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

MARCH 17, 1906. A HINT To Candy Concessionaires — Should Make Attractive Displays. By Frank A. Russell (Written for The Billboard.) S a salesman for a reliable candy bouse, doing business with fully sev enty-five per cent. and perhaps more of the concessionists at theatres, parks, picnic grounds, with theatrical end circus troupes, | must say a very few euch concessionists get all there is out of their business. 1 say this, for in my many calls on the trade I have seen many instances where trade gets away from them, and to make these cases clear would like to write of hem. Recently, while on a trip down east, I found at Coney Island one selling fritters made on the ground, and rather than put the extra supply out in sight of the public, be placed every one onder the counter, and those who did not go by the stand while the goods were being made had nothing shown them. Another man, in Hartford, Conn., controlled the concession at a variety theatre with one balcony In it. He only had one boy for the whole house, and only a young lad about twelve or thirteen years old, at that. Just the time he should have been selling I saw him sitting down watching the show and eating popcorn which should have brought in five cents. These boys have to be watched and pushed for all there is in it. Again, in a nice little opera house in Chester, Pa., I-saw that the owner and manager of the house had a colored man selling goods. This in itself lost him considerable trade; but, worse yet, he was selling a package popcorn, which in nearly every instance ‘‘caked up."’ and to make it appear “‘right’’ he would tear open the tox and poke his finger into the box and break up the goods to make them appear as they should. A leading concessionist in Chicago theatres, paying as high as $50 per week for some of his eight theatres, has one young Man as assistant, and he goes around to the several theatres twice a week and reports stocks on hand and reorders: a man is in charge at each house and is of course held responsible. Salaries are paid weekly and the whole thing is run in a systematic manner, and is really a big business in itself, for he purchases more than ten tbhousand dollars’ worth of goods a year from one house alone aod has about twenty-five or more men and.boys employed. Among the park and troupe concessionists it bas been clearly shown that business men and boys must be employed and put in charge. A local park, one of the best, is run by the three sons of the manager of the park. They know no one is in charge over the other, hence let business get away for want of attention on the customers. They really only do about half the business that should come to them. Two other park men I have in mind have neat and attractive stands, display plenty of stock and keep it in good shape, and generally have pleasant appearing ladies or girls in charge. As @ rule for outdoor concessions, these are better for candy stands. I find among the circuses nowadays most of them run their own stands, although many let them out. The trade seems to be growing naturally and is also handled much better. The main reasons for reduced sales with traveling concessions seem to be lack of space to display goods, lack of neatness In doing so, and, above all, the fact that they want to figure on too large profits—even buying Inferior goods to sell at regular prices at larger profits. Such men are not satisfied to double their money or a little over, as theatre or park men do; they seldom figure on selling more than once to the same people. This is certainly a mistake. One man, a concessionist during the winter at a dime museum in our city. and in summer with about the sixth largest and best circus, supplies the best lemonade be can make, using the best lemons and sugar, with clean glasses and spoons. As a consequence, he sells enormous quantities, claiming to have sold as many as eight glasses to one man during his visit to ‘the show. The same man makes it a point to bave all his men and boys dressed alike and always neat and attentive. He pays regularly and treats them well, therefore can get all he wants on a sm ll percentage plan. Taking the concession business all in all, I would say you should make liberal and attractive displays; have large boys or men do the work; keep them and the stands neat and clean: give best value for the money, and, last but not least, be attentive to your customers. STREET FAIR DISPLAYS—Beautiful Hand Carved Front of Feature Show, of one of the Parker Amusement Companies. IBSEN IN NEVADA (From the Carson Appeal.) Ibsen's Norwegian play of Ghosts, with one setting of scenery, no music, and three knocks with a clad on the floor to raise the curtain, was presented last evening. The play is certainly a moral bair-raiser, and the stuffing is knocked out of the decalogue at every turn. Mrs. Alving, the leading lady, who keeps her chin high in the air, has married a moral monstrosity in the shape of a spavined rake, and falls in love with the painter boy on bis return from Paris. They vote country life too slow, and plan to go to Paris and start a family. The doting mother gives her consent. and Pastor Menders, who is throwing fits all through the play, bas a spasm. The boy, on being informed that the girl of his choice is his half sister, throws another, en matmma having also thrown a few in the other act. Engstrand, who runs a sort of sailors’ and soldiers’ canteen, sets fire to an orphanage, and the boy, who has inherited a sort of mayonnaise-dressing brain from his awful dad, tears Seeeses STREET FAIR DISPLAYS—Arch of Main Entrance to the Carnival Grounds of the K. of P. Festival, Jackson, Tenn. (Furnished by C. W. Parker.) hides it from the world. She wears a pleasant smile and gives society the glad hand, and finally lets go all holds when her husband gets gay with the hired girl and gets an old tar three hundred plunks to marry her-.and stand the responsibility for the expected population. Oswold, the mother’s only boy, is sent to Paris to paint views for marines, and takes kindly to the gay life of the capital, where the joy of living is the rage, and families are reared in a section where a printer running a job office solely on marriage certificates would bit the poorhouse with a dull thud. Regena, the result of Mr. Alving’s attentions to the bired girl, also works in the family, and about the stage a spell, breaks some furniture, and upsets the wine. He finally takes rough on rats, and dies a gibbering idiot, with his mother slobbering over him and trying to figure out in her own mind that he is merely drunk and disorderly. The players handled the sticky as could be expected, all being tors, although Miss Razeto built up her bustle too high. Miss Lockwood is strong, and Mestayer handles the thankless role conscientiously. MacGregor as Pastor Menders, was very effective, but there was no better actor in the cast than Edwin Bailey in his minor role. As a sermon on the law of heredity the play mess as well excellent ac STREET FAIR DISPLAYS—One of the Unique Show Front Used by the Parker Amusement Company. > is great, but after seeing it we are glad to announce that Haverly’s Minstrels will relieve a gloom on November 6—next Monday n e. HAD BUT NINETY CENTS LEFT Embarrassing Predicament of Wm. DeHollis, the Well Known Juggler and Manager of the Jack Hoeffler Company. “The slightest accident will sometimes wreck the whole evening’s work of a juggler,”’ sald Wm. DeHollis, of DeHollis & Valora, now playing a week's engagement at the McJimsey Theatre. ‘“‘l remember a knock-out blow | got ip Terre Haute, Ind., while playing at the Lyrte Theatre, when I was doing a bit in the line of magic. I was performing the well-known trick of passing a marked coin into the center of an apple. At least, that’s what a great many people were under the delusion I was doing. I used a silver dollar, and emphasized the trick by passing the coin into the pocket of some boy whom I had enticed onto the stage. “Of course, I may as well confess right here that the boy had to be a confederate and the marked dollar had its fellow in one previously prepared by me. “A I entered the ‘Opry’ House that night I looked around for a lively youth to aid me in my double dealing. I selected my boy and promised to pass him in if he would follow my instructions. ‘Son, said I, ‘I am a juggler. I want you to put this dollar in your trousers’ pocket, right side. I'll get you a seat in the front row. When I ask for some one to come on the stage, you must come; then I will atk you to produce this dollar.” The boy promised to do just as I had instructed him, and after mates arrangements for him at the door, I left “When I was ready for my dollar trick, I saw my young confederate sitting open mouthed in the front row. I had prevailed upon another member of the audience to lend me a dollar marked exactly as the one I had given the boy. I passed that borrowed drllar Into the apple, cut the fruit open and dropped out the coia, Then I addressed the house as follows: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, | will now perform a still more difficult feat. I have passed that dollar into an apple. Now I will ask some one in the audlence to step up on the stage, and, without going anywhere near him, I will pass the same dollar, marked as you have seen, into his trouser’s pocket.’ “In accordance with his lad stepped to the stage. I took a position opposite and asked: ‘Now, young man, have you ever seen me before?’ ‘No, sir,” was the answer. ‘I have here a dollar,’ I continued. ‘I am going to pass it into your trowsers’ pocket, right side. One—two—three—go!’ I made the usual passes of the magician and smiled confidently upon my audience. “ ‘Now,’ said I to my assistant, ‘put your hand in your right pocket and give me the dollar. “At this juncture the boy began to look «a little sheepish; but down he dived into his pocket; then, to my unutterable horror. and te the unspeakable amusement of the audience, he produced a handful ef silver, saying: ‘I’ve only got ninety cents of it left, sir!’ "’ instructions, the MISS ELLA VATER Call. Billtward.) seventh floor, above her; in her door— love her! By Aloysius (Written for The Her flat was on the And mine was one I saw her once pass Enough—I grew to She was a dramatist of note, Bohemian and writer; I heard the witty things she wrote— I was a gay ‘‘first-nighter.’’ Will o’-the-wisp, she fleuted me, A smile, a glimpse of gown!— When I'd get on at one, she'd be At four—and going down! I loathed the elevator He'd stop the cage “You off at seven, Mr. Miss Blla isn’t iIn!’’ lad: and grin: Madd ?— Thus Cupid planned to drop and soar, While I, the jest of Fate, Would read the ‘Out’ sign on the door Then tramp the steps to eight. > ball one day, too late her working on a play;— collaborator! I caught her i Her eyes a Rebuke—-she's I'm her Sometimes I ride the seven flights; Sometimes I climb, for glory; And when I Unger late «’ nights— Well, that’s anotber story!