The Billboard 1909-01-02: Vol 21 Iss 1 (1909-01-02)

JANUARY 2, 1909. The Billboard Outdoor Amusements George Loos Advocates an Association of Carnival and Street Fair Interests—Those who know Look Forward to Prosperous Park Season—Account of a Successful Fair—Open Air Amusement Notes. ADVOCATES A CARNIVAL AND STREET FAIR ASSOCIATION. During the past years of carnivalism there aave been a number of unscrupulous managers, toth carnival managers and individual show owners who have tolerated and conducted shows of an immeral ebaracter, allowed drunkenness and as a general rule have no regard for each other’s interest. Now am conscientious in my belief that street fairs and carnivals have come to stay, out like every other successful enterprise there has got to be some system and mode of doing business. I believe that if the managers would promulgate an association, that a great many of the faults now existing could entirely eliminated and be the means of placing this business on a better and higher basis. A membership fee of about one hundred dollars could be charged each applicant, a president, secretary and a bonded treasurer could be installed, also the mfnor committees such as investigating, railroad an@ arbitration committees could be appointed. A weekly due of one dollar each could be assessed on every member so as to def the expenses of the secretary and traveling investigating committee. It is te be fully understood that the formation of this association is not to be either antagonistic or dictatorial to other managers who do not desire to affiliate themselves with this bedy (provided they conduct their bustaess so as not to cause any harm to other companies) but it will be the work of the parties appointed on the investigating committee to sit these companies and wherever a complaint is made in regard to immorality or any other disorders that might be tolerated, to secure newspaper clippings or letters from individuals stating that certain shows were indecent. and drunkenness and other offenses were committed. chief of police and sheriff in the towns where this particular company desires to visit, and in that manner the officials will either prevent them from showing or compel them to conduct their business in a legitimate manner. For an example: This year a company visited southern Arkansas and Louisiana. The attractions consisted mainly of shows of an immoral character, drunkenness and disorder were tolerated, in fact they experienced difficulty in nearly every tewn they visited. In some iInstances people connected with this company were arrested for conducting !tmproper others for evading their board bills, and ter for robbery and drunkenness, The businese men and citizens got up petitions which they presented to the mayors and councils asking them not to allow any other carnival of any description to show in their town. The newspapers discussed the affairs and {m many tostamces the articles were copied by the presse all ever the state. All these occurfences made it extremely difficult for a : ny of merit and worth chow ta. these 8. Now if this asseciation were In vogue then this particular manager (if he was a member of the asseciation) could be elther expelled or ery te a fine under the rules of the so continue to distribute these facts antil this individual either eliminated the suggestive features or compel him to get out of the business, which could be readily accomlished by advising the officials as to the nare of his performances and the class and char= of the people connected with his enter Now in regards to employees and show owners, let it be agreed that all the business fs to Sanoer tr Sy wisindcetnnding"it separa 's ny misunders n ards to terms, notice er concessions. ~ _ I can quote a number of cases where carnival @anagers have gone to show owners and without any notice informed them that he did not care to have them go to the next town without giving any reason nor cause, and the same thing has beer done quite frequently by show owners fe A — s carnival man event this the other party. a evils wonld not occur if there was a geneity attached to these offenses, nor would ere be just ecanse for complaint if contracts were ured stipolating just what kind of notice {s to be given by both parties, for if a showman decided te leave a company or If a carnival Manager desired to discontinue sald show, then — nore a compelled to give or per ce the agreement cancelling as specified in ave the secretary installed Tmanently tn some centrally located city. Flave him furnish each member with slips which are to act as weekly reports. Have each member set forth bis grievances tn this statement weekly, and send same to the secretary, ‘s immediately forwarded to member of the assoctation. that In the event that any show owner or carsival manager violates any of his agreements that he shall be efther dismissed or snbieeted to & fine according to the rules and regniationa, sald fine te be deducted from his eatrance fee. t it be understood and agreed that each member se fine shall be compelled to make np the deficit within ten days after being notified. a copy of which each and every Let It be agreed Have the beard of directors mee pan se that questions Son te dee Let it he agreed that If any member or empleree violates their contract, tunt a report ts member to the ly, and make it a penalty for any member to re-engage any party discharged for just cause. As things are at present any person can violate his agreement, become drunk or commit some unwarranted nuisance and secure a position with some other company. Then again any carnival manager can visit some other company, see some particular show, performer or person whom he would like to engage, makes them a proposition and frequently causes that party to leave without proper notice. It would not be the alm of the association to prevent any person from securing employment with any similar enterprise as long as he « aducts himself properly and does business in a business manner, Any member discharged from one company (for just reasons) could not be pon by any other member until his case was passed on by the committee, but each member discharged shall be entitled to apply for reinstatement, which is to be granted if warranted by the committee. By this action it would not only eliminate drunkenness and other faults to a great extent, but would have a tendency to place the business on a higher plans and legitimate basis. Railroad matters could be taken up by the railroad committee. Of course it is not to be expected that an organization of this character would meet the approval of every one in the street fair business, for the simple reason that some of the rules would interfere with some of the managers who are inclined to believe that a company of this nature cannot exist unless they have those unwarranted accesseries, but to those who intend to remain in the carnival business, I believe that an organization like this would meet with their approval, and would be the means of elevating this particular field and place it on a sound and practical common sense basis. I will be pleased to have other managers express their honest opinions regarding this article and I will endeavor to give them a practical answer to any argument they might desire to express through the columns of The Billboard. Let the rules and regulations be honest, just and equitable to all parties concerned. GEO. LOOS. ANTICIPATE BIG PARK SEASON. The manager and proprietors of Riverview Park, Detroit, Mich., are jubilant over the showing their enterprise made last summer. From results, it is evident that an ideal location, natural beauties, generous free attractions and a wholesome atmosphere helped Riverview to withstand the worst sort of financial depression, and to make a successful season out of what threatened to prove a bad time all around. Of course, sane, conservative management played a considerable part in making last summer & good one for Riverview. It is estimated that the average dally attendance at this popular Detroit resort was not a jot less than the attendance of the previous season. The money spent was sufficient to bring gratifying profits to the pockets of both showmen and concessionaires. Milferd Stern, secretary of the Riverview Park Co., is exceedingly optimistic over 1909 prospects. ‘The summer park business is still 'n its infancy. Remember that the park is a recreation, an educator and a tonic ali at the same time, and for this reason. as long as men live tn citles and work the park wi!l never die. That there have been failures a-pleucy In the park line is true, but there have for the most part been due to the imprudence and w ak fudgment of some promoters. ere never wil! be any sense in erecting a metrepolitan amuse ment park in a mere village away out in the country. It may last for a season or two, but the first waft of adversity blows It over. The population to draw from is a mighty factor.’’ AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD FAIR MANAGEMENT. The annnal meeting of the Frontier County Agricultural Society was held at Stockville. Neb.. December 5, 1908. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: President—W. C. Wollam. Vice-Preaident—J. T. Bailey. RSecretary—L. H. Cheney. Treasnrer—M. T. Ward. General Superintendent—W. C. Reed. Superintendent of Speed—J. A. Lynch. Marehal—Robert Richey. Directors—Geo. C. Herman, J. W. Bliss, RB. D. Logan. Geo. R. Gragg and J. H. Hinton. Superintendent State Exhibit and Delegate to State Agricultural Meeting— L.«ral M. Graham. From the report of Mr. L. H. Cheuey, secretary. we extract the following: Angnat 8, 1908, at a meeting of the Roard of Directors, $100 was appropriated to finance the State Fair exhibit from this county. The seeretary was Instructed to secure the services of an expert to judge the live stock at the ceming county fair. The general superintendent was anthorized and instructed to build additional racing stalle and additional stock etalls and make necessary repairs on all buildings on the fair grounds. The amount paid out for improvements and repairs amounted to The Connty Commissioners made a special appropriation of $75 to aselet in preparing and making a euitable exhibit from this county at the State Fair. Loval M. Graham. superintendent of the exhibit for the State Fair, with the agsietance of some of the members of the so clety, gathered, prepared and exhibited at the atate fair at Lincoln a collection of agricultural prodncta from this county which was a credit to the ceunty, and was examined br many of the citizens of this county with satiefaction and pride. This county was awarded second premium on the county collective ex .over, hibit In its class. The premium money awarded at the State Fair and paid to this soctety by Superintendent Graham amounted to $116.30. September 23, 1908, J. A. Warren, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department of Agriculture delivered a lecture at: the court house along his special line of work at the request of this society. In several of the departments the fair this year showed a marked improvement over any preceding year. The very disagreeable weather kept many away who would otherwise have added to the gate receipts, which show a falling off from last year. Receipts during the fair and since my last annual report are as follows: Special appropriation for State Fair from County Commissioners........ ...$75 00 222 Season Tickets (membership) ..... . .222 00 1680 Adult Single Admission Tickets (W. . T. 980, F. 441, at 25¢ each)....420 00 96 Children’s Tickets, at I5e .......... 440 on Dee Beete, oC TO cccdecdccenase + 1215 nee Cele MOUUNNOD cc cccccesancuesees 74 30 Rent of stalls ...... éeccecces Cveccveee 37 00 Concessions ......... .246 00 GN nacccsndacecadse eecocas --. 185 50 Premiums awarded from State Fair ex accaksceasus dc¢hudiensabeanens 30 Warrant from County for 1908 fair ....240 70 $1,647 60 The report of treasurer, ‘Mr. M. T. Ward, showed a balance on hand last report..$ 164 41 Receipts from all sources during the CBO FORE cccccccccces bescceneuashena 1,647 60 BONE ccccacce ceccceceeeacece $1,812 01 , eo ... ” EReeereree 1,754 11 Cash balance this date .............. 57 90 $1,812 01 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND. My Dear “Billie Boy:’’—‘‘Col.” =. Cummins, who has bad several ‘“‘Wild West’’ shows on the road, is now employed in the skating rink at Belfast that is run by the C. P. Crawford-Winslow Syndicate, who control so many rinks in the Kingdom. Crawford tis certainly a bustler and is trying to get the Winslow skates established in this country ahead of all competitors, and he is succeeding admirably. He is now first in more than twenty towns. It had been many years since the roller skating craze had died out in England, when John Calvin Brown gare it a trial by putting in a rink at his White City at Manchester, when he opened the park, May, 1907. Thé revival thus started was so successful that in the fall of the same year Mr. Crawford came representing the Samuel Winslow skates and opened a rink in Liverpool. Quicker than a wink Crawford saw his opportunity and on his Liverpool success he interested capital and began to cover the country ahead of competitors. He has .twenty-one rinks and his nearest rival has three. This looks like Crawford was the right man for Winslow to bave in Engiand. The Figure Eight, the Box-Ball Game, the Katzenjammer Castle, and a dozen other Amerjean tricks, like the skating, owe their present popularity on this side to their being given a first boost by Calvin Brown at White City. No doubt you have already noted that Vesta Tilley, the only genuine idol of the music hall patrons of England, will shortly play a six weeks’ engagement in New York, and Vesta told me on Saturday that it was the largest salary of her entire career. Perhaps Percy Williams can tell how much that is, for he paid her the most money she ever received ‘before this contract was made. Vesta won't mention figures and I don’t blame her for the English Government have a nasty way of keeping tab on all these little items and once a year sending a tax gatherer around and asking you to pay five per cent. of these amounts towards keeping His Majesty's official family in pocket money and to pay other expenses of ruling this vast Empire. They have found out how much I received for my services last season and hive actually asked me to step up apd pay several pounds sterling to the National Exehequer with the alternative of quitting the country never te return or going to jail (English—goal). Now if they assess me without any knowledge of my true income, and me an American citizen. what won't they do to Vesta Tilley. Lander is supposed, ever here, to be getting $5.000 each of the twenty weeks he remains in Amerfea and about one half that amount for the thirty weeks in England. This would give ll .ery $175,000 Income for the year. and as the incuue tax is a sliding one he would be called upon to pay a tax of abeut $15.000. It certainly would be interesting to see the sworn return that will be made by thie gentleman when he is called upon. Vesta Tilley ia the highest priced artist over here and is by far the most popular, so it would be really interesting to know just what she does get in the United States, but as it is no one’s business, she is wise to keep the matter to herself and let her friends and the press agents work their imaginations on the subject. The big park on American lines that was figured on by a number of Yankee showmen from the Kiralfy Exhibitien in London, and which it was intended should be located in Paris, seems to have foundered some where. as it is now reported that all action has been indefinitely put off and that some of the pre jectors have withdrawn. Perhaps it will be heard of later in another way, or under a reorganization. The Exposition at Nancy could Se in a week's time so far have the buildings progreased, and it is a certainty that this show will break all records because ft will be rfect in all departments on the opening day. ork wil begin on the Midway immediately after the bolidays when Mr. Calvin Brown will begin the erection of some of the larger and more important shows and devices that he intends to have in the grounds. The water chutes and the figure eight will be erected at once and the smaller shows later. This will he the first figure eight built on the Continent and Mr. Rrown, who has studied the French and Conttnental tastes is certain that It is only the fore runner of hundreds of American riding devices and other park attractions, He has also se lected several other things from the United States for the Exposition Midway, aod wants still others and, as they will all be noveities, they are sure to make money. A great deal of Interest has been felt in England om the production by Mrs. Fiske of her new play, Salvation Nell. as ft ia understood that she will make her English appearance In that play. Reporte received here are rather mixed as to the play. but only one report comes about the magnificent art of Mra. Fiske and the splendid support she is receiving from her company. who should know say that the English public will not understand the 10th. Avenue Dive scene nor the Cherry Hill scene and as usual with audiences they will condema it only because they can’t understand it. Whitechapel scenes are not put on at frstclass theatres in England because the pubile do not want to see the moral degradation that abounds so near their doors, and they it “bad form’’ to show the realism of the under world. Carrie De Mar has just scored an enormous hit at the Coliseum in London but she is heartily blamed for —— in a sketch, a young girl who gets drunk while drinking a bottle of champagne. Al! the critics speak of it as a bit of genuine art beyond anything seen on the Music Hall stage in a decade, and ali say that just such scenes are of daily and nightly occurrence in London, still it should not be shown on the stage. If this is the way a ten-minute song sketch is received, what com sideration can Mrs. Fiske ex t from the same critics. Publicly, the Englishman is morality eee but, privately, well—draw a: From all parts of the country come reports that business in the theatres has to the bow-wows, since about the first of November, and managers are welcoming the pantomime season which is now open and wil! be in full swing by Christmas. very Englishman thinks he is just as legally and ney bound to see the Panto. as he is to turst his lungs and other people’s ears ty trying to sing Ged Save the King on the iesst provocation. I is for this reason that manere:s look forward to Panto. time, knowing tuar they ean depend on this loyalty to help out tu. year’s business. Dick Golden was up here, last Sunday. looking over the town, where for six weeks be will have to content to live and carn bis salary as the principal fun-maker of the Dollar Princess, which, by the way, follows The Merry Widow at Daly’s Theatre in London. ——. that phe nomenal success early in February. he Widew could be kept there for another year or two to crowded houses but the Princess is due and will not be put aside for any old kind of widow. Undoubtedly the best genuine drama prod in London during the season was The Flag Lieutenant and the last deal made by Charles Frohman on Saturday before he sailed for home was the purchasing of the American rights to the play, which be must produce in both New York and Chicago by separate companies and within thirty days one of the other. While this play is English in every characteristic it is still so strong in human interest and other general qualities that it will be a success any part of the world. Frohman has a winner. ours. $2 WILLIAM. PARK MANAGER INJURED IN WRECK. od Mr. T. F. Bilis, manager of Luna Park, Washington, D. C., who was traveling on & C. & O. passenger train, December 23, whieb collided with a freight at Russell, Ky., was thrown from his berth in a sleeper, striking op his head and receiving severe injuries. Mr. Ellis was on the way to Aberdeen, O.. to spend Christmas with his mother, PARK NOTES. John 8. Egan, the general director of the American Musical Associates, states that arrangements have reached such form that he is now in a position to assure the stockholders of the corporation of a very successful summer season, as he has already closed contracts with several of the leading amusement parks of this country, east and west, and has also secu an exclusive option on the services of over 40 of the leading bands in this country. Im addition to the contracts that have been signed, @ number of other park contracts have been promised him and it looks as if the A. M. A. plan of furnishing music for amusement parks will revolutionize the summer amusement park busi ness. This company epened s suite of offices consisting of two rooms, in the Kaickerbocker Theatre Building, about six weeks ago and the business has grown to euch an extent that they have taken a lease of the entire 398th street side of the fourth floor and wil! move into the new quarters by the first of January. Mr. Ferdinand Akoun occupied Cabim A on the St. Panl. which sailed from New York for Europe, Saturday, December 26. Mr. Akoun has gone to Europe to arrange for Buropean novelties and attractions to be used at his Sea Beach Palace Rink. Coney Island, this coming season. This popular resort will be remodeled, enlarged and impreved by Mr. Akoun. He will also meet his brother, Mr. Gaston Akoun in Paria, who has recently purchased and will rate the coming season. Luna Park, in Paris. r. Ferdinand Akoun expects to return to Amer fea about March 1 Jack Auslet, the well-known showman, has leased Lake View Park, Alexandria. La., the Street Railway Company, and will conduct it the coming summer as a high class amusement rt. A summer theatre seating 1,200, and with a stage 35x40 will be erected. Mr. Ausiet will also have many other amusements on the grounds in connection with his baseball park, he being the manager of the Alexandria team of the Louisiana State League. A beautiful stream runs by the park, making it an ideal summer resort for be boating, etc. CARNIVAL NOTES. Fred M. Clancy, H. Wolfe and Fred Eberhardt and wife finished their engagement with the Danville and Kasper Amusement Oo., at Moody, Tex., December 19, and have gome te Mineral Wells, Tex. ERRATUM. In a recent ixsue of The Billboard, {ft was erroneously stated that J. FE. Allien was band ling the cirens program advertising for the Barpom and Ralley and Ringling Rrothers’ Shows. On the contrary Mr. Allien ts identified with L. M. Southern and Company. cirens program pubNehers of New York. who handle the programs for the following shows: Hagenbeck Wallace Shows, Sells-Flete Shows, Miller Bros.’ 101 Ranch, John Robinson 10 Big Shows, Campbell Rros.’ Shows, Howe's Great Shows, aad Norris & Rowe Shows. The Heart of an Indian disbanded at El Reno, Okla., December 31. | |