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

AwBeEHK 10, 1923 to use a 45-acre ‘eld as a drill mate center field of the racetrack will been field, and polo games. The forestry build sed for ~ a non tine to be used for lumber exhibits at the annual fair. Fair Association, Fort Dodge, awkeye <r nice revenue from the con la is de riving a “ion building, which has been temporarily mney into ipartments which are being rented. — fifteen families are living at the fair ate ‘tex H. S. Stanbery, secretary of grounds and his wife. During the season just or a ‘nore than 6,000 persons enjoyed the sospital ty of the tourists camping ground at the Hawkeye fair grounds, the Chamber of c. H. Smith, secretary of Commerce of Sedalia, Mo., called at the home fice of The Hillboard one day last week while ; as in Cincinnati for the convention of com ~te al secretaries, Mr. Smith is a big booster oe Missouri State Fair—and for fuirs in > snd he says the Sedalia fair grounds ob lings are used not only during fair pe but many times during the year, the Coliseum frequently being used for big conventions and other gatherings when a hal! of large seating capacity is needed. He is a live wire and never fails to keep the advantages of Sedalia before the publi ; —<—s Trust Ed KR. Salter never to overlook a bet to obtain publicity. le's a “wiz at it. He had a splendid opportunity w hile the Johnny J. Jones Exposition was playing the Southeast ern Fair at Atlanta, Gra., rec ently—and he made the most of it. The Atlanta Journal of Sunday, October 21, carried in its magazine section two jllustrated full-page stories inspired by Salter. One, titled “Man Who Fired Mary Pickford”, carried pictures of Mary Pickford, Bill Hart and Salter and told how the Colonel had once discharged Mary Pickford when she was doing juve niles in a road show; the other, headed ‘Wives Wanted by W orld’ s Greatest Freaks" by Peggy Mitchell, pictured and described some of the freaks shown at the Atlanta fair by the, Jones Shows. The Calgary Daily Herald, of Caigary, Canada, recently published its fortieth anniversary edition—of 72 pages—and among other ‘hings it contained a full-page ad of the 1924 Calgary Stampede and Exhibition. General Manager E. L. Richardson is already busy with plans for the big event, which will be held next July 712. which will include the stampede, a big street display, “The Days of Long Ago” (Hndson's Bay Company exhibit in a log-cabin trading post), old-timers’ reunion and numerous other features E . Dewey is president of the stampede and exhibition; E. . Adams and Fred Johnston, vice-presidents; E. L. Richardson, general manager; James Smart. chairman of stampede parade; P. Burns, chairman stampede committee, and Guy Weadick, stampede manager. EIGHT-DAY EVENT Will Be Continued by Mississippi Valley — Good ro Davenport. Ia., Nov. 3.—The Mississippi Valley Fair, which in the last two years has failed to return a profit. in 1923 showed a net operating return of $12.923, so encouraging that officers are already making plans for an extensive exhibit im 1924. An eight-day fair this year was inaugurated and will become a permanent feature. Net operating income was $9,024 and the operating expense $84,101. Grand stand admissions were greater than ever before, totaling 0.753, while the outstand gates showed SS.483 ssionaires paid $8, 822.30, the midway and exhibit space 84 ; ‘ireworks, races, entertainment and premium lists reached $43,186, policing $2.000 and advertising $6,930. Secretary “Pat'' Bacon, cently from a two menths’ tour of the Seuthern Mates, received many compliments upon his work, and after putting over the Armistice Day celebration will plunge into early work for the great 1924 exposition. KEOSAUQUA (IA.) FAIR HAD SUCCESSFUL YEAR who returned re Keosauqua, Ia., Nov. 8.—The Van Buren County Agricultural Society has paid all ex proves for the current year and has a fair balaon to show as profit for the year, according " reports submitted at the annual meeting of ‘he members. Officers were re-elected as follows: W. OB Tade, Hillsbore, president: Joe M. Barker, Ke sauqua, vice-president; A. J. Secor, Keosauqua, secretary; F. S. Elliott, Bentonspert, = treasurer John <A. Craig, F. A. ape Irving Nedrow, 8. C. Norris, George , Let er, Byron Miller, G. W. Woods, Laurence Moni, Hl. EB. DeHart, Garland Hoskin, Carl Me Jobn Barker and ©. E. Claflin, directors. Attractions Wanter! Season 1924 We are now contracting for Attractions ‘of MERIT to work our Circuit of Fairs, Season 1924. We want to hear from: a good Lion Act, Leopard Act, 5 People Chinese Act, Posing Act, 4 or 5-Peo'ple Jap Act, good Colored Quartette Give full particulars and descrivtion in first letter and send photos. SIOUX CITY FAIR BOOKING OFFICES 300-301 Metropolitan Bidg., SIOUX CITY, IOWA ANNUAL MEETINGS Of State and District Associations of Fairs Mang * hair Circuit, A. E. Schaffer, secrete tas apakoneta, O. Annual meeting to . id in Dayton, O., November 7 and 8 on nia Association of Fairs. C. B. Ralto the wy iry Richmond, Va Meeting nl wid at meroty"e Hotel, Richmond, ‘ 1m |) a ition of Tennessee Faire, Jos. R. Teas Mu retary treasurer, Chattanooga, first Tus oo to be held in Nashville ~ February Mternational Association Expositions of Fairs and Cty. Don V_ Moore, secretary, Sioux Li. peep iteting to be held im Chicago, ‘Decesnter i, 8 and 7. attr “ssocjation meetings will be listed of Stay, Lites are announced. — Secretaries invited + istrict and Racing Cireuits are Meetine. . S°8a notices of their annual Nes fo be Included In this list. ~~ Fairs and Fun i in England . By ‘“TURNSTILE” Water Witchery at Wembley London, Ene.. Oct, 18.—The forty-seven-acre amusement park at the British Empire Exhidition will! ro\ide some unusual aquatic thrills. A water chute from an eighty-foot tower is projected, but more novel are the rides underneath These will take the visitor in a tub or boat thru a wonderful.ys turesque series of tavern« Mactisheries, Ltd., has a fleet of trawlers out in search of rare and curious fish with which the great aquarium will be stocked Fireworks in the Family The death last week at his Mitcham home of James Pain, head of the celebrated firm of fireworks manufacturers, does not break the link with a venerable past in the sphere of outdoor amusement. for his sons, Philip and Henry. who have for some years directed the business, will carry on the family tradition This dates back, at any rate, to the time of the second Charles, when a Pain was pyrotechnic expert for the revels and masks of the merry monarch. The deceased, who was eightysix years old, was the seventh in the direct succession and during his lifetime the science and popularity of this form of amusement increased enormously as a result, in a great measure, of the initiative and resource of this firm. “Rolin Stone” Ex-circus performer, ex-cinema “Manager, «xservice man, Relin Stone’’ is touring Enz land previous to making a world circuit with a travel film of which two reels have already been completed He started «a vear ago on his worid tour with a capital of one penny. “Pat's” Portrait for Walsall The Showmen’s Guild recently offered to present to the town of Walsall. with which Datrick Qollins has been connected for nearly century. life-size portrait of its president and Walsall’s boro member and councilor. corporation has accepted the gift. which is inted by Wainwright, a well-known Birming m artist, and it to be bung in the town hall. Out and About The problem of housing colored visitors to the exhibition is exercising the minds of the authorities The employees and human ‘“‘exhibits’’ will of course find quarters in the grounds, but there are like'y to be many-native visitors from West Africa, Burmah. Malay, and so on. As London hotels are likely to be full (this year it was almost impossible to get into a good hotel from May to September without hooking weeks ahead) the finding of accommodation for dusky folk may be a real problem I learn that in some colonies and dominions warnings to the effect are to be broadcast. National Entertainments, Ltd., met creditors this week and it was decided to leave the liquidation in the hands of the official receiver. The company was formed in 1912 as National Gymnasia and Entertainments, Ltd., and later increased its capital from $5.000 to $1,000,000. A circus at the Crystal Palace and a touring circts were both unsuccessful, artists and stat striking because of nonpayment. The marquee and $10 in cash represent the available assets. Unsecured creditors get off with nothing Yet circus business is good in the provinces where, despite high costs and trade depression, the ring men have been getting at the purses of the townsfolk. The long run of the Tower Circus, Blackpool, ended with a right royal sendoff, and the popular clowns, Doodles and August, were called again and again and laden with gifts from admirers, Blackpool Rotarians turned up in force to bid au revoir to Doodles, who is a member of the local Rotary Club, and by reason of bis wit and good company a well-known member. Brighton Aquarium may yet be saved as an amusement center, tho for precisely what purpose is still in douht At any rate, I gather that, owing to changes on the local council, the Charabane station idea will not be developed. Local opinion seems to favor a return to the traditional form of entertainment there The rival claims are likely to be music versus cireus and side-show., The 484th anniversary of the Bridge Fair, Peterborough, was marked this year by a cessation of the traditional opening function. In stead of the useal proclamation with attendant municipal officers in full regalia, bills were posted containing the quaint words of the old formula “Wherefore all persons are requested to behave themselves soberly and civilly and to pay their just dues and demands, according to the Law of the Realm and the Rights of the Corporation of the City and Borongh of Peterhorough, the owners of the Fair.”’ Hull Fair was ‘‘censored’’ by the Lord Mayor and corporation officials, who found no fanit with the shows visited J. T. Benson has made big purchases of wild animals from England for the States. He bought many elephants. camels, tigers, bears, ete., which await shipment. Meanwhile he has returned with a collection of birds. Fossett's Cireus was recently fined $100 for failing to assure payment of the entertainments tax. Small penalties only were inflicted by the bench owing to the excellent character borne by the show, KEWANEE FAIR Is To Be Continued<<Piepenel To Sell $25,000 Stock Kewanee, Ill., Nov. 3.—The Kewanee District Agricultural Board, which for thirty-eight years has staged one of the most successful fairs in this tion of the State, received whole-hearted endorsement of all business and farmer interests nu this community at a meeting held a few and new financing was approved, assurance of the continuation of the i with every I Sprietsma was commended for his fair. service in hehalf of the fair reorganization. It is proposed to seil $25,000 stock to clear up pending financial obligations, make repairs and improvements and leave a balance for oper — expenses. The association has a plant ed at 550,000 and it is proposed to continue ts operation, extend it and build up the fair in keeping with the reputation of the agricultural community it serves, DUFFIELD RETURNS FROM A 15,000 MILE CIRCUIT Nov. 2.—C. Chicago, 2 H. Duffield, of the Thearle-Duffield Fireworks unit of the World Amusement Service Association, returned this week after a 15,000-mile wing around the country. Mr. Duflield started on the road January 22 and closed his trip October 29, to be exact. He was busy all of that time in contracting and supervising operations of the various displays his organization was putting on. Mr. Duffield said he had six big spectacles in operation at the sam ne during a portion of the season. He also said that the season wed by far the best business he had ever 1d in any season during the twenty-three rears that he has been ing fireworks displays. WEST LIBERTY (1A.) OFFICERS West Liberty, Ia., Nor. 3.—At the annual meeting of the Unien District Agriculture Society officers wer elected as follows: L. B. Halstead, } lent: W. CC. Anderson, vice-presdent “Walter Light secretary; Ray Whitacre, re ( Wolf irshal, and they comprise the eX tive nmittee. Directors are: V. H. Birkett, C. P. Gibson, W. A. McMahon, W. H. Shipman, E!lwoed Hemingway and E. C. Kerr. Dates tl fair will, as usual, be the four days preceding the Iowa State Fair. LINDLEY MOVES OFFICE Nov. 3.—To supply the need f greater office spage Walter W. Lindley, | manager of the Dllinois State Fair, bas is headquarters from the State house s residence at the fair grounds. ll take a month to locate the office equip ment and files of the Illinois fair director in the new place. to the custodian <4 > PHILADELPHIA By FRED ULLRICH 908 W. Sterner &t. Phone Tioga $525. Office Hours Until 1 p.m. Philadelphia, Nov. 2.—The ‘Ziegfeld Follies’’ opened at the Forrest Theater this week to splendid success and capacity business all week, and exceeds all previous productions in this city. “Chauve-Souris” two weeks’ stay closes its highly successful here this week at the Shubert. Its performances have been the talk of the town. Mae Desmond and Her Players at the Des mond Theater this week gave a fine presentation of “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" at popular demand of the house patrons, and did aJmost capacity at every performance. Henry Santrey and His Orchestra at the Kei Theater this week scored finely. He is a gre at favorite in this city. Ted Weems and His hit at the Cafe L Broadway Trio al entertainers, Orchestra are scoring a ‘Aiglon, assisted by The und The VOhioans, both exception Carr and His Orchestra, a combinainstrumentalists, singers and comedians, Giobe Theater this week, and Jimmie tion ‘ | went big at the were the feature atttraction, Prof. Christensen, “‘the man with 1,000 eves’, is the attraction with the Blackhawk Remedy Company t a large store located at Fifteenth nd Market streets. Also on the lecture program is W. G. Shulte, “‘the master ca ator” t,ood business, The Lady in Ermine’ comes to the Shubert Theater week of opens at he Adelphi November 5 and “The Fool week of November 12. The photoplay, ‘‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, closes its stay here at the Chestnut Street Opera House this week. The officials of the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, Wm. H. Dentzel Company and the Lusse Bros. are preparing for their annual visit to the Chicago convention of the park and fair managers which takes place December 5, 6 and 7. W. Traver, of the Traver Engineering Oo., of Beaver Falls, was a visitor to Philly recently. CIRCUS PICKUPS puge S4) twelve head four Shetland ponies, (Continued top and all new banners. He has of young Western horses, from two trucks and two touring cars. He will winter at Hoosick Falls and next season put out two shows playing New York State. He is planning a trip -couth this w — and will mot put ont his hall show as usual, Completing a tour of Georgia ‘and Alabama find that business in Geor is in a deplorable condition There was « short cotton crop all over the State and the show business is bad in all sections but two counties in the nortberna part. There is not even a colored minstrel show in the State and all of the circuses have given the State a wide berth Conditions in Alabama were much better. There was a fair yield of cotton and good prices and the colored people all seemed to have money. The whites Were not so fortunate and I was told by a station agent in one of the Alabama towns that he averages from four to six families @ week that are moving their belongings to Florida, where they will engage in truck farm ing. Florida is experiencing a boom and will be a rich field for the smaller shows this winter. The Sparks Show and the Robinson Show have done a good business in Alabama and the Christy Show, playing the medium-sized towns without opposition, has done a paying business thruout the State The Sparks Show will be forced to play a few towns in Georgia on its way south and will, «as usual, wind up the season in Florida, closing about the th of December. The Christy Show, after playing some of Louisiana, will move across into Texas and play over its old stamping ground. The show has been in Texas for fourteen years and is pretty well known. The Mighty Haag Show will play Florida and the M. L. Clark Show, whici will close shortly, will reopen again and play all winter thre Louisiana and Texas, The show of the South, Rose Kilian, will. as usual, play around Mississippi and Louisiana. colored minstrel shows have all headed for Arkansas and that State is in the best condition for years. All shows that have made it have made money. An unheard of event in colored minstrel shows was the stranding of one in Alabama recently. Speaking of minstrel shows, other all-year-round Oscar Rogers, formerly of the Sun Bros.’ Shows, who has the Florida Cotton Blossoms, has had a big summer and J. C. O'Brien has also cleaned up in Virginia. The Bill Campbell Minstrels started to make money after they headed south out of Illinois. Bill will close early in December and expects to retire owing to the death of Mrs. Campbell's mother. The Christy Show will be the last of the circuses to close this fall and Manager Christy is con sidering putting out in addition to his big show a three-car show next season with a former circus man as manager. Had a letter a few days ago from the old Sparks animal trainer, Fritz Brunner, who is now located at Fort Dodge, Ia., and waiting to get back into the show business. Fritz was with the Golden Bros. and Fred Buchanan the past season and expects to be out again in the spring if not before. PUTTING FLINT IN THE LIMELIGHT At Flint, Mich., home of Buicks and Chevrolets, I happened across a few of the “oldtimers’ *, all of whom are active and have many Teminiscences of by-gone days. Ed Burroughs, who now controls the destinies of the Palace Theater, dates back to the days of the Adam Forepaugh Circus, when he gamboled over the seats via the program route and later dropped out of the limelight of the “‘white tops’’ and entered other departments of the amusement world Later he was found at the Orpheum Theater at St. Paul, Minn., where he officiated as manager for a number of years. His connection now in Flint offers him his every opportunity to display his ability from his previous engagements and his is the praise of every road agent and manager passing thru the motor city. Ralph Lang. who has rapidly advanced in the show world, is the boy who handles the pasteboards in the “red wagon’’ at the Palace and fixes up the statements for the traveling managers. He is assisted by Leta Wales. Lester Davis, who hails from Lewiston, Me., where he has for years handled the amusement park, dropped into the offices of the Palace in behalf of the “Good Morning, Dearie’’, show, of which he is agent. Eddie Zorn, who for ten years controlled Pre Temple Theater at Toledo, 0., is located here as manager of Flint’s palatial photo-play house, the Regent, and those of the photo-play world who know Eddie all know of his ability and also his overwhelming personality. Gus Peterson, who years ago was treasurer for the old Stone Opera House at Flint, is still active in theatrical circles and is now auditor of the W. S. Butterfield offices, which contrel the Palace, Regent and Garden theaters. Walter Bradford, whose familiar face is well known thruout the Southern States and who will be remembered by agents and managers playing Marion, Ind., has for the past two years been in Flint as manager of the Garden Theater, which caters to exclusive pictures. trad’’, as he is better known, is a follower of the Owhite tops’’ not as a trouper. but as a reader of The Billboard, where he gleans the news and happenings of the “big ones” 4 Sunlin, who handles the Elite and Savoy theaters here. also hails from the days of old and he delights his many friends with stories of the days when he was a “butcher” with the Hagenbeck Show An unusnal incident happened cently when the Rotary Club m having their meeting in the usual chose to assemble in the Fenton was the first theater in the city of Flint and which has been condemned for years On the walls of this hall were handbills, programs and photos trom attractions that dated back to the Civil War days Their object in meeting in this old palace of amusement. amid dirt and dust of years of accumulation. was in memory f “by-gone days’? and to respect the first of th theater of Flint, BILLY EXTON. in Flint reInstead of place they Hall, which