The Billboard 1923-01-20: Vol 35 Iss 3 (1923-01-20)

JANUARY 20, 1923 The Billboard 77 = CIRCUS PICKUPS And Notes About People You Know By FLETCHER SMITH That globe-trotting bill sticker, who is here, there and everywhere, Billy Cartwright, who yeen with them all and still drives a For as reached San Jose, Calif., in_ bis litte old flivver and will spend the winter a) i the Cal fornia resorts. The next time wey bear of him he will be in Eastport, Me “Ray Morrson, Jimmie ages right-hand man, is putting in the winter at Elkins, W. Va und will be back with the Main Circus in the pring on the front of Jimmie’s “No Name’ show, a8 usual. Ray says that ‘‘Marie ad a great Christmas, a regular monkey t.me. Jack Weaver, who was formerly with the Main Cireus, but who has developed into an ho est-to-goodness advance agent, last season with the Mathew J, Riley (Carnival) Show, killing time around New York City and g to open up wth the same show in the ing. He was recently in Atlantic City, where he and Frank B. Hubin put in a great day. The Pleasantville Press says that Weaver is thinking of buying a bome in that Hub.nized ¢ cy. jack Fenton, who made a big record for himself with the advertising banners with the Main Ciccus last season, will be back again in the spring prepared to excel his former high mark. He is d viding his time between New York City and Newark and getting a play at the many winter indoor circuses, George Valentino and wife, his son and his wife, who were formerly with the Sparks Circus when it was a five-car show, now have a big casting act and are making a big hit with the Hopper Indoor Circus. My old side partner, Marvin Arnold, who was one side-show man who could clean a lot, is just aching to get back in the circus game. At present, with his brother, James, they are king ney with the ‘‘Northland Beauties’’, how playing thru North Carolina, arry Wills, who is some calliope player and a fixture around the Sparks Circus since be left the Sells-Floteo Show, writes tbat he bad a great Christmas at home with the Missus and the kiddies and will be back with Sparks in the spring He is keeping warm despite the coal famine at Eau Claire, Wis. Fd Brown, who has been everything up in Bath, Me., from chief of police to keeper of the town poor farm, now has blossomed out as the city tax collector, There are three folks up there that Ed will not bother very d Mason, the first man who ever played the Keith Circuit with shadowgraphs; George Coleman and ‘“‘Doc’’ Wagner. When the business gets slack in the spring Ed will put out his wagon show. He writes that Vic Delmar, a well-known Eastern showman, is very ill at his home at North Gray, Me. | Charles S. Hale, a real oldtimer, is floating down the Mississippi River in a canoe this winter and calls at the various ports as representative of a Chicago weekly paper. He hopes to reach New Or.eans in the spring. Charles was formerly from the East and broke in with Sautelle Circus. Since then he has been with the Ringlings, Andrew Downie and the Robinson Circus last season, closing with that show at Wichita, Kan. Years ago he Was a member of the famous second U. S8. Cavalry, stationed at Fort Riley, Kan. He poral and wag in charge of the first 1 placed over the monument erected to General Custer on the famous battle ground Big Horn River. Last summer Charlie made up his mind to make the water trip to New Orleans and so closed with the Robinson show, bought a canoe and with Old Glory fiying in the stern started out. He has met with no mishap as yet. Charlie eays he was born in East Boston, Mass., and worked for a time in Lynn The Wright & Lombard Show is stored away for the winter at Bradford, N. H., and Charlie Wright is out with a little vaudeville show playing the small towns in the northern part of the State. J. G. Lombard will promote several indoor circuses and bazaars during the tefore the cold weather set in Charlie had time to build himself a garage and put foundation for his new house. Mrs, Wright will remain at home this winter. He also wrtes that Johnnie Mack, an old-time trouper, is recovering from a shock. Johnnie Green, known as the eriginal one-man band, who was with all of the old-time circuses as well as Austin & Stane’s Museum in Boston, is still alive and living at Lewiston, Me George E. Caron, special agent of the Main Circus, is now stage manager of the Elsie Kyan “Intimate Stranger’? Company. He has been thru the Northwest and Eastern Canada and says that business has not been the be&t. He will be back with the Main Circus in the Spring George Valentino and family, including the Fisher Sisters, formerly of the Sparks reus, are this winter filling a series of indoor circus dates and will be around New York City the month of January. With them are the Man keans, with the Main Circus a portion of last season, Roy Barrett, who has made rapid strides Since be left the Sun Show, where he was Principal clown, and who was with the Ringling show last season, is spending the winter in Philadelphia, playing an occasional vaudeville date. He will leave for New York City in March and rejoin the Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus. L. C, (Short'e) Whorley, of Walter L. Main clown alley last season, clowned in a Baltimore department store during the holidays and will remain in Baltimore for the remainder of the winter, He will be back with the Main show in the spring. George Gregorie and family of the Main Circus, who were the originators of the act known as ‘The Furniture Movers’, are now playing over the Keith Time with a new act known 48 “Moving In", in which they introduce the balancing that made them famous Minnie geo now grown to @ beautiful young "dy, is . appearing in the act, and the family vil themselves ag The Parisian Trio. ; Ralph Somerville has developed into a reguar manager. He has established a circuit of one-night towns out of Havre de Grace and is meeting with good success now that shows have learned of the good towns that have not been touched, ;)temember Guy Hilderbrand? Well, he and Ciften Sparks ran the fastest foot race at “Sissimmee, Fla, that was ever pulled off pround the Sparks show, Guy left the show i ‘ness to tickle a cash register on the ‘ulfalo street car line, but is back in the N N > > N N > > > > N > N S N N N N S > N N N each morning. N N circus game again. He was 24-hour man with the Sparks shows the past season. . G. ‘Peck’? Amsden, writing from his home, Litchfield, I1)., says he enjoyed a great hunting season, but met with a serious loss in the death of his favorite hunting dog, Mr. Peck, who was highly ped greed and very valuable, It had won first prize at many dog shows and was well known among dog fanciers, SUNDAY SHOW APPROVED By Mayor Kohler for Hagenbeck-Wallace Indoor Circus in Cleveland Cleveland, O., Jan. 11.—Mayor Fred Kohler Wednesday approved the circus performances to be given in Public Hall Sunday and which had its first performance on the night of January 8. Later in a letter he scored an antiblue law organization which had asked him to take that view. A ‘And you will oblige me by not interfering with my business,’’ the Mayor wrote to F. C. Dailey, executive secretary of the Anti-Blue Law League of America. Dailey had opened Cleveland offices for the league at 208 Euclid Arcade Annex upon bis arrival here from Washington, the national headquarters, and_ had asked the Mayor not to ban Sunday performances of the circus as requested by the Cleveland Ministers’ Union. “I have no letter from the ministers or any other union,’’ the Mayor wrote. “I wish to advise you here and now that any letter received from them or anyone else will receive the same consideration that yours will receive. Furthermore, I am not paying any attention in my work to meddilers, and you will oblige me by not interfering with my business."’ At the same time the Mayor has decided to refuse a permit to the Kokoon Klub, the Cleveland artists’ social organization, for its annual party scheduled for January 26. This affair last year was the hottest thing as to costumes ever staged in this city. The Cleveland News prints the following editorial under the caption ‘‘Circus Season” “Longe ago, it is said, Clevelanders could go to a circus, when opportunity offered, without going outside what is now the down-town district. Then aivic growth forced the circus grounds further out, to ‘Payne's pastures’, now bisected by Payne avenue. For years the customary camping ground of tented entertainments was at ‘Stone's levee’ in the Cuyahoga valley. Again for years citizens led their children to circuses held on a bare space near the intersection of Cedar avenue and East Seventy-ninth street. Later those who would rejoice in a circus 6r Wild West show had to travel to Luna Park's vicinity or to Scranton road, under the viaducts. For some years now the place appointed has usually been the lake front, hard by Suicide pier and Tin-Can plaza. Rut never until this week djd_ circus-going Clevelanders have a chance to circus-go under a giass-paneled roof, in winter, well above the water level. in the central business district, in the $10,000,000 public ball, right in the $40.-. 000.000 group plan. That the present opportunity to see elephants perform and acrobats defy death and bare-back riders ride around rings, to gloat over the wonders of a modern circus in ease and comfort regardless of winter weather, is a special privilege well worth grabbing need not be pointed out to residents capable of remembering the difficulties of reaching some of the circus lots formerly used, or the discomforts of being drenched by rain and having to wade thru mud after getting there. “New York, with its indoor circuses at Madison Square Garden, no longer has anythine to crow over in Cleveland ears. The engagement of the Carl Hagenbeck-Wallace Cireus, arranged by Al Sirat Grotto, adds one more usefulness to the public hall's repertory—a most becoming function we should say, because it offers innocent enjoyment to all who enter. irrespective of age, sex or educational qualifications. We strongly favor having fun, which is none too easy to do in winter. The more modern improvements can manace t6 carry summer pleasures over into the winter season the better, say we."’ The opening performance of Cleveland's first indoor circus was attended by 7,000 persons. UNDER THE MARQUEE (Continued from page 75) Signor Chiarini’s Italian Circus and the menagerie of the former and the circus of the latter appeared in Zanesville “under one mammoth pavilion’ on July 27. The circus was to consist of a ‘grand Italian carnival’, wonderful performances of trained horses, etc."’ With the Great London Circus, Jack Parks, owner, season 1878, were . H. Dockrill, equestrian director; Elesia Dockrill, principal rider of four and six horses: James Robinson, bandleader: Byron Rose, master of transportation: Lewis Hedges, general superintendent; Albert Still, boss animal man, with two assistants, Theodore Ferris and Stan Carl; Homer Silver, boss canvasman; Andy Bryan, boss hostler: Geo, Arstingstall, boss elephant man; Rilly Homer, side-show boss canvasman; Homer Davis, in charge of the cookhouse. So T. 0. Hubbell of Southington, Conn., recalls. F. O. Gold writes Solly: ‘For the most vermR about a show I nominate Frank A. Goldie, who has had the kid show with Cole Bros.’ Shows these many years Of course, Goldie makes the dig show announcements, as MURRAY A. PENNOCK, General Agent, Palmer House, Chicago, Ili. > S LLL WL dddbiddddddhdddddddiiddddidddddsisssisissdddiiddillddlucc uur WANTED AL. G. BARNES BIG 4 RING WILD ANIMAL CIRCUS BILLPOSTERS—BANNERMEN—LITHOGRAPHERS Contracts are now ready under the new Alliance Agreement. do not feed billers on cars, but give you your meal allowance money We WL aaddiiadadddddd well. as working the ‘kids’ out in front and doing a little magic on the inside of the kid top. Goldie can put it up and take it down, take the trainmasfer’s place or, in a pinch, drive an eight-horse team. There isn’t much about the ‘bulls’ that he doesn’t know, and he can handle any cat. He is one of the real oldtimers, having been identified with most all of them, big and small, for the past forty years. He formerly worked the old fair ground lots with various kinds of shows years ago, as well as having seen life as a minstrel, He can and has put out an entire act of magic in vaudeville and at one time—in the days of the independent traveling side-shows—had a show of his own playing small town lots.’’ Claire Illington, female impersonator (Zaleski), of Oriental fame, tells of an interesting occurrence at a Bal Masque in the Coliseum, Divernon, Ill., New Year's Eve. As the general announcer at the door called ‘‘Sal of the Circus’ a slim figure in pink tights and slipPers, a pink satin body dress trimmed in iridescent spangles, a large pink rose over each ear and a half mask of black silk, tripped lightly to the center of the large hall. Immrpediately the trim figure was surrounded by young men and the lady's (?) dance program was soon filled. At midnight when the masks were lifted, just imagine the surprise of the young men who had been so attentive all evening to find they ‘had been flirting and dancing with one of their own sex, and also their old schoolmate. After a spirited fox trot, one young man was heard to remark: ‘‘Well, even if he Was a man, he had it all over some of you dancers."’ Illington received a letter from Max V. Akers, an old trouper, who states he has left the road and settled in Santa Ana, Calif., where he has a_ thriving tent and awning business. Mr. Akers was at one time personal manager for Mr. Illington, when this dancer toured the Pacific Coast, billed as ‘‘That — in the Dance of a Thousand Scanais’’. From John B. Estelle: ‘‘The Big Show today, the Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Shows Combined, does not put on any better show, and I doubt if there ever was a greater circus performance than was given in the old Madison Square Garden, season beginning March 12, 1882. The company consisted of the following people as near as I can remember: Riders, Mme. Elise Dockrill, queen of them all for grace in a principal act, and a dashing four and six-horse rider: Romeo Sebastian, Wm. Dutton, Geronimo Bell, Elena Jeal (Mrs. E. F. Ryland), Linda Jeal, queen of the flaming zone; Onzalo, demon of the air; Nestor and Venoa, return act; Hawley and Buisley, another return act: Dave Hawley, who was killed a few years later doing bis act; Lulu, the man-bird; Prof. D. L. Dowd, perfect man: Emma Jutaw, assisted by George Brown, flying rings and iron-jaw, concluding with web:. performing stallions by R. H. Dockrill (six “blacks) and Herr Carl Nygaard with two bays; Mattie Jackson, niece of old P. T., and Mme. Martha Buisley), menage acts; Hassabura Sam, Jap perch act; May Antonio, slack wire; fifteen elephants, five in each ring, worked by H. Morgan, Geo. arstingstall and Wm. Newman; trained oxen, four whites, two bays and two Nubians, worked by Charley White and Alex, McKinstry; ponies and monkeys, by Charley White; principal clown, Whimsical Walker, who worked a nair of donkeys: Billy Bachellor, Geo. Francis, Jimmy Murray, Tom Walton, Lew Snow; James Donovan, Frank Morgan and Hunterson, leapers and tumblers; Bonnie Runnells, clown. 7 Dockrill was ring boss, assisted by Carl Nyaard. The oldtimers, especially the former Mrs. W. O'Dale Stevens, if living, will recall they began the season in the Garden as a preliminary to the opening of the new P. Ryan's Cireus and Mepagerie, which made money and had a splendid list of performers, but went out of business in St. Johns, N. B., Can., thru a row with the principal backer, old man Amsdell, the brewer of Albany, N. Y The show the Barnum people put out that season was one hard to equal today. They had ‘Jumbo’ and ‘Queen’, with her baby, ‘Bridgeport’, and carried, all told, leaving the first stand under canvas in Brooklyan if my memory serves me rightly, thirty-three ‘bulls’. I remember the first time ‘Jumbo’ ever entered his ‘private’ ear in the Jersey City yards. He went in like a lamb. His car looked like a cross between a two-story house and a grain elevator. Saw him landed Easter Sunday, April 9, 1882, at Jersey City from S. S. Assyrian Monarch. Some bull—none like him today. He was lifted out of the hold in a box that looked like a small house, was eased down upon a float and towed to Pier 1, North River. G. A. Farini and ‘ETephant Bill’ Newman and little Scotty, his keeper, were the chiefs in seeing that he was gotten off the steamer, put on shore and taken He was some attraction. Most this feature. able to do it. Maybe they can't get the men Ask Bob Stickney, Sr.: Gardner, if living: Johnny (Comash) Worland and Danny O’Brien. I wonder in Danny remembers when he was the second man of Sathan Jackley’s Wonders. Back fall from tables ‘way up in the wings in one and then a series of flips across the stage. Some act.’ Look thru the Hotel Directory in this issue. Just the kind of a hotel you want may be listed. KANSAS CITY IRENE SHELLEY 226 Lee Bldg., S. E. Cor. 10th and Main Sts. Phone, 0978 Main We are advised by F. B. Smith, assistant secretary of the Heart of America Showman’s Club, that he has been instructed by the elub to write me each week a few lines to be pub lished in The Billboard.— The first note is as follows: ‘Hello, 1! Hello, Miss Shelley! Hello, Just a little greeting from the club? America in Kansas City. What Why, don’t you know? The Heart of lub, of course. Did you and New Year? We zee, we sure did—great big Christmas Santa Claus and everything; and di ty the old year out and the new year in? iil say we did. Pizzie Hoffman was in town last week and brought a new member with him, and we are glad to have you with us, Jack Dillon. Harry Noyes has been around for three or four days, acting very ‘mysteriously’.’’ hope \ you A letter from Jake Vetter, dated Pensacola, Fla., states that he left K. C. very hurriedly December 26 for that part of the United States. Mr. Vetter arrived here the first of December from a very successful tour in Texas and had expected to be in Kansas City for the winter, but a very good opening for him presented it-_ self and he left Onal the Great, magician, arrived in town just before Christmas and called at the office. Onal said he would winter here and would perhaps take out a show of his own in the spring. John Joager, formerly of Leavenworth, Kan., and J. C. Craver, of Kansas City, have formed a company known as the Craver Oil Compgny of America, with main offices in Kansas City, Mo., for the purpose of putting on the market ““Craveroil’’. Both were formerly papermen, we are informed. Marjah, of the Great Marjah Company, and his sister, The Great Zenith, were delightful callers at our office January 6. Marjah was on has way East for a brief engagement and expected to return this way soon, en route for Chicago. The Great Zenith came in from Miami, Ok., to enjoy a brief visit with her brother, altho she thought she might locate in this city. Tracy C. Hicks, president of the Pan-American Doll & Novelty Company, manufacturers, dealers and jobbers in carnival supplies, one of the largest houses of this nature in the West or Southwest, is planning on a brief business trip to New York between January 10 and 15. ‘‘Jimmy’’' Hicks (as he is affectionately known here and to all his customers) told us this trip was necessitated to select a larger stock of goods, new and different noveltie for his house, occasioned by its steady an continual growth. Mrs. Hicks, who went to’ her former home in Chicago for a visit, will join Mr. Hicks there and accompany him East. ©. C. Thomas informs us that he has the orchestra with the Toby's Comedians, playing circle stock around Pittsburg, Kan., and that they are doing fine. Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Paul (Mrs. Paul known professionally as Mamie Sheridan Wolford) write us from Cherokee, Kan., where they went to spend the holidays, that their return to Kansas City is a little bit uncertain, as they are enjoying themselves on their visit to Cherokee. ee Lillian Murray visited, during the holidays, her brother, Andy Carson, and Mrs. Carson at Leavenworth, Kan., where they are wintering. She was here January 6 on her way South. _Mrs. Rodney Krail ran in for a few minutes’ visit shortly after Christmas, accompanied b her sister. She was here for the holidays wit her folks. Mr. Krail remained in Leavenworth, where they are wintering. Oscar V. Howland is with the CoburnDuVoyle Players, showing Iowa. Karl Simpson, of Karl Simpson’s Comedians, returned to his home in this city from a short business trip to Chicago, right after the first of the year. He has his company completely rehearsed in a good many new bills and will play houses this winter. Mr. Simpson has just purchased from the Baker-Lockwood Mfg. Company «% beautiful, brand new outfit (canvas and everything) for his summer season, William Terrell, manager of Terrell’s CoMedians, was in town January 6 and while here bought a dandy new outfit from the BakerLockwood Mfg. Company. Mr. Terrell left ed 7 for him home in Sedalia, Mo., for a visit, Millard Turner, ‘the armless wonder’, Closed the season with T. A. Wolfe's Sunerior Shows and is here for the winter. Kansas Oity fis home for Mr. Turner, as he owns property here and always comes in at the summer seaso0n’s close, Alida Bertenn, late character woman with the Karl Simpson's Comedians, is working in circle stock at Pittsburg, Kan. Richmond Ray Company, touring Kansas, reports good business and getting ‘‘better right along’’. _-—— Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Rice and small son, Gerald, entertained us at dinner in their new apartment, situated on one of the prettiest boulevards of Kansas City. The apartment is elaborately and tastefully furnished with every convenience and luxury and never was served a finer, more homelike dinner th#h that prepared under Mrs. Rice’s guiding hand. Mr Rice is the owner of the Mid-West Hair Doll Factory which, by the way, has just mo into newer and much larger quarters | 92-24-26 Cherry street, just a half bl es and a block south of their former locatior Locust street. Mr. Rice is often spok (Continued on page 93) ved |