The Billboard 1906-03-17: Vol 18 Iss 11 (1906-03-17)

MARCH 17, 1906. The Billboard DEVELOPING The Modern Amusement Park Great Strides Being Made This Season —White City, Cleveland, Ohio, a Good Example of Enterprise. (Written for The Billboard.) HE growth and development of the modern amusement park industry and the great place which this, particular ly the youngest of all big industries, has taken among the pleasure seeking public, will never receive a clearer illustration of its success than during the coming season. New devices are being erected all over the country. Seme which undoubtedly will be successes to their owners financially; others which on account of their mechanical construction or their inability to interest the pleasure seekers will fail. These new attractions, combined with the decorations which the concessionaires of the different parks and resorts have devised, will go a long way towards making these resorts both attractive and interesting to their respective patrons. But perhaps more than anything else, these new amusement devices will be interesting in showing the development which this most lusty infant industry has attained. Perhaps the best proof of the confidence displayed in constructing amusement devices by amusement men of capital, is the numerous changes and additions about to take place in the White City, a summer resort In Cleveland, Ohio, {llustrations of which are shown on this page. This park contains fourteen acres, is situated at Collinwood on the shores of Lake Erie, a short distance by trolley from the heart of the city of Cleveland. This park was built entirely by Edward C, Boyce, Incorporated, 302 Broadway, New York City, for the Lakeside Construction Co. last year at a cost of £200,000. and con tained twenty first-class amusement devices, consisting of the following: Chute the Chutes, Scenic Railway, Old Mill, Cirele Swing. Bostock’s Animal Show, Baby Incubators, Laugiing Gallery, Japanese Ball Game, ete GOOD TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES Good transportation facilities being the most essential feature in making an enterprise of this echaraeter a success, the White City management has arranged for the coming season with various traction companies, whose tracks do not at present pass its entrance gate, to build spurs to the park in order that its patrons this year may be handled with greater speed and comfort, This, it is believed. will undoubtedly increase both the railway companies’ and the park’s receipts over last year. In addition to the devices mentioned, as now WILLIAM ODELL William @dell, generally known Cireus #Horse’’ Odell, has become treasurer of the Bijou Theatre, Chicago, after nine years em the staff of the theatre in other capacities as ‘Old being installed in the White City, Manager Joseph Immerman announced last week that there will be over $100,000 spent by his company in enlarging the grounds and in the inStallation of new devices, and in all probability as much, if not more, spent by outside capitalists. In speaking of the changes which are about to take place, Manager Immerman said to a Billboard representative: ‘‘The improvements which are now being carried out in the White City will, when completed, in my opinion eclipse in attractiveness any amusement park in this country, not excepting the now famous Dreamland end Luna Park, Coney Island. We are now building A MAGNIFICENT ENTRANCE gate, which will be illuminated with over 7,500 lights. We are also extending our boardwalk along the lake front to a distance of about half a mile. Our park covers fourteen acres, of which practically only ten were used last year. The remaining four we used principally as a pienie ground for children. This season we are placing the following devices on this property: Johnstown Flood, a large Arcade, Roller Skating Rink, Merry-go-round, Japanese Village, Sea-on-Land, Twirly Whirl, the Waltzing Boat and over twenty small booths for vatious small concessions. Omar Sami Singh, who last year leased a small building which he used as a theatre for his wonderful illusion act, has this year contracted to erect a large theatre on the park grounds.’’ Speaking broadly, more has been and is being done in the way of alterations and improvements in the White City at Cleveland than in BILL NYE’S LITTLE JOKE During the joint lecture tour of the late “Bill” Nye and James Whitcomb Riley, that witty and entertaining combination was once billed in opposition, in a certain Kansas town, to Hermann the magician. Mr. Riley relates a story of an amusing encounter between the humorist and the prestidigitator that occurred in the dining-room of ‘The Hotel”” of the town. When they took their Seats at the table for their first meal, Nye and Rilely had, of course, recognized the dark man with the heavy black eyebrows and the Mephistophelian goatee as the eminent magician, but, not having the pleasure of his acquaintance, they did not feel warranted in speaking to him. Now, for hfs part, Hermann was quite aware of the identity of the distinguished gentlemen opposite, but he, too, did not betray himself, for, as it afterwards turned out, he had planned a pleasant little surprise for them and for the edification of those other guests who were in the secret. Nye was about to lift a leaf of his salad to his mouth when he perceived beneath it a superb diamond ring. Without, however, evinéing the least surprise, the humorist took the ring from the salad-bowl and slipped it on his finger, conscious the while that every eye in the room was upon him. Turning to Riley, Bill, in his inimitable drawl, said: “Really, James, it would appear that I am getting careless in my old age—forever leaving my jewelry in unlikely places.” If Hermann was taken aback by the miscarriage of his little trick, he was soon dumbfounded by the subtle manner in which Nye HARRY DULL ) and thirty years in the shew business. any other one resort has been a general plant and a in this country. There renovation of the entire modernizing of dress, and a filling out in the way of new attractions which will make this resort a delightful fairyland for young and old. EVERY NEW PLAY A GAMBLE So pie volved much of the element of chance Is in play-producing, so slight is the viding line between failure and success, that the manager, after repeated failures, is very likely to lose confidence in his own judgment, and, eliminating his own personal opinion, make his choice entirely on a gamble. They tell the story of how a well-known manager, who had produced in rapid succession four plays, on each of which he had lost money. across a mannscript which to contain all the essentials of success. The playwright, grown weary of the manager's long silence, finally sought him to learn his opinion. “Do you like my play?" “Very much, indeed, but I ae.”” “Why not, if you like it?’ “Well, my boy, there must be semething wrong with it, or I wouldn't like it.”’ indl can't produce Friends of Capt. Lewis, with the Boer War last season, will be pleased to learn that prospects are bright for Athletic Park, New Orleans, which be will manage this season. Jake Schwartz Is going to make a = success of Rosen Heights Park, Ft. Worth, Tex. came | to his mind seemed | VIEWS OF WHITE CITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO. lturned the tables on him. When the next |ecourse was brought by the dusky waiter attending to the wants of that table, Nye so| berly handed him the ring, observing, as he |} did so: “You are an excellent waiter, Jim?’ “Yessah,’’ came from the negro, who displayed his thirty-two teeth by way of smile. “I quite agree with you, Jim,”’ solemnly j assented Nye, “and as a slight evidence of my appreciation of your good qualities, I desire | you to accept this trifle at my hands. Wear it, and always remember the donor.’ | Hermann’s eyes bulged nearly out of his head as the waiter, who was, of course, ignorant lot the value of the magnificent gem, took the |ring: but the magician was too clever to at|tempt an explanation at that stage of the | proceedings. But it afterwards came to the ears of the Nye-Riiey combination that {it cost Hermann a generous tip and a two-hour argument to convince the darky that the affair was only one of ‘‘Bill’’Nye’s jokes. HOODOO DAY Friday. the 18th of the month has always been regarded as the very acme of unlucky days by the superstitious, and it is surprising how many people there are who believe in omens and charms. It remained however for an enterprising carnival manager to turn the notion to account and capitalize it. His scheme was as simple as it was successful. He adver tised Tloodoo Day extensively and offered a series of prizes for the most unique charm carried to ward eff evil. At the gate no one was admitted unless they could prove themselves fhmmune from bad luck Above is a good likeness of Mr. Harry Dull, manager of the Four Huntings. Besides bein a successful manager, Mr. Dull wrote The F — in whieh the Four Huntings are starring. The fun began right there. another was turned back by the stolid gatekeepers, amid the shouts from those who had worked their way in and were watching the fun from every vantage point within the gates. The gatemen simply propounded the inquiry, “Immune ?’’ If the person addressed said “Yes,"" the gateman laconically demanded, “Show me.’’ If the party could not then produce a horse shoe, a rabbit's foot or a charm or sign of some kind, he was given back his ticket and turned back. It should be remembered that a charm was not necessary—a sign was suflicient. Anyone could walk in unhindered with his fingers crossed, but it was surprising to note how many people failed to tumble to what was required of them. Men would try and try again, only to be rejected, and each rejection raised a perfect howl of delight from the insiders. The demand for rabbits’ lucky stones, etc., immense. Comparison of charms among acquaintances and their discussion afforded much amusement, while the awarding of prizes can be made very entertaining indeed by a master-of-ceremonies who is well posted on superstition and & good talker.—C. L. Spinks. A BELASCO STORY One person after feet, on the stands horse shoes, inside was David Belasco, playwright and theatrican manager, Was a newspaper reporter for some time. While so employed he put In a few days with a gang of tramps, In order to get ‘‘color’’ for an article he had been assigned to write. He found the hobos to be a merry lot, with es many stories as the end man of a minstrel show, One of them told in his hearing of having been given a mince pie by the young wife of @ farmer. Next day the tramp appeared at the farmhouse again and said: “‘Would you be kind enough, madam, to give me the recipe for that there minee ple what I had here yesterday?’ “Well, the idea!’ erled the farmer's wife. ‘‘Land sakes, man, what do you want that recipe for?’ “To settle a pardner says cetnent to one only two and a bet."’ replied the = you use three cups of molasses, but I half.’ LAZELL By W. E. Welch. (Written for The Billboard.) “It was just like this: I saw & all. There’s the push in the big top there; The Orvilles are doing their slack wire stant, LaBelle’s on her snow-white mare, The bulls come on, with Conk In lead, And they work like silk that day, When the wind jammers do thelr swelleet tunes And. say, that bunch could play! tramp. of Portland claim itv’e “Then in she comes, And they call her the great Lazell. The band fan-fares, the push, it stares, And answers her smile with a yell. They pull her up to a pereh so high, Her hand on the bale; And the top goes up and then comes down, Like the play of the waves in a gale. the feature act; resis “*] had seen her make that same high dive Many t'mes as the seas-n run: And every time she'd come from the net, Just as if she’d done if for fun. But, somehow, this time I wanted to call: ‘Don’t make it: come down on the rope’; But I didn't play rum, I knew that the ang Would think I had filled up on dope. “Then all is still, the stall made good— Great God! I can see it yet! She waves and smiles dives thro’ the alr, And lands on the edge of the net, Then hell broke lose in that breathless push; And women and inen turned ‘round, And buried their faces in their hands and wept For Lazel! crushed on the ground, “Dead. that’s all. just a life crushed out; Another white soul leaves Ife; Loet in the hazard, she played death’s game, And death made good in the strife We buried her there. in the Southland’s arms, Where the jassamines nod and t hloom ; And a marble cross tells the world ite loss, And marks brave Lazeil’s tomb.’’