The Billboard 1905-03-11: Vol 17 Iss 10 (1905-03-11)

OF opRSP See FS srek <7 Sor ier * & —“ ~~ The Billboard 13 Summarizing the reports that have been received at this office concerning the park situation, there appears to be a general tendency to open early. A few of the southern parks will open this month and by June a large majority of the resorts in the northern states will be open to the public. * 7 * Fair dates as a rule are being claimed a few weeks earlier than last year. There appears a desire of the fair management to have his event at a time not to interfere with neighboring fairs. But the movement appears to be too general, thus frustrating the object of the management. * * * Park managers as a rule are expending more upon improvements than last year. New attractions are being purchased to a greater extent than any preceding year. * . 7 Will the Magic Kettle get into the carnival business? * * * What has become of the movement suggested by Mr. Adolph Seeman for the organization of street fair companies? FAIR NOTES. Billy Curtis: Your brother wants to correspond with you. Address Lou Curtis, 223 N. Hoff street, Tucson, Ariz. The Jackson (Miss.) Corn and Cotton Carnival Association will hold another state fair some time in October. Dates will be given through these columns. The California commission to the St. Louis Exposition returned to the state $6,000, unexpended, of the $130,000 appropriation made by the legislature for state advertising purposes. Practically all the exhibit has been sent to the Portland Fair, which is to open next May. The board of directors of the West Texas Fair Association held a meeting on Feb. 1l, at which time the old board resigned. A new board was selected Feb. 18. They have not decided on what dates the fair this year will take place, but it will probably follow the state fair at Dallas. The popular secretary, Max Andrews, was again elected secretary. Following are the officers: Morgan Weaver, president; J. M. Cunningham, treasurer, and > C. Gather and T. O. Anderson, vice-presients. SPIE LAK McCARTHY AMUSEMENT CO. The McCarthy Amusement Co. is the name of a new organization which will take the road about the last week in June. It will be under the management of Warren McCarthy, by whom it is now being organized in Jacksonville, Ill. The company will operate about six paid shows, a merry-goround and three free acts. Six weeks have been secured by the management, four of these being band carnivals and every bandman a booster. CHATTANOOGA CANCELS Owing to some unfavorable conditions which have recently arisen, the Merchants’ Association of Chattanooga, Tenn., at its meeting, Feb. 24, decided | to abandon the Spring Festival. The chances are, writes President Bernard KE. Loveman, that no other organization will take it up, ana that there will be no Spring Festival in Chattanooga this year. The Robinson Amusement Co. was contracting to put on the attractions. BEAVERS TO HOLD STREET FAIR The Birmingham, Ala. Order of Beavers have arranged to hold a big | Street fair and spring festival in Birmingham the first week in April. The event will be held on the streets and will be free. The Smith Greater Amusement Co. will furnish the attractions. The Order of Beavers originated in Birmingham, being composed of the business men of that industrious clty. HORACE GRANT SHOT While Dr. Horace Grant, of the SeeCo., man-Millican Carnival was at | supper in the dining room of the Hotel | Dalton, Dalton, Ga., Feb. 23, he was shot by a mulatto waiter who is said to |have become enraged at the doctor for |having ordered him to cease making |}a noise with the chairs. The negro | shot while standing forty feet away. |The bullet made an angry flesh wound and lodged in the wall of the dining room. Dr. Grant was late for supper and there were few people in the room at the time the shooting occurred, giving the negro a chance to escape, which he did. The doctor suffers but little from his wound. STREET FAIR NOTES. Street Fair Issue next week. A No. 2 Great Alamo Show will be put out about May 1. The Great Alamo Shows leave Texas about the first of next month. Middlesborough, Ky., has organized for and wants a street fair April 24 and week. Col. Fisk has entirely recovered from oe illness and is once more heading nor Last call for your ad in the great ee Fair Special Issue, which comes out next week. The Robinson Amusement Co. opens the season at Knoxville, Tenn., under the auspices of the U. C. T. The Columbus Railroad Co. has not decided whether it will manage or lease Wildwood Park at Columbus, Ga. Florence Spray, high diver, formerly of Splash and Spray, has signed with C. W. Parker for the coming season. Ike Monk writes that the Barkout Carnival Co. is moving along slowly. Business is improving with the weather. Sam Josephs has left Philadelphia and is working at the head of the press staff of the Robinson Amusement Co. The Tri-State Fair to be held at Dubuque, Ia., has canceled the dates of Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, and claims August 21 to 27. McKinnon & Ebeling’s big illusion, Thelma, and Jolly Joe, the fat boy. have signed for the season with the J. Frank Hatch Shows. The J. Frank Hatch Shows wilil carry eleven cars this season; five palace cars, one — two coaches, two flats and one privilege car. James Blankinship has secured the exclusive confetti and novelty privilege with |}the Will H. Weider Carnival and Midway Co. for the coming season. LaBelle Fatima writes that a fire broke out in her apartments at 358 Second street, Hoboken, but with little loss to her. | She is now at 319 Grand street. Madame Liljens, fire diver with the Southern Carnival Co., writes that mail is delayed from ten to fourteen days on account of the terrible washouts in Arizona. Mr. John T. Secord has the Electric Palace this season with the McCarty Amusement Co. He also holds the office of general manager. He sends regards to all his old friends. Wm. Judkins Hewitt has been discharged from the Allegheny hospital after a six weeks siege of typhoid fever. He can be addressed 1229 Arch Street, Allegheny, Pa. On account of the extra large size of Street Fair Special Issue, which comes out next week, no advertisements can be received for same later than 6 p. m. Sunday, March 12. A street fair will be held in London, Ont., August 7-12, during the return of the |“Old Boys."’ Write to Ald. Mathews, city hall, | for information, as the carnival will be held junder the city’s patronage. | Miller's Shooting Gallery, Phillips’ | Photo Studio and Cohen's Vaudeville Show | played a two weeks’ successful business stand j}at Plaquemine, La. They join the Seeman| Millican Carnival Co. at Atlanta, Ga. | A new electric light plant, having a capacity of one hundred and fifty lights, has just been delivered to the Smith Amusement |Co. at its winter quarters. In case this one proves successful two more may be added in }the near future. Mr. H. LaShea writes that he closes his season with the Georgia Coon Shouters to | rest up for the carnival season. He goes out with the Capitol Amusement Co., and will have charge of the Plantation Show. Mail will reach him at Lansing, Mich. Cc. W. Tyler's Vendome Electric Thej atre joined “the Fisk Syndicate of shows at Douglas, Ga., last week. Mr. H. C. Benton is | managing the Vendome during the absence of \Mr. Tyler in Indianapolis, Ind. Mr, Tyler promises a surprise in the way of electrical dances and effects this summer, and he expects to have the finest show on the road. Mr. H. A. Smith, correspondent for The Billboard at Abilene, Tex., writes that he had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Earl D. Jones, promoter for the Dixie Carnival Co. Mr. Jones reported that his -company has been doing a bumper business. ‘While in Abilene Mr. Jones received a telegram from his company at Cisco saying that they were ‘eating it up.”’ Our Street Fair Special Issue, which has now become an annual institution, will be mailed at Cincinnati Tuesday, March 14. The usual edition is doubled on this number witnout any increase in rates. It is a promotion number. Every city, town and village in the United States will be sample-copied. No increase in advertising rates. Last call for your ad. Herman Q. Smith has been engaged by Mr. Will H. Weider to act as general agent of the Weider Carnival and Midway Attraetions, which opens the first of May. Mr. Smith writes: We will not be the largest, but we will be ‘‘one’’ of the best in the country. We will play Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan up to September, when we go South for the winter. We have twenty-three weeks booked solid from May 1. Notes from the Monarch Carnival Co. Everything in winter quarters is progressing nicely, and we open early in May with a new and up-to-date show under the management of Mr. M. Mitchell. Mr. E. D. Bentz will act as asistant manager. The company will consist of ten paid attractions and three free acts. Prof. Taggert’s band will furnish the music. The Greggs, looping the gap and bicycle whirl; Lane and Suzenette, jugglers; Katey Brothers, comedy acrobats; The Fords, jugglers, and the Weinier Family. The Jones-Adams Carnival Co. closed its winter season at Hot Springs, Fla., and is now in winter quarters at Dillon, 8S. C., where a large force of men are hard at work preparing it for the spring tour. Everything will be brand new with the exception of a few tents. Mr. J. J. Jones left March 2 for New York to purchase a portable electric light plant and machines for penny arcade. The spring tour opens April 3. See their ads elsewhere in this issue for performers, bandmen and plantation people. The Monarch Carnival Co. will furnish the attractions for a big carnival and street fair to be held in El Paso, Tex., week of March 20. The event will be under the auspices of the volunteer fire department, which is going to work in earnest in preparing for the carnival. The following is the executive committee: J. B. Badger, chairman; Al. Howard, D. W. Reckhardt, J. C. Lackland and Cc. W. Fassett. These gentlemen are all well known and representative business men, whose names are an augury of success for the undertaking. On Friday, week before last, Mr. Francis Ferari, James W. Bostock and Victor D. Levitt were callers at the New York office of The Billboard. Mr. Ferari was in the metropolis to look after a shipment of animals from . The bunch comprised several leopards, pumas, and a large lion. Mr. Bostock has sold his outfit to the Patterson-Brainerd Carnival Co., and will be identified with the Ferari Brothers next season. Mr. Levitt is still running his slot machine concession at the Fourteenth street store. He also will be on the official staff of the Brothers Ferari. Messrs. Ferari and Bostock left for Boston Friday night, having spent a large part of a day and night in visiting friends. Mr. James Adams, of the JonesAdams Congress of Novelties, Pure Food Show and Theatrical Exposition Co., writes as follows: On February 16. while playing a week's engagement at Gainsville, Fla., the entire company gave me a surprise, the occasion being the thirty-second anniversary of my birth. Unbeknown to me the company had assembled in the Fairyland Theatre, directly after the night performance. Mr. Johnny Jones, my esteemed partner, and Mr. James Howard, manager of Fairyland Theatre, called at my office tent, requesting me to come to Fairyland Theatre and see a new film tried. On entering I saw the entire company, and the band struck up “Dixie.” The surprise was complete. Immediately following, Mr. Tom Moss made a short and eloquent address on behalf of the company and presented me with a precious souvenir, in the way of a handsome solid gold watch with chain and diamond locket, and friendly greetings, and wished me many more happy and suecessfu! years. The surprise was so complete I hardly knew what to say. However, | responded with a few words of thanks, which but feebly expressed my appreciation. I shall always remember this occasion as one of the happiest moments of my life, and preserve their gift as a priceless pearl, that which money can not buy. Notes from Ferari Brothers Shows United, The Zoo, Toledo: Business still continues very good at the Zoo. In fact, we are getting more than our share of business of the show houses in Toledo. We have an excellent bill on this week, consisting of the world famous Martinnettie Brothers, Miss Stuart, singing comedienne; Watkins Brothers, head to head balancers and acrobats; Ferari Brothers world famous group of performing ponies; Jacko, the famous comedy riding monkey: Princess Pauline and her magnificent group of lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and panthers; El Paso in the lion hunt, and the cinematograph with new and novel pictures. The people of Toledo certainly embrace the opportunity to see the biggest and best ten and twenty cent show they ever had in their city, which is noticeable by the large crowds that conzregate at the Zoo every afternoon and evening, and it is a general password in Toledo, ‘“‘Meet me at the Zoo.’" Work at the winter quarters is progressing wonderfully. Twenty-two men are kept busy in different departments at winter quarters, building new and novel ideas in the way of show fronts and amusement devices that will startle the amusement going public and astonish the carnival world the coming season. Carvers, builders, carpenters, blacksrgths, wheelwrights and wagon builders, electriclans and painters are kept busy, and some are working over time; and when the big show turns out in May it will be without a doubt the largest, grandest and most complete amusement enterprise the carnival world has ever known. Notes from the Great Alamo Shows: Gur seventeenth week in Texas finds us at Coleman. Every show and privilege has made some money. Jessap’s Ferris Wheel joined at Sequine and has been a big winner, it being the first wheel ever operated in many of the towns in which we showed. Creation is still the feature show. Its roster is: W. L. Hamilton, manager; Slim Tillman, talker; Eddie Edwards, Red Long, Red Moore, Kid Jones and Reta Ashton. Port Arthur, with E. E. Montgomery in charge, has been very successful. Jack Redmond, Curly Cummings, Mamosa and Kane are assistants. The Girl From Up There is in charge of J. C. Callison, assisted by the Farmer Brothers, Gertie Long, Helen Dester and Whitey Long. Sig. Nevarro’s Lady Glass Blowers have Hamberger Red, Harry Berry and wife, Clara Strong, Helen Letch and Mrs. BE. L. Dodge. The Howard Brothers and Al. Boyd have charge of Joe Wood's Temple of Music. Teddy Leary’s Working World, with three people, has been successful. The free acts are Dare Devil Holland, balloonist; Clio, slide for life, and Sigamond, high diver, Felix Sanchez has the band with nine men. PARK NOTES. George Hines has two of the swellest shows in White City Park, Chicago. Hyde Park at Austin, Tex., opened Feb. 26 with an all-star free show. Prof. G. B. Green, aeronaut, and Baby Green, the child wonder, gave a most sensational rope walking act. J. A. Erwin returns to Peru, Ind., about the middle of this month to superintend preparations for the opening of Boyd Park, of which he is manager. The opening will occur May 21 or 28. He has about closed contracts for the installment of two big amusement devices: costing, approximately, $20,000. Turbania Park at South Haven, Mich. will this year open its season June 27. The park proper consists of thirty acres of land. Lagoons and small canals, ranging from ten to thirty feet wide, are being dredged through the grounds. These will be used for gondolas and small water attractions. When the park is completed about $80,000 will have been expended in beautifying the grounds and erecting attractions. Minnequa Lake Park, Pueblo, Col., has just been leased for a term of years by the Pueblo Traction Co., and Joseph D. Glass has been employed as general manager of this beautiful resort. The most up-to-date attractions only will be installed upon the grounds for the coming season, and inasmuch as Pueblo is crowding Pittsburg, Pa., for first place as an iron producer, the indications for a prosperous season are most encouraging. The Billboard is in receipt of a nicely bound and artistically arranged little booklet descriptive of Chutes Park and Zoological Gardens at Los Angeles, Cal. Chutes Park was opened on Washington's birthday, 1901, and has not been closed a day since that time. It is conceded to be one of the finest if not the finest family resort west of the Rocky Mountains —and it deserves the title. With its long walks and drives shaded by a wealth of tropical verdure, its beautiful lawns, fountains, statues, etc., its collections of animals and birds makes it the one spot for young and old. Mr. Lorian J. Howard, owner of the Howard Theatre, Chicago, Ill, has leased that playhouse in order that he may have more time to attend to his other ventures, among which is the beautiful Sans Souci Theatre, one of Chicago’s most popular and beautiful summer resorts, The house opens May 27, per ad in this paper, and only the best vaudevillians will be eligible to a place on the program. The Howard & Doyle Play Agency, under his management, has an increased list of popular plays for summer companies. Managers desiring light summer plays will do well to write to Mr. Howard. Col. IL M. Martin, of Chester Park, Cincinnati, left Tuesday of last week for New York to complete the organization of the Chester Musical Comedy and Opera Co., which will be the attraction at the resort during the coming summer. As musical comedies proved a more attractive form of amusement than comic operas at the park last season, it has been decided by Managers Martin and Rogers to devote the coming season to the production of a repertoire of bright and breezy productions of the former class. A well known soubrette, who is now making a hit in one of the big Broadway productions in New ‘York, is waiting for the arrival of Manager Martin to close a contract to appear with the Chester Co. next summer. John Young and Frank Stammers, the favorite Chester comedians of last season, have already been re-engaged, as has also Hans 8. Linne, who was the musical director of the last company. While Col. Martin is in New York, the entire repertoire for the season will be given and good singers will also be engaged, and a contract will be closed with a first-class New York scenic artist, who will paint the scenery for the ten productions. In an effort to further make Niagara Falls one of the foremost summer resorts in the world and to add to it in an amusement way, the city is to have a miniature pleasure resort, and a party of Buffalo capitalists have incorporated a company with a stock capital of $30,000 for that purpose. Directly opposite Prospect Park, at the head of the upper steel arch bridge, a plot of ground has been leased for a term of years, upon which will be erected several concessions. The principal concession will be a figure eight, roller coaster, etc. The coaster will cost about $15,000 and from the topmost track a splendid view of the falls will be given. Several smaller concessions will be erected and the whole will be illuminated by about 1,000 electric lights. Work will begin on the establishment of this new resort as soon as the weather permits and before the summer montis arrive the people of the Falls will be given an opportunity to see the great cataract from a new viewpoint, The new company is the Niagara Amusement Co., and the directors are Samuel J. Lynch, Louis H. Graeber, Samuel W. Hofheins, Valentine Miller and Samuel L. Robertson, all of Buffalo.