The Billboard 1909-05-15: Vol 21 Iss 20 (1909-05-15)

MAY 15, 1909. The Billboard 15 — CINCINNATI, O. in Cincinnati was formally when Chester Park threw May 2 was Iinspec The park season inaugurated Sunday, open its gates to the public, tlon day at Chester, and during the week intervening between that event and its opening, the park had been finally prepared, and everything made ready for the gala opening, which took place. None of which make a summer park successful have been overlooked and nothing was wanting to make the inauguration a tremendous success. Severa! new and wonderful pleasure have been Installed, which with the contrivances ewployed at Chester in seasons past, make this yular resort more beautiful and inviting than | | fore. The special feature at Chester is Buckskin Ben's Wild West, an aggregation that has won plavdits at many of the American parks, The show has been greatly improved, and many new and interesting features added. Mr. Stalker (Buckskin Ben), when Interviewed, said that while conditions last season were not most favorable, his show made money. He belleves that the coming season will prove the most suc. cessful for the tent show, enjoyed for many years. The Spring Festival held at Norwood under regular | | the smaller details | devices | place. by 340 feet and will be built of steel, and glass, It will be built in three with removable partitions so that any or all of it can be used as one big hali. has begun on one pleted by May 15, the opening of the White City’s summer season and this part will be utilized as a skating rink. Mr. Brown intends to open the rink free to patrons of White City and thereby add to the popularity of his park. In the fall the Motor Traders’ Society will sections section Work The building will cover a space of 306 | brick | section and it will be com| hold the biggeet kind of a show in the new building which will be ready for occupancy | by the first of November. Several other as | soclations have booked their shows for the new | building and this means that White City will have something doing all the year round. Mr. | to get many shows at the International Exposi | tion started in good shape. the auspices of the Highland Aerie of Eagles | from May 1 to 8 was a magnificent success. | The inclemency of the weather the first two days of the event caused the management considerable concern, but later in the week when Old Pluvius had been dethroned and the sun burst through the clouds, the faces of A. M. Berens and Harry Armstrong, chairman and secretary of the entertainment committee, were wreathed in smiles. The attendance for the last four days of the carnival broke all records for Cincinnati street fairs. An elaborate pyro technical display given Wednesday evening was witnessed by more than 10,000 people. shows were furnished by the Robinson ment Company, but lack of space impossible for us to mention each act individually. Suffice to say that never before in the bistory of the Queen City, has a spring enjoyed more liberal attendance or appreciation on the part of the spectators, The first of a series of brilliant concerts began at the Zoo Sunday, with Marco Vessella’s Italian Band. A program of both popular and classic music will be provided the entire week. The theatrical season practically closed May The Grand, Lyric, Walnut and Olympic Theatres are dark, and the Columbia and People’s will close May 15. It is announced that the Grand, Lyric and Columbia will be used during the summer months for projecting moving pictures The Miller Bros.” 101 Ranch played Cincinnati Monday and Tuesday. A detailed report of the show is given on another page of this issue. Mr. Harry Rainforth, manager of the Grand Theatre, and his wife, left for New York City, last week. Mr. Rainforth, as in seasons past, is now on his summer vacation. Mr. John H. Havlin, who was in Cincinnati the past week, minaged the Grand until the close of the sea Alnuse nD. The advance sale for the Grodsky Recital to be given at the Lyric Theatre, indicates that a large audience wil attend Mr. Grodsky’s farewell appearance in his home city. : The Coney Island steamer, Princess, made a trip to Louisville Sunday. Excursionists, in great numbers, accompanied the magnificent Steamer on her delightful cruise A novel feature of last week's entertainment at the Columbia Theatre was the Thursday mati nee for ladies only This was done on account of the performance of Eva Fay, who has at tracted much attention by her startling revela tions of past, present and future. The expert! ment proved eminently successful and managers in other cities might well emulate Mr. Ziegler by giving the ladies a chance to have an interview with Eva, the mysterious, with no member of the stronger sex present The Olympic Minstrels played to a packed house Tuesday evening at the Olympic Theatre. The organization is« composed entirely of amateurs, but the performance they gave was of such a high degree of excellence, that it would have done justice to a professional company. One of the best seal acts ever seen in Cin cinnatl appeared at the Robinson Theatre last week Captain Webb, the owner and trainer of these four wonderful amphibians, deserves great credit for the manner in which he has trained his pets. Their performance, to say the least, is marvelous. The Robinson Theatre con tinues to draw crowded houses, notwithstanding the warm weather _ Wm E. Gorman. general manager of the Faust Company. which played an engagement at the Walnut Theatre last week, is a Cincin nation He is identified with Messrs. Liebler & Co. There is no better known manager in America than “Billy.” Appropriately clothed in holiday garb, Spell Man's bears, accompanied by their trainer, Mrs Spellman, made a tour of the down-town district Wednesday, in a large automobile The bears are one of the feature acts at Chester Park : Harry Doss, well-known pilot, guided the Princess on her river trip to Loutsville, Sunday. Will Mr. Charlie Phillips please send his Itinerary to The Billboard? Excitement reigned at the Zoo one day last Week when Princess, a Siberian tigress, and Pasha. a Bengal tiger, engaged tn a flerce strug gle They broke through a temporary partition which had been erected in a cage to keep the two animals separated while they were becom Ing acquainted The belligerents were finally driven into separate cages by the use of sharp prois ond a stream of cold water Rert Morphy, the man who sings to beat the band, has been secured for a two day engage me nt by the amusement booking manager of Coney Islend. He will be heard at the up-the rier resort, some time in July Frank English. the popular treasurer of Peo ple's Theatre, will be connected with the Lagoon during the summer season REYAM, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND. St. James Hall, the largest In Manchester and now Skating Rink, I to be mense office hnilding put up by the Calico Printers’ Soclety. The press have been very insistent that a new building was an absolute hecessity to the prosperity of the elty, which could not exist without some place to hold motor shows and lke affaire Right here J. Calvin Rrown stepped In and began the erection at the White City of a building that will be the largest in England except the Crystal Palace at London and will make Olympia take second exhibition used as torn down place Crawford's and an im | English appearance. The | renders it | festival | e exposition begins May first and as Mr. Brown has all the amusements in the place he is anxious to give the French people a good idea of American methods as next summer he will have located a regular park business in that country. The season at White City was anticipated by an Easter week of general opening, but after everybody had cleared all the week's expenses on the first day and had six more good ones. get ready for the regular season. I went to the Hippodrome, Monday night, to see how Stella Mayhew got along at her first Never has woman worked srown left Sunday, April 17, for France | | lowing Wednesday and the White City May 15. the place closed down to build new places and | harder and she compelled success though it was | long in being acknowledged. Her ‘‘nigger’’ songs were just simply elegant to me, but the Englishman has an idea of Lis own about the *“enllud’’ person and will not accept a_ true rendering of negro songs with correct dialect. Miss Mayhew would be a hit in London but not in the provinces. She is TOO artistic. $2 WILLIAM. ST. LOUIS, MO. The big attraction in St. Louis, this week, is the Barnum and Bailey Show, which opened Monday, and with made-to-order circus weather. | intended to give a sporting interest to the ride. The parade was a gorgeous affair and as their | trappings, wagons and all costumes were bright and new, it proved a pleasing spectacle. show proper is most excellent and has received unstinted praise from the press of the city. This has resulted in turn-away crowds each night. It will prove the biggest week in the history of Barnum Shows in St. [Tfouis, and they deserve it all. The | Most all the downtown theatres are closed. | Next Saturday night will find but three open | and these only for one more week, the earliest complete closing for many years in St. Louis. The summer gardens will be running full blast | by May 16, with the exception of Delmar and Mannion’s Parks. Delmar Garden's two theatres will begin May 23, and Marnion’s Park Outdoor Amusements The Opening of Coney Island, New York, Always Marks the Real Opening of the Park Season, and this Year is no Exception—Chicago Parks Opening—Those Who are in Touch Predict Big Season for All. CHICAGO PARK OPENINGS. | pected. A brand new riding device of the sort generally termed ‘‘thrillers,’’ is on the 1909 program, and goes by the rather paradoxical The Chicago amusement park season was | name. Aerial Subway. It is taken for granted formally inaugurated May 8, with the opening by the Chicago public that under such efficient of Forest Park. Riverview will open the fol management, and with its up-to-date equipment Sans Souci will easily and undoubtedly surpass May 22 is the date for the opening of Sans | jts record of previous successes. Souci and May 2 for Luna Park. As Forest Park is the first to open, the management thought it proper to have something formal. The formal part was the presence of the Seventh Ward Republican Club. Minister Wu Ting Fang, who was in Chicago, made a quick run to the park in an automobile in the morning, accompanied by other distinguished Chinamen in his suite. The Chinese official was said to be eager to sample all the different varieties of heart bumping devices on the grounds. He was the guest of honor at a banquet in the new grillroom. Forest Park is particularly proud of its steeple chase, which consists of an undulating The ‘10 big’’ have contracted for Charlotte. track half a mile in extent traversed by life| N. C., for the big celebration commemorating sized wooden horses. Although the horses start | the 134th anniversary of the signing of the neck and neck and are impelled by the force of | Mechlenburg Declaration of Independence, and gravity alone it is said that a skillful rider can | among the other features besides the John R. increase the momentum of his mount. This is | Smith Shows will be President Taft, the Marine Band, a troupe of U. S. cavalry and the three regiments of the North Carolina National Guard. One of the feature shows with Mr. Smith is the new ‘‘Teddy Bear and Billy Possum’’ show which seems to be a winner. Sig. Guilmelte and Prof. Manvel are doing the big free acts, and America’s Royal Italian Band of Naples is furnishing the concert music and will lead the firemen’s parade in Charlotte. The location furnished in Charlotte by the officials for the free street fair and old-fashioned midway is in the heart of the city on Fourth and Poplar streets, and is admitted the best location in the city. THE JOHN R. SMITH SHOWS. The John R. Smith Shows under the management of Mr. John R. Smith, have been doing a nice business for the last four weeks, playing several of the Western North Carolina towns under the auspices of such organizations as the National Guards, Daughters of the Confederacy and the city fire departments. Mr. Smith is carrying ten shows, two riding devices and twenty-five privileges, all doing well. Riverview Exposition, which has changed its name from park, to afford an adequate idea of the extent of its marvels, says the press agent, has a new grand court this year, with a lagoon in the center, surrounded by shows. Riverview will have this year a ‘‘sceneograph,”’ rept senting the creation of the world, the process being jammed into a period of considerably less than seven days. White City is announcing as one of its chief features the Destruction of Messina, a spectacle requiring seventy-five persons for its presentation. As the name indicates, it will present to | Oe pees: 6 ee ee ae op en | The Greater Charlotte Club, the best boosting ce e a a onte association a town ever had, is making arrangepark has been transformed into a terraced gar/ments to have all the parades and addresses +. 2.5.25 92 22 ee eaeeaeaeaanan aan aananea spe anaananananeaeanoausoasoen 2 9 9 9 9 9 2 9 2 2. photographed by one of the big moving picture | film companies, recognizing this as an advertis. | ing medium with great advantage. months. +..%..t. 2.2.2. 3.5.5 2 2 2 2 2 2 so wreFfrFrrrrrrrerreerrerre ore rerrrerrerrerererermermlrermlermleelereleemeeeeeeererml lee. ae eer. FAIR LIST A complete list of fair dates claimed so far this season, will be published in The Billboard for May 22. This will constitute an assembling of the dates published from week to week in these columns during the past few S28 ee eee een eaeaenaneaeaaeaanea gaananananananannasoan pan gia sn «9 os 9 0 6 2 oo @ FAIR NOTES. a . . a ° * P tanooga, Tenn., being held this week (May 10e | 15) opened auspiciously. Among the attractions P| secured by General Manager A, F. Gorman were . a e * ° a ° * | | The Elks’ Spring Festival at Chat | Grotto of Mystics, Fairyland, Heinegabubeler’s Museum, Epstein’s Plantation Show, Fairies in Girl, Stanley Robert's Gorman Animal Show, _ Iren’s Ladies’ Minstrels, Hazel’s Glass Blowers and a | number of others. The festival is being held at the Chattanooga Hippodrome. | the Well, Astic Wild jae Show, fewer Te Tee ee ee, (Outdoor Amusements continued on page 41.) s_eeereeeweeerenenerereeer eee eee TCT errr Tree errr rrr rere. will open with high-class vaudeville, May 30. | den, copied after the Hollansee Garden in Ber It promises to be a great season for St. Louis, as the best stars of the profession are booked for engagements here. Creatore and his band Theatre, six performances, and with good prospects for profit. Rice Brothers’ Circus is still playing the lots in St. Louis and with gratifying success. The tent bas seen capacity at almost every evening performance, and this has prompted its promoters to remain here until a lack in attendance shows itself, when they will take to the read. The high-class performance has brought support, phenomenal for lot attractions, in this city The White City, at Priester’s Park, Belleville, Ill., opened last week, and indications point of to a big season. Most all attractions were on hand, and, with races run in conjunction with the other attractions, it should have a profitable summer. . Dockstader’s formances, matinee will play the Odeon will night, Minstrels and give two perat the Century | Theatre, Sunday, May 30. The Duncan and Martin Carnival Company are playing a good week in South St. Louis, this week, under the auspices of local merchants Col. I. N. Fisk will take out a carnival company from St. Louis, shortly, to be known as the Great Western Exposition Company. Planchard and Foster, Charles Williams, and Torethy Benton are St. Louis people who have scored a complete triumph on the smaller vau deville cirenits, this winter. They are booked until far inte the summer. Julie Herne, in Salomy Jane, ts the announced attraction at Suburban Garden Miss Hoerlein, prima donna, is a special attraction. The opening bill at West End Heights will be Rogers Bros. In Washington, with Rice and Cady to head the cast Mme. Kenny Lipzin, the Yiddish actress, will give two performances at the Olympic Theatre, May 6 and 7, playing Mirele Elfros and The Power of Love. Delmar Garden opened last Sunday, with Natiello’s Band The weather was anything but opening Lillian good, vet a large crowd attended. The Garden has, this year. put the gate admission at ten cents, and, like the Highlands, will find it profitable, The Damrosch May Festival in St. Louis, May 2-4, was ai complete success The Coliseum wes none too big for the attendance De Wolf Hopper will be the first star offered by Dan S. Fishell, and D. EB. Russell, will give Lesife Carter first at Delmar Garden, May 23. Doe Swain, writes that he has dug up some real live towns In the South, and he cleaned a clear $1,000 on the week of April 2 WILT J. FARLEY. commencing May 9 ' MR. WILL F. THOMAS. Sans Souci has invaded the field of drama this season. The old skating rink has been remodeled so as to accommodate 1,500 and such stars as Virginia Harned, James K. Hackett, Amelia Bingham and Wilton Lackaye wil! appear at prices not exceeding 75 cents. Miss Harned will open with Iris and will remain for three weeks. The Aerial Subway is one of the new thrillers at the park. Luna Park will feature human roulette wheel. a dog and monkey circus and the usual number of thrillers. The | skating rink is expected to attract attention, ss a number of experts have been engaged for the season. NEW THEATRE AT SANS SOUCI PARK. a big fire show, a Along with the expected announcement of many new features to be seen this year at | Sans Souci Park comes the verification of the rumor printed last week in The Billboard that | the skating rink at that amusement resort is | to be remodeled so as to comfortably seat large | audiences which are anticipated when the plans are completed and the theatre now under way | is ready for the public. This addition to Sans Souci entertainment is under the management of Mr. H. &. Rice, a man well-known in theatrical circles, and who is engineering the in| novation. It is proposed to play during the | summer dramatic companies headed from time. to time by such eminent players as Amelia The special appointment of Mr. Will F. Ringham, James K. Hackett, Wilton Lackaye | Thomas, as assistant to the president of the and others of like caliber and reputation; to | Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, is meeting change the bill every week and the star every with much favorable comment. Mr. Thomas two or three weeks. Manager Rice has already | PoSsesses a high degree of skill in ceremonial under way his building operations, and expects | M#tters, having been connected with some of the most important functions in high social and to open the theatre simultaneously with the : ; : ot . : political circles. He was one of the managers opening of the park, which will take place May > 22. He announces the first attraction will be of the inaugural ball at the second induction Pinero’s Iris, with Virginia Harned in the role of Me. Cleveland into the presidency, and bes in which she has made one of the greatest suc| Pl@yed a similar role at every inaugural ball since that time. Added to these he has been cesses Of her career. This is the eleventh year of Sans Souct in Chicago park history, and this | COmmected with the department of ceremonies of nine expositions, which popular enterprise has suecessively shown the sitions at Paris Pap the ie of ‘st. Sooke happy faculty of each year being better and! pngalo. Charleston, Omaha, Atlanta, Nashville more entertaining than the year previous, which and Jamestown. . Between "expositions, Mr is saying much, for it deservedly is called one | Thompson has been a manager of theatrical of the best of our hot-weather resorts. Miles cirevits and ‘recently was general manager of KE, Fried, the new manager, whe succeeds L. | the Gould System of Parks in the South. PrevA. Wolf. who is now directing the destinies of ious te the Jamestown Exposition he “was in White City, has secured for the opening musical feature a new Italian Rand, brought in by Howard Pew, who it is said created Creatore. charge of the Chase Theatre Circuit, and years ago was manager for the Haverly chain of theatres. Mr. Thomas’ father is a physician and Tt will be conducted by Marco Vessalla, whose banker of Washington, D. C. His mother ts a name is already famous in Philadelphia and | daughter of J. B. Lippincott. the publisher. Atlantic City, and from whom much is ex-| Mr. Thomas is well known in Eastern cities. ! 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