The Billboard 1911-06-24: Vol 23 Iss 25 (1911-06-24)

RAN ® Quy AN KY a NY \ \ BAAS \\ \\ aN oy NY X S \ ’ : Sea \" AR ss AN . AMERICAS AY N : B, OAaNE os WW s UIQHQ*’H NA SS \\ : Ss ae ok eee eee Vol. XXIII. No. 25. CINCINNATI—NEW YORK—CHICAGO June 24, 1911. musements at the Fair | By JOS. E. POGUE. : (Secretary North Carolina State Fair.) -f P. T. Barnum, late king of the sawdust , SECRETARIES OF PROMINENT FAIRS. country are generally tarmonizing all former erena, uttered an eternal truth when he said differences in the matter of dates and general “the people must be amused.’’ The fair midway | policy, looking to the better promotion of their has come to stay, but not as formerly with ite | common interest by observing closer business fag fronts and its offensive, vulgar platform relations and more frequent intercourse touchexhibition. In former years fair managers ing the many matters of importance, such as were always ready and apparently happy to! racing, midway attractions, live stock exhibits, book their midway aggregations ‘‘catch as ete. There is much encouragement in the ouatean,’’ taking promiscuous chances, good, bad and look indifferent, all in a jumble. But times have undergone great changes, and the public taste {nm these matters has followed suit. And reform is now a national watchword in social | and economic conditions, and a very different i proposition confronts the fair manager in the 1 selection of his shows and attractions, and a shrewd, wide-awake manager will be quick to interpret the demands of the people, as the | bour has struck for high-class display of clean and up-to-date exhibitions, both free and paid. They must be made to harmonize with advance ing civilization. Everywhere and in every hase of public and private life in this great bristian land of ours, the signs of the times point with unerring certainty to a wide-spread revolution in the public mind as to the charac ter and quality of public amusements of what ever kind and wherever given, whether in the theatre, public parks, at street carnivals, race tracks, horse shows, expositions, or state and county agricultural fairs It ie now the exception, and not the rule, that all offensive, immoral or questionable shows or exhibitions, as well as gambling of every species, are not absolutely prohibited by the most stringent fegulation of the local management in obedi ence to the universally enlightened state of the public mind, growing out of these important Social questions, a better and higher class of attractions are now being organized and intro duced. The old-time medley of ‘‘bum"’ shows. with rag fronts and dirty female ballyhoo, ook. The leading fair associations all over the country are being organized into circuits as never before. There has been too much conflict in dates in the past among leading fairs, Experience has taught the necessity of eliminating as far as possible all conflicts in dates, which means more shows, attractions and exhibits for each association, This policy will eontinue until the matter of dating has been reduced to a science. There is nothing that appeals stronger to the public at any fair than a good class amusements. Let the people once enter the gates of a fair, their minds made up to visit any special department, and when through, what will hold them to your grounds? First-class amusements. Such being the case It behooves the secretary of any fair to make up his mind that he will give the public the best ever. Now what can he secure, and where from? His intentions are the best in the world, and he starts out to make contracts for his fair. Heretofore, in days gone by, it was an easy matter to get a frame-up. Almost any person, with a ¢ could drop in and start a show of some ki The conditions now are entirely different. The public demands something that has merit to it, and the show must be clean and moral. This is the age of ideas in the show business, and the novel and attractive showe generally get the money. The independent booking system, in my mind, y, J.W.Campbell platform espielers and barkers, are being rele gated to oblivion, to be rapidly succeeded by that which is clean, meritorious and instruc tive and intelligently conceived, classified and puped with due regard for artistic and pleas effect. The marvelous progress in this country in in dustrial and agricultural pursuits and in the moral and social advancement of the people, bas brought about wonderful changes in eco nomic conditions; the enlargement of trane portation facilities, the reduced rate of passeuger | travel, the enormous increase in our rural population, as well as that of our cities and towns, all go to contribute a greatly increased interest and attendance upon the many annual faire of the country. This means to the fairs atly augmented revenue and enlarged facil ities for the proper care of the people and their | exhibitions in all lines, and also involves a better solution of the problem above discussed of how to entertain and educate them within | er intellectual and moral conditions, and it not to be supposed for one moment that those who have been charged with the management of these great institutions designed for the pro motion of a healthy rivalry among the people #howing the products of their skill and handidicraft, will not prove equal to these new demamis upon them. It is interesting to note fa this connection that the leading fairs of the KING CITY FAIR, PrTTITITILIITI III YTYTTIVITILI LLL rls Frank Pchatte? G.S.Speer D.Ward W. G. Norris, Secretary Jennings County Agricultural Association, North Vernon, Ind.; J. C. mpbell, President South Dakota State Fair, Huron; Walter W. West, Secretary Adair County D. Ward, President Clare-Isabella Bi-County Society, Clare, Mich.; Frank P. Chaffee, Secretary Alabama State Fair, Birmingham, Secretary Capitol Fair Association, Frankfort, Ky. is not a good thing for any fair. -‘The time has come when a secretary must close his contracts for shows long ahead of time, so that he can commence his advertising and apprise the publie of the nature of his amusements. The only way to secure your amusements is to close with some responsible party who can furnish a complete line ef shows and riding devices. I, for one, would exact a bond for the full performance of the contract. This bet done, you are in a measure protected, a there is no good reason for the shows not te roll in on time. ie If there is anything that puts a secretary to the bad, it is to have some pretertious. showman throw him down. Another advantage in closing with one mas for shows, you simply turn over the show ground to him, and he will place the shows te the best advantage, and you only have dealings with one person. Any person who can deliver the goods in the way of clean, moral and up-to-date shows, must have some responsibility and standing ané@ conduct his business on sound business principles. He has shows, not selected haphazard, bot a good first-class line of attractions that will appeal to the public and please everyone. The shows will all be constructed to last through a season, and the best equipment will be used to make the shows a success. Give MT. VERNON, ILLKING CITY FAIR, MT. VERNON, ILL. The home stretch. Racing is a feature at this Fair. A section of the track and infield.