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

ee ae Reneigaee ee = ~ ~ = Bete ?. —<= a eae ~_ : ‘ ?. ss The Bi llboard MARCH 22, 1913. 1913 SEPTEMBER 8 TO 20 1913 OCHESTER EXPOSITION Exposition Park, Rochester, N. Y. > a Attendance, 206,000 in 1912. Limited Number of First-Class Midway Shows Wanted. Bids on Concessions Invited. Rochester now has the Biggest Permanent Municipal Ex position in the Country. Ten Fire-proof Buildings. WHAT THE MODERN PRESS AGENT REPRESENTS. (Continued from page 39.) Hubn, dramatic editor of gether. They sent peais to the holiday on circus the paper got toa couple of anonymous ap board of edugation asking for a day for the school children. They questioned the members, some objarted and some were in favor of it. They Stirred the matter up for all it was worth and fo. a week they carried stories as to whether or not the schools would be closed on circus day. Of course no particular show was men tioned, but it waked up the ple to the fact that way and it made minds of the peoa circus was heading that them get ready. I encountered almost the same proposition on the Dailas, Texas, Morning News. ‘No nothing’’ was the cheerful greeting. rhe State Fair is a big issue down in Texas in the fall. I ,.ot acquainted with the reporter, he was handling the news for that event, and showed him where after our show closed we were going to ship all of our animals direct to the Dallas Staite Fair, that is if certain conditions: could be met. We got the directors of the association interested, and they even went so far as to make some propositions, and hence publicity of the big show came galore. But it is tough to have to buy your way into newspapers with money and tickets and then have to steal your way in. Newspaper reporters and city editors are generally willing and giad to help a brother newspaper man in the show business, if they are in a position and their hands are not tied But since newspaper men are the ones who put livery stable, they sometimes offer one another as to the why not, but in excuse or truth they could not help you if they wanted to. It is funny what a little publicity will do a fellow. Surely everybody in the profession know one Frank ‘“‘Slivers’’ Oakley. the «clown Well, several years ago, Slivers was net so wel known. He was a pretty good ‘“‘joy’’ but no better than other d'‘sciples of Grimbaldi. He was contracted to go with the B. & B. Show and he joined the New York Hippodrome. The late James A tailey goé out an ninaction against him and it was great materia! for a newspaper story, as all legal steps are. Slivers was the most highly* touted clown of the day and when the time was ripe he stept into the scene il field, where he has been raking in the shekels. Now there are hundreds of actresses who @e plodding away in obscure stock companies and “rep’’ shows and even in one-nighters. Some of them are fitted for stardom. They have nobody to beoest or help them and they are doomed to die in ebscurity. You might have the best act in the world but you have got,to show the people. You have got to blow your horn. Merit is a great thin , but as I have said before there is some bluff in the show game. The question which is asked me most Is, ‘s it any harder for a than in other days? There is no question about it, the times are harder‘today. Just let me quote a paragraph which I clip from a current issue of the Editor and Vublisher, a magazine edited exclusively for newspaper men: “Again, we wish to warn our readers of the wily press agents who annoy us with their fake stories of alleged ——— and actors. Ht has never been clear our minds as to Just why columns of spa “enouidl be given to the movements of circ rs and shows. Even the movements of the actresses of today are press agent to work today heralded Ike the movements of a president. Why? You never give the merchant any whole page write-ups. As long as we cater to the press agents, se lon: will there be a class of men who draw from $25 to $100 per week by working on our good nature.”’ This article of course only gives one side of the question But there is no doubt of it, The sailing of the press agent is hard. Sometimes after working hard on an idea and perfect it you only wake up to find that the newspaper bas carried the story alright but forgot to mention the name of the particular show. I once got an elevator filled with chorus girls to get stuck at the Berevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. The poor girls were in the close ca:e for more thaw an nour before they could be gotten out. But the papers ia the sleepy city couldn't seee why the show should be mentioned in any way. The hardest part of all was. that of the girls that I would get her picture in the paper and on the first page, too. Almost the same thing happened in Baltimore. I had a girl to faint on the top of the Sailors and Soldiers’ monument I had three fire companies out, a riot call in at two police stations and yet the papers couldn't see the name of the show. I have even almost had good men murdered, and yet not the desired effect Press agents have their troubles and misfortunes just like all the rest of the people in the show business. Most anyhody days and most as to what is over on the There are a a big flaeh one that Col, the old along in I solemnly promist each who reads the papers every one does, is familiar landing and what has been pur unsuspecting minds of the public. million of stunts which have made But I can’t help mentioning Charles A. Davis put over for Forepaugh show in Boston. It was the eighties and the show for the now-a first time was carrying a score of full-blooded , te cireus or theatrical game, the stall in! EMILR. HOFFMANN & SON Manufacturers of Shooting Galleries'and Targets 3317 South Irving Avenue, Chicago, III P.ATTSBURGH, N. Y., FAIR Secure ag concessions and space at our big fivedays’ Fair, September 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, 191 E F. ROTSFORD. President, Plattsburgh, N. Y. | Indians. Charley could not tation to drop around to the parsonage Parkhurst who was the pastor of the cle. He told the good man how it the contract with the government Indians had to attend church The Doctor fell bard. The harder, It was necessary to eall to kiep the people away the streets were choked for wanted to hear ‘‘The Full tet." As a little curtain the Indians to warch ton avenue several sion of the church, My friend, the simple certainly no resist the tempof Dr Taberna was in that the every Sunday. newspapers fel! send in a rior from the church, blocks, they ali Blooded Indian Quar raiser Charley had up and down Washing times preceding the inva Doc Waddell, who is enjoying life now in Columbus, Ohio, was slouch when it came to putting over matters original. After reading Doc's writings one begins to understand that the resources of our languaze are iess limited than supposed. Doc is a world-renowned alliterator of the show bus ness, and is better known in the profession than Shakespeare, altho the Bard of Avon never d‘d much for circus folks. I must net forget to mention the persona! press agent. Some fellows in boosting them Selves push the aggregation that pays them good monry into the background. They sa} that “So and So is in town, and incidentally the big show is coming later.”’ Real showmen object to this and they should, the performers do not get any too great amount of money and if there is anything coming in the way of publicity give it to them for they by pature love the plaudits and the write-ups The press agent back with in telling the newspaper men good-bye pl ces emphasis on the fact that he wants a copy of the paper containing a review sent on that it may go in the scrap book. Sometimes the scribe forgets the show entirely and only remembers the press agent, maybe he is only plugging for a job. I mention a few that 1 received within the space of a fortnight, writ ten in the r own peculiar style: “Mr the show always —, the genial press agent left noth ing undone on his part to make the grand show a success."’ “The management is for its press gentieman in his business fortunate in having representative ——, who is a every way, and who understands like Horace Greeley.”’ “He is the right place.”’ “The show is its press a ent a refined and success of the “But the man in the and proper mighty lucky in having for this year Mr. He Its courteous gentleman and the show is due to him.” person we saw with the circus was that prince of good fellows, Hon. ——, known from coast to coast as America’s greatest press agent.’’ “The press agent is a gentieman in every most versatile was and is built tke a real Chesterfield. Agaiu we welcome Mr. to our city with his show.”’ Hardly does a week go by in which I do not get letters from persons who have formed an idea that press agenting Is an easy | lucrative work and who ask me for informa tion and advice Some want to know if there are any books on the subject, any magazines or papers published exclusively for press a ents and a host of other questions. Again I say the woods are filled with press agents, there are press agents and press agents, al eged and otherwise. The good press agents can be count ed on the fingers of one’s hands. Nearly every body who is on speaking terms with the city editor or a newspaper reporter calls himeeif a press agent. For my part, I only say if you have con victions that you are cut out for a press agent, f vou have the proper qual'fications, which includes several years’ work on metropolitan “apers and coup! d with th's have a love for I gay go to it Burt Shepherd Australian Whip King . oo aren headlining in Vaudeville. OPEN FOR WILD WEST OR CIRCUS THIS SEAA sure Drawing Card and Big Feature, performing all his feats on horseback. March 24, Grand Theatre, Atlanta, Ga. Permanent address, care of BEEHLER BROS..2105 WEST MONROE STREET, CHICAGO, ILL. AMERICAN INDIAN | CONCERT BAND THE GREATEST MUSICAL ATTRACTION The only Professional Indian Band known in both hemispheres. Now booking for Parks, Expositions and Fairs. For particulars, address DAVID RUSSELL HILL, Syracuse, N Y At Liberty--Sheik Dervish Who carries longer hairs on his body Gren Me to 2 inches long) than anybody elee tn the world, geeeentine Turkish priests’ life and the t pe. wan ear from good Clrewe Rhetk Dewth efber p'ays Wild Mar or plays Mohammedar Address SHEIK DERVISH. 63 E. Larned Street, Cetroit. Michigan ee FOR MUTUAL BENEF T, MENTION THE BILLBOARD WHEN WR TINS #OVYERT SETS