The Billboard 1901-07-27: Vol 13 Iss 30 (1901-07-27)

10 North. With the money still in our bank, ou can safely assure him that New Oreans wore than “‘squared itself.” We “butted in’ at Memphis, but it was en invitation of the best people and the city officials. I wish to explain right here that we furnish a class of amusements that attract thousands. We do not promote street fairs exclusively, but we do contract to furnish amusements for cities that are properly promoted and organized by responsible parties, and we do not furnish or contract with any city which has been taken in by “shoe-string’’ promoters, whose capital consists of a coffee sack filled with rubber balls and confetti. We promoted street fairs, and the best ones ever given, when the gentleman in question was quite new in the business. It certainly seems strange that this much harmlessly maligned company can and does contract an play repeatedly the same cities year after year, whose names are identitied with successes always. Let me mention Maysville, Louisville, Richmond, Lexington, LaFayette, and many others where we have always exhibited, and will again this year. Alexandria is the Indiana town to which he referred, and we are glad to have the pleasure of rendering this kuowledge to his ‘inside informant.” There we took, with a population of eight thousand people, more than $6.000, gross, for the week’s engagement, showing to more than 85 per cent of the population. We do not care whether “rubber balls, confetti or juice’ took money or not, neither do we care whether exhibitions other than our own showed only to a gross taking of thirty cents. We look after our own business and grant others the same privilege. We will finance Mr. White to the extent of making him a present of $5,000 if he can prove or get any responsible party to say that we conducted in Alexandria or anywhere else a nude “‘coochie,” as he terms it. This offer is also open to anyone who ean testify that we have ever done so at any time or place, or ever had an exhibition of “French Quatt dancers."” He can also get the same sum if he can produce evidence from any city where we have exhibited that our exhibitions have not always been as represented—clean and moral throughout. We carry but one dancing girl show, and that is conducted on lines to suit the local committee. r Our “questionable capital stock’’ represents over $100,000 invested in the Buffalo Exposition and an equal amount in our only road company. The only reason for my taking notice of his letter is that in justice to the wellknown cities already contracted with, a denial is due. I do know that we protect street fairs and carnivals by providing good, clean amusemeuts, with superb equipments. We are willing to abide at all times with facts and investigation. As can be testitied by representative citizens from six large cities, who, contemplating holding carnivals or street fairs in their respective towns, visited our show at Marinette, Wis., on July 4, all of whom have since contracted with this company, and on that date, while the rain was incessant almost, our receipts were $4,500. With a personal acquaintance of over sixteen years with the present members of the American Bill Posters’ Association, I am confident in the assertion that that body prefers doing business on a standard basis with men of capital, ability and brains. We are more than anxious for this great (%) battle to begin. Respectfully, H. B. POTTER, General Agent Bostock-Ferari Co. Street Fair and Celebration Notes. ; Mattoon, Ill., will announce the dates for this year’s street fair shortly. The Mid-summer Carnival at Columbus, is reported as only partially successful. Mart. Gumbert has the big wheel and chuck-a-luck privileges at Mt. Sterling. The Woodland Park Casino closed on July 20. It was a losing venture from the start. Dan Robinson, of the Sturgis Carnival Co., bas secured the Maysville (Ky.) con et. Pe Chas. De Garmo Grey, one of the best romoters in the country, has joined the Eturgis Carnival Co. Vol. 1, No. 1, of The Kentucky Elk, a bright monthly published by Charles J. Cruise, of Louisville, has reached us. Fair followers are invited to have their mail addressed in care of “‘The Billboard.” We forward it free of charge. Harry D. Potter was at Lafayette. Ind., and closed the deal to furnish the Midway for the Elks’ Carnival, week of Sept. 23. The attendance at the Pan-American Ex osition has not reached an average of 25,boo dally yet, but it is improving steadily. Fond du Lac, Wis., will give a_ street fair. P. B. Haber will advertise it. This means that it will be well done. The function is an assured success. The Old Settlers’ Reunion at Leonard, Tex., which commenced July 15 and closes July 20, opened under the best auspices. Immense crowds were in attendance, and the feature attractions were simply great. At MeKinnev. Tex.. Aug. 7 and 8, will be held the Old Settlers’ Reunion and Business Men's Pienic. The occasion is one which will draw attendance from about a hundred miles of territory. A large crowd is anticipated. H. L. Leavitt, writing from Hannibal, Mo., under date of July 15, states that he has closed contracts for the Canton Carnival Co., at Mishawaka, Ind., and Vandalia, At Wheeling, W. Va.. the Carnival lately closed was a complete success, writes Geo. B. Benson, director general. All the shows represented had record breaking business. Mr. Benson may be addressed for a short while at Richmond, Va. At Worthington, Ind., on Aug. 12 to 17, inclusive, wii be held a street fair and merchant's carnival. Mr. W. bk. Crook is the secretary aud treasurer, and will be glad to give intormation concerning it to any who may desire the same. George Seeger, Jr., of the Lafayette Bill Posting Co., who served as chairman of the advertising committee of the Business Men's Carnival for the last two seasons, has been selected as secretary of the biks Carnival. He will also handle the advertising. At Ann Arbor, Mich., Oct. 1 to 4, inclusive, will be held the Washtenaw County Pur. $3,500 in cash premiums will be offered, $1,800 of which goes in speed ring purses. As the feature attractions of the fair will be automobile races and Dr. Dell's herd of trained Shetland ponies. The Elks’ Fair at Lexington is less than a_mouth off, as it will be heid Aug. 12 to 17. Hard work is being done for its suecess, and all indications point to a greater one than any of its predecessors. There will be good harness racing each day, and the program of exhibits will be great in every particular, At Wagoner, |. T., from Sept. 25 to 28, inclusive, will be held the G. A. R. Reunion and Encampment, covering the same dates as the Street Fair. This will insure a very large attendance, and the director general, C. K. Czarlinsky, writes that the affair will be the banner occasion of the fall in the entire territory. “The Billboard” acknowledges a_ very pleasant call from Mr. J. KR. Anderson, manager of the Ideal Amusement Co., of Cincinnati, O., one day last week. Mr. Anderson bas been furnishing attractions for a large number of street fairs and carnivals throughout the Middle South the past Season, and reports a flattering success at every” point. At Pillsbury, Kan., the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Re-union, held there last week in connection with the Business Men’s Fair, was largely attended. Eago’s Snake Show, McKay's Big Burlesque Show and De Kreko Bros.’ Oriental Theater all did good business The greater number of street fairs in that section, writes our correspondent, have been “called off on account of the drougth. Up to this writing there have been held and projected 203 street fairs. This already exceeds last year’s total of 198, and it is safe to predict that this year’s total will be at least 275. The percentage of failures this year is far less than last year, showing that experience is at last having its innings. We give it as our opinion that the Street fair as an institution has come to stay. The Albany (Wash.) business men contemplate holding a street fair and carnival early in September. An effort will be made to secure special rates on the railroads, and the fair will be held in connection with a two days’ picnic, to be given by the local lodge of Modern Woodmen of America. The conunittee in oe of the Woodmen’s affair comprises C. G. Burkhart, E. R. Hus ton, S. N. Steele, Lewis Riereck and J. L. ‘Tomlinson. The Elks’ Fair, Maysville, Ky., will be held Sept. 4 to 7, and the following class | races, with $400 purses, are announced: 2:26 class, trotting; 2:30 class, pacing; 2:35 class, trotting, and 2:20 class, trotting. Entries will close on Tuesday, Aug. 6, and should be addressed to James W. Fitzgerald, manager of racing department. Five per cent (20) to accompany the nomination, and 5 per cent additional from money winners. Five to enter and three to start. the Young People’s McKinley Club, of Dayton, O., has decided to give a Street Fair here during the first week in Septem-. ber. Nothing in the nature of an industrial exhibition will be attempted. The affair will be arranged as a Midway show, with a menagerie in connection. Messrs. C. W Kissinger, F. G. Kemper, J. and H. V. Lytle comprise the committee in charge of the plans. It is expected that several thousand visitors will be drawn to the city. The Delphi (Ind.) Street Fair, Sept. 9 to 13, promises to be a hummer. Among the many attractions will be Burnbrae herd of shert horn cattle, owned by E. W. Bowen, of this city. The herd is headed by the bull imported “Orange Chief,”” which was the highest priced bull at the W. D. Flatt sale, Aug. 7, 1900. Among the females are some of the best individuals, as well as the best producers, of any herd in America, including “Mayflower 4th,’ ‘‘Missie 165th,” “Stella” and many others. The week following the herd will be at the State Fair, Indianapolis, Ind. At Marshfield, Ore., commencing Tuesday, August 25, and holding for five days, the Oregon District Agreultural Society will meet for its eighth annual exhibition on their beautiful grounds. With up-to-date improvements, a number of first-class feature attractions, a full list of exhibits and a spendid program the fair is almost sure to be a success. The trotting races will be governed by the rules of the American ‘Trotting Association, and the running races by the rules of the California Jockey Club. Nearly $2,000 will be hung up in the speed ring, and a like amount in cash prizes in the other departments. During the recent street fair held at Cairo, Ill, the Flower Parade, with Messrs. Bennett and Gore as the committe in charge, was a complete success. Many of the rigs were liberally decorated, and the number of fine horses in the parade was commented on. The Queen's float was in excellent taste, and the costumes of the Queen and her maids of honor were beautiful and appropriate. Miss Kate Moran held the position of honor, and as Queen seemed auite at ease. Mayor Wright led the parade in a buggy, drawn by a tandem team. The rear of the procession was composed of the fire department, led by Assistant Chief Jos, Steagaia, W. Rohrer , THE BILLBOARD ADDITIONAL FAIRS. Features for Fairs. Every fair should have a feature. No matter* how small the meeting may he or how tinhwted its resources, it shoud have some speclal attraction, some particular drawing card to feature, A feature does not necessarily involve large expenditure of money. While foreign features are always desirable if the seqety’s resources will admit of them, they are by no means indispensable. Features can be made out of anything. This is equivalent to saying anything can be fewtured. It is our purpose here to out line a few ideas which can be readily adopted. The first is a brass-band tournament. A diploma alone is sometimes all that ts nee essary to offer in the way of inducement, while a $100 purse will give you contestants from all over the country round about. What will contribute more to the gayety and suecess of the fair than plenty of band music *% The second is a cake-walk. This suggestion needs no explanation. Every one knows how to organize and conduct one. The -third is one that should be given a test by every fair association in the land— athletic games, such as throwing the hammer, putting the shot, sprinting, ete. Noth ing will excite more general interest, if properly handled and worked up. Fourth—"A baseball tournament.’ Fifth—Bicycle races.” Sixth—*Automobile races."’ it will readily be seen from the foregoing that a feature is within the mesus of the smallest association. No advertising scheme is complete with out something to feature. Notes. Night shows are gaining favor very rapid ly. Three times as many fairs have adopt ed this feature this season as last. At I't. Pleasant, W. Va., the Pt. Pleas ant Fair and Driving Association, which holds August 27, 28, 20 and 30, has se cured as special attractions two autome biles. There will be races between the ma chines and horses, which promise to be stropg drawing cards. Mer. Art @ottrill writes that “The Billboard’ is demand at that point. The Pan-American Exposition has been thrown open to the pupblic on Sundays. This gives the laboring man and the me chanic in Buffalo and adjacent towns a chance to see it. In spite of all the cant and sophistry of the preachers and sab batarians the average mechanic can not af ford to incdr the displeasure of his em ployer and the loss of wages involved in a lay-off to visit the show during the week. Ip the evenings he is generally too tired. Preachers do no manual labor and can not appreciate this fact. It is well that their bigotry and intolerance did net prevail. Ut is well that the gates of the exposition were thrown open on Sundays. The tirst announcement of the El Paso (Texas) Midwinter Carnival appears in this issue, giving the date us January 14 to LS, inclusive. It is the only event that the well-kuown, and one of the most successful promoters, H. C. Lockwood will have charge of this season, Mr. Lockwood has received some very substantial offers from a few of the principal cities in the South and West en deavoring to close a contract with him to manage their fall carnivals aud street fairs. But, owing to his connections with one or two enterprises in the new oil tields of Tex as, his time has been wholly given up to that business. We learn that he will have a little time left between January 31, 1902, and April 30, and will be open to negotiation with any city desiring to organize for the purposé of holding a street fair, carnival or festival during April, 1902. Mr. Lockwood can be addressed as per advertisement ‘to be found on another page. The Owensboro (Ky.) fair, August 18 to 17, is going to be a big event. The company offers a program such as has never before been equalled for originality as well as liberality. It will have twenty tive races, with purses ranging from $100 to $1,000, the latter sum is the purse for the Owensboro “Derby.” which is the fixture for the first day The American Band, of Chicago, will furnish the music for the week. Its free special attractions consist of the following: lhe Three Banvards, Miss Ellen Vetter, in the “Mysterious Globe’ act; Herr Lang much in | | {a =. ee — slow, the rifle expert of the lofty wire; Adgie and ber den of performing lions, Prof, Woodford’s dog, pony and monkey sarcus and the Kemp sisters’ wild west and nippeerease exhibition, t also has secured Prof. Van Deveer. with his captive Santiago War baloon, and passengers will be taken up every few min utes, the Eli Bridge Company will be there with one of its Perris wheels. A min juture railway and many other amusements will make this a fair, the like of which has never been seen before. : But the best of all its features, and one entirely new, is that of “Neromus,” the bull wrestler, who will each day appear in the arena, meet the wildest bulls and com pletely subdue them without iostrumenuts of any kind and without injury to the ani mal. This feature is direct from Mexico, aud it will, undoubtedly, double the crewads ever on this fair grounds before. This compapnuy is noted for its advertis ing. And it is safe to say that it has put out more paper than any dozen Kentucky fairs put together, Its paper shows the fmprint pf Donaldson, Great Westeru Print ing Company, Erie Lithographing Company and the Nathonal Printing and Bagraving Compapoy. PARKS. Lake Side Park, Webb City, Mo., is one of the prettiest resorts in that State The opening of the DuBols Driving Park Theater, July 16, was a great success, sidering the extremely tnclement weather At Narragansett Park extensive haprove ments are belug made, which, when com pleted, will make the grounds unusually heat and attractive The Cieveland (OO. Euclid) Park bas thrown open its gates free to visitors They have a splendid line of attractions, and large crowds attend. Conestoga Park, Lancaster, Pa... A. Ba ward Reist, manager, Columbia Opera Co coutinues to attract large aud enthusiastic audiences nightly. ‘The Bohemian Gir! week of 15-20, was superbly presented At Ilighland Park, Staunton, Va., the fol lowing people held the boards week of July S: Bidera and Neorine, Major Sisters, Pitch lng Bros., La Rine Trio; Ah Ling Foo waghclanthe best performance given at this resert this season. J. & Mudge, proprietor of Michigans most popolar summer resort, Seven Islands writes that business this seasen has been far above the average, and that the outlook ix that 101 will prove the banner season in the history of the resort Staunton «Va.) Highland Park, R. Db. Ap person, manager The following peop held the boards at this resort week of July 15, giving good performances: Bremes and eon Nina, Madrona, Hickock and Acker, Mad ame Nina, Lattimore and Leigh. Good bus iness. Yours truly, At Muncie, Ind., on July 15, while a man knewn as “Prof. Franze’’ was giving an exhibition of eating suakes at the park be was bitten by ove of the reptiles, the head of which was in the professor's mouth, aud he is in a dangerous condition It is be lieved that the snake polsoned him, and his faith in the reptiles may cost him his life. Ilumane Officer Jim Allen, of Clacinnat! ©O.. reeentiv visited Chester Park tu that city In the Interest of the society to Tuvest! gate a complalut that the diving horses be longing to Vref. Holloway are . cruelly treated to compel them to go through thelr performance, Officer Allen has reported that the act is in no way inhuman, as the animals, without the sllghtest doubt, enjoys the plunge folly as much as their agdiences appreciate it Woolworth Roof Garden, Lancaster, Pa. Capt. J. B. Peoples, manager, displayed the S. R. ©. sign nightly week of July 1520 Willlams & Walker's Oriental Troubadours was the attraction. The company is ex cellent, and each number was greeted with much favor, Williams and Watker were the recipients of a very enthusiastic re ception at) each performance, and were compelled to answer noamerous encores nightly. CANES, CONFETTI and STREET FAIR NOVELTIES. Streetmen send for circular. . THE WM. BECK & SONS CO. to and 12 Garfield Place, Telephone 2731. CINCINNATI, O. WANTED—Attractions Free Street Fair, Exposition and {2th Annual Farmers’ Encampment. MT. GRETNA PARK, LEBANON, CO.,PENN, AUG T 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 1901. A BIG EVENT.—Total Attendance 200,000 on the Week. Farm and Machinery Exhibits. FREE GATES. FREE MIDWAY. Want Girl,” The best of everything waoated. ‘T rivileges. No gumbling. FRANK M. WHITE, ?o 8. Pdward Musliner, “Siclonia,” and Sinelair Mention The Billboard” when answering ads. Mention The Billboard” when answering @4s, Exposition Buildings. | shows, Clean In nature, No“ Coochee,” mney Director of Amusements, Lebanon, Pa. & Carlisle, write quick, High Grade Free Attractions, No’ Dancing is here for all good attractions and legitimate