The Billboard 1920-10-30: Vol 32 Iss 44 (1920-10-30)

i OCTOBER 30, 1920 The Billboard 67 organization of the Amuso Roller Skating Club, and now has over 300 members. The club meets twice weekly, on off nights, which tends to greatly increase the box office rece'pts. Mr. Jepnings reports that business at the rink has been increasing steadily, and that the class of patrons this year is noticeably better than when the rink first opened. The rink has an entirely new floor, and bag been tastily decorated. Mr. Jennings looks forward to a very Successful season. OTTAWA RINK UNDER WAY J. A. Christin, whoge rink at Ottawa, Can., burned recently, writes that rebuilding operations are well under way. “If we cannot get the rink going in time for roller skating this season,” he says, “‘we will at least have it ready for the jce skating season not later than December 1, As seon as the construction bas advanced far enough we will lay another Rubberold floor, and If we haven't any time to skate on It before the winter season it will be there to receive the ice surface; then in the gpring—about March 25—the ice will be melted and the tor will be ready again for roller skating.’’ . INTEREST INCREASING Th'ngs sure are looking up in the roller skating game, and if there isn't a real revival of the sport we miss our guess. New rinks are being opened, built or planned; established rinks putting in many improvements and new equipment, a new skate on the market, with what {8 claimed to be the first really new idea in skate construction Introduced in years, and now, to top it off, there are offered several substitutes for the maple floor that look very geod. We understand that the ‘“Rubberoid’’ floor jg attracting quite a bit of attention, and if it has all the virtues clalmed for it there's no cause to worry about the high cost of maple. And now comes H. de Sylvia, from faroff Australia, with a floor he calls ‘“‘Ironite,"’ and also with the Australian boxwood, which he claims is as suitable for rink floors as maple. The claims of these newcomers will, of course, have to be proved. Their sponsors may be a bit overenthus astic es to their merits, but the point is that the interest shown in these floors and in the new skates and new rinks indicate a healthy interest Jn the skating game in general. DE SYLVIA RETURNING FROM AUSTRALIA H. de Sylvia, well-known roller gkater and formerly manager of rinks in this country, but who for the past year has been in Australia, writes from Goulburn, N. 8. W., that he expects to return to the United States soon. Mr. de Sylvia writes interestingly of his work in Australia, where he has been playing rinks and vaudeville, “I played on the Fuller Vaudeville Circuit for six months,"’ he says, touring the States of New Zealand, Queensiand, Victoria and New South Wales, and made such a hit in one of their theaters in Christchurch, New Zealand, that I was held over for one month. Have since played in skating rinks thruout Tasmania, Victera and New South Wales. “Before the war roller skating was booming bere; jn Sydney there were eight rinks, now only two, yie Royal and the Centennial. The latter is one of the prettiest rinks that I have ever been in; floor surface (90x200 feet) is made out of composition called Iron!te. Its advantage over a maple floor is that it is almost Boiselese, aud bas a very fast surface. Lack of suitable buildings out bere is the only thing Preventing a boom. “Australia is a very wonderful country, but is run by the Government, and is the personification of mismanagement. At the present time I am in my fourth week of an eight-week enRagement at the Arcadia Skating Rink, Goulburn, N. &. W. (140 miles from Sydney). It is owned by Turner & Sons, who understand the business from A to Z, and therefore have made & great success of their venture, financially and soclally. The rink surface is 80x200 feet, balcony ail around; the floor is laid with an Australian wood called Brush Box, of the merits of wich I cannot speak too highly. Until recently I was under the impression that maple was the only wood for a skating floor, But, after skating on Brush Box, 1 most emphatically declare that Brush Box is the best, because very little powder is required on the floor. There ts a natural element in the wood which keeps the skates from glipping. Steel wheels on a maple floor will turn it black (like grapbite); steel wheels on a Brush Box floor will just discolor it, It also has a very fast gurface, aud bas a velvety feeling under the feet. “I have derived a lot of benefit from this 12 Months’ tour of sunny Australia, and I am Skating better than ever. I have been treated Tight royally out here, especially by the managet and proprietor of the Arcadia Skating Rink, Goulburn, N. 8. W., who have done everything in their power te make my two months’ enstgement a happy one, and, believe me, they succeeded”? Mr. de Sylvia has booked his return passoge to America. He will leave Sydney on Novemder 24 on the 8. S. ‘Ventura,’ arriving in San Francisco about December 15. He sends greetings to his American friends, SKATING NOTES Adelaide D'Vorak played at Barnesboro, YPa., Week of Oct. 11, closing in ‘‘a'blaze of glory.’’ She had enpacity crowds in spite of an evanKelistic meeting a opposition. Week of October 18 Miss D'Vorak played Osceola Mills and Lewistown, Pa., three days at each place, and expects soon to make a trip South. _ Killy Carpented has changed bis plans and instead of opening at Lewistown, TPa., will set up his Rellerdrome at Sunbury, Va., for the Winter, Is there a letter advertised for you? Look thru the Letter List and see. About 200 pairs of Chicago Fibre Skates, in good conGitlon Also all Tools, ete. All at a bargain. A. J. MULHOLLAND, 201 Allen Bivd., Kalamazoo, Mich. FOR SALE ‘omplete Equipment for Roller 4 Rink’ 350 pairs of Winslow Viber Holl Skates and North Tonawanda Band Or fan. All In good condition, $1,500.00 cash. F. W. MILLER, 200 E, Raynor Ave, Syracuse, N. Y. Look! What’s Here? “CHICAGO SKATES” reduce prices, getting back to prewar conditions. Prompt delivery. Order now. CHICAGO ROLLER SKATE COMPANY 4458 W. Lake St., CHICAGO, ILL, wrensavion. “Ruhheroid Skating Floors” scien THE FLOORS THAT ARE JOINTLESS, NOISELESS AND DUSTLESS, Can Be Laid Over Either Concrete or Wooden Foundations, Either Inside of Buildings or in the Open, Such as Parks, Roof Gardens, etc. It is that kind of floor that was laid in the GLADSTONE ROLLER RINK, Ottawa, Canada, and which proved such a success that it will revolutionize Roller Skating in general. Address all inquiries 1 HEAD OFFICE, 487 Strathcona, Montreal, Canada, or F, A, GILMAN, 516 W. 47th St., New York, N. Y. PARISH FAIRS SUCCESSFUL (Continued from page 65) ful and plans are being made for a much larger event in 1921. The Florida Parishes Fair at Hammond, La., drew a large attendance from this city, and according to reports the affair was one of the best ever attempted by the fair association at that place. Great credit was given the directors for their efforts in building a modern fair. ROME (GA.) FAIR A Big Success—Ziedman & Pollie on Midway Rome, Ga., Oct. 21.—The fifth annual North Georgia Fair, which was a grand success from start to finish, closed Saturday night, October 16. All concession space was e0ld long before the fair opened, and @ great number had to be turned away. Crowds were in attendance on every one of the six days of the fair. On the midway Zeidman & Pollie’s Shows furnished the rides and attractions, and the fair association officials were well pleased with them. The United States Government exhibit, occupying 5,000 feet of floor space, was a center of interest. Horse racing was a big feature of the fair, and the best racing ever geen here was put on. Many of the horses came direct from the big circuits and left Rome for the Grand Circuit races at Atlanta, The live stock show was one of the largest ever held in the State, there being many entries from neighboring States, as well as from Georgia. R. Pyron, secretary of the fair, !9 some hustler, and much of the success of the fair was due to his efforts. Bighearted Ab. Dean, president of the association, also is some hustler, and he made everything pleasant for the thousands who attended the fair. W. A. Blackwell had charge of the afternoon and evening program, and he pulled off his free acts in true circus style. The acts included the following: Roy D. Smith and his -Royal Scotch Highlanders’ Band, The Melford Trio, Miller Sisters, acrobatic and contortion act; Kersiake and his trained pigs, De Phil and De Phil, high wire; Hill's Society Circus, and a big display of fireworks. SEISS AT SPORT GOODS SHOW August Selss, founder of the National Setss Safety Club for boys, will attend the National Cycle and Sport Goods Show at Chicago Coliseum November 8 to 13. Mr. Seiss will have some data on “Promotion of Safety’’ to give to dealers that will be interesting to a high degree. In the past makers and distributors of signaling devices have merely thought of these products ag a saleable article. Mr. Seiss became inspired with a deeper thought and produced a safety signal device with the idea of stamping out carelessness, which is responsible for 98 per cent of accidents. After a humber of years of planning and merchandising he now enjoys the fruits of his achievement. He has instituted a national club for boys, who are being educated to thoughts of safety in a most intellectual manner, While Mr. Seiss is deeply concerned with manufacturing Seiss horns, he finds the time spent with his boys very gratifying from an educational standpoint, and will tell show visitors of his work and how it will be a benefit to every dealer. THE CORRAL (Continued from page 64) If you don't it will only be a short time when there will be even more “‘champions’’ than there are at present, and up to date there is no REAL OFFICIAL CHAMPION recognized as such by the majority in the business BECAUSE there is no REAL RECOGNIZED ASSOCIATION that has been formed to represent the MAJORITY of those interested in the frontier contest business. IF THE FRONTIER CONTEST BUSINESS IS TO SURVIVE and NOT RETURN TO A WILD WEST SHOW BASIS pi A MUST ALL GET TOGETHER. START now. Secretaries and managers of ALL frontier contests everywhere, please fill out the folbowing blank and mail to us at cace: Town or City. association to be formed of representatives of every frontier contest held in the United States or Canada for the purpose of making one set of rules to govern ALL competitive cowboy and frontier sports so that the OFFICIAL TITLES of champions will be the one recognized by all as the REAL TITLE. We are also in favor of doing all in our power to regulate our dates so that there will be as few conflictions as possible. In fact our committee stands ready to cooperate with all the others to do everything in our power to bring the frontier contest business up to the rightful place it really belongs in, the place of American competitive sport, and as a real outdoor amusement business. ee eccccoccccccces Secretary or Manager, JAY RIAL DIES (Continued from page 62) the “travel fever,"? Rial went to Dutch Guiana with the expectation of making a fortune from gold mining there. After three years, during most of which time he was in a hospital suffering from bush fever, he returned to the United States, going to San Francisco, where he remained for several years, during that time being interested in several theatrical ventures. In conjunction with the late McKee Rankin he leased the old California Theater in 1885 and brought forth one of the finest stock companies ever put together in America. One of his biggest achievements was the pioneer tour in 1901, in partnership with the famous actor, Henry Lee, of the first American vaudeville company to Australia. It was such a financial success that trips were made to India, South Africa and other countries. For seven years prior to his trip around the world Mr. Rial was associated with Kohl & Castle, the €hicago managers, and was the manager of the Chicago Opera House for this firm. He was with the Ringling Circus for some time, then joined Barnum & Bailey. With these two circuses he had been associated for the past sixteen years. Mr. Rial was ever courteous and had an immense number of friends in the newspaper as well as the show world, being known by editors from coast to coast. It js a strange coincidence that Mr. Rial had completed his season's work on the day on which he was taken ill, Winston-Salem being the last stand of the circus for this season, Altho advanced in years, Mr. Rial bad been in the best of health until his final illness, and his sudden taking off came as a great shock to his friends. YOUNG BODKIN IN CHICAGO Chicago, Oct. 22—Arthur Bodkin, son of S. Bodkin, veteran circus man and custodian of the Showmen's League of America, is visiting his father and mother in Chicago. The younger Mr, Bodkin, who is a skilled showman himself, Saw extensive military service overseas. FINNEY AND HARRELL IN EAST New York, Oct. 21.—C. W. Finney, general contracting agent for the Sells-Fleto Shows, arrived in town today with Paul W. Harrell, general agent for the circus. They will remain @ few days. Mr. Finney tells The Billboard that the Sells-Floto Circus has enjoyed ideal weather all season, and did a tremendous business, jn spite of the slap given the show business in general by increased railroad rates. He Says the bottom has dropped out of the South, owing to the sudden slump in cotton, which dropped from about 40 cents to 15 and 18 cents @ pound. Much of the crop is stored in immense warehouses in Memphis. As the slump was anticipated by Mr. Finney and Edward Arlington an early closing was agreed upon. RINGLING-BARNUM NO. 3 CAR The Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Balley Shows’ Advertising Car No. 3-closed at Richmond, Va., October 20. The ‘boys’ left for their various homes and winter headquarters with smiles and large bank rolls. Manager Charles Snowball left for his home in Chicago, Walter Hesley was bound for Rochester, Minn.; ‘Nat’? Geodwin, Jim Labraco and Edward Suren, for Chicago, where they will be engaged in theater work for the winter. F. B. Huet went to his Indiana home, V. 8S. Scott and R. W. Gaskill, with their wardrobe trunk, when last seen, were headed for Minneapolis. Eddie Breham will go to his home jin Alexandria, Ind., for the winter. J. Raymond Morris bearded a train for Chattanooga, Charles Gottleib for New York, James Gillick for Bridgeport, Conn., where he ig engaged at the Lyric Theater; K. Oliver for Lake City, Tenn.; Wm, McFarland for Wheeling, W. Va.; Harry Weigand for Freeport, Ill, while L. B. Sharpe sailed for Tampa, Fla., and Jack (Cub) Gallagher, of base ball fame, went to Providence, R. I., where he is all set for the winter at the Empire Theater. The season was a good one, the weather fn “Dixie” being wonderful, and everybody looked prosperous. No doubt the same faces will be seen jn New York, when the whirl of the bluebirds’ wings is again heard next spring.— “TROUPER.” “THINGS | SEE AND HEAR EVERY DAY” —_—— By BILLY EXTON Well, the 1920 circus season ig about over, and everybody is making, or has already made, plans for winter engagements, and the same is the case with me. Am now located in Cleveland, handling several big feature filmg thru the State of Ohio. Can be reached at 305 Sloan Building, where I have opened an office. Before I left Detroit I chanced to pay a visit to the Cadillac Theater, and was greeted with the ever-smiling countenance of Jack (Floppie) Bell, who has been connected with the bill cars of several of the “‘big ones” and who now “grabs the ducats’’ on the front door of that popular Detroit burlesque house. Floppie sure looks the part, as he is gorgeously bedecked in a neat new brass-buttoned and braided uniform, — makes him the outstanding feature of the DD. In Pittsburg I ran across Lou Padolf, who is just closing as general agent of the Gloth Greater Shows, and who is also very busy with plans for something very big and of a surprising nature for the cold weather months. Lou promised something in a later issue, Freeman Ross, also an old trouper of the bill cars, is in Pittsburg. He is property man with *‘The Tempters,** a burlesque show, and a more capable man could not be chosen for the spot. His efforts are showing results every day, and it is his desire to make this show one of the ‘‘real ones’’ of the wheel. Walter Ray, this past summer with the No, 6 car of the Habenbeck-Wallace Shows, ig in Pittsburg, and can be found at Sheppard’s Hotel, where he serves, “‘near’”’ beer to the thirsty of the Smoky City. Jack Burns is the doorman at the Gayety Theater, and altho badly crippled with rheumatism manages to be up and on the job everyday, and is the same old Jack Burns as of older days, never failing to register with his pleasant greeting accorded every patron of the theater. Harriet V. Miller, which is the professional name of his wife, has joined the female quartet known as “Four of a Kind," now playing Pantages Time. Harry C. Thomas returned to Pittsburg after attending the fair and big doings at Richmond, Va. Harry had a band and several smaller attractions on display, and reports one of the greatest fairs ever attended. Harry F. Grelle, the Pennsylvania Stateright distributor of feature films, has secured the rights for ‘‘Up in Mary’s Attic” and ig now busy getting ready for several road companies. He has engaged F. P. McGovern to go ahead of the No. 1 company, and ‘iMac’’ is busy on the job routing and putting over the publicity for the first attraction, which is scheduled to open in Jobnstown, Pa., week of November 8 at the Cambria. Each company will carry two men ahead, and a manager and five bathing girls back with it. I made a flying trip to Altoona to see the rehearsal of this attraction, and it looks like ready money to all concerned. While in Altoona I called on L. C. (Luke) Winter, who has been back with several large feature attractions, but who is now contented with his interests in a music store, and invites all his friends to stop in and pay him a visit while in town. Stopped in at the Mishler Theater, where I had a short visit with Doc Mishler, who reports business still as good as ever. In the box-office of this theater you meet two very highly efficient young ladies, namely, Ruth Ehredt and Lillian Devlin, who make your stay around the theater very enjoyable, and who are an asset to the management of Doc Mishler’s playhouse. Harry Lance is still the advertising agent of the Mishler and always there when an agent calls to play out his billing. Saw Chas. (Kid) Kester in Cleveland. He is rapidly improving from hig recent operation, and expects, as soon as he is able, to resume his workings with ‘“‘The County Fair,’’ a new feature film, which is being handled as a road attraction, Also met Jack Nedrow, another well-known circus agent, who is now connected with the Criterion Advertising Co. Hughie Melnotte and wife were in Cleveland last week, doing their new wire act at the Miles Grand Theater. They wish to be remembered to all their friends with the white tops, and are doing very nicely. Jake Lavine is the treasurer of the Empire Theater in Cleveland, and makes one feel at home when purchasing tickets for the ‘‘opry”’ of him. Jerry Goodman, another brother agent, and latey of the Barnum Show, is electrician at the Empire Theater. The Hannah Hotel is still the mecca for showfolks, both outdoor and in, and one is almost sure to meet up with his friends and associates by caling there when in Cleveland. Harry Neuman was in town last week, ahead of **The Liberty Girls.”” He js slowly recovering from an attack of illness, which brought him down in weight, and almost forced him to close his engagement. 1. A. B. P. & B. NO. 46 Following is the list of officers and members of I. A. B. P. & B. No. 46, Cleveland, 0., 3 their respective ces of employment at present writing: President, Fred Clotz,; business agent, Pete Wallace: secretary, Billy Bourke; recording secretary, Tom Rockey; treasurer, Cad Wheeler: sergeant-at-arms, Bert Babcock. Brother Ed Munce is agent at the Star Theater, assisted by Joe Finnucan. At the Empire js Dana Lamson, agent, with Charles Knox and Les Stien doing the billing. George Snow is still at the Opera House, Fred Clotz at the Miles, Bob Willlams at the Stillman, Jim Blankensop at the Grand, Billy Rourke at the Colonial, Niek Sylvester at the Priscilla, **Fat’? Shade at the Globe and Freddie Slosser at the Liberty. ‘“‘Torchy” Simmond is steward at the plant. Many of the Cleveland members are out with the bill ears, but are expected in any day now, The “home’’ boys have bad plenty of work, and are kept busy all during the summer months, with very good prospects for the coming winter. 7