The Billboard 1904-02-27: Vol 16 Iss 9 (1904-02-27)

THE BILLBOARD -STREE ON THE PIKE, One of the most interesting as well as most mystifying features of the Vike is that of the Crystal Palace Concession Company, which is to be known as the “‘Crystal Maze.” Although the nawe is old, the exhibit itself is an entire new departure in the making of a maze. ft consists of about 100 French plated mirrors and an equai number of distorting wirrors, eet so as to give the most absurd, grotesque retections. Appearing like ordinary wirrors, the effects are funny in the extreme. In construction these mirrors are more difficult than anything yet attemped, aside from being entirely new in design. The maze is dark, so as to permit of electrical dances, such as the moou, sun, stars, clouds, flowers, aud all tbe famous fire dauces, causing a most weird surrounding of realistic aud mysterious volexuic tire. Belng safely escorted towards the exiis, you will find yourself in a long grotto, sixteen feet in width, with an indefinite appearing jeugth. This is cabled the Hall of Laughter, and comprises from 50 to 60 distorting mirrors set into grotto walls, with reilections of light thrown upon them so that they reilect the most freaky as well as most shapeless deformities to the visitor. These concaved and convex mirrors were especially desigued ana are considered the best collection of _ putterus in the world. Aside from this wonderful collections of wirrors, there are such features as the Mystic Bottomless Well, Spring of Mirth ete. The lobby at the entrance contalus an orchestral organ, Which produces the music of sixty musicians and having taken the gold medal at the late Paris Exposition, its quality is assured. Being in a prominent location on the Pike, and the massivevess as well ag the exquisite design of tie exterior of this concession, the visitor ig at once attracted and mystitied with its beauty. lu conclusion, it might be said that nothing on the Pike wili attract more attention than b> FAIR NOTES, At least 3,000 birds will be on exhibition at the Pittsburg Poultry Show. Evansville, Ind., will have its second annual horse show in May. Wm. L. Swormstedt is secretary. kh. H. Cosgrove, of Minneapolis, Minn., has Leen offered the position of manager of the lnterstate Fair next year at Spokane, Wash, rue Union Jack Club skating fete and ice carnival took place in Loudon recently aud proved the most successful social event of the season. lhe trustees of the Cumberland County (Me.) Agricultural Society recently decided to bold thelr annual fair Sept. 6-5, and preliminary rrangements were made for the occasion. Ss. B. Oall, of Springtield, Mass., manufacturer of the Link the Link puzzle, a new novelty, bas received many large orders for this amusing puzzle. It is just the thing for streetmen and novelty dealers. he directors of the Auglaize County (Ohio) Agricultural Association have decided to hold their fair the last four days in September, and have already begun to make extensive improvements on thelr grounds. Pentland & Co., of Detroit, Mich., are offering mens, ladies and boys watches at a price within the reach of all. They have solid coin silver cases, New York standard works, and ali are warranted. See ad. on another page. “The Schemer,’’ published at Alliance, O., is a 44-page agents’ monthly. It is filled with the leading agency, advertising, mail order and all other schemes. They offer three months’ trial at a special price. See other page for ad. The Georgia State Agricultural Society bas chosen Macon for the next state falr. The exhibition will be conducted by the Macon Fair Association, which will use every means to add to the already great assurance of success. The death of Charley Mallory, a young bicycle rider, at the Coliseum, Atlanta, Ga., on the fair grounds, Aug. 26, 1902, has resulted im a damage suit being filed against the Interstate Fair Association, Jack Prince, Bobby Walthour and Gus Castle. The Newman Mfg. Co., 81 Woodland Ave., Cleveland, O., have added something entirely new in Shamrocks for St. Patrick's Day. They furnish samples at wholesale rates. Their aesortment of these goods is very large and prices the very lowest. Catalogue free. bk. B. Wood, 3258 Monroe Street, Toledo, O., is the manufacturer of the celebrated Red Rose Chewing Gum. He makes a specialty of this famous brand, which ig unrivaled for purity and delicacy of flavor. Orders are promptly filled at the lowest possible prices, Armitage, Herschell Co., North Tonawanda, N. Y., are the inventors and the original manufacturers of Tonawanda Steam @iding Gallery. This is an improvement on the merry-go-round, and fortunes are to be made by operating this everlasting amusement riding gallery. Vlans for Denver's (Col.) spring race meet are now nearly matured, and already a number of candidates for the light harness events have arrived. These horses will be worked daily from now on, so when the racing season in Colorado opens they will be fully acclimated. The Kingery Mfg. Co., Cincinnati, 0., 151 Pearl Street, east, have a great attraction tin the way of their automobile peanut rouster. Their handsome catalogue, which fully describes this machine can be had for the asking. They iso carry a very large ne of rotary popcern poppers and ice cream freezers. The recipe for their crystal flake, that celebrated article that is used so extensively for ice cream, can be had free. Mr. Galloway, chief of the bureau of plant industry of the Agricultural Department, makes the statement that that department Is not in business of distributing seeds to fairs. If such were the case there would be a flood of applications from all over the country. The only seeds distributed are through the senators aod representatives. Mr. Galloway states that such reports make enemies for the department and costs thousands of dollars to deny. At the Massachusetts agricultural board meeting Dr. G. M. Twitchell presented a very cheerful view of agricultural prospects. He believes that “the outlook for New England agriculture must be positive. Here are the markets, here the industries are multiplying rapidly; here is to be the great distributing center for manufactured products; here are the acres which [FAIRS & EXPOSITIONS| will yield larger crops than prairie or plantation, and here a climate adapted to the grow ing of a vast variety of food for man and beast of a quality unexcelled upon the face of the earth. In the constructive work for a more aggressive agriculture, the student, professor and worker have before them the greatest opportunity of their lives. The conditions are favorable, the times are auspicious, the tide ig setting toward New England, and the currents of thought are centering here.’’ President Thomas F. Hanley, of the Irish exhibit at the World's Fair, has appointed Myles T. Murvhy, of New York, as manager and director. Mr. Murphy it at present directing the tour of the Robt. Emmett Co. in and around New York. One of the leading features of the exhibit will be an Irish national theatre devoted to the production of the best Irish plays. This portion. of the enterprise alone would be reason enough for the appointment of Mr. Murphy, if nothing else. In this special work be stands alone. As a producer and purveyor of fine Irish plays be won his spurs loug age, and it bas been an axiom among theatregvers of this country that any production which had Mr. Murphy’s name attached to it might be classed as clean and wholesome. His aim has always been to place the Irish stage on a high plane of excellence, and much of the improvement in the tone of this class of plays during recent years may be directly traced to his efforts. It is the intention of Mr. Murphy to present in the theatre of the exhibit a number of tine productions, among which will be such plays as The Heather Field, by Edward Martyn; Cathleen Ni Houtihan, The Pot of Broth, The land of Heart's Desire, by William Butler Yeats, and some of the choicest works of Boucicault and other Irish Authors. A stock company, carefully selected from among the best Irish-American players, will be engaged to present the various pieces, which will be mounted in an elaborate manner and with some very handsome lighting effects. WORLD'S FAIR NOTES. Mrs, Russell, who ig to exhibit at the World's Fair, lost two trick crocodiles on the voyage over on the steamer ‘‘Manitou’’ from London recently, Suit was brought in the Circuit Court at St. Louis, Mo., recently in the name of former Judge if. B. Haughton to restrain the Jernsalem Exhibit Company from allowing Mansman & Minikus to erect and operate a cyclorama of the Temple of Solomon at the World's Fair and exhibit pictures representing scenes in and about Jerusalem. It is alleged that Haughton, who represents other persons, obtained a contract from the Jerusalem Company to erect and operate exclusively a cyclerama of the Temple of Solomon and of the Hebrew Tabernacle at the World's Fair and to give stereopticon views similar to ones which, it is alleged, Mansman & Minikus propose to give. A diagram of the World's Fair is made part of the petition four the purpose of showing the location of the concession. Judge Foster granted an order citing the defendants to show cause why an injunction should not be issued, a temporary restraining order to prevail in the meantime. THE HANDSOMEST EVER Will Be the Special Street Fair Number of “The Billboard.”’ On the 15th of next month the publishers of “The Billboard’’ will issue their regular annual outdoor amusement special. The Street Fair and Carnival Number of this journal is always looked forward to with great interest by our readers and patrons. The Special Open Air Amusement Number of “The Billboard’’ is always a model of typrography and a criterion of editorial excellence. The publishers are this season preparing to surpass all past efforts to give to their readers au issue of incomparable value from the editorial point of view, and to their advertising patrons an edition in which the space is worth many times the regular rate at which it sells. The issue will be copiously illustrated and the subject matter will be contributed by many of the most prominent people in the open-air amusement business—men with many yearg of experience to draw upon. It will be the biggest and the handsomest ever. WORLD'S FAIR VS. STREET FAIRS. There are other influences that militate more pétently against the success of street fairs than will the coming World's Fair at St. Louis. If, therefore, steps are to be taken to eliminate these deleterious intluences, in as far as possible, there is no logical reason why thle coming street fair season should not be better than the last. The time will probably cheap prometers with elastic imaginations and vocabularies well stocked with superlative adjJectives will not misrepresent the shows with which they are identified. Towns that have been so gulled are practically dead, at least their vitality in respect to the street fair proposition has reached such a low ebb as to be imperceptible. They are dead to the unmeritorious shows, But an Intelligent secretary of committee man is always anxious to retrieve himself in the eyes of hig constituents and will go counter to their instructions If he {s confident of hig good judgment in so doing. The first promoter that can prove by recommendations and endorsements from other committees that his shows deliver the goods, will get a contract. tract. Apropos of this subject, frequently in receipt ef letters from prospective street fair committees requesting Iinformation how te get Into communication with responsible managers of carnival companies. These towns are all open. They far outnumber the towns that don't want carnivals or that are already closed. Carnival managers never come when “The Billboard’’ ts will do well to watch out for them. STREET FAIR NOTES. T. J. Cannon ig no longer connected Hatch-Adams. The Eagles’ Carnival Evansville, Ind. Collihan’s Ferris wheel will be with the Lotta Carnival Company. Prof. Harry Cooke will exhibit his City of Jerusalem with the Hatch-Adams Company. Mr. Joyce Lloyd hag been engaged as waster of transportation with the Lotta Carnival Company. The Red Men were the auspices under which the Talbot-Whitney Carnival Co. played Alexaudria, La. Lilly Dyer and wife will put in the balance of the winter at Evansville, Ind., and can be addressed at that place. Messrs. White and Armstrong, owners of the Lotta Carnival Company, are in New York buying a new merry-go-round. Manager Kerns, of tie Lotta Carnival Company, bas closed a contract with the committee vf Eclipse J’ark, at St. Louis, Cooke’s City of Jerusalem, The Victounas Hindoo Troupe and Tebbitt’s Lunette have closed with the Hatch-Adams Carnival Company. Will H. Hill, the high wire artist, who will open at Luna Park, New York, as a feature attraction, May 14, is wintering in Forest City, Pa. J. Frank Hatch and Frank P. Boblitz are ou the road taking care of the front of the HatchAdams shows. Hatch will invade Cuanadiaa territory soon. The Two Hewitts, well known rolling globe act, are doing exceptionally well playing vaudeville dates. Last Wee. they were at the Avenue, Detroit, Mich. J. RK. Wilson bas just received at Seattle an ourang-outang from Hong Kong, which bad a thirty days’ voyage to America. It is a remarkable ‘‘missing link.’’ Ed H, fobinson has sold ou. his interest in the Robinsen Stock Co. and is now connected with Mr. Gasten Akoun’s Mysterious Asia concession at the World's Fair. The New York Carnival Company, under the Management ef J. Stevens, is meeting with success, and will give its exhibition in the leading cities of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lew Nichols writes that the Street Fair article in the F. O. E. Rule Book should be resented by showmen who are Eagles and the attention of the Supreme Lodge culled to it. Ebenezer Chambers, the oldest dwarf in the world, died in Winston-Salem, N. C., Feb. 15, at the age of 76. He was about three feet tall aud weighed, when in good health, about 40 pounds. St. Louis Button Co., 620 Broadway, St. is, Mo., are prepared to fill orders on short notice for buttons of any description. They make them in any quantity for conventions, gatherings, etc. Herbert Rose, a glass blower, died Feb. 8 at Lowrytown, Pa., and was buried 10 at Shenandoa by the local aerie of Eagles, of which he was a member. The deceased was showing in the coal-tield towns of Eastern Pennsylvania. Dick G. Fulton bag settled big suit against the Wabash Railway Co, for $550. His suit agaiust the Lexington Street Railroad comes up in court about Feb. 22. Mr. Fulton was engaged as lecturer-manager for C. W. Parker Amusement Co. The Trip to the Moon show with the Dixie Carnival Company, at El Paso, Texas, soid 2,u0u tickets their opening night, instead of, as reported, that number on the week. They solid on the week 20,000 tickets at 25 cents each. Ze R. Blitz was the manager, and not Frank utz. Col. W. E. West was one of .we unfortunates of the recent Baltimore fire. i.e had started in that city several stock boxes containing show property valued at more than $1,500, which were destroyed by -he fire. The loss is cf special consequence to him, as it was property with will be a big one at which he would have used at the St. Louis Fair the coming season. American Glass Specialty Co., Monaca, Pa., bave just added a wew line of ruby and ivory glass, decorated with flowers and shield for glass engravers. The shieid can be easily engraved with name or any other appropriate design. They also have a large variety of other novelties, and would be pleased to forward their eatalogue to any one interested in this line, Chas. Ross, Laredo, Tex., manufactures a special line of Mexican filigree made from genuine Mexican silver coin, all the metal being carved out with infinite patience from between the letters and leaving the coin but a skeleton tracery in fine silver lines. ‘This fob is one ef the most beautiful pieces imaginable. They make special prices for agents and streetmen. Mrs. Hattie S. Campbell, better known as Mower of the Midway, received a fall owing to a defective sidewalk at Beaumont, Tex., and is suffering with a badly sprained arm and other bruises, and is being cared for by her friend, .rs. Florence Goodwin, better known as Princess Leagin, also of the Gaskill-Mundy Carnival Compamy. Mr. Campbell hag been wintering in Beaumont. Mr. T. J. Cannon, of the Hatch-Adams Carnival Co. last year, has resigned from this organization and is at present considering severv1 offers from other carnival companies. He has also under consideration plans for putting out a show of his own, and ig now figuring with the firm of Dedrick & Pawley. He left Sa. Louis for the East Feb. 15 and will have some thing definite on his return to that city. Mr. A. H. Barkley, general agent and contractor for the Petterson & Brainerd Carnival Company, was in St. Louis a few days week before last, the guest of Jack Benson. Mr. Barkley was on business for hig company. He says, regardless of the World’s Fair and presidential e@lection, he expects to do a nice business, as the company goes out larger and better equipped, with all new wagon fronts and good, clean, moral shows. The Harry Wright Amusement Company opens at Evansville, Ind., in May, with one of the most complete carnival companies in existence. Twenty-two large gold trimmed wagons and other paraphernalia will require fifteen 60-foot cars to move the outfit. Mr. Wright is a past master in this business and holds a reputation of putting before the public a clean and high-class show. He has just received a laugh ing gallery and ts still on the lookout for highclass shows. The ‘ hattanooga (Tenn.) Spring Festival Association recently held a meeting for the purpose of raising funds for the event. The finance committee made its report, suggesting three methods of raising the funds to conduct the festival. The first suggestion was the usual method of securing a guarantee fund. The second wag to secure cash subscriptions, what part was not used to be refunded to the subscriber. The third was to sell coupon ticket books. The different methods suggested were discussed, and it was decided to use all of them, and letters will be sent out asking for a guaranty, a cash subscription and offering the coupon ticket books for sale. Notes from the Jabour Carnival and Amusement Company, with headquarters in New York City. This company has taken a pace that will surprise the knowing ones when they open May 2 on the Eastern circuit. The fronts for the wany shows are well under way and will be an innovation in the midway front line for carnival companies. Everything possible will and ig being done to depart from the stereotyped idea of former carnival companies. Mr. Jabour has secured some European novelty acts that, as far as sensations go, will astonish the show-golng public. The eighteen carg that compose our special train will have the most elaborate decorations, both outside of the living coaches and inside of the same. When the booking in the Eastern country that has been secured by Steve A. Woods is made public the wise oneg can meditate and figure out the outcome of this grand and colossal aggregation. ae Notes from the Talbott-Whitney Carnival Co.: Since our opening Oct. 19 last we have gone steadily on through New Mexico, Texas and into Louisiana without a losing week, which is saying a great deal, in view of the fact that other carnival and theatrical companies of all kinds went to the wall all around us, but it has been the simple merit of the shows offered which has done it. All committees where we have played are loud in their praise of the shows and the ladies and gentlemen with them. The personnel of the company has changed but little since our opening, as the people have only words of commendation for the munagement, Messrs. Talbott and Whitney. This company is correctly termed the family show. To un outsider the extremely pleasant manner in which every one gets along with every one else Makes Us appear like one big family. Extensive prepurationg are being made by the management for next season, new fronts of style and beauty as well as durability different from any ever put out will make our midway a very pretty and novel feature. Three big free acts have been engaged. We will travel entirely in the passenger service, which will be appreciated by those who have been up against special service and other freight train movements. Messrs. Talbott and Whitney f a THE OPEN-AIR AMUSEMENT SPECIAL EDITION OF ‘“‘THE BILLBOARD,’ which will be edited in the interest of out-door amusements of every character, Circus, Fair, Street Fair, Parks, etc., will be issued March 15, dated March 19. It will be of exceptional avertising value to Street Fair people in aii branches; Circus proprietors, agents and bosses; Fair secretaries and Fair managers; Park managers; vaudeville performers who play resorts, etc. THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN SUBSCRIPTION PRICE OR IN AD VERTISING RATES, are now doing their own promoting and booking, and with Diamond Dave Freeman in charge of privileges, Frank Willard of Midway and E. V. Blic3 of transportation we will be a fairly large small company carrying eight shows, Ferris wheel and carrousell. We all join in wishing our friends with other companies good success and early and prosperous openings. Notes from the winter quarters of the Nat Reiss Southern Carnival Co.: In response to a call issued to me through the New York office of the big Nat Reiss Southern Carnival Co. for me to proceed to Albuquerque, N. M., and start the ball and fireworks moving for the season of 1904, 1 immediately left El Paso and arrived here, eager to get into harness again. Pro ceding to the Exposition Hall on the State Fair Grounds, which has been used by our company as a winter quarters, I could hardly repress an exclamation of surprise at the scene that confronted me. A small army of carpenters, painters, decorotors and electriciang were swarming like bees throughout the big exposition hall and were all hard at work in the construction of wagon fronts, stages, ete. Espying my old friend, Fee Kennett, who is in charge of all the construction work, I started across the ball after him, but became hopelessly entangled in the maze of lumber, plate glass, gold leaf, paint pots and electricial wires and trappings which confronted me. At last I succeeded in clearing the mass and in reaching him, and immediately got down to talking about old times, as well as the work on hand. There are now nine fronts in various stages of completion, Mr. Kennett remarked, and when completed they will be second to none in the United States, if I do say it myself, and aside from their individual beauty, the electrical work that bas been designed for them is entirely new, and when lit up, these fronts will present a most dazzling appearance. We will carry this season seventeen paid attractions and five big feature free acts; travel by special train of twenty-one cars and will carry our own electric light plant. We open at Albuquerque, N. M., April 4, for one week, and after playing El Paso and Phoenix, We go straight to the Coast, where, owing to the very efficient work of the king of them all, Harry Leavitt, we are booked solid for the season, playing nothing but the ‘“‘big ones,’ and as this is cur second season on the Coast, and with the enviable reputation we made there last season, The Nat Reisg Southern Carnival Co. will have things pretty much all their own way and will undoubtedly make this their record season. lLlarry Leavitt, the king, is at present on the Coast, and in connection with Chas. A. Doyle, one of our old promoters, are making things hum with the preparatory work of promotion and publicity. I will start the ball rolling here at Albuquerque Fed. 5, and after promoting this town thoroughly, will leave for the Coast to join them. We are all awaiting the arrival of our genial manager, Mr. Nut Reiss and his charming wife, who are expected here on or about Feb. 1 from New York City, ag well as our genial business manager, Mr. J. G. Fenn, who is expected about the same time. The various shows and concessions people will commence pouring in about the last of February, and every one {fs expectantly awaiting the opening of the season. The editor respectfully solicits contributions for the apecia! Fair and Street Fair Number of ” illbeard,’’ which will be issued Mareb eB 15 and dated March 19.