 in bringing together, for one night only, some cf the novelties which will have a place in this gay quarter of the expositicr Each cf the many concessionaires contributed a part for the programme. The stage equipments were arranged in the gymnasium cf the Buffalo Club, and it was a mght ct full attendance on the part cf the members. The programme opened with an Ind‘an War Dance by genuine red-skins who will participate in the Ind.an Congress, one of the great concessions cf the Midway, where representatives cf forty-two tribes will be presented. A rag-time mill.onaire, representing the Old Plantat on, came next upon the scene Ch.quita, the “living doll,"’ aged 22, no higher than a yard stick, conversed with ai her attendant in the presence of the audience, sang a dainty scng and waltzed to the music of the orchestra. Two native Mexicans in their peculiar costumes, who will appear in the theater of the ‘‘Streets of Mexico,”’ gave a clever performance cf sing ng and dancing Gus Williams came up from New York to tell a few clever stories and sing a song or two. The famous illusionist, Reoltair, who is respons-ble for the ‘‘House Upside Down'"’ on the Midway, gave a magic performance cf very unusual cleverness. A Venetian serenade, with mandolin, guitar and flute accompan ment, remirded the listeners of “Venice in America.”” Fat'ma cf the *Beaut ful Orient,’’ performed her famous dances. The Royal Jans of the ‘Japanese Village,’’ the dancing bear of the ‘‘An mal Shoew,’’ Hattie Wells, a noted dancer, and three Queens from the Pacific pessess'ons helped to draw out the entertainment to an unusual length. It was a rare occas’on, and gave promise of a Midway of unusual interest Inasmuch as each feature of the M dway will be a fine entertainment in itself, the aggregate cost of th's agnificent collection reaching some $3,000,000, the reader may, to some degree, understand the preparations making for th's feature of the expos:tion. Experience with Freaks. Albert J. Parks furnishes a very interesting letter to the *‘Dramatic Mirror’’ on his experiences in the handling of freaks. He says: The late P. T. Barnum was called the Prince of Humbugs, because he manufactured and exh .bited woolly horses and real Fejee Mermaids, besides dscovering several negresses who had nursed the ‘‘Father cf H's Country.” ir. Barnum used to say, “‘th? people love to be humbvgged.”’ [t is a case of supply and demand. The pious people of this city dread to enter a theater lest they become contaminated by contact with play actors; consequently I advertise my theater as a lecture room, and it is crowded at the two regular daily performances by ardent churchgoers, who, sub rosa, delight in melodrama, farce, and even semi-clad ballet girls. This was at Barnum’s Museum, at the cerner cf Broadway and Ann street, where in 1860, fcr s'x weeks, I exhibited a half-dozen Flemish acrobats as “‘The Sultan’s Famous Syro-Arabic Troupe,"” in conjunction with Barnum’'s *“‘What Is It?’ a small imbecile colored girl, where head was shaved every merning to emphasize her idiotic facial express'o1 The attraction netted a profit cf over $50,000. There was also an ill-smelling garl'c-chewing fam'ly cf so-called Albinos, with peroxided frizzv hair and inflamed evelids, who promenadecd bes'de General Tom Thumb when thet d'stinguishcd soldier's limbs were fairly well balanced The greatest and the most inexpens've permanent feature of a freak show in thos was a viv'd reproduction of the Last Supper It consisted cf a long table at whech all the sacred participants of the original were represented <s banqueting upon wooden legs cf lamb, china eggs, and cther equally appet:zine luxuries of the criginal meal Ten years later I was invested w'‘th the business menegement of Wocd’s Museum, now Daly's Theater, and found that the entre Barnum outfit of manufactured cur‘osites had preceded me Here all sorts of applications fcr freak engagements came by every mail. Among the first was that of a man who claimed to have trained two chickens to waltz. These were engaged and heavilv advertised as “‘The Wonderful Dancing Chickens’’—but they danced only once, at a Monday matinee. I saw the performance from the wings. The man had a tin-topped table covered with a wire cage, im the center of the stage The front of the tahle was covered with a painted cloth, and under it, on a stool, was a lighted spirit lamp. The orchestra played a few bars of music and then the man placed the chéckens under the wire cover on the hot tin table Of course the heat made the pcor fowls dance frantically, while the people in front applauded wildly. But I rang the curtain down, and drove the torturer out of the place. My next experience was with a young woman dressed as a Sister cf Charity, who intro THE BILLBOARD. duced herself as ‘The Veiled Nun of Marienbad.’ She rented a small closet on the main floor, at a good price, as a Temple of Prophecy. It contained a smal! stand, table and chair, and a sign, “‘Consult the Veiled Nun,”’ decorated the door As soon as she was ready for business, I sent an usher, incognito, to buy a prophecy at my expense. In five minutes he returned with an invitation card, which she had given him, to attend an evening social function at a nearby nunnery of which she claimed to be the Mother Superior. Five minutes later the “Temple of Prophecy’’ was vacant. The Last Supper outfit was the most profitable, because the wax figures were frequently utilized to represent distinguished pe rsonages. As an instance, when the lamented Lincoln was assas inated, the assistant museum property boy informed me that in the absence of hs bors he had just ‘‘yanked an apostle from de supper table and fixed him up wid a black wig, plug hat and swallow-tail coat for pocr old Abe.’ That boy never yanked any mcre apostles for me. Unlike many of the so-called museums of to-day, visiters then paid only one admission to see the entire show, and were not swindled after passing the doorkeeper Jesides, they got their money's worth and even more, desp:te what was then regarded as clever humbugging. A Church Bosco. Once in a while the staid and solemn church people are touched with a gleam cf humor. The following announcement was issued by P. P. Holland, pastor of the Baptist Church at Uhrichsville, O. It will excite laughter among street men throughout the country, even though it is a ‘‘fake:”’ NOTICE. ° There will be a grand entertainment fer t benefit cf Macedonia Baptist Church, Tuesday even.ng, Dec. 25, 1900, by Prof. Creao Johnson, wko was captured by A. G. Robinson seventeen years ago in the swamps of Honggo, Africa. The wild meat eater is a wonder He has long tusks in hs jaw, like a hog Th-s man has been known to do without feed or water for twenty days, only averaging a meal twice a week. Act I.—He is known to Oriental Dancers, ‘“‘George’’ the Turtle Boy, and *‘Esaw,"’ the Snake Eater. Now, the idea of charging at a Midway or street fair gate is a wrong principle, and these same shows have suffered from just such a policy as they are now advocating. Mr. Blitz also says, “The majority of these alleged Midway companies have only one show and rent the others. In this case, Mr. Blitz owns only the “Millie Christine,”” and will have to “‘arrange” with the others. The true status of the case is: These shows, instead of forming a company and working together, getting up their own street fairs and carnivals, have adopted the policy of “butting in’ on ‘‘other people's’ street fairs and carnivals, and consequently have had to give up a larger per centage than they otherwise would have done I have met with all of these attractions, and know them to be good, but they are no less keen at making a bargain than those they are now sceking to attack. It is clearly a case cf the pot calling the kettle black if Mr slitz will form a carnival company—for which he has sufficient nucleus—and will reach the street fair people through an advertisement in “Lhe Billboard,”’ the season of 1991 will be more profitable, and | should be glad to have any of them on my list of attractions This attack is aimed directly at Frank C Bostock and the Huffman & MeMillen Car n.val Company, but I can see no reason for it, as this country is large and the terr.tory uniI.m.ted, and if these attractions will com bine under a good, catchy title and proceea to reach the people through the street-fa‘: med.um (‘The Billbeard’’) they may then extend ‘“‘thanks” in the next Christmas num ber, instead of a wail cf wee. Yours truly, FRANK M WHITE Palatka, Fla. Carnival Company Booking. The International Carnival Company, of which Louis J. Beck is d.recter general, is rap-dly making bookings for the com.ng sea son for carn.vals and street fairs. Scome of the features controlled exclus.vely by Mr Beck are James J. Grant, high w re walker; Lotto, the aerial diver; Jose Barrios, the lion tamer; Robert J. N»lan, formerly with Al F:eld’s Minstrels, and John Goodall, who will handle *“‘Darkest Continent.”’ Ay of, ~~ & What? Where? When? Which? If it is a fair, a carnival, a race meet, a convention, Fe or a tuture event of any importance—no matter what ny kind—a!l of the above questions are answered in EGESSESCESCSSAASGOGSSSSOSS 5 ~~ ~*~ FSFBBALBALAGLGLGEGGBLGGGGGGLG “The Billboard.”’ BRABLRUL A eat 19 pounds cf raw meat. He never eats any cccked foed. Act IIl.—On programme is eating half a dozen of raw chickens Act. Ill.—Swa!lowing three live smakes. Act. IV Eating a half bale cf hay. This is not onehalf cof Pref. Creao Johnson's performance. He will also give you more than he can get on the bill Ths gentleman is a native of Kingston, Jamaica, West Indian Islands, and I think you will all be well pleased with the enterla_nment He is a wonder in all his performances So let everybody come and Come one bave a gocd time. Come all. Refreshments will be » basement General admissicn 15 cents, reserved seats 25 cents, children 10 cents. Doors open at 7:30. Perfcrmance begins at 8. P. P. Holland, pastor. Frenchmen Made Trouble. Trrty cars, forming part of tl United States Government exhibit at the recent Par.s Expos tion. were suddenly laid under embargo to-day at Havre, the railroad company declin.ng to surrender them, pending payment cf a claim of 5,710 francs Majcr Brackett, secretary of the American Commission, wired instructions to Havre to pay the company 500 franes and at the same time to enter a claim against the company for 10,000 framcs as damages for obstruction and delay in the sailing of the Prairie. Some trouble also arose with Philip Lezier, who built the American Pavilion, and three workmen were arrested while removing material, but they were afterward released. Litigation is expected to follow. The Pot Called the Kettle Black. In the Christmas number of “The Clipper,” under the glaring headline of “‘Elks, Take Warning,’ F. R. Blitz, manager of Millie Christine, the famous living two-headed woman, assumes to advise all who contemplate having a street fair or carnival, not to deal with any so-called Midway company, as they ‘‘want nearly all the gate receipts.”’ In this plea for personal patronage, he is supported by Morris’ Illusions and Poses Plastique, Jones’ Ferris Wheel and Tom Thumb tailroad, Smith’s Vaudeville Theater and Rockefeller to Raise Horses. Frank Rockefeller, the milliena‘re, who already owned a large cattle ranch in Kiowa county, Kan., has purchased 150,000 acres of land in Kiowa and Clark counties, which be will stcck with fine horses. As socom as the horses are secured he will enter the racing field, and racing men may expect to see the millionaire’s horses on the race tvack before long Mr. Rockefeller was fn Wichita, Kan., several days ago and stated then that he was arranging to buy the ranch It has been announced that the deal was completed, and his plans were announced. He will have racing courses fitted up on his ranch, and, in add ton to making his ranch a breeding farm for fine horses, he will also seek to make it a winter.ng and training place for all race horses He will put hs own herses on tt Eastern tracks as soon as he th nks they are able to make a showing Asked what racers he intended purchasing, Mr. Rockefeller said he wanted pacers more than trotting stock. It is learned that during his visit there be conferred with a friend ef the Cwhers of John R. Gentry, which pacing animal was bred im Kansas. He sa'd he would buy several well-known horses and the others he will have trained in his own stables 5 neh properties of Mr. Rockefeller in Kansas are moet suitable for the raising of race horses and maitaining permanent training.stables. The climate is warm in winter, and the land is level Mr. Rockefeller has spent nearly $1,000,000 in build ng palatial stables and ranch fouses on his cat tle ranch, where he raises high-grade cattle At a recent cattle show he paid $1,050 for one Hereford bull He will-snend half a million dollars in starting his horse racing enterprise. He said “IT will buy only the best bred horses and eclts. I want some good Patchen, Gentry ana Wilkes horses on my farm. I prefer the pacers No, I will not become a race track plunger, but the animals I put on the track will be safe to plunge ot I may buy some running horses, but I will not enter the racing at Newmarket It will be sufficient glory for me to win in my own country.”’ Mr. Rockefeller will go East shortly to complete arrangements relative to purchasing fine blooded horses. His family are on the ranch with him. Notes. Sacramento, Cal., has decided to have an other street fair next summer. : Dr, C. D. Gray has made bis Cincinnati address, care of ‘The Billboard.”’ Isaac Mowk, the Midway man, can be ad dressed at the St. James Hotel, St Louis, Mo Circus fairs have become quite the rage in several towns in California Some of them are being introduced by the church people So far, twenty-two Elks’ lodges have announced their intention of holding street fairs next season. That does not look as if the game was dying Lou's J. Beck, last year with Bostock, has orgamzed the International Carnival Company, and will have an exceptionally strong organization on the road next season. There will be a grand fiesta at Oakland, Cal., in April, at which President McKinley, who goes to the coast to take part in the launching of the battleship Ohio, will be present Frank Hurst has joined the advance fore: ef the Winter Carnival Company He is advertising agent, and has charge of six bill posters, one lthographer, one banner man and two programmers Now is the time for street men and fair promoters to advertise ther wants in ‘ihe Billboard This paper reaches more peopl whom they want to do business with than any publication in the United States Louis J. Beek, the carnm.val king, cf Ind anapel.s, made a great hit with his Chinese Feast, prepared by Moy Kee, complimentary to the newspaper men of the Hoosier capital T affair was appropriately named “A Celest.al Lunch Une of the humorous features cf the dinner was the spectacle of twenty-five Americans trying to get a meal with the a.d of chep-sticks Rev. C. A. Freer, of Columbus, Ohio pres.dent of the Ohio Christian Endeavor Un.on, has written a letter to Secretary W W. Miller, ef the State Board ef Agriculture protesting against the proposed opening of the State Fair on Sunday Mr. Freer declares that unless the board announces its intention to keep the fair grounds closed on Sunday the Endeavecrers will fight the project The first of the regular carnivals of 1901 will be t) ef King Sucrose at Thibodaux, La., Feb. i8 and 19, under the ausp.ces of the Th.bedaux Carnival Club. The features will be a bicycle parade, magnificent trades parade and a brillant night parade Excursions from Morgan City, Houma and Napoleonville will be run, and great crowds are expected. All of the country round about will be heavily billed and advertised Neither money nor pains will be spared to make the celebration a grand affair Florida Street Fairs. To the Editer of “The Billboard Palatka, so far as crowds were concerned, was a “bloomer but the people of Palatka are made of the mght stuff, for they most nobly d.d their part toward belping out the The shows were the German Village, Electric Fountain, Edison's Moving Pictures, Lunette Venetian Gondolas, Cairo Theater, French Theater, Bosco, the Snake Eater, all under the management of Messrs. Huffman and MeMillar They have left over the Plant System for Tampa, where they wiil show for probably two weeks, while the St. Petersburg Carnival, Jan. 10, is being put in shape to receive them Plans are on foot for street fairs at Ocala, Lake C ty and Gaimesville. John Rob inson shows here on the Sth, and Christmas heli'days kept away the country folk, but not withstand ng ths drawback and the fact that half the shows were not ready till Thursday night, the three days netted good money This town was used as a stop-over for “ex pense money’ to Tampa, and fully complied with expectations Yours truly, FRANK M WHITE THE SPEED RING. New Orleans, Dec, 23.—Among the jockeys, M tebell and Dale are tied for first place, with fourteen winning mounts each Coch ran, A. Weber and T. Walsh have each won 9 race Wilkerson 8, MeJoynt and Ransom 7 each, May 6, and Flick 5 Dubuque, la., Dee. 22.—For the races at Nutwoed Park im August, the principal event will be the Dubuque Preparation Stake of $7,500, divided into $5,000 for three-year-old trotters and $2,500 for pacing three-year-olds ‘Lhe $16,000 stallon stake will be a feature H. L Clark, cf St. Joseph, Me will be secre tary under the new management F. A. Asher, the well-known Indiana horse man, contracted with A. S. Mitehell to train and race the Mitchell stable next season. The 1901 stable includes Silver Primee (2:08%g) and Estell (2:19%) Secretary Dressen, of the New Louisville Jockey Club, was in Cincinnati last week, and left last evening for the biue-grass country, soliciting entries Secretary Dressen is very much encouraged by the outlook for racing, and expects a larger entry list to the spring stakes this seasom than ever before Attorney ©. L. Hood, of Minneapolis, to-day purchased the celebrated Neumister mile race track and farm adjoining for $7,348.50 at sheriff's sale. This track is considered one of the best im America. The best gathering of the world’s famous horses ever held was held there im 1895. The sale of the track settles a legal battle which has been in the courts several years.