The Billboard 1924-06-14: Vol 36 Iss 24 (1924-06-14)

The Billboard JUNE 14, 1924 OVERLAND Be) AND HI~ MAJESTY THE TROUPER_ (COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR CINCINNATI OFFICES) WOES AND TRIALS OF THE CIRCUS MANAGER By JAMES F. DONALSON OTWITHSTANDING the fact that the erudite gentlemen who travel ahead of tented amusements bask in the reflection that the show which they represent merely unloads, gives the parade and two performances, and then reloads and proceeds to the next stand, with every preparation carefully ironed out and made by the advance, the circus manager has many trials and tribulations during the progress of a season. All is not sunshine, likewise “peaches and cream”, for the man upon whose shoulders rests the responsibility of the entire caravan, not only from the time it leaves winter quarters and treks the country from north to south, but who has the same burden upon his mind during the winter preparing for the season that is yet to open. Woes of divers sorts and all kinds of caliber confront and surround him daily. When the new year is born and the sound of the hammer and saw is everywhere evident in the show winter quarters, the manager of the aggregation is confronted by the problem of preparing a program that will surmount the foremost obstacle piled up by the amusement public—that “all circuses are alike. See one and you see them all.” To combat this insidious piece of public propaganda Mr. Manager must prepare a program that will at least seem to those who sit in the grand stand and the “blues” that his particular performance is really different. True it is that acts tried and found desirable for performances beneath the canvas tent have that obnoxious habit of being quite the same from year to year. But the showmanship of the manager can easily be traced in the manner in which he has the act presented, a little change here and here, so that the usual “stunts’’ are cloaked with something that is mew, and a departure from the regular order of routine. That is one reason why the unsophisticated patron will be loud in his praises of a certain aggregation, and declare that another similar amusement is “the same old thing’’. However, Mr. Manager, while laboring at his desk witb his ‘“‘dummy’’ program, meets these obstacles with the same degree of nonchalance that punctuates the reception of the hundreds of tribulations that beset his path on the road. Now that animal acts hold an important position in almost every circus program, managers have been forced to include within their sphere of amusement knowledge a heterogeneous array of animal lore. Proprietors and managers of the usual sized circus have been forced to the conclusion that leopard acts are really of Ittle or no use in a circus arena. The chief opposition to performances in which these animals appear is that the spectators seated in remote parts of the canvas top are unable to see the animals because of their diminutive size. Lions and tigers, together with polar bears, therefore are the only subjugated candidates that are worthy of places within the steel-girted arena. Another bitter pill that has sprung up to beset the thorny path of the circus manager is riding acts. Generally they require the ring to be laid out with a spirit level, With( grumbling galore foil and the equestrians and equestriennes declare that j unable to satisfy ‘‘their publie’’ with a neri lous performances as they would @esire Then their stock is to be cared for. ular manager declared to me during past season that the riding acts’ horses with sut such care One part igeregation were fed t e as much as his own horses, y were not used for anything but the act which owned them. Such a thing as participating in the parada was unheard of and a terr breach of professional etiquet to merely sug t. The feet of the stock got e Was essayed acts have become so tastidious, “nts of managers are to he believed, that many of the circus owners and directors have seriously considered eliminating them. On the other hand, they are confronted with the situation that riding act« are real circus acts, probably the onle real sawdust features that vandeville and indoor propositions have left the tented world Patron® who witnessed a performance, sans riding, would declare, and probably with reason, that they had not seen a cirenus. Bo Mr. Manager is left with his riding acts, their stipulations and his contentions In framing the program Mr. Manager is also confronted with a palpable circus drawback— that of imitation rather than origination. Way back in the dim distant past liberty horse acts Were the rage, and forty or more were presented in a ring gaily caparisoned and cavorting in a simple yet effective routine. One showman, Whose bump of origination was more developed than his fellows’, evolved a lberty horse act a few seasons ago that was dressed differently and which inclueed ai rehashed routine of the aforementioned dim distant past. The act was quite a success, in fact it made a hit. The result was that there was a hurried consulation of managers and trainers on other shows, and the following season blossomed forth with practically every cireus on the road sporting a horse act. Some were good, some better, yet the manager who had originated and rehashed an age-old act now saw all his confreres inspired with the same brain ebild, and, peculiarly enough, hatched about the same time. For it would be lese majeste to say that anyone of them was guilty of imitation or following in the footsteps of another, OR sbeer originality and a wealth of ideas that find birth in his performances Charles Sparks is a circus manager who must be acclaimed. He is ever on the alert for new material, never too tired to discuss innovations and never too busy to look at something that may or may not be useful in the program. An attentive listener to suggestions, a kindly word bere and there, he has solved the big problem that meets the most astute, and as a result his performance, from beginning to end, reflects the originality and the able showmanship of the man who guides the destinies of that particular caravan, Mr. Sparks blocks out his program in winter quarters. When the band is playing ‘Home, Sweet Home”, he has a general idea of his program for the succeeding season. And at his desk in winter quatters he prepares the program. Then it is handed to the equestrian director with the instructions that if that dignitary can change it any to do so. The result of years of study and application is that the performance rarely is changed from that which is handed the director at the beginning of the season Thi year, for instance, the show had one rehearsal, which ran something like an hour and fifty-eight minutes, and the first performance showed the running time to be one hour and fifty-five minutes And this has been in force thus far during the season. T is no sinecure to take a mass of acts. features, fill-ins and the regular line of attractions and place them in pleasing rotation &> that the spectator will be <atisfied and at the same time the movement of circus paraphernalia uuhampered from the lot to the train after the night performance. And yet becauge the show program is the particular stock in trade which the circus manager offers to attract paying customers, that part lar part of a circus is paramount in importance so fur as Mr. Manager is concerned. Ne has other troubles, woes, trial and tribulations—countless in number and in variety. Ife ig surrougded by a group of executives to whom are intrusted various departments, These subordinates take a loud off his shoulders by assing Judgment on a number of phases of circus work that daily present themselves for sciution, bout the bard nuts to crack, instances that are too complicated and omissions and commissions that are so involved that subordonates are forced tb seek higher authority, are presented to Mr. Manager by his petty chief each of whom labors under the pardonable de Insion that hia special task is the most im portant and the one which demands immediat: and undivided attention. The up-to-date circus manager generally dis misses with little show of oxtentation all these complex situations that are submitted to his snap judgment. In every instance he hesitates to a dee on, and the quicker and more concise je is in giving his verdict the better showman and manager he is. Yet with all these conditions to deal with the program is uppermost in his mind The show must move with alacrity, the performance | Merce | Bil om, p brag “ ogy: Fs a Pe lions, who is with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, is considered one of the ablest masters of horses in the circus world of today, must be given without spot or blemish, and one pair of eyes is very much overworked during 3; elled to keep the “back lot’’ going, the front door moving noiselessly, the side-show grinding continuously and the cookhouse and horse stables functioning properly. Assistant managers may be there, all sorts of functionaries may be on the payroll, yet the *““Governor’’ or “Chief’’, or “Mr. This” or “Mr. That’’ must be the lodestone around which every phase of the circus revolves, Think it over. It is some job. ATKINSON'S CIRCUS Atkinson’s Cireus did excellent business in the volcano city, Hilo, Hawaii, reports Prince Elmer. Miss Atkinson's pigeon and song act was the talk of the town. Elmer's Cireus Side-Show, featuring Hopoe, the frog boy continues to do good business. Prof. Henry, magician, has been added to the kid show. The show is to be enlarged when it arrives in California the early part of July, Many new animals are being broken for the big show program, King Baile has the {sland well heralded and will leave for the Coast shortly in order to assist General Agent Fred Morgan. The show opens with a spectacle, “Babe in the Woods’, Ethel Atkinson having the prima donna role, and a snappy musical program is put on by Director Bert Carlson. Acts follow in order, viz.: Miss Atkinson and her horse Dixie Dan; clown walk-around, by Prince EI: mer; dog act “xX in number), presented by Thomas Atkinson; Prince Elmer. in a dancing number; five goats, worked by H . Beesley; Prof. Henry, in magic tri ks; pony and horse Liberty act, by Miss Atkinson: dog and pony act, by Prince Elmer: revolving table, run by Shetland pony; unridable mule, Pepper: fancy roping and rope spinning, by the Reesley troupe of cowboys and girls: "Mike, h'g! diving dog, by Miss Atkinson; riding goat, by Thomas Atkinson Prince Elmer, novelty-riding number; xix military ponies, by Miss Atkinson: wire-walking dog, by Miss Atkinson: m nage act, Miss Atkinson: rid ng monkey, TI Atkinson; Miss Atkinson and her dogs and ponies, Miss forming cats, Prince Elmer; riding goat, Thomas Atkinson: clown song, Prince Filmer: trapeze and rings, worked by Prof. Wenry with Prince Elmer as clown; big dog and monkey act; races, by dogs, monkeys and ponies, OMmAas pigeons; Atkinson: four per CAMPBELL-LUCKY BILL SHOWS Have Blowdown at Cassville, Mo.—No One Injured The Campbell tros.-Lucky Bill Shows are doing fair business in VM ssourl, reporte Viola Cravens, who 1 with the how The weather has been againet the outfit At Cassville, M May 28, the show encountered i wind and rain storm, the g top being blown down toth of the large tron center poles were bent double The following day was epent in repairing canvas, The menagerie top was lowered in time to prevent If from being blown down. Luckily no one wae injured. _t ROME SIDE SHOW 42> \ PRIVILEGES RINGLING-BARNUM CIRCUS Doing Enormous Business an Early Spring Tour Despite Bad Weather Conditions When the Ringling-Barnum Circus played Norristown, Pa., many took advantage of the Week-end to run in to New York and rejoin t show at Newark, N. J Quite a reunion of showfolks was beld at the Amsterdam Hot New York, May 25, as several other s<how Were in close proximity to New York their members took advantage of the oppornity to renew old friendships. Col. Courtney Eddie Dowling visited with their old nds, Doc Nolan, Chas. Humme! and Mathew McGowan Geo. Hartael, wife and grandchild Tom Smith and Jim Jordan were Visitors at Norristown sud Herlin gave an after-theshow party to some ex-Wild West people at Camden, Al White, Fred Smythe, Chas. H mel and Wilfred Charnley took the first train after the night performance at Norristown f New York. Jack Hausner, of Car 88, wa three children during the Balti during the Philadelphia stay Pat Valdo is going fine tn his new position Of assjstant equestrian director, alot a } boomerang act. Dick Willig joined the side show department at Camden As the fish w biting rather poorly on the Big Kanawha, Peanut Bill again forsook s farm and joined out in the candy stands Leo Crook left the show quite fll at Reading but rejoined temporari at Allentown. Mr, and Mrs. Wm. Jones, o Los Angeles, who visited the Hart Brothers during the New York run and then sailed « the Relia: for Europe, cabled from Southam; ton, that they had a fine trip They intend to tour the itinent for six months. Tom Hart Visited them at Los Angeles during the show's lay-off season. Mr. Reaney, of the Pennsy! vania Railway, called on the Hart Brothers at Vasbington. Jack LeClare entertains the gang from clown alley every day with his radio and on Car &8 Teddy Webb tunes in his five-tube set as soon as the show is over at night. Car 8&5 has lots of mus'c, having a fine victrola, besides the 88 car string orchestra. Mutt Thepsen ey Hummel! are practicing on drom and tympanies to make the orchestra perfect Spader Johnson, however, declares he has los ! r music Jately. Spader is a neigh bor of the musically inclined Arthur Sir called on his friends tn clown al gton. Charley Smith, with a partner, is working up in the air once s double trap act. Looking over the West string the other day in a quick way, neticed Mabel Kline, Minnie Chennete. Billy lack, Mrs. Compton, Cy Compton, Charles Isen, Fanny Nellsen, Johnny Rufus, Helen Rufus, Ed Harney, Arthur Mann and Bud Spader Johnson spent May 25 at Staten Island and May 27 his wife and daughter drove ov from their country estate and spent the day with Spader. During the winter Blackie Diller and Spiegel of John McLanghiin’s 4 ‘ were initiated 1 several degrees of Ma and both advanced themselves ag far as t! Commandery, and expect to finish up and jo!n t! hrine this ‘fall. Joe Mudd, Sailer and Iiank Bitters can always be found at t! candy stands on any busy day Hert Joseph expects at the close of this seas t r the Seuth with a patent hair straig Ww h he has nvented, He has as agent Everett Hart and Paul Jerome Dick Stewart gave a part to is old-time friend Mut ‘I mpson, during the Newark engagem: nt I) Smith has about recovered from th broken arm and expects to be with the show . Her Mu uae, better Whown a “Elephant Fat’, says he wants some mor Sunday runs so he can cook Mickey Graves another mulligan John Carson and wife en tertained many Chester visitors while the show played Philadelphia Hank Pofts ‘ined t Wild West string at Newark, Robert Ringling Was With the « w during the Newark engage ment, as v as John Ringting. Cuckoo Dolan closed at Willlamsport He is going to op 1 florist « on Broadwav, New York Uo Amos Sp gk spared enough time away from ! furniture store In Newark to visit ft?! show there The same can be said of Harr and his wife and daught: ut n sat thru the perf ’ ' hey were accompanied by M Mrs. Minco, widow of Al and Fanny Miaco, daughter-in-law wer tora ¢ : The « w was on a new lot In Newark and rt r Way than the usual greun f anything, with terrible weathe ditions, was larger than ever The Wild We d m of t show was holding a perpetual ! y a8 a whole trainionad of rodeo peop! arrived at Newark, preliminary to an affair t bw d there by the K. of € There were Tr dan bevs, cowgirla, and all kinds of Wild West people They were all aequatnted, «8 man old time friendships were renewed Billy Mack's son spent the two day« of the Newark engagement on the lot visiting his mother. Cy Compton is still doing his elght (Continued on page 71) . © ame