The Billboard 1917-10-20: Vol 29 Iss 42 (1917-10-20)

i The Billboard OCTOBER 20, 1917 BIRMINGHAM ANOTHER WINNER FOR JOHNNY J. JONES’ SHOWS Midway Receipts First Four Days at Alabama State Fair Eclipse Ten Days’ Business of Last Year—Rocky Mount (N. C.) Fair Big One for Metropolitan Shows Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 12.—Here in Birmingham at the Alabama State Fair the gross busi ness done by the Johnny J. Jones Shows in four days will outgross the entire ren days’ business of last season. At Memphis they almost doubled the bnsiness of the organization of last year. In Milwaukee Jobnny J. Jones was asked to contract for next season, and the same thing Was requested by George Dickinson of Detroit, Mr. Remey of Milwaukee and Mr. Fuller of Memphis. Now what is the answer and what caused the great business in these towns that im tbe vernacular of the carnival game were called bloomers? Johnny J. Jones is the answer and the cause is good, clean attractions, no gambling and business promises and agreements faithfully kept. Ask any of the ahove gentlemmen and they will verify these statements. The Alabama State Fair this year is the greatest success this grand old State has ever held and President R. A. Brown and Secretary J. A. Dent (borrowed from Kentucky for the occasion) are deserving of all the encomiums the press and citizens bave heaped upon them. John ny J. Jones is. wearing a smile that won't come off. Eddie Carrnthers furntsnbed all the free acts, including Ruth Law, and they were some acts. Wednesday and Thursday nights the at tendance was so large that the immense grand stand would not bold all the people who clamored for seats. . Mrs. Michael Camilla has left for her home at Jobnstown, Pa., and Count Michael is in New Orleans, where he will open a big store show for the winter. ‘ Dakota Mer is antiously awaiting the arrival from California of bis father and mother. He has not seen his parents in six years. The father, who is well known in the circus world as “‘Pop’’ Sanders, the great wild animal train er, is now a resident of Los Angeles, and has been under contract to the Selig Moving Picture Corporation. Queenie Vassar is leaving the Why Smith Left Home Show to become Stella, the Mys terious, and ber place will be filled by Helen Hunt. There is a new number in, America, par ticipated in by Hody and Bootsie Hurd, Ange lina Nelson, Anna Harris and Clara Arnold, and it goes immense. David Sorg has just completed the equipment of Mr. Jones’ private car with the Delco Electric lighting system and now has all the nine sleep ers equipped with electricity. Claude Sheppard, of Margaret Gast’s autodrome, and David Bradley, of the whip, were both drafted this week. Al Armer has recov ered from his recent illness. Ruhe Livingston joined the Dakota Max Wild West here. There is a splendid improvement to the Johnny J. Jones Londen Ghost Show since Joseph Dunning assumed the management. Mre. H. W. MeGeary is visiting relatives in Atlanta. Col. I. B. Runnison, manager of the Natienal Live Stock Exposition, opening at New Orleans November 8, was a visitor here. Others seen this week on the midway were Manager and Mrs. Rubin, David Christ and some half dozen of the Rubin & Cherry Shows, which are in Decatur this week; Eddie Carruthers and Sam Levy of the United Fairs Association, Ruth Law and her husband, Mr. Oliver, Barney Old field, Lonis Chevrolet, Katherine Stinson, Johnnie Black, the hustling publicity man for Oldfield and whom the serihe is responsible for placing in the game.—ED R. SALTER. METROPOLITAN SHOWS Treble Last Year’s Midway Receipts at Rocky Mount Fair Henderson, N. C., Oct. 10.—The Metropolitan Shows opened the Golden Belt Fair here Monday under clear skies and ideal weather conditions and with every indication of another big week in store for everyone. The Rocky Mount Fair last week easily proved the banner stand of the season, and it was a happy band of showfolk that pulled in here Sunday to conquer fields anew. Conditions in general hereabouts were never better. Unprecedented high prices are being paid for tobacco and cotton and the natives are fairly rolling in wealth, but even in view of this fact Rocky Mount proved a big surprise. The receipts of the shows trebled those of last year and the attendance nearly , doubled. Twenty thousand people were on the grounds on Thursday, and Secretary George R. Horn was loud in bis praise of the manner in which this immense throng was handled by the show people and the satisfaction the at tractions gave to everyone attending. Mr. Horn outlined bis plans for extensive improvements in his already well equipped and pretty plant, and if these plans are carried out the Rocky Mount Fair Grounds in 1918 will rival any in the State. Doc Hamilton came over from the Krause Shows with Serpentina for the week and was mighty well pleased with the venture. Paul Preli also brought over some concessions, as did Sam Modetsky. A new race track and grand stand has just been completed bere at Henderson and tho the fair is but two years old it is well thought of and beund to be extensively supported under present conditions of prosperity. Exhibit halls, stock pens and stables are filled to overflowing and preparations have been made to entertain a record crowd. E. M. Rollins, the secretary, is a mighty likable fellow. Columbia, S. C., on the streets in the downtown district next week, to be followed by the Dublin, Ga., Fair.—WILLETT L. ROE. ROSS DANO’S MUSEUM Ross Dano, manager of Dano’s Greater Shows, after closing the season, moved to St. Louis to winter. He has opened a museum on Market street, which is probably the best ever seen on this thorofare. Lions, gorilla, East India mon keys, 310 snakes, Enu (the horned horse), bears, trained goats and other smaller animals have made quite a complete museum. Business bas been exceptionally good since opening. Electric signs are now being put in front of the store room, and it looks as tho Ross Dano is going to profit by his decision. HODGSON SHOWS IN QUARTERS The Wm. A. Hodgson Greater Shows have gone into winter quarters at North Platte, Neb., after a successful season. The company has obtained trackage from the U. P. thru the efforts of Mr. Pielsticker, president of the fair association of North Platte, and Mr. Pielsticker has also provided storage for the shows and rides in the fair buildings. It is the intention of Manager Hodgson to open at North Platte some time in May next year. The fair association is going to hold a three-day race meet. for the occasion. MAJESTIC SHOWS “PULL IN” After a successful season the Majestic Shows have gone into winter quarters at Columbus, 0., where the show will open its 1918 tour im April. Mr. and Mrs.~Nat Narder will take a trip to Pittsburg, Pa,. for.a.few weeks’ visit with Mrs. Narder'’s brother, and from there they will go to New York to attend to a few. business matters. Edward K. Johnson, the promoter, and his wife have gone to their home in Philadelphia Pa., for the winter. It is thought that Mr. Narder will open an office at Columbus, O., just as soon as he returns from his Eastern trip. He will also have an Eastern office in Philadelphia, in charge of E. K. Johnson. The Majestic Shows had ten attractions, two — and twenty-five concessions at the time of closing. STYLE NO. 148. THE FREE STORAGE OF YOUR BAND ORGAN Our new concrete building, with sprinkler system, i are now offered for repairing Band Organs and include free storage until Spring. Estimates gladly made for repairing your Band Organ and making it an up-to-date, modern instrument. Special Literature Sent Free. muoourt WURLITZER “ennronn nance is absolutely safe. Special prices material? Carnival Equipment. you all about the greatest Amusement Factory in the World. C. W. PARKER, South 4th Street, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. PARKER made or WORLD TRADE “They Beautify Your Midway.”’ PRODUCTS. Can you picture in your mind a factory where the following Out Door Shewmen's Goods are built comricte from the raw Parker Carry-Us-All, Parker Ferris Wheel, Parker Monkcy Speedway, Parker Military Band Organs, Flat, Box, Bage792, Pullmon and Dining Cars, Carved Wagon Fronts, Mechanical Shooting Galleries, Tents, Banners, Floats, Electri Lighting Picnts; in fact, Complete Circus, Park and Draw a picture of this factory, and you know where the famous: Parker Jumping Horse Carry-Us-All is built If you are imercisted in Rides and Riding Devices, write today for a free cory of the Thousand Dollar Supplement, it will tell PARKER PERFECT PORTABLE “World's Foremost Amusement Buliders."” ALLAN HERSCHELL CoO., Inc. CARROUSELS HAVE MORE MODERN IMPROVEMENTS THAN ANY OTHER NOW SOLD. Patent hanger hooks that remain hooked when machine is in motion. Patent telescopes under horses and platforms clear of obstructions provide absolute safety to patrons and nearby lookers on. Hinged centerpole, countershaft, clutch and pulley constantly a» sembled, beautiful decorations, all Mhe parts inter changeable and wired for light. A Carrousel so com plete in every detail that it has no equal. IT’S REALLY PORTABLE. | hands of the | neither did we have three rides. GEORGE BOWLES WEDS George H. Bowles of San Francisco, this sea son with the Traver Exposition Shows as pro moter, was married to Dapbyne Lorraine Grand field, a nonprofessional, last week. They wi!! make their home at 1870 Beacon street, Brook line, Mass. Mr. Bowles was at the P.-P. 1. EB. in San Francisco in 1915. TAYLOR AT POOR FARM Word has just been received from A. € Taylor, a trooper for over twenty years, who is confined at the Mason County Poor Farm at Teberan, Ill. With his right leg off and his left side paralyzed Mr. Taylor is in a very sad condition. “If some of my trouping friends only knew how I was situated,’’ says Mr. Tay. lor, ‘‘they might send me a little change to buy tobacco and little things that I need. I am perfectly helpless.” CAPT. LATLIP SHOWS Altho it is somewhat cool at nights, the folks of the mining towns in West Virginia are patronizing generously the shows with the Capt. Latlip outfit. The bigh dive, performed by Daredevil Manning, and at times by Cupt. Latlip himself, is proving a powerful drawing card. Kingsley’s Art Model Show will open with the trick this week. The big jump South will, in all probability, be made within the next three weeks, as the man agement intends remaining out all winter. C. T. Harnett, general Shapiro, business manager of the Sheffield Greater Shows, contradict the statement made recently regarding the closing of the Sheffield caravan. ‘“‘While the show did have a successful season considering the inferior help obtain able owing to the war,"’ says Messrs. Hartnett and Shapiro, ‘‘it never consisted of seven shows, It is against our principles to make misleading statements, which eventually bring bad results."’ manager, and H. E. OUR FRONTISPIECE The portrait on the front cover of this issue is that of Mrs. Nat Reiss, one of the few wom en carnival owners in the country. Mrs. Reiss bas been handling the reins of the Famous Nat Reiss Shows since the death of ber husband in June of 1916, and the success of the show demonstrates ber ability to direct a caravan. This season she bas been capably assisted by H. G. Melville in the capacity of manager. The Famous Nat Reiss Shows has been on the road for eighteen seasons, and has been re garded as one of the cleanest and best caravans in the country. Many of the members of the original company are still with the show, which speaks well for the treatment received at the late Nat Relss and bis widow. While Mrs. Reiss bas purposely kept the com pany small this season, next year she promises to go out with an outfit second to none fn the carnival world, playing some of the biggest dates in the country. ADAMS SHOWS CLOSED It is reported that the Otis L. Adams Shows which had been traveling via boat, closed re cently at Madison, Ind. Some of the shows and concessions, it is said, have been stored at Madi son, The boat, the Robert Shaw, it is further said, was sent back to Parkersburg, W. Va. CAP. STEWART IN SOUTH Cap. W. H. (Billy) Stewart, the veteran show man, in spite of his age, continues ‘‘on the job,"’ felling the natives in the South all about his reptile show with the Central States Shows. Cap. will reach his seventy-ninth milestone on January 3 next, while his wife, who is at her home in Ft, Wayne, Ind., will be seventy-four years old on February 15. SHELDONS IN CINCINNATI Billy Sheldon, former manager of the Follies Show, with the Rutherford Greater Shows, and the missus spent several days in Cincinnati last week, giving The Billboard a call. Mra. Sheldon is mourning the loss of her father, Phillip Hoss, who died in Cleveland, 0., October 2, of Bright's disease, He was 56 years old, and had been il! three weeks, MASON TO TOUR Jack Mason and his musical bugs will soon start out again thru the South, featuring Charles H. Pounds and himself, This will be the fourth year for Mason, and on this tour he will have twelve people. ED HEINZ SHOWS Taylorville, Til, Oct. 11.—Ed L. Heina's Shows did a very good business at Bulpitt, Tl. a big mining town, last week, D. M. Broad well, general agent and promoter, knows how to pick the livé ones, The shows are on the main streets at Divernon, T., this week. The Tilinois weather is getting a little cool for merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels, but other attractions are getting the mofey in the live spots,