The Billboard 1923-09-29: Vol 35 Iss 5 (1923-09-29)

Se eit tga i f a Nate rt oh se The Billboard SEPTEMBER 29, 1923 RAILROAD AND OVERLAND Yj YY if ff YY YyyMyyww@$JUyJ V0 Uy SIDE SHOW GUSH ‘MENAGERIE JOHN ROBINSON CIRCUS SCORES AT STATE FAIR Three Performances Given on Thursday at Louisville—Circus Equines Win Honors at Horse Show Saturday oventng, September 15, the Kentucky State Fair (Louisville) gates swung shut, closing the most prosperous week in Kentucky fairs. Some 46, 000 people attended the opening September 10. Thruout the week—and there were days when the attendance passed the 46,000 mark—fair officials from Maine to Mexico ‘watched with interest the John Robinson Circus that helped to make the Kentucky State Fair the tremendous success it was. The circus seemed to fill a long-felt want, so much so that three shows were given Thursday. For once Louisville folks, and their rural cousins, were able to see all the circus they wished. And they did not miss the opportunity. Every day, at both performances, the tent was packed. Some days it was impossible to handle the crowd. The proof that a circus holds paramount sway in the hearts of amusement lovers was never more clearly demonstrated than the past weck. There were plenty of high caliber attractions counter to the circus. For one thing there was the greatest of all horse shows twice a day. There were magnificent fireworks, races, a theaver and all the hundred and one other devices that go to make up a midway and a fair. Yet in spite of all these, in spite of the fact that Louisville had two circuses within the month previous to the fair, the John Robinson Cireus surpassed all other attractions in atterndance, and for word-of-mouth praise. Everyone made it a point to attend the circus, and counted it as one of the reasons they came to the fair. The entire week was blessed with dry weather and passed off unmarred by any untoward accidents. It was a most pleasant engagement. The horse show had as its entries two of the John Robinson Circus horses, Cloud Inspector, ridden by Hazel Hickey, and Black Ace, guided by Ola Darraugh. Cloud Inspector carried off the honors, with Black Ace second. The field where these two horses won was contested by most of the blooded stock of the country, yet the two John Robinson horses, with their fair riders, romped away easy winners. Misses Hickey and Darraugh received a thundering ovation from the large audience. It was indeed something to be proud of. Ed Ballard, a visitor at the fair, purchased a prize-winning team of ponies that were sent to West Baden. Other visitors were J. H. Adkins of the Patterson-Gentry Circus and Jerry Muzgivan. GARDNER WILSON (Press Agent). REGARD LICENSE HIGH AT COLUMBIA, MO. Columbia, Mo., Sept. 21.—The city officials and clerks in the offices at the city hall here were given a jolt the other day when the agent of the Sells-Floto Circus visited there and paid the city license, the highest ever exacted in Columbia. It was $110, $5 per car for the first twenty cars and $1 per car for all over twenty. “Have I complied with all of your requirements?’ asked the eircus man after he paid the license, “Yes,’’ replied the clerk. “Then good day,’’ answered the agent. “But are there no complimentary tickets?’’ searchingly inquired the clerk, “No, not with such a license,’’ was the laconic reply of the cireus agent as he departed, The highest license ever paid before by a circus in Columbia was in 1900 when a fee of $100 was exacted, ATTERBURY BROS’ SHOW WILL CLOSE OCTOBER 13 —_—— The Atterbury Bros.’ Wagon Show has not lost a stand or perfermance this season, reports A. Allen, general agent for the show. The outfit has traveled more than ‘wo thonsand miles, going as far north as Canada and showing Iowa, Minnesota, South and North Dakota territory. Very few changes have been made in the roster. Gladys and Harry Hayden, concert performers, closed the past week and returned to their home in Ackley, Ia. Whiteside and Dixon have replaced them. The show will close one of the most succeasful seasons it has had in fifteen years on October 13 and go into winter quarters at Sioux City, Ia. CIRCUSES BANNED IN MOBILE Thirty Days Prior to Gulf Coast Fair Birmingham, Ala., Sept. 22.—Directors of the Guif Coast Fair Association of Mobile have given notice that circuses are banned in Mobile for thirty days prior to the annual Mobile Fair. The fair will open this year on October 22, pence a circuses will be allowed after Septem er 22, CIRCUS BUSINESS GREAT In Industrial Centers, Says Bob Courtney—Has Taken Charge of Reserved Seat Tickets With Robinson Circus Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 22.—Col. ney, of Memphis, veteran ticket selier of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey and other circuses for a score of years, now of the executive staff of Mugivan, Bowers & Ballard, passed thru Memphis Monday on the way from Wagner, Ok., to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he wil’ take charge of the sale of reserved seat tickets with the John Robinson Circus for the remainder of the season. It is probable that the Robinson show will play Memphis in October or November, and possibly one of the other tented organizations with which he is connected, said Bob. “That the Ringling-Barnum Circus will show Memphis on October 22 is certain,’’ said the Colonel, ‘‘as its route has been issued with that date definitely fixed.’’ Bill car No. 1 is due here October 1, and from that the flamboyant announcements of circuses are expected to adorn dead walls from country cross-road Bob Court AND HIS MAJESTY. THE TROUPERL SPARKS’ CIRCUS DRAWS BIG CROWDS AT WALNUT RIDGE Walnut Ridge, Ark., Sept, 21.—What is believed to have been a record crowd for a town of the size of Walnut Ridge gathered on the streets in this city September 13 to witness the parade of the Sparks Circus, it being estimated that 6,000 persons were on the downtown thorofares. The largest crowd for the day had gathered at 4 o'clock, when it was reported that the circus would give a parade, despite the fact that a late arrival was negotiated, but they were disappointed, as the parade was not given. The crowd at the show also was large at the night performance, it being estimated that 5,000 persons packed the tents to see the exhibition. J. H. BARRY IN CHICAGO Chicago, Sept. 18.—J. H. Barry, owner and manager of Campbell Bros.’ Circus, was a Chicago visitor this week, He reported a very satisfactory season. Twelve members of the circus visited the Patterson-Gentry Circus in Paxton, Ill., this week and reported a royal time. They were splendidly entertained and said the Patterson-Gentry outfit is a dandy from beginning to end. The Three De Bolien Bros., year 1894, trouping in Mexico City with Orrin Bros.’ Circus. sheds to downtown building walls and board fences around building sites of the rapidly growing city on the binuffs. “The circus business has been great this year in the industrial centers,’’ said the portly Courtney, as he climbed in an upper berth of a Pullman almost filled with school boys and girls on their way to college, ‘‘but in the farming sections of the Middle West conditions have been adverse, due to the low price of wheat. All the big tented organizations expect to rehabilitate themselves in the prosperous South this fall.’’ Bob Courtney is a brother of Ned Courtney of The Commercial-Appeal etaff, and nephew of Lew Graham, announcer with the Ringlingtarnum Circus. Graham's voice is sometimes heard thundering thru the ether by means of the radio, DEATH OF GEORGE LEMGHAN Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 21.—Found on the streets of Texarkana, Ark., Wednesday night in a semi-conscious condition, George F. Lemghan, said to be a circus billposter, was taken to police headquarters in that city, where he died this morning. It was thought that he was brought in an auto by unknown persons and left on County avenue, where he was found, No signs of violence were found, and Coroner Vinson, holding an inquest over the body, deelded that death was due to natural causes. The only marks of identification found on the men were # letter from his mother at Tampa, Fla., and her picture. At this writing no answer had been received from his mother, to whom a telegram had been sent by the Texarkana autborities. MARTIN SEEKS AID 0. J. White, professionally known as Walter R. Martin, in a letter to The Billboard asks for this space for the purpose of appealing to his friends for assistance. He is in the Missouri State Prison, R 25302, Jefferson City, Mo., under the name of 0. J, White, serving a sevenyear sentence. White (Martin) says he has been a musician for seven years, traveling with such shows as Ringling Brothers, Al G. Barues, Johnny J, Jonex, Anderson-Srader and Lachman Exposition. He declared he was arrested in Kansas City, November 21, 1922, on a charge of forge ry, of which he claims he is noi guilty. He would like to hear from his friends with letters of recommendation about him, as he is trying to get out on sick paro'e (he wrote that he is confined in the hospital at the prison with tuberculosis) so that he can go to Arizona, for which trip he ne@ds a few dollars. White (Martin) further says he has some instruments which he would like to sell—xylophone, orchestra bells, Ludwig snare drum (metal shell—double use for band and orchestra) and some traps. PAYS FOR STREET DAMAGE —_— Moberly, Mo., Sept. 21.—The Sells-Floto Clrcus had a little hard luck when its wagons caused damage to the paving on Carpenter and Fourth streets on the day the show exhibited here. The heavy wagons were too much for the street and they tore out the brick. The management of the circus immediately notified the city that they would make the damage good and city workmen started at once to make the necessary repairs. City Engineer Carl Haynes estimated that it would cost $200 to make the repairs and this amount was paid to the city clerk by the circus management. WALTER L. MAIN CIRCUS Has Distinguished Visitors at Columbus, Ind.—Nine Members Join Elks’ Lodge With ‘“‘Home, Sweet Heme. bottom of the route * appearing at the ecard issued last week (show closes October 2), everyone is making winter preparations. The writer goes to Baltimore, Md. The show is now in its twenty-third week, has visiged twelve States and, when reaching the closing stand, Havre de Grace, Md., will have traveled 8,891 miles. The show has had many visitors the past two weeks, but above all the Columbus, Ind., date was declared visitors’ day. At the afternoon performance Al G. Barnes and Dick Wayne were the guests of Gov, Downie, and just as the doors were about to open for the night show an auto drove on the lot and its occupants were none other than H. B. Gentry, Roy Feltus, Walter Al. len and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Wels and Mr. Hiil, all retired showfolks and now natives of Bloomington, Ind. At Lawrenceburg, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Theibold motored over from Cincinnati to witness the night performance and after the night show Doc Oyler, Don Darragh and the writer were their guests on the return trip to the Queen City. Andrew Donaldson, of Newport, Ky. was the guest of Mr. Downie at this stand Tommy Thomas spent a very pleasant day at Greenfield, O., with his old friend from home, Otto Hors At the close of the season Mr. and Mrs. Jack Croak, accompanied by Tommy Thomas, will make a trip to the Mediterranean Mr. Shaffer and Max Kurzynski were recent visitors. James Heron is planning to make several fairs with his big pit show in Maryland and Virginia at the end of the season A big night was had by the Elke with the show at Elkins, W. Va., at the initiation of nine candidates, who were accepted in the Wender son, Ky., Lodge of Elks. The candidates were Don Darragh, George Lawson, George Clark John Cummings, Ralph Somerville, A. C. Brad ley, Gastaro Zingaro, August Luken and Henry Tims The big show band led the Elks and car didates from the show grounds to the Elks’ home. William Emerson foined thé show at Greenfield, O., and is now tickling the ivories of the calliope in the parade daily. Doc Oyler, with his freaks and midgets, will join a carnival ia the South after the show c'oses JEROME T. HARRIMAN (Press Agent). JOHN ROBINSON CIRCUS Will Show Outside of City if Savannah, Ga., Does Not Grant Permit -_ — Savannah, Ga., Sept, 22.—Should the city of Savannah not permit the John Robinson Circus to come here and show on October 22 and 23, the circus will pitch its tents just outside the city limits and give a show for these two days Frank McGuyre, advance agent of the circus, has asked Council to reduce the license so that the performances can be given in Savannah, but if this is not done he says the circus will show somewhere west of the city. There is a site about three miles out on the Louteville road, he states, that is admirably suited for circus purposes and this will be used if nothing better can be done. The Robinson show will come here from Augusta. Mr. McGuyre says he is not worried over the proposed tax of $5,000 fixed by the county Tie ia quoted as saying the county has no legal right to fix a tax for a circus—that the State attends to that feature. RINGLING-BARNUM CIRCUS BILLS OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahoma City, Ok., Sept. 58 Singing Bros.-Barnum & Balley Advertising Car No arrived here September 14 and billed the bia shows for miles around The car is an elghty-foot all-steel Pullman and recognized as the best equipped advertising ear on the road. The trip bas already covered over 15,000 miles, including both Canada and the United States, from coast to coast The personnel of the car is as follows: George Goodhart, manager; Frank Campbell, boss billposter; Tom Connors, Walter Kemp, Tom Salmon, El mer Mehaffy, George Orth, Ed Orth, 8. J. Clawson, G. W. O'Connor, Charles Levesque, James Latrocl, F. J. Riley, Pat Connors, N. J. Nary and J. W, Grist, billposters Harry Johnson in charge of lithographers, with following as sistants: W. G. Richardson, James Mulvaney, J. W. Dobman, a Kivers, Harry Engler and George Stricker; Nick J. Nary, steward; Sam Banks, press agent The show is billed for Tulsa, Ok., October 5; Oklaboma City, October 6; Fort Worth, Tex., October 8, and Dallas, October 9. BEATTY IN CHICAGO Chicago, Sent. 22.—James W. had the side-show and pit show on the Patterson-Gientry Circus this season, was a Chicago visitor this week. Mr. Beatty has closed with the show and sald he would remain in Chicago for a few days before making further plans, Reatty, who ‘or the first time in fifty years Emporia, Kan., is not to have a circus this season. IQ an editorial in The Emporia Daily Gazette the Question is asked; ‘“‘What have we done?” S | ee | gee eee CULE PEER ASB <r —