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

The Bi llboard JUNE 24, 1911 Many fairs have cleared spaces especially for accommodation of virdmen who will fly for them this year, though the careful manager will still hesitate to book an aviator without fret baving thorough knowledge of the grounds avaiable for flights. Still, more freedom in the selection of grounds will be exercised than was the case a year ago because of the improvement that has been made in machines as well as the increase in skill of the aviators themselves. Aside from the financial side of flying ex bibitions—and that is the side that has made other results possible—they bave been the means of educating the public in the latest science. By no other means could the aeroplane have been introduced so generally to the people. | Skepticism wag the rule even after the newspapers had published glowing accounts of the | early flights, and the aviators on returning to | earth at many of the exhibitions have been greeted with the remark: ‘‘Well, sir, I’ve heard about fiying and read about it, but would have believed you could do what you have, if I had not seen it with my own eyes.”’ A peculiar phase of this educational work of the acroplane in the amusement field is the fact that it has, in many cases, proven too easy to overcome skepticism. Moch of the public is inclined to become over-educated, or, at least, over-confident. It is sot taken Into consideration that the exhibition is given by a well-trained aviator, and flying looks so easy that the firet impnuise is to imitate the birdmen. This is proven by the large number of applications that are invariably made following an exhibition by t\wgth men and women—yes, quite a number of Women—who are ambitious to handle the machine themselves, or be taken Up a8 passengers. Flying is not an acrobatic stunt, other hand, it is not quite so easy as it looks. Training is necessary, just as it is necessary to learn before one may ride a bicycle. A _ certain instict, which most of us have latent, a sense of equilibrinm must be developed, and the manipuiation of the machine to control it as this sense directs must be learned. Exhibition flights during the past year have been widespread in their educational effect upon the public. This is evidenced by the fact that the Curtiss aviators alone have made flights in nearly one hundred cities of over seven thousand inhabitants and including more than half the cities of more than one hundred thonsand population. In nearly a score of ese, return engagements have been Curtiss aviators have taken part forty-three of the one hundred largest cities In the country, and aviators firing Wright and other machines heave flown in twelve of the remaining fifty-seven largest cities. and on the and 1910 had manufactured and into this country, foreign makes of machines, all of which were considered more or less infringe ments on the Wright Rrothers’ scheme of control. Exhibitions of minor importance were held, and on acconnt of tnexperience of the aviators and being unskilled in the use of that particular type of machine, these exhibitions were more or less disappointments to both the pro moters and the public at large, especially the public. . At the Hnudson-Fulton celebration itn 1908, flighte were made by Wilbur Wright tn which he circled the Statne of Liberty and sailed up the Hudson river to Grant's Tomb. and returned to Governor's Island. These flichts took place in winds of moderate velocity which in no way hampered the flicht or caused any uneasiness on the part of Mr. Wright. Immediately following this demonstraflon. ft? e Wright Brothers received hundreds of pice 4 tions for the exhibition of their machine, but at that time did not deem ft advisable to go Into the show bn@ess, and It was not until March 1, 1910, that arrangements were completed for giving these pnblic exhihitions. Prior to this the Wright Company had been formed, of which Wilhnr Wright was made president and Orville Wright vice-president. An exhibition department was formed in the Wright pany and business solicited. The aviators were then engaged, and in order to give them the necessary instrnetions and ractice, a training etation was established at ontgomery, Ala., where it was possible to fly every day in the warm ennlight. ters were inetrncted and trained bv Orville Wright personaliy. and in a remarkably short space of time they hecame qnite expert tn the handling of the aeroplanes. The attempted exhibitions that had been given in the United States by mnlicensed aviators up to this time had created a great amount of dissatisfaction on the part of the pnblic. on account of the tnability of the aviators to fly on schedule time, or to perform ae the public had expected. In so liciting for Dusiness the Wright Com pany represen: tatives expert4 7 enced considerF able difficulty, and no little opposition on account of the exhibitions referred to, and it very soon became apparent that unless the Wright machine was able to do very much better than its competitors, there would belittle, | if any, \ \ Ss would at first seem necessary in order to ineure against failure or in— rs | | between the aviators, | | I never | | | in meets in | Aviation at the Fair (MASTERING OF THE time cost many The This additional the Wright Company thousands of greatest coaching and training considerable time and dollars. spirit of friendliness existed and as one aviator would become skilled in certain stunts, the others would immediately try to duplicate the feat And in this manner a friendly rivalry existed, which added to rather than detracted from the proposition as a whole. As soon as these aviators made names for themselves, thousands of young men throughout this country commenced the construction of aeroplanes with which to compete, and to make names for themselves, and consequently the terri THIRD ELEMENT.) PROMINENT BIRDMEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE CURTISS AVIATION COMPANY. A number of American promoters during 1909 ; also brought | These avta| | gagement for little or nothing, tory was fairly flooded with propositions from these amateurs, to exhibit State fairs, aviation meets and celebrations. The beginner a)jways figures that he has a reputation to make; that he can afford to play this enin order to get his start, and naturally makes the mistake of creating his price, which will never go up, but always down. He is his own competitor to start with, and if he ever once plays a contract on the basis he first figures at, be will never again receive more than the same figure, if as much, providing, of course, he can secure the return engagement. And not only this, his price be their machines at) ' | cross country flight, the start was made on schedule time. Postponpements from hour to | bour and day to day have not been occasioned , by any of the Wright aviators, and the public | have always been more than satisfied with the | Wright exhibitions None but the biggest and richest of organiza | thems can afford to undertake aviation from a | business standpoint at the present time Der haps a sufficient illustration of bow costly It is to run a big and reality valid aviation exh! , bition on tour is offered by the pay-roll of the ' Moisant Company. At the top, of course, we i find the names of «ix flyers: Roland G. Garros, MICHIGAN STATE FAIR, DETROIT. py) nme HOO CG nw e oo? eee per | N= ayy ee (Oy i taf ability to fly en schedule _ ((UCU{S)). A fair crowd on a fair day | the town or city is secured at night [by « first clase MORTIRU CECE SSS | a } yy ccc Coy NAN WLLL comes well known and his attempt to secure a) Rene Simon, Rene Barrier, Baémond Audemare, better figure with another organization Is always | John J. Frisbie and M. J. Seymour Every one met with a flat refusal on account of the fact | of these men bas two or three mechanicians to that he appeared elsewhere for less money. look after their respective machines, with as Therefore, the solicitors of the Wright Com additional corps of mechanics, who do general pany have met with a great amount of competi work on the aeroplane, making a total of sixty tion, and especially of this nature It is pot | five men employed on the road with the variloug the idea of the Wright Company to kpbock or | departments; four express cars, a diner and two, otherwise depreciate the value of any propo | sleepers, in the form of a special train, to travel sition whatsvever. And when the Wright 80from city to elty licitors met with these arguments, they could With anything so wonderful and 60 new as only call attention to the superiority of the | the aeroplane, there is bound to be an explolta Wright machine and the Wright aviators, and tion of the public, and undoubtedly there, ta the satisfaction of those who engaged them. the near future, will be a sumber of incompe When the Wright aviators have announced @ tents (just as there are at present) embarking in the aviation exhibition business. But the “—~ | public is very quick to realize the difference between the pure article and the cheap alloy and it has shown unmistagably that it does not want the dross, but welcomes the twenty-four carat quality in getting it As a result of bis efforts tn San Diego, Cal., Glenn H. Curtiss pow has an seroplane which regardiess of the expense involved will start equally well on land and water, and travel at great speed in the alr. In fact, on land, it can run as fast as a0 automobile. In the water it will outdistance any pewer boat, and in the alr it will keep up with apy but the speediest of machines. This ‘‘three-element called by one of Mr gives opportunities for where pone could be given before parks and resorts last year, but ings machine,” as it Curtiss’ army aeroplane wae puplis, exhibitions Many faire, planned for aeroplane flehts when It came to making the book several of them could net offer the very necessary advantage of suitable grounds Is many places of this kind, where lack of @ying grounds would still be an obstacle, suitable bodies of water will now be otilized, and some of the most tnteresting exhibitions of the year will be ower lakes, rivers or the ocean ft self An seropleane that arises from or alights the water, can be maneuvered Iike a motor boat, and may be driven over the ground, wil] be as powell a sight this vear es wes even 6 short flight two years age WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH OUR FAIR? This question is frequently asked by managers, secretaries officers and often times by the gee eral public What it ls that one state or county can bold a suceessfal annual fair. ome that is « money maker and of vast value to the com munity snd another county or state can try year after year, with Indifferent soccess? The reasens are many, bot in nine cases out of te narrow minded and penurious manage ment is responsible for poor attendance While the r pa biect of the ennual fair is te pr t nterest in agricultural and steck pro lucts, to many falr aseariations overlook the fact that their patronizing public expect to be entertained and i whee visiting the fair as well as t fucated bow to ralee better corn, wheat. barley and a bigher grade of stock Tow mart fairs pay too little attention to thie important department It ls perfectly right and proper that bera! premiums he . and proper quarters provided for the exhibition of all clastes of pratucts of the farm: that ample facilities be furnished for machinery and indus trial exbibite. bet when thie te done, attentiaas should next be given to the emusement depart ment Hiorse races are allright and every fair should fer purses sufficient to attract borses thet will provide good contests, bot the time has passed when harness boree events will increase your grandstand attendance Something more is neeessary and it is the faire which sugment their recing program with several clean. moral vaudeville acts that are proving successful The faire that are proving most successful are those which keep their gates open both day and night and put on an evening entertainment in front of the additional money has grandstand Aside from the received from privileges where tried. a large attendance from from thoer who find it impossible to attend In the day time It costs no more for vaudeville attractions and & moderate priced fireworks display supplied concern adds a feature that te always a ble drawing card and pleasing to any audience Any fair that can arrange to tlle minate its grounds at night makes a most ser lous mistake in holding a day fair only The Minnesota State Pair wae the first to to augurate this polley and thetr vilege depart ment this past year turned in over $48,008 Against lees than $4.000 in 1806. the last year of the day only show. The night-pald attend ance in the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair woe $33, 18.75, an to cream of $9, M2) over the day grandstand atten daace The same has been found ts the cases at the lowa, Michigan, Neb olore Deen N Winnipee ex hibitione a dorens of coun ty faire a Rig prospects are expected te transpire at the Howard r dunty Patr Vi Associat fon which takee piace at Rue wiaville Ind y next Angimt Owners of fret Dereon whe want to have them = entere hat better hurry as the entries eon clase