The Billboard 1902-02-22: Vol 14 Iss 8 (1902-02-22)

10 THE BILLBOARD THe BILLBOARD. Published Weekly at 420 Elm Street, Cincinnati,O., U.S. AL Long Distance Telephome M iin 1503 Adaress all communications for the editorial or business departments to THE BILLBOARD PUBLISHING CO. Subscription, $4.00 a year: 6 MOS., $2.00; 8 mos., $1.00, in advance. ADVERTISING RATES. Ten cents per line,agate measurement. Whole page, $70; half page, $35; quarter page, $17.50. No premium on position, The Billboard is for sale on all trains and newstands throughout the United States and Canada which are supplicd by the American News Co. and its branches. When not on sale please notify this office. The Billboard is sold in London at Low's Exchange, 57 Charing Cross, and at American Advertising wee ad Agency, Trafalgar Buildings, Northumberland Ave., W. C. In Paris at Brentano's, 37 Ave. de l’ Opera. The trade supplied by the American News Co. and its branches. Remittance should be made by post office or express money order, or registered letter addressed or made payable to the Billboard Pub. Co. The editor can not undertake tc return unsolicited manuscript; correspondents should keep copy. When it is necessary to wire us the instructions and copy for advertisements, great saving in the matter of telegraph tolls may be had by recourse to the Donaldson Cipher Code i Entered as Second-Class Matter at Post Office at Cincinnati, Ohio. The day is not far off when Dill posters will have to take cegnizanece of the crusade for municipal art reform. It was well enough to scorn and flout it when the move iment was tirst started, for at the beginning it was backed only by Their contentions were siily, impractical and their de mands absurd. They were quite righteously ignored. But things are different Practienl, hard-headed men of affairs are taking hold. The sunflower worshipers are being shaken out, and business methods are being adopted, Capital is being enlisted, erganizations perfected, and a definite plan of campaign will soon be laid out. When the aesthetes were let out all of their nonsensical vagaries were dropped. The men now behind the guns will contend for beauty and art for the money and profit there is in it. In other words, they are not chasing a fad. It is a business proposition with them. brainless fops and idle women. their proposals how, They do not propose to attack the bill boards—not yet. There is too much other work on hand to engage them. Lots aud lots of this work cries aloud for their immediate attention, end being business men they can be relied on to begin at the hezinning. They may also be relied upon to xo all the way through. Hence, there may be a clash with the bill posters in the far future, unless the knights of the brush beat the crusaders to the issue, and, taking time ly the forelock, beautify their boards voluatarily. It is to be hoped that the Asso ciation will give this matter serious consideration. When it demanded better boards the members built them. If it should demand more artistic boards, its would again obey its edict. members * * od Better boards paid. Every member who built thein was glad of it. Artistic boards would also pay. They would prove profit able if they but stopped hostile legislation; but as a matter of fact they would double the demand for space, and this alone would warrant the little outlay necessary in the matter of mouldings, fret-work, cornices, ete. A bill poster is not necessarily a Philistine-—-a despiser of tine ideas. Convince him that beauty can be, and is, a business asset of considerable value, and he will eultivate it. He will listen and be guided by the judgment of the Association. Let us hope that it will take the matter up. * . * / THE FUTURE OF BURLESQUE. Among the measures, wise and otherwise, which were adopted at the recent meeting of the burlesque managers in Cincinnati the one banishing smut transcends all the others in importance. Had all the rest failed and this one alone prevailed, the meeting would still have been a most unqualified success, Ten years ago, when all the knowing ones were prophesying the early death of this form of entertainment, when the papers were printing articles on the “Passing of Burlesque,’’ and managers hesitated to book the shows, ‘“‘The Billboard”’ predicted that burlesque would live, and it has lived. In spite of the cheap and nasty manner in which most of it has been presented, handicapped by witless dialogue, and above all, damned by coarse and pointless vulgarity, it has endured. Why? Because of the women. Nothing on earth so interests a nan as a woman, Nothing on earth is quite so interesting to a woman as—another woman, Cui out the filthy eliminate the suggestiveness, do not even admit sa lines, laciousness, and women will patronize the shows, business will boom, and burlesque in America will become as popular as the pantomimes in England. What is more to the point, it will command as good prices. If the managers are in earnest, they are on the eve of an era of prosperity that will surpass the wildest dreams of avarice. = * . A retired railroad official recently observed that a railroad could almost afford to carry a big circus free of charge, by reasou of the profit derived from its excursion business. Of the merits of the remark we know little, but we do know this: The railroads have got to deal more justly with the shows in the matter of tariff, or the shows have got to find relief. Transporta tion charges have been advanced until they are outrageously high. And now some rail roads are talking of cutting off bill posters’ passes. The railroads, when they give an excursion of their own, will not only pay bill posters a salary, but will pay for the printing as well. The cireus furnishes both, yet can not obtain transportation. That is railroad logie—big, broad-minded reasoning. Of the Theatrical Profession is Popular Billy Garen, the St. Louis Manager. iSee First Page.) “The Monte Cristo Manager’ is the hecoming title that has been associated with Mr. Wm. Garen, the manager of the Havlin’s, Imperial and Grand Opera houses, of St. Louis, Mo. Few men have risen to fame in the capacity of house manager with such rapid strides as has Mr. Garen, and the sebriquet of ““Monte Cristo” has been repeatedly applied to him since the acquisition of the Grand Opera House and the linperial to his management. Havlin’s one, Imperial two, Grand three. After engaging in amateur theatricals at a tender age, his aptitude and ability were seen by Mr. Walter Sanford, who contracted with him to manage the ‘‘Pair of Jacks” Company and ‘The Struggle of Life,’ both of which, at that time, were gaining dollars and laurels. After severing his business associations with Mr. Sanford he handled seyeral of the Hoyt productions and Ward and Vokes’ company, in “A Run On the Bank.” In 1885 Mr. Havlin, desiring a manager ‘or the Hlavlin’s Theater here, made Mr. (aren a proposition, which was accepted. How well he has fulfilled the managerial chair can readily be seen by the fact that when the Imperial Theater and the Grand Opera House were purchased by Mr. Havlin, Mr. Garen was made resident manager of all three houses. To his energy and ambition may he attributed the phenomenal successes of these places of «ainusement, and this season the attendance and receipts have eclipsed all former business, Mr. Garen is still a young man, being 37 years of age, and is connected in St. Louis with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles, the latter society of which he was instrumental in forming in that city. Besides being termed the “Monte Cristo” manager, he is called “‘par excellence,”’ the prince of managers, and he numbers his friends by the hundreds. Mr. Garen is truly an example of what a young man can be in the managerial field. It ean emphatic ally be said of Mr. Garen that, for so young a man, he has attained a high and enviable position among theatrical managers. MISS HOWARD IS “SORE.” The Burlesque Queen Says She Applied for Time Next Season, and was Turned Down. There is at least one traveling manager who is not satisfied with the wheel scheme of booking burlesque shows, as adopted by the Empire Circuit recently. May Howard, who with Zatella Flynn was “shut out’’ in the new system of booking, is ‘‘sore,”’ and she does not hesitate to say so. “It is something I can not understand,”’ sald Miss Howard to “The Billboard.” “My show has always been a money-maker, and it has been kept up to the standard. That I should be shut out seems a cruel hardship. It is equivalent to putting me out of the business.” “But It is said that you were not present at the meeting, and did not ask for time.” “That is all nonsense. Of course I was not present, but for two good reasons. In the first place, my show had been weakened that week, and I could not afford to weaken it further by leaving myself. Then . again, I did not want to be present for JUSTICE TO CIRCUSES. NY son? fear I should be accused of looking for sympathy among a lot of men. However, I was represented, and application for time was made for me by Mr. Miller, whose three houses went into the Empire Circuit under the new arrangement. Besides, my husband, Harry Morris, was there, and while Mr. Morris and I are not on the best of terms, I know him well enough to be lieve that he would not let the opportunity to say a good word for me go by unnoticed. The on’y solution of the problem t can see is that the gentlemen who control the affairs of the Empire Cireuit did not wish to deal further with women in the burlesque business. Of course, I can place myself without any trouble, and even at a good salary, but | consider that my name is worth something: yes, quite as much as that of Mr. Irwin, Mr. Morris, Mr. Martell or any of the rest of them. I have worked hard for years to build up a reputation for my show, and it does seem to me to be un just to freeze me out because I happen to be a woman. IT would not complain if my show was poor, but it is not. It is now and always has been kept up to the standard of burlesque shows. My plans for next seaReally, I don’t know what I am going to do. This thing came so snddenly that I have not been able to think about what I am going to do. Of course, I ean keep my conipany intact, and play the op pesition houses, or I might accept an offer [| have to place my company permanently in Sam Jack's old New York theater, and alternate between New York and Philadelphia. I have such an offer, but I don’t know yet what I shall do. I do know, however, that it has not increased my regard for mankind to be frozen out, as I have been, without apparent cause or reason.” WILLIAM H. WEST. Popular Minstrel, Succumbed to Can cer at Chicago. Chicago, Hh. Feb. 15.—Mr. William H., West, the minstrel, died this mornir zx at the Aalmer House, after a severe illness. The immediate enuse of death was a cancerous growth, that appenred on his left cheek eight vears age Mr. West's last ippearainee i public WAS at San Franeiseo, Sept. SO last. He then went to a hospital for treatment, but with no success. Finally he journeyed to Chi cago, where death mercifully relieved his sufferings. He will be buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn “Billy” West was one of the best-known as well as most popular men of the presentday stage. His career in minstrelsy covered a period of thirty years, his first appearance being at Buffalo, N. Y. His longing for the stage was a source of trouble to his parents, and finally “Billy,’’ unable to secure their permission for him to go on the boards, ran away from home. From the beginning of his career he has been em inently successful. He fell in with George Primrose, whose experience at home had been almost identically the same as West's, and together they formed a song and dance team. Later they joined a minstrel com pany and were featured by the late “Jack” Haverly Out of this grew the famous Primrose & West Minstrels, which was known from coast to coast. Later a con solidation was formed with George Thatcher, and the company became known as the Thatcher, Primrose & West Minstrets. Primrose and West were partners for twen ty years, but for some reason, Known only to themselves, decided to dissolve their partnership, Primrose going with Lew Dockstader, and West forming a company of his own. West was married three times, his first wife being Fay Templeton. They were dlvoreed, His second venture was with a Philadelphia widow, who died soon after and left him a fortune of S500.000,) His last wife was Emma Hanley, whe gained fame as prima donna of the Casing Opera Com papy years ago. It is said that West left a vast fortune OBITUARY. John Line, the breeder, died at Ind., recently. Actor Thomas Bridgeland, leading man of the Columbia Theater Stock Company, Newark, N. J., died in New York, Feb. 11. George A. Baker, one of the directors of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Com pany, and a member of Its comittee on finance, died Feb. 3. Mr. Baker was born in New Haven, Conn., 69 years ago, and moved to St. Louis in 1875. John F. Dougherty, musician, for the last three seasons emploved with the B, Ek. Wal lace Cirens, and has traveled with several different circuses and combinations, died at the home of his old-time friend, P. J. Jen kins, Wheeling. W. Va., after an illness of five months with an abscess on the liver. tlis body wes shipped for burial to his liane at Weatherby, Pa., Feb. 6. Laporte, One of the best billed and advertised at tractions that has visited Cincinnati in a long time is “A Stranger in a Strange Land,’ which comes to Heuck'’s Opera Honse next week, under the management of P. J. Kennedy. “‘Eddie’’ Giroux is here ahead of the show, this week, and evidently be has not forgotten his old advertising tricks learned in the circus business, for (incinnati fairly sereams with announcements of the coming of Young Corbett, the champion feather weight pugilist, who has a part in “A Stranger in a Strange Land.” The company is the same as when this now famous farce made its record-breaking run at the Manhattan Theater, New York, and if it does not do record-breaking business at Heuck's next week, “The Billboard” will miss its guess. THE KNOCKER. (Geo, Fuller Golden, in White Rats Bulletin) “Life's but a roast,’’ is the name of a dirge Sadly croaked in a dissonant key, By the craven who looks at this beautiful world With eyes that were fashioned to see. But garbled by heeding his self-depraved mind, .bad looking for lecherous stock, They are holden to see but the faults of mankind, So hell knoek, and he'll knock, and he'll knock His cars are mistuned, for paeans of praise Cometh not in return for inanity; His vision distorted from sated self-gaze, Views the world through a maze of in sanity. The world’s out of tune, he's a fellow for lorn, Of all the men I pity him most; To get square on fate for having been born, He'll roast, and he'll roast, and he'll roast. Man is an anvil and he is the smith, Ilis hammer is made of his gall, Which bursted and poisoned his heart with its spleen, When he found he was fashioned so small, High Heaven's to blame for giving men fame, And leaving him still at the post; So he screws up his face, and yells I'm in the race, If | roast, so he'll roast and he'll roast. He'll die bye and bye, and to heaven he'll tly, lor on earth he gave no man a shock; He'll get to the gate just a little too late, And he'll knock, and he'll knock, and he'll knock. Then his hisses will hell hounds, And deem him an excellent toast; And they'll take him on trust to where envy abounds, And he'll roast, and he'll roast, and he'll roast DODD OAADDN Letter Box meet him in shapes GENTLEMEN'S LIST. Adams, W. Ash, Joe. Jabour Midway Adell's Dog and Show, Geo. Pony Show. John & Co., A. Adkins, C. b. Jcnes, John J. Automobile. . E. G. Allen, Bones Albert, “ Ament's Shows, Capt. Kerwin, H. J. Brott Bros.’ Kuhn, Robt. R. Novelty Show. Lewis, J. C. Rartlett, De Witte Lowry Students, The Boston Loop the Lamont & Zel. Loop Co. Leclair, Mons. Bonhomme Family Leary, Jerry. 10 and 20 Cent ShowLingi, Geo. Bickford, Warren C. Luckie, Lawrence. Brady, Sam. \.ties, Chas. tridger, Edw. B. Moore, James C. Brooks, F. W., Mgr. MeGregor, Cliff, Boatinghouse, Kirby. Monroe, Billy. Jones, Ja Burne, A. Miner, G., Mgr. co. a Musgat, W. R. MeNickols, John. Moseley, W. B. Moriarty, David. Murry, John J Noss, Ferd. Phillips & Belmont Powley, Win. Pearson, Ralph. Praeger, Jack. Perry, Geo. M. Delgaria, Baba. Pinkston, F. C. Dale, Harry P. Proper, T. L. Deal, Neuman. Rice, M. E. Douglas, Prof. John L.edan's Amusements, Everton, Dr. M. Rogers, E. Eberlein, Earnest. Ragab, Lloyd. Exemplar 81 Works Keizels, The. Emmerson, Harry. Elton Bros. Fowler, A. W. care D.N. Fowler. Forgrave, R. H. Frick & Bailey. Fanmann, Archie. Foley, Ed. Farmer, H. P., mgr. Swain, Dr. W. I. Fisk, Fd. Suman, A. Gordon, J. Saunders. Spaun's RK. R. Shows Great Southern CircusShepp, W. Campbell. Grimes, Joe. Scott, Tom and Lillle. Guy, Cliff. Steely, White & Gleason, O. R. Young. Gardner, Frank A. Sherman, Lee. Gillette Bhows. Snyder, Prof. Hank. Greene, James F. Sonscrant Bros. Gautier, the Great. Sharrock, Harry. Harry and Orville. Taylor, Parson. Heckman, T. H. Tufant, BE. A. Hammet, J. H. Trone Bros, Hamilton, C. Geo, Trone Bros. Huddleson, Mr. Touhey, Frank & Hoffman's Shows. St. Clair. Hoffman ,H. F. Williams, E. Herbst, Milton. Wilson's, A., Show. Harris, Richard. Waldo & Elliott, Hare, Jas. B. Phil. G. Hess, Chas. Watts, Geo. A. Handley, W. W. E Johnson, Walter. Jabour, Geo, Wild West. Croft, H. P. Clarkson, John. Carroli, Mike. Clark Bros. Collins, Capt. B. Chatter, James P. Darling's Dog and Pony Show. Royer, Archie. Ritchie. Edward. Selka, Sam. Srouse, Warren. Swartz, Prof, Chas. Sherry Working World, Yaki, Boone. Zimmerman, Chris. LADIES’ LIST. McKay, L. E. Prospetta. Mile. Stanley. Mra. Geo Smith, Mile. Christine Stuart, Amelia. Carlsen, Lilly. Cowell, Sidney. Cole, Margarette Hilliard, Blanche. Jones, Daisy. Lamb, Mrs. Theresa. 4ardna, Madame.