The Billboard 1923-11-03: Vol 35 Iss 10 (1923-11-03)

a ee a The Bi liboard NOVEMBER 3, 1923 | | UNDER THE MARQUEE By CIRCUS SOILLY ‘ Prof. Grant Light and his + hit on the Golden Bros.’ Cir and are making is side-show. Thomas Ff. Whitesid: ight-wire artist, who ‘losed with the Atterbury Bros.’ Shows, is ack with the Jack Moore Trio, which act wili go to Cuba Eddie Boyce writes that he closed a pleasant the John Robin and is now at his season as hoss ographer on son Advertising Car No, 1, home in In¢ Ind. lianapolis, Raymond B. Dean is compiling a route book of the Gentry Bros.-Patterson Cireus.,. It is claimed that it will be better than the usual run of these books, Zona Cope, who has been out of the show business since 1915, is in the lumber business at Westwood, Calif., and doing well. Cope was with Tom Dailey on the was also with the shows. Ringling No. 2 Yankee car and Robinson and*other clowns, Al clown is a person who has is a serious thinker. It is funny and to possess the Concerning Cullen writes: “‘A original ideas and his business to be ability to make others laugh. He must be able to mimic as well as originate. It is his part to produce in action the comic side of a serious situation.”’ The Davenport Ri es act of four people j with the World) Bri cus have changed their jockey act, their ae! number, from the two rings to a center ring erected especial ly in front of the st@el arena, and are putting on a comedy riding act that is making a big hit. The feature is the comedy riding and acrobatic clowning of Freddy Freeman. C. W. Finney, after completing duties with the Sells-Floto Circus, days with his sister at Aurora, IIl., leave there Thursday night, October 25, for St. } Louis. He will devote most of the winter to special promotion work for the Hagenbeck-Wallace Indoor Circus. C. W. will again grace the ; Showmen's League Banquet and Ball with his ’ presence, his season's spent a few and was to The Original Nelson Family, one of the features with the Ringling-Barnum Circus, will play a number of indoor circuses the coming winter season, opening immediately after the close of the show. The Nelsons will open at Greensburg, Pa., for Harry C. Thomas, wellknown Pittsburg Indoor Circus promoter. The Wilsons, impalement and sharpshooting act, who were with the Sells-Fleto Circus in 1921; the Aerial Clarks, Dick Hoshi, Japanese toe slide, and other acts will also play the Greensburg engagement, Sinon D. J. Collins kicks in with the followx ing concerning clowns: ‘I have only been a clown for a short time and expect to take to the white tops next season. My idea of a clown is one who gives up his |jife to make others happy, mostly the kids. I have clowned in orphan homes and hospitals nearly all summer, free of charge, just to make some unfortunate one happy. Recently played my home town, Leavenworth, Kan., and brought my entire troupe (four girls) to St. Vincent's Orphans’ Home, We put on a_ show like they had never seen before and when I did my clowning I had every little one laughing, and it made me feel good, The sisters in charge have invited me to come out again, and will no doubt do it.’’ Roster of Advertising Car No. 1 of the Christy Bros.’ Cireus includes W. McCorkhill, manager: Hans Schwitters, ard: Fred Bond, PD. Vetor, H. Adams, Earl Miller, E. C Davis and Joe Ellis, billposters: John Henry Rice and Tom Young, lithographers: Clyde Ellis and B. W. Bartlett, bannermen; Walker Speaks. pastemaker, and John Ware, chef. Mr. Schwitters, writing from Biloxi, Miss., October 17, that the car is in its thirty-fifth week, having opened at Beaumont, Tex., March 4. The car has not encountered opposition during the season. The closing date has not been mentioned and prospects are that when the car rolis into winter quarters it will have at least a season of forty-one weeks. The management recently placed an anto truck billposter and stew says on the car, which is proving a wonderful success in combating poor railroad service on different roads. Some Do You Remembers by Charles (Bock) Leahy: ““When Bobby DeRue, Billy Beard, John Lane and Herman Myers were with the Faust Minstrels? When Fred Welcome was with Welsh Bros.’ Shows? When Billy DeRue was with the Goodrich Show? When Col, Fleming was with the suffalo 3ill Show? When Chauncey Olcott was with the Carncross Min strelst When C’ark and McCullough left Springfield, ©O.. to join the Smith-Stimel Show in 19°07 When George Starch played cornet with Mole Bros.” Show When Max Sanford, Aerial Grants, Joe Weitherstein, Happy Gardner, Fred I Arto, John Myers, Charles Riley, Roy Wil liams. Prof. Whitney Doce Whitman, Jake Epstein, Bill Houseman and Frank With the . R. Van Arnam New Model Morales Bros. were with Guy Minstre.s? When tjonnding Bluches, Three Zenos, Wink Weaver, Emgard and Wilson Lions were with the Gentry Bros.’ Shows? When Tew Wershey was with Wheeler Bros.’ Shows? When the Aerial McLains were with LaMont Fos.’ Shows?” DELAYED MATINEE When the Tessie For’ Ringling-Barnum — Circus Shreveport, La., Due to Late Arrival at Shreveport, Ia... Oct. 25.—The Louisiana State Fair opened October 18, dav and date with the Ringling-Barnum Cirens, both situated on Green wood Road within four bloeks of The cireus arr, Cc S. tracks at Texa treet right each th tree going to and from the fair grounds, there THQOUUULQLUPOO VUELOS sy iii iii iii iin Ie SEASON 1924 Walter L. Main Circus WANTS NOVELTY AND FEATURE ACTS of all kinds, Equestrian Director and Bosses in all departments. Wanted immediately for Winter Quarters, good General Black smith and Wagon Repair Man, first-class Letterer and Decorator. Havre De Grace, Md. Edt lt HUM NLAUUUUUNL LL LULLR LAUREL = | =u ail by congesting traffic the entire day and delaying the speed of hauling to the extent that the afternoon show did not begin until five o clock, The doors, however, were open at three for the big tent. The side-show was grinding away at noon and held the crowd until the principal performance began. ‘he lot was very muddy and the ridacts were handicapped somewhat by horses in the different rings, notwithstanding +t that much sawdust was used. The menagerie was without a top. The shows at the fair grounds he.d their own despite the opposition. Weather was fair. WHERE SOME OF G.-P. ADVANCE WILL WINTER local contractor of the Gentry-Paterson Circus, gives data as to where some of the advance men of that show will winter. Emory Proffitt, car manager, will go to Omaha as usual. Charles (Cracker) Thames will probably spend most of his time in Montgomery and Florida, W. A. (Stogie) Brown, lithographer, will be in St. Louis and says he will keep open house for his friends; Mike Fagen, boss billposter, will winter in Shelbyville; James A, Crawford thinks he will go to Los Angeles and work in the movies; Joe Adams has not decided just what he will do; Harold Neese will stay at home with ma and pa; Samuel Gossman, lithographer, says the Sunny South for him, which no doubt indicates Miami. Others on car No. 1 are: Joe Adams, G. W. Brocherd, Willie Hver, Ted Flurey and Chas, Miller, billposters; Ed C. Brown, chef; Fred McNary, pastemaker, and Joe Miller, porter, whose destinations are not known at this time. GLIMPSES OF INDIA (Continued from page 52) Glenn R. Edwards, boss The largo tempo is unknown. Hindu girls of few years will wave peacock fans and Hindu refreshments will be served with a grace that is only known in India. He will be served with betel nut wrapped in pure gold leaves. The guest is lucky who can escape without being covered with bouquets and garlands of flowers around his neck, Many harsh things are said about Hindus and their customs, and one without an open mind may be influenced by the derogatory state merits. The basis of the statements would be Cifheult to determine. Aside from a few peoples of India who are considered warriors and men quick to resent an insult, no matter how trivial, the majority are trained in the finer methods of peace. They are polite to the extreme. They know human nature, how to gain favors, and how to extend them, how to acquire friends and how to separate from them. Once they consider you their friend there is no end to their expressions of friendliness. They refuse to break friendly ties except in extreme One can arouse their anger, disappoint them, criticize them and force the statement from them that they are ‘‘thru with you forever,’’ but so sure as the next day is to come they will be back with an apologetic smile and with their palms together in an attitude of prayer, and say, ‘‘Marf cases, karow, sabib,’’ (please forgive me) and add: “I am your brother."’ The stranger can reach the heart of the Hindu without effort. Ordinary consideration for his feelings and his customs is all that is necessary. Still there are many who have lived there for years and years and are still *‘strangers in India” NEWS AND VIEWS (Continued from page 54) I would further suggest that you read again Mr. article, and I am sure its far-reaching and practical points will become self-evident. ‘Whether I am the first to complain I do not Thor's know, but I certainly call the attached article from The Buffalo Courier of this week a very high-handed piece of work on the part of the author, especially to Crystal Gazers and Mindreaders. If this is the start, what wil) follow? ‘*The Confessions of a Great Prestidigitator’ is written by one who terms Presto’. Honestly, could have the would himself ‘The now, do you think a Mystic Art at heart this, don't, Great person when he for the sole 1 feel that write articles such as papees eS een oe and when such widely-circulated and well-known papers as The Courier take up this work of exposing, the matter is far worse than we can imagine. I wender whether the editorial staff of The Courier realizes this fact? The article referred to, ‘*‘Confes Prestidizitator’ is the Buffalo sions of a (jreat third of a series Courier Maga zine and explains many of the inside details of appearing in The Sunday mindreading and crystal gazing. to the editor carries no date. “‘In my own mind, Mysterious Thor's remedy is THE ONLY CURE, and believe you will realize the same, as you think more deep'y of the dreaded results if this epidemic of exposing practical effects is allowed to continue,” PICKED UP BY THE PAGE (Continued from page 56) The page sent Katz and Mr. Levy, of the Loew offices in New York, journeyed to Baltimore to witness the reopening of the Douglas Theater there. E. C. Brown, of Philadelphia, and Mr. Lust, of Washington, were also present. The ‘‘Follow Me” show was the attraction, and the business was smashing. . The Baltimore Evening Sun raved about the show. . . . The Page receives forty-six colored newspapers from as many different cities, We also read nine different race monthlies, and the Associated Negro Press release containing a nationwide digest of Negro news comes to us regularly each week. All of this supplements and verifies our own sources of information. This is preliminary to mentioning that this week's paper from San Antonio, Tex., contains an ad for the reopening of the Bellinger Theater that announces that the vaudeville offered is booked into the house by the Ella B. Moore Circuit. Sounds interesting. Every week we hear from one or another circuit. Yet everything is serene. . Now comes The Philadelphia Record raving about ‘Follow Me”. Must be some show to make that conservative daily use a lot of strong adjectives. Have a letter before me from the “Dixie Strutters’’ show in which it is stated that the owner has lost more than $800 this season in tickets advanced to Negro performers who have taken his money and tickets and then failed to show up on the job. Such as these are injuring the business, and it not only hapPens to the shows in the Far South. Know bout a lot of this all over the country. . . Astor Morgan, Demus Jones, Fred Davis ané W. H. Foster have organized the ‘‘Fo’ Georgia Folks’’, quartet with comedy. he act opens in New York soon. . . . The “Liza’’ show visited the burial place of Joe Gans in Baltimore and placed a wreath on his tomb. It was a great mark of respect for the old master. sesides, it got the show pictured on the front page of The Afro-American, and perhaps some other papers. Since the party took care to have a cameraman along it is fair to suppose that publicity had a fair share of thought in the mind of whoever promoted the idea. . . Evon Robinson, Marie Lucas and their jazz band, now with the Benbow Company, are reported to be preparing to take a trip to Cuba and the West Indies. . . . C. Jay Smith, general agent of Harvey’s Minstrels, dropped in to say g0od-by before going to the New England district ahead of his show. In discussing colored show business, he said: ‘In the twenty-five years I have been associated with colored shows I have never seen a smoother performance than that offered by the ‘Liza’ show." This is praise coming from a high source. It is agreed with by most of us who have seen the spirited performance that the company presents in spite of the discouragement under which it has often worked. . . . Sunday,” on Seventh avenue in Harlem. It is the joy spot of Amert ea insofar as the colored contingent of the population is concerned—more style, life, variety and novelty than can be observed in any similar length 6f thorofare in the country, and your writer has wailked them all. Out for a stroll met Harry Fidler of the Harveys, looking for familiar faces, Then saw little Edna Morton, the movie star just back from the “Creole Follies’’ misfortune and already signed up with the revue at Broadway Jones’ Garden. Then we bumped into «a commit-ee from the Clef Club distributing pamuhlets devcriptive of the Souvenir Autumn Dancefest at New Star Casino on October 25. Jobn Newton Europe will direct the big orchestra for the occasion. Chas. G. Kilpatrick, the Chicago Insurance agent, reminds us that he wants to Insure the folks. His office is in the Rookery Building tn Chicago. He is a retired showman, knows the needs of the profession, and you need the insurance, fetter write or call on him If in Chicago. . . Allie Moore, of the Chateau Music Publishing Company, tells us that he has written a new blues novelty in collaboration with Andrae Razaf, entitled “‘A Rallroad Man's (,00d By Sometimes Ain't Gone’, He thinks It will rival hie bit, “You Can't Do What My Last Man Did". . . . When the “Smarter Set’ took the road Alma Mae Daniels replaced Marion Harrison as leading lady, the latter with her mother returning to Chi4ago. Other additions were Marion Davis, Nona Chester, Jesse Crawford, Bobbie Lee Fradericks and Alfred Chester. Walter Richardson and Loraine Sumpson remained in New York when the shew left. The company does two weeks in Philadelpbia, then to Washington and Baltimore. «+ Bumped into famous Slim Austin, the “original Deacon"? in Charles Thorpe’s musical headquarters within an hour after the Harvey Minstrels reached town. He and Ear! Granstaff, that other famous trombonist, comparing instru ments and ideas while Josie Graham (Mrs. Austin) looked over Charles’ pictures. A great ging of square boys fringed them P Eddie Hunter, George Cooper and othe rs of the recently closed ‘How Come"’ a tabloid of twenty people playing a version of the bootleggers’ scene from the big show into the Lincoln Theater in Harlem. It is understood that the act, which opened October 29, is being whipped into shape for the Keith Circuit. HERE AND THERE AMONG THE FOLKS (Continued from page 57) others, made up a company that played the Wm. Scales house in Winston-Salem week of October 8 and scored an even 100 per cent, in Willie Wall's estimation. The Thanksgiving high spots this year will be Columbus, O., and Philadelphia, Pa. The performers with sporting inclinations who happen to be playing the Ohio city will be privileged to witness the football game between Virginia Collegiate Institute and Wilberforce College. Those playing or at liberty in Philadelphia on that day may go to the greatest annual social gathering of the race when Howard University and Lincoln U. play the annual show have put out classic. There are a lot of college-bred people in the show world, many from these very schools, and a lot more with interest in our educational progress who are financing members of their families as students, Bessie Smith's engagement in Detroit at the Koppin Theater was the most heavily billed one ever offered by that house. Her appearance was for a time in doubt because of differences about the salary. George Byrd is with Johnnie Lee Long’s new show, which opened at the Washington Theater in Indianapolis, October 22. R. R. Burt presents a fashion revue at the Dunbar Theater in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Eve. John Gertrnude’s ‘‘Dixie Flyers’® are in the far South. They were seen by the bunch in Winston-Salem as they passed thru headed for the warm-weather territory. Jennings and Aldrich have finished the Dud ley Time with their new act. Were in the Koppin Theater, Detroit, October 22, and are now in the Chicago district. The act seems to have gone into immediate favor. Roland Irving and Joe Trent, of the professional department of the Fred Fisher publishing house, have recorded three numbers recently—‘‘I'm Tired of Livin’ Alone”, “Oh, Oh, Please Don't’, and “Sweet Pain". In the latter number these young fellows seem to have hit public faney hard. Baltimore has had some nice programs recently. On October 17 Puerzo Rico, basso, appeared at Bet®1 Cherch auditorium under the promotion of Clarence Chambers, and on the 18th Eva B. Dykes, the Washington pianist, played in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. J. M. McChane, of thé Kentucky Amusement Co., operating in Owensboro, Ky., says this concerning colored pictures: ‘“‘I have used several pictures of the Reol Productions Co. and from the Micheaux Company, them worthy of a line of praise in your paper from me. I informed them that, tho I am a white person, I wanted the best for my colored patrons . . . and they sent them. For their sakes I want this fact known. Send me the names of any other prodecers of colored pictures, . . . I t! for connecting me with people, my business and have all profited frony The Billboard's kindly service.” COMMENT—The Billboard glories in being a service station for the world, It is just such expressions as the above that keeps its staff encouraged to continue. —THE PAGE, On October 8 late in Wilson Varley, and found made ank these concerns, Myr the film companies you Amusement was Perey Lena and city, the Ted arriving in W Company, with EB. Wf. Clara Walker, Homer others, playing a fair date tn substituted The Al the Wells Company and the Rucker, Pope inston, Johnson some the for them. Leivthter office in Detroit is and Wells act busy in that city. The Bently office in placing Aaron Gates with a trio on the Bert Levy Circuit for a trip to the Coast, Smith and Miles are in the city also. On October & Clara Smith, Columbia record singer, opened at the Bijou Theater, Nashville, for the week and drew so well it neces sary to call four policemen to the crowd that surged around the after the house had been sold out. She is singing “Everywoman'’s Flues", “I Got What Every (Continued on page 115) keeping and about that town Ie was control box-office “ TI