The Billboard 1913-03-22: Vol 25 Iss 12 (1913-03-22)

MARCH 22, 1913. The Billboard ew i). GOA oa tia Teta “Ss ‘ \ Ne aes z=, ia — _—e_ The carnival business is not an old institution in this country, consequently its past is not so old that many of the men, who were in the business in its infaney, are still prominently associated with it, in various capacities. Many of the great and shining lights of the original days have passed away or permanently retired from the business, such well-known names as Frank C, Bostock and Frank W. Gaskill have gone from the field and have passed to the great beyond. Mr. Bostock was acknowledged one of the greatest showmen of his day and one of the pioneers of the great business, which now employs hundreds every season. He was the originator of wagon fronts in this country, and placed on the road, during the season of 1900, what was at that time (and I do not think has been equalled since) the finest carnival aggregation that ever traveled in this or any other country. When it opened in Brooklyn, during the month of April, it was a revelation to the Carnival, Past and By B. H. Patrick resent Me freeness from graft. All of the real carnival companies of the past have been built up on this theory, and in the future this must be the corner stone on which permanent success must be built. At the present time the tendency of most all the principal carnival managers is to present a line of shows that will cater to the best instincts of the visitors. The day of the ‘For Men Only” show has passed away, and no town or city will countenance such exhibitions, nor will any of the leading fairs and expositions. So has the day of the strong game come to the passing away. No carnival company can hope to build up a reputation to repeat, that carries with it a crowd of surething men, or any show that can not be witnest by women and children. This theory has been proven by all the prominent carnival men of the past and present day amusement world; his ideas live today and will continue to live as long as the carnival business shall last. Frank W. Gaskill was also classed among the great and brainy men of the carnival field, and when he inaugurated the Gaskill-Munday Carnival Company in conjunction with P. J. Mundy, now retired, he gave to the amusement public a magnificent outfit, that was and always has been classed among the real leaders He died at the heighth of his popularity and had he lived, would have undoubtedly given to the public some other features that would have startled his competitors. These men were followed by such men as C. W. Parker, James H. Patterson, Ferari Bros. Herbert A. Kline, and others, who are still in the business and promnently identified in a large and substantial manner. The keynote of success in the carnival business, of the past, and of the present, is cleanliness and The carnival business of the present time is on a solid foundation as a permanent amusement feature for the American public, and in many towns it is now lookt upon as the annual amusement holiday. A company that has once establisht itself has always a good return date awaiting it, in many cities and towns previously visited. The future of the business holds forth many encouraging prospects to the carnival men who conduct their enterprise on a high plane and cater to the best instincts of the visitors. Another important feature of the business is the careful selection of the personnel that is carried with the company. It should be seen to that they are always ladies and gentlemen, at all times. The impression you create and leave behind is another great asset of the business, not only for your own good in the future, but it may be the means, if a bad impression is made, of hurting another A TYPICAL CARNIVAL SCENE company that at some future time may want to plav the same town, and if a bad impression has been left by the preceding company, it may be the means of causing a firstclass company to lose the town or city and therefore deprive the people of that ccrnmunity of some firstclass and wholesome amusement. The carnival business is growing and is bound to grow as the people become better educated to going to amusements, as they have in the past few years, due in a great extent to the wonderful popularity of the moving pictures. You know it is an old saving “the more you have the more you want,” and it is the same in the amusement busifless, as in any other. The movies and popular vaudevil have made the public thirst for amusement, and the carnival, when properly conducted, is the summer amusement for the hundreds of thou (Continued on page 138.) “Mandy, Get Your Glad Rags, de Carnival’s in Town” By Casper Nathan Cheer up, Mandy, I’se a secret Dat I'll tell yo’ mighty soon, When I tells yo’ what I'm thinkin’, Yo'll agree dat I'm some coon. I knows how hawd yo’ve been workin’, Day an’ night, yo’re washin’ cloes, Put when yo’ knows what I'm thinkin’, Yo'll feel jes’ like a blushin’ rose. Just take off dat rag yo're wearn’, Put some powder on yo’ face, Take de irons off dat fire, Fin’ de wash-tub’s hidin’ place Cheer up, Mandy, get yo’ glad rags, Don't yo’ dare to wear no frown, We am goin’ out fo’ pleasure, ‘Cause de carnival’s in town! Deacon Brown thinks his wife’s classy, Tho she’s long past sixty-three. Dat's why I wants yo’ to doll up Till dose niggers envy me. An’ de white folks, dey’s all goin’, An’ de children’s goin’, too, Cheer up, Mandy, get yo’ glad rags, Let dem know dat black ain't blue! Yo’ knows how I makes my livin’, Shinin’ shoes, five cents a shine, Put yo’ don’t know I'se been savin’ Till my bank roll sho’ looks fine. Twenty nickels makes a dollar, I'se got four bones nice an’ reun’, Cheer-up, Mandy, get yo’ glad rags, ‘Cause de Carnival’s in town. Think o’ what we'll see dere, Mandy, Rows an’ rows 0° great, big tents, And we gets in any side show Fo’ de small sum ob ten cents. Let ’em talk about de circus, Let ’em rave o' Coney Isle, Dey can’t match up to de pleasure Dat I'll show yo’, Angel Chil’. Dere will be some great attractions, An’ a monster nigger show, We can see de best dey’s got dere, All fo’ ten small cents a throw. Dey tell me one side-show barker Beat’s mos’ any circus clown, Cheer up, Mandy. get yo’ glad rags, *Cause de Carnival’s in town. Dey will have a ban’ dere, Mandy, Dat will play some music gran’. An’ I understan’ dey’s got freaks, Gathered from mos’ ev'ry lan’. When dem white folks throw confetti, We'll just start to throw it back, We'll be kin’ an’ show dem white folks White am just as good as black, Yo’ can do dat wash tomorrow, I'll go back a-shinin’ shoes, Put, today we'se out fo’ pleasure, We ain’t got much time to lose. I can hear dat barker callin’, Hear dem drums begin to poun’, Cheer up, Mandy, get yo’ glad rags, ‘Cause de Carnival’s in town.