The Billboard 1907-06-08: Vol 19 Iss 23 (1907-06-08)

‘The Billboard JUNE 8, 1907, ‘ ws Summer Gardens (rs Parks Beaches, Piers, Pleasure Resorts \. CLAIMS TO BE ORIGINATOR. Boston, Mass., May 24, 1907. Editor of The Billboard: Dear Sir—Kindly permit me to state, through The Billboard, that I am the originator of the Great Train Robbery, as an open-air show, scenic production, performance or _ spectacle. This attraction was primarily designed by me for the Arena, formerly occupied by the Boer War, at Brighton Beach, New York. My idea and plans were first brought to the attention of New York Amusement Promotors, early in the fall of 1905. A detailed description was published later in attention of New York amusement promoters, Nov. 16, 1905. The introduction of a Practical Locomotive and cars, collapsible bridge and other features were prominent in my original conception. A very inferior copy was attempted last season at another park. It may be noted that the introduction of this open-air, scenic, melodrama marked an epoch in the annals of modern park amusements. Attention is particularly called to the possibilities of further development in this line. Yours very respectfully, WM. JUDKINS HEWITT. PARK NOTES. Despite the cold weather, Chicago's beautiful new Dream City Luna Park draws immense crowds every day. Knabenshue is making daily flights, passing over the sky-scrapers of the business section of Chicago for which he receives $1,000 an ascension. Thaviu's great band is heard twice daily and is duplicating its great hit of last season. In the skating rink, DeBaugh’s Chicago Band holds forth afternoon and night. In the ball-room another band and orchestra is heard, so Luna is plentifully supplied with good music. The New Oakland Park and Casino just erected at New Decatur, Ala., will be one of the handsomest and most attractive spots in the south. A new interurban street car service embracing four cities in conjunction with the city survice, has combined in a liberal effort to make the place a most popular resort. theatre, seating 1,000, all modern plan, is complete and opens June 10. There will be no opposition of any description. The Bruce Conquer Enterprises are lessees and managers. Ray’ W. Fay, who has been singing the illustrated songs at the People’s Theatre for the past number of years, has been engaged by Manager Barton to sing the same at the Alamo during the season of 1907. Mr. Fay is well liked here and is a drawing card in himself, and the announcement of his engagement is hailed with delight by his friends. Luna Park, Hartford, Conn., opened for the season Memorial Day. The park which is now under new management, has been greatly improved and a number of strong attractions have been added to it and there is every reason to believe that it will have a most successful season. Knabenshue and his air-ship drew a great, crowd for the opening. Goldthwait Park, Marion, Ind., opens the season June 15 and Mr. Ammons will be manager of the weil-known resort. Everything will be in readiness, be states, and a great opening is anticipated. Free vaudeville will be played during the summer as well as some firstclass, open-air acts, which are now being k Roock Clifi Lithia Park, at Spartanburg, S. C., has opened and the manager is now getting things in shape for the season. New boats have been put on the lake and many amusement devices added. Doling Park, Springfield, Mo., is pleasing its patrons immensely. They have installed a great many first-class attractions and all are going well. PARK ATTRACTIONS Magic transformation has been made in the Chutes, Chicago’s only water park. Hundreds of workmen have been engaged in extensive changes. The Auto-Hurdles which you “QO 2 Hurdle’ is the newest sensation. This device is said to be the most elaborate since the water chutes were devised. Other big features of the new Chutes are a Wading Beach, Parisian Vicotama—that is to be a mystery until viewed—and many others going hand in hand to make the resort one of the most beautiful and pleasant in or about the Windy City. Col. Deigle, the worthy publicity promoter and excursion manager of Cedar Point Resort Co., Sandusky, O., is promising great things for Ohio lovers of amusement for the coming summer. The Colonel is busy night and day in his efforts to give the people the best ever. Manager Boeckling, of the same company, has just signed contracts for the Fighting the Flames attractions which will no doubt prove a heavy winner. The Marvelous Cowles Family opened May 26 on the C. 0. Brown Circuit at White City Park, Springfield, Mo., playing a return date by special request of Manager Deamer, after closing a very successful tour over the Chas. Hodkins Circuit of Lyric Theatres. Baby Marguerite broke her former record of chinning herself, which was twenty-three times, at Denison, Tex., May 13, when she established a new record of twenty-seven times. F. W. Brooks, at one time connected with Walter L. Main’s Circus, Helms, the Magician, and various carnival companies, has the Laughing Gallery, Luna Park, Seattle, Wash., this season. The Figure Eight at Lakewood Park, Vincennes, Ind., is completed and ready for operation. It is a beauty and was built at a cost of $10,000. “Don’t pay me any salary unless I am the best comedy vocal novelty mimic act that your house ever played,’’ is the proposition Del-A-Phone, a new-comer from the west, is submitting to managers in New York City, carrying a special contract of his own with the conditions inserted. Del-a-Phone, is an imitator, and the confidence he has in his ability is best expressed by this sweeping offer. His time is being arranged by Jack Levy. FAIRS... EXPOSITIONS FAIR NOTES. The stockholders of the Ross County (O.) Agricultural Fair Co., elected the following directors: W. L. Miller, Latta Morrisun, Chauncey Hertenstein, Jacob Caldwell and M. D. Sullivan. board of directors elected Jacob Caldwell, president; Chauncey Hertenstein, vicepresident; Latta Morrison, secretary and Milton Scott, treasurer, as executive officers. The Michigan State Fair this year bids fair to excel all previous meetings. They have a reputation for taking good care of their concessioners and this in connection with the several railroads and boat lines, will go to make it a success. Under the directorship of Messrs. J. T. Murphy and H. T. Scurlock, Marion, IIl., will have a race meeting July 3 and 4. They are offering good purses and will have some first class free attractions. H. Graham, of Edmonton, Albta., has some first-class acts booked for his fair which begins July 1. EXPOSITION NOTES. An exposition for everything relating to paper-making, printing, bookbinding and engraving, to be called the Exposition Internationale du Livre, will be held in Paris, France, from the end of July to October 20, 1907. special feature will be the production of artistic advertising matter and post cards. Warren, Pa., is going to have a 4th of July Celebration this season which will include many first-class free attractions. F. Scott is managing the affair. L. D. Proctor, circus and theatrical agent, is managing the Miniature Railroad at the Jamestown Exposition for Col. T. M. Cagany. ( STREET FAIRS | || CARNIVALS | ROSTER OF THE GREAT PARKER AMUSEMENT CoO. The roster of the Great Parker Amusement Co. is as follows: C. W. Parker, owner; Con T. Kennedy, lessee and manager; W. L. Gills, treasurer; T. M. Warren, secretary: Ned Stoughton, assistant manager; John M. Gregory, press agent; S. F. Ward, Ed. Smithson, gap riders; Arthur Franklin, calliope; H. M. McMillan, chief engineer, Jess Jusky, engineer: Hugh Winton, fireman; W. A. Spencer, chief electrician; 0. B. Thomas, electrician; George Clarke, trainmaster, and The Four Flying Valentinos, feature free act. The Katzenjammer Castle, Mrs. C. T. Kennedy, manager; Geo. Callahan, talker; Lew Finch, treasurer, and six assistants. Carry-Us-All, C. T. Kennedy, manager; Frank Brown, assistant manager; Mrs. Martyn, treasurer, and twelve assistants. The Sun Flower Belles, Fred (Happy) Holmes, H. Guy Woodward and D. C. McBride, managers; R. L. Davenport. talker: Mrs. Jessie Bristol, treasurer; Red Wilson, boss canvasman, and twenty assistants; Arthur Franklin, director of orchestra of ten pieces; the Four Valentinos, the Harmonious Four Quartet, the Mar tyne Sisters, Anita, Florence Lane, Lee Edmonds and others, principal features. The Vitascope, J. H. West, manager, and eight assistants. Rag Time Village, Sherman Thompson, manager, Ray Fields, treasurer; company of twenty and band of fifteen pieces. Penny Vaudeville, T. A. Squires, manager. Ferris Wheel, W. A. Spencer, manager; Otto Harris, assistant manager. The Volcano, Harry Meyers, manager; Mrs. Harry Meyers, treasurer; Frank Gafferty, lecturer; O. Freider and N. Morgan, talkers, and ten assistants. Beautiful Switzerland, Will G. Jones, man ager; Warren, treasurer, and ten assistants. Superba, Fred (Happy) Holmes, manager: Homer Jones, treasurer; A. B. Murray, talker; Chas. Kidder, electrician; Red Riley, boss canvasman, and ten assistants: Etta Louise Blake, Cora Mae Benson, Jule Kieth Deno and Nell Choisser, illustrated songs; Ben Duncan, Illnstrated songs: Louise Richey, pianist. Trained Wild Animal Show, Capt. J. W. Dyer, manager; W. 8. Dilette, treasurer: La Belle Salina, Ernestine Rose and Millie Marte Maybelle; Capt. Pat McCann, does the Lion Hunt. Annie Redline, J. H. Larrabee, manager. Dining Car, E. Z. Wilson, manager; Ed. Cundiff, assistant manager, and ten assistants. Band, A. pieces. Concessions, Mike Rudolph and Dave Morris. MORLEY’S GREAT WHITE CITY SHOWS OPENED. U. Eslick, director, with thirty Morley’s Great White City Shows opened their season, May 28, at Elyria, O., inaugurating what General Agent A. R. Saunders styles a new principle in outdoor amusements. It Is practically a traveling summer park. There are beautiful grounds laid out, with comfortable seats for the patrons. There were 9,167 paid admissions at the front gate despite the cold weather. The free acts were received with the highest praise and the hippodrome was voted a success. In fact, all the shows that go to make up the organization are clean and moral. The Woodmen, under whose auspices the attraction showed, gave a big parade the opening afternoon. STREET FAIR NOTES. Wiedemann’'s Big Kit Carson Co. have been playing in the snow ever since the latter part of April, in Trinidad, Col. May 2 they took the ‘‘top’’ down with six inches of snow on it, and had to abandon several stands entirely on account of the weather. Levi Hester, wife and son joined them at Canon City, replacing Clyde Tressell and Lou Ratbburn and wife. Manager Wiedemann and wife have just returned to the snow after a month's visit to St. Louis and the east. Mr. Wicdemann was made a Mason during his absence and will re+ ve to Chicago to go higher in the order in une. The Great Parker Amusement Co., with the Sunflower Belles, the Trained Animal Show and Superba as the features as well as the Volcano, Beautiful Switzerland, The Rag Time Village, Hale’s Tours of the World, the Vitascope, The Katzenjammer Castle, Annie Redline, Ferris Wheel and two Carry-Us-Alls, C. W. Parker, owner; Con T. Kennedy, lessee and manager; Ned Stoughton, assistant manand manager; Ned Stoughton, assistnat manager; T. L. Gill, treasurer; Tom Warren, secretary; John M. Gregory, press agent; Ed. Talbott, general agent, and Al. A. Powers, F. M. Potter, W. M. Moseley as advance men, compose the staff. They are meeting with abundant success throughout the southern states. The roster of the Geo. F. Proctor Shows is as follows: Geo. H. Proctor, general manager; Frank Jay Kind, general agent; Jake Garber, press agent; John Helton, manager of concessions; C. J. Young, musical director; Chas. Brown, master of transportation; Elmer Collins, with his Circular Race-Course; Proctor's Arkansaw Minstrels, with sixteen performers: Claude Brown's advanced vaudeville company; S. E. Sparks and Nebraska Queen; Biograph, Electric Palace. Frontier life of Daniel Boone, 0. W. Estes’ Reptile World, Wee-Ton-Ka, the wild girl, and Have You Seen Smith? They have two free acts and ten concessions. The show is booked through the state of Missouri. Beautiful Bag-Dad, comic opera and novelty show, under canvas, gave five performances at Boonville, Mo., to splendid business. This is a high class attraction under the management of Darnaby and Rever of carvinal fame, tuneful and iridescent in splendor. They gave universal satisfaction. The Theatre. Beautiful Co., under the management of F. P. Corning, closed with the United States Carnival Co., at Sterling, Ill.. May 18, and Mr. Corning and company now make their headquarters at Elgin, Ill., where they will open under canvas about June 1. Count St. Germain, oculist, has been confined in the Beaver Valley Hospital at New Brighton, Pa., with typhoid fever, but has recovered and early in August will start on a tour of the southern states with his palmistry company. The J. Frank Hatch Carnival Co., will exhibit at South Sharon, Pa., week of June 3, under the auspices of the South Sharon Firemen. RINK NOTES. The Evangeline Skating Rink, Morgan City, La., under the management of Jos. L. Fisher and Sol. Loeb, is doing a very prosperous business. They recently installed 150 pair of skates. an electrical organ and a first— floor. They also play first-class attractions. The Hippodrome Rink, Birmingham, Ala., continues to do a large business, and Manager Roberts is contemplating keeping the rink open throughout the summer. The Casino Rink, Canal Dover, O., was recently sold to Chas. Beller, city drayman, who will convert it into a barn and warehouse. It sold for $5,000. The Elgin Roller Rink, Elgin, IIL, after a most successful season under the management of Aldrich and Timmons, closed its season May 25. The Luna Electric Theatre, Sharon, Pa., is one of the finest little theatres between Cleveland and Pittsburg. It is owned and managed by Julius Meyer and is doing an immense business. The Majestic Theatre, Red Oak, Ia., under the management of Anderson and Mytinger, opened May 18, for the summer. The Temple Film Co. furnishes the films, which are changed twice weekly. A Five-Cent Electric Theatre opened May 20 at Poeatello, Idaho. R. E. Harris is manager of the house. KELCEY-SHANNON OPEN SPRING TOUR. The KelcyShannon Co., under the management of Ernest Shipman, opened a spring tour at Scranton, Pa., May 20. Ferdinand Gottes chalk is an associate star in this venture, and Geo. Bernard Shaw's Widowers’ Houses will be produced during the tour. Engagements will be played at Detroit, Toronto and Montreal with «a possibility of extension on the season to include an engagement in New York City. SHORTRIDGE LETTER. The writer has just returned home after pleasant week spent with I. C. Speers, ma: ager of the Gentry Brothers’ Famous Show which is now touring Iowa. Although visi: by rain daily, the show is playing to phenomen business, and the press at each point visit, can not speak too highly of the performan The Fort Dodge, (la.) Messenger devoted ¢).. to three columns in praise of both the perfor, ance and the parade. Mr. Speers is an low product, his home being in Marshalltown, whe: the show exhibited on Decoration Day. There are ten cars in the Gentry train th) season and everything is spick and span. Nee! less to say that Mr. Speers’ first season at the head of this worthy aggregation will show a worthy record. Fred Buchanan opened Ingersoll Park at les Moines, Ia., Sunday, May 26, and while the weather was not at all what might be desired. several thousand people passed through the gates on that day. No one has ever attempted to give Des Moines people the same amount of fun for their money that Mr. Buchanan has. If you should ask « Des Moines boy who is the greatest showman, he would quickly say, ‘‘Fred Buchanan."’ \r. Buchanan gave Des Moines its first moving picture theatre. He gave the city its first successful park, and this fall he will open Des Moines’ first high-class vaudeville house. Of him the Des Moines Register and Leader, of Sunday, May 26, says: “Throughout the five years of its success, Ingersoll Park has been under the management of Colonel Fred Buchanan and not a single accident has occurred to mar the record of success. Colonel Buchanan has established a national reputation as a showman, whose word ig as good as his bond, who supplies a $5,000 show for 25 cents and makes money for hinmelf and the backers of the enterprise as well. This summer he will be an even busier man than ever. He is proprietor of the Yankee Robinson Wagon Show, which numbers 250 horses and 100 performers and is touring Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, playing to splendid business. He is also building a new $150,000 vaudeville house, to be known as the Majestic and to open ou west Eight street, on Oct. 15. He is also to have charge of the Lyric Theatre next winter in Sioux City. All this on top of mwaging Ingersoll Park. It takes a genius to look after all these things well, but Colonel Buchanan is acknowledged to be a genius, there isn't a show or theatre man in the country that will dispute this assertion.”’ Mr. Buchanan's Yankee Robinson Circus is playing to a profitable business despite the frequent rains that have visited it ever since its opening. When Tom-Tom, the big elephant with the shows, walked into Maxwell, la., the open ing stand, May 4, he had close onto six inches of snow on his back, yet the two performances were given as advertised. Johnson & Nichols, managers of the Electric Theatre, Waterloo, Ia., have had a phenomenal season, partly due to the burning of the combination theatre, leaving their house the only place of amusement in the city. Two performances are given each evening to capacity business. These enterprising yOung showmen are just completing a beautiful summer park which will open shortly under the name of Electric Park. An airdome is now in course of construction; vaudeville will be presented there. The writer visited T. Nelson Downs’ Electric Theatre at Marshalltown, Ia., where the “King of Koins’’ is enjoying prosperity. Tommy, as be is known in Marshalltown, keeps them all guessing with his coins. Chas. H. Shortridge. a younger brother of the writer, recently joined the advance brigade of the Gentry Brothers’ Show. F. M. SHORTRIDGE. BELASCO WILL HAVE TWO NEW PLAYS. In his interesting press sheet, Charles Emerson Cook informs the world at large that David Belasco will probably spend a portion of the summer in Europe. He says: He (Mr. Belasco) has had an unusually trying season in getting ready two new productions for next fall and winter, his new play for David Warfield and another to follow Frances Starr in The Rose of the Rancho when that attraction goes on tour It is not likely that the executive staff of Mr. David Belasco will enjoy long vacations this summer, as the work of removing the general offices to the Stuyvesant and getting the hew theatre ready for its opening in September. will keep them busy, especially as Miss Starr’ season In The Rose of the. Rancho will be de layed until the summer is well advanced. COIN MACHINES MAY SELL STAMPS. Makers of automatic vending machines are interested in the decision of Postmaster General Meyer to have exhaustive tests made of several types of automatic stamp-vending machines, adapted to receive l-cent and 5-cent pieces for the purchase of l-cent and 5-cent stamps an postal cards. Two years ago experiments were made, and the committee of experts reported that the machines could not be utilized adven tageously. BRUVVER JIM’S BABY. A new western comedy in four acts, entitled Bruvver Jim's Baby, dramatized from Philp Barrill Mighels’ novel by the same name by bim self and James MacArthur, was given its pre miere May 27, at the Columbia Theatre, Was! ington, D. C., with Wilton Lackaye, Hi! Spong and Charlotte Walker in the leadis¢ roles, The audience showered praises upon the © plece and the author was forced to make © speech after the strong climax in the third © It is a bright piece of work and very cleve'!) worked out. It has real western atmosp! without the usual gun play. BRIDAL COUPLE SAIL. John W. Bratton, musfe composer of N° York, and Miss Dorothy Zimmerman, actres who were married May 22 at the West Presbyterian Church, New York City, sailed (! following day on the steamer, Princess Ali’ for an extended tour of Burope.