The Billboard 1925-02-14: Vol 37 Iss 7 (1925-02-14)

UNDER THE ‘MARQUEE By CIRCUS C¥ (Communications to 25 27 Opera Place, Cincinnati, O.) Alex Brock and wife are in Cuba with the Circo Canarias. Merle Evans’ band helped out th: Sarasota Fair week before last. _ Charles Ringling’s yacht, Symphonia, in commission at Sarasota, Fla., got a new captain last week Austin King sailed January 31 for Honolulu with an elephant act for Al G. Barnes and will be gone a month. The Mysterious Mansfield Family is engaged in Dayton, O., framing acts for a circus side show. John Ringling’s big causeway connecting Sarasota with Longboat Key and his several other island possessions is rapidly building. C. T. Hathaway, accompanied by his wife, is in Sarasota, Fla.. where Mr, Hathaway will manage the Sarasota Carnival, opening Tuesday, Mareh 3. Ed lL. Brannan states that Robbins Bros.’ Circus has signed the circus agreement with the International Alliance of Billposters and Billers. Fred L. Gay says that Brunk’s Comedians, playing repertoire under canvas, have one of the prettiest outfits of its kind. Ed Ballard has been offered a handsome profit on 500 acres of land which he owns near Bradentown, Flia., but he thinks it is worth more than the sum offered and will likely hold it. Sarasota’s climate agrees with John Staley of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He is acting as chief steward on Charles Ringling’s yacht and looking remarkably well. Al Sigsbie is building a‘“hotel” for the exclusive accommodation of canines of the Seils-Sterling Circus and, he dogmatically states, will be “modernly equipped”. Capt. Terrell] M. Jacobs, who was with the Sells-Floto Circus the past four seasons, pens that he will not be connected with any of the Muvigan, Bowers & Ballard shows this year. The boys in winter quarters of the Gentry-Patterson Circus, Paola, Kan, are enjoying frequent chicken dinners in the cookhouse, the poultry coming from James Patterson's farm. Ray Choisser will play the calliope on an Ohio River steamer around Pittsburgh, Pa., this spring. At present he is employed by the C. & E, IL. Railroad at Villa Grove, Il. In a2 recent issue of The Billboard it was stated that George K. R ingling was vacationing in Detroit, Mich. This is an error, as he is owner of @he real estate company that Murray (Slim) Butterfield is working for. The Great Swing, novelty wire artist and walk-around rube, has been engaged for the indoor circus at Freeport, IIL, next week and at the Shrine Circus for John G. Robinson in Columbus, O., week of April 27. “Whitey” Cline, who recently was in Shreveport, La., met “Spot” Griffin, last season first assistant on bagga ige stock with the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. Griffin is now assistant superintendent for the Brooks Contracting Co., Dallas, Tex Jack O’Connell, boss canvasman of the Sells-Floto Circus, proved an entertaining speaker at the “Oldtimers’ Night” conducted recently by St Ma +4 Be A. at West Lynn, Mass. He related many interesting accounts of the “big tops”. Visiting Mr. and Mrs. John Ringling in Sarasota last week were M and Mrs. Albert Keller and Per: New York. Mr rector of tl 1 ritor of hotels nr tockefell is the son of William Rox Sells-Floto showfolk recently entertained at a i ‘4 lered by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Peru, Ind., included Mr. and Mrs. Mrs. Jack W. oe : McLain, Mr. and Mrs. Emery Stiles and Theodore @nd Robert Nelson. Ed Dionne and wife, Lorraine, will be with the Walter L. Main Circus t ae on The former travelir by au 1 South, collecting subscriptions for . l-known paper, and the latter is a n ber of the Don Davis’ Dancing Dollies show. The steel] equinment of the GentryPatterson Circus train required but lit overhauling this winter, therefor Pill Britton, trainmaster, has been called on 4 Wb dibrdb4b ib = Your Bargain Book — : IS READY Write for it today and get the latest prices on Used Tents and | Show Needs. Baker-Lockwood Mfg. Co., Inc. 5 Seventh and Wyandotte Streets, Kansas City, Missouri. % ad x 00) See oR C3e bSdesdz das } bed ¢ Se ! x x : AMERICA’S BIG TENT HOUSE C() Sh BABI HBSS I IB ILI LI TPH) EID ILI HDT LILI Will sell at bengale for cash or eg ~ FAR SALE steePULLMAN CARS SAL E: 4 fine Pullman Cars, nt of them steel. Length, 78 feet. All _cars equipped with 6-wheel 5x9. E Fully inclosed vestibulés.~ These cars never used In show busiInspect cars at Drovers’ Packing Co. here. W. J. ALLMAN, Coates House, Kansas City, Mo, CONCESSION TENTS THAT’S OUR SPECIALTY HIGH IN QUALITY—PLENTY OF FLASH—LOW IN PRICE. Needs—SAVE MONEY—Buy Now. ST. LOUIS AWNING AND TENT CO., 800 N. Second St., St. Louis, Missouri. quarters except baggage stock and have the Sint ag the Paola winter quarters >» popular manager in the Monumental City. Walter Wellington, who is now filling las signed with the Cis us to do clowning visit ‘aan in three “years. A. M. (Jake) Brauer will be i cler force of Miller John T. Wor secretary-treasurer S , and prior to that was with Milton Grimes, pleasure of visiting with George (Kan.) Lodge, its membership. Most of thusiastic boosters. Celia Fortuna f year at the home of Mr. and hopes to be up and around shortly. from her friends will be appreciated. Her Link, gene ral ames. of noe John Ringling’s ishi then proceeded DeHaven Shows. distinction? The agent longest? better than anything the kind previously seen, but the troupe’s comedian and his trained duck place the turn on a high altitude of perfection.” “Slivers” Johnson, well-known joey, and George Harmon, midget clown policeman, were in Cincinnati last week and gave The Billboard a call. Johnson has a five-people clown turn, including Harmon, Robert Moore, Floyd Short and Helen Manley, playing indoor circuses, hey have two engagements of a week each with the Knisely show, and will appear with John G. Robinson's circuses in Louisville and Cin “Slivers” will be baé@k with the Robinson Circus, clowning. and working straight in the Rudy Rudynoff riding ac. * For the first time in 22 years Cy Green did white-face clown recently at Loew’s State Theater, Boston, for Manager Brennan in connection with the Lon Chaney film, He Who Gets Slapped. The last time Green did whiteface was with the Sig Sautelle show. He will remain with the photoplay until it is time for him to open with Miller Bros.’ 101 Ranch Show. Aerial Blunt recently enjoyed a_ visit with his mother at Evansville, Wis., the old circus toyn of the Original Col. George Hall. Pe there he had many chats with Wafer Gollmar,. Billie Campbell and Russell Hall, which brought back memories of the old days Last week Blount played an engagement at the indoor circus at Ann Arbor, Mich. Cc. W. (Red) Sells, who has been spending the winter in Cincinnati, has been making clown walkarounds for the coming season. Says that he will have some original gags and will be with one of the big tented shows. This week he is clowning on the streets and in Music Hall, Cincinnati, for the Ohio Food Show, with, engagements in Dayton and Youngstown, O., to follow. Kenneth Anderson writes that he recently had dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bert in Chicago. Mr. Bert will handle tickets and the missus will ride menage on the Sparks Circus, Jack Bennett, the Sparks down-town ticket man, also was present at the dinner. He and Anderson will leave Chicago for Macon, Ga., the Sparks winter quarters, March 28, A very interesting article by Earl Chapin May, entitled Last of the FortyHorse Drivers, appears in the February sue of The Elis’ Magazine. The subect of the story is Jake Posey, widely known boss hostler, now with the Sparks Circus, who relates his experiences with horses and his travels with the white tops. Mr. Posey is quoted as saying that there were but two Segular 10-horse drivers, and that he was one of ther, The other was Jim Thomas, who is now 75 years old and has quit trouping. Bobby Hamm, clown, infoes that after finishing an engagement at the HMaglee’ Indoor Circus, Canton, O., he and Billy Lorette went to Hamrn'’s parents’ home in Youngstown, ©0., and were entertained at dinner Lorette went to Akron and Harm is again operating a motion pie ture machine in Youngstown Hamm has been a joey on the Selle-Flotoe Cireua the past two searons Lorette clown police vork rerietered big at the recently tavged English Society Circus in Mitchell, 3. D. Connie Marka, of New Vork, sends the following Iteme concerning some of the Ringling-Barnum Circus troupers: Les lie (Tiney) Sherman Is operating a thea February 14, 1925 ter in Chicago and Wm (Gabe) M Henry is manager. Wilson Unthonk at the 14th Street Theater, New York kddy Mahon will be on a Florida show, Pat Grier is taking in the r; at Miami, Fla., and will return to Ny Ww York the latter part of the month to rehearse an act in which Frank (Captain) Baker, Frank Sullivan, Mike Ke}. ley and Misses W. Unthonk and R. Collins will appear. f “Dexter”, an gld-time Bedini bareback horse, known to many showfolk, fel] the ice and broke a leg January 22 and had to be shot. Mr, Bedini used this animal when he originated the four-people and dog jumping on the hors« act with Ringling Bros,’ Circus in 1904. Fotlowing his retirement from the riding uct in 1910 Mr. Bedini gave the hors. to his daughter, Flora’ Bedini, wio utilized the animal until two years ago when it was sent to Ted Tipton’s farm near Zanesville, O. The horse was with the Sparks C ircus for a number of year and also was used at the New York Hip podrome for two seasons. “Dexter” wa about 30 years old and in wonderfu! shape. on Jim Muldoon, of Eastport, Me., who was with the Adam Forepaugh Show from 1880 to 1886, lately mailed ¢ *harles Bernard, a photograph of a silk progray issued for the Montgomery Queen 7“ 1g erie and Circus at. San Francisco, Calif April 20, 1875. Muldqaon says that h: saw J. H. Paul drive a 40-horse hitch with Murray’s Great Railroad Circu seasons of 1870 and 1871, and that Pau! told him the reins weighed 85 pounds Paul was very powerful and weighed 250 pounds. He was from Rockport Me. Dave B. Levis, who was with th Ben Wallace Show many years ago and later made a great deal of money with rube brass band shows, is located in LaRochelle, France, says Bernard, Harry Rouclere, another oldtimer, has the Rouclere Hotel at Ridgewood, N. J. Rouclere, Jr., following in his father’s foot steps, is a promising magician. WITH AUSTRALIAN CIRCUSES By Martin C. Brennan Sydney, Dec. 24.—Mr. Brooks and his giant dog, Don, are playing the New Zealand carnivals. Roy Barton is at present working his circus along the North Coast of N. S. W., where business is very satisfactory Worley’s Circus, which includes Charlie Kadama, is playing the country towns of South Australia, The Westwood Bros., glassblowers, aré in Dunedin and will next visit Invercar— They will be back in Australia fn anuary. Charlie Ross recently showed for three weeks at the Theater Royal, Broken Hill (N. S. W.) with the fat children, Barney and Elsie. Showmen in New Zealand at_ present include Rosmar R. Moffat, Sandow and tobinson, Dave Meekin, Harry Howell, Zelda La Rose, Jack Graham, Abdy, Godfrey, Tom Fox, Westwood Bros., Lindsay Barton and the Miranos. Molly, the ourang-outang controlled by Tom Fox, was ill in New Zealand last week and underwent an operation. Saltbush Bill, wizard of the whip, recently gave an exhibition of his prowess before the Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew . Nathan Among the whips used by the veteran is one 65 feet in length and weighing 23 pounds. This he cracks With one hand The St. Leons, who played the Tivoli and Fuller circuits during the past two years, have left for New Zealand, where they will operate with their own circus. The combination will, for its size, be on of the best in Australasia. Besides the principals, the show includes Adrian's Dogs, “Snowy” Clifton, Jack Williams and his buckjumpers and Mrs. Kadatma Ashton’s Circus is playing the Melbourne suburbs to fair business. Perry's Circus left for New Zealand December 38. Phil Wirth, with Stella Martin Wirth arrived here from America last week after an extensive period in that country Mrs. Sole (Sole’s Circus) is in town on a holiday and reports that things are going well with the show. Wirth Bros. will, for the time being continue to play Victorian towns. Tl show will celebrate the festive season at <arolt, Tas Bradley, filling a four weeks’ season in Perth at the Y. A, L. Carnival, probably will go to England in February Joe Morris, one of the best known aerobatic clowns in this country, is to Play the Goose in the Mother Goose pantomime at the Majestic Theater, Newtown (Sydney) ; Lindsay Barton (Worley) has joined forces with Webb, and it is expected that a very good show will materialize and prove formidable opposition to any other circus Frank Eldred, of Cecile and Eldred, who spent many years under the white tops, has been renewing acquaintance with circus folk in New Zealand of late Dave Meekin. who has been meeting with big success in New Zealand, is to replay the Fuller Circuit after Invercargill Deany Alton, veteran circus and carnivel man, has for some time been filling “a stendy position with Jasper and Crabbon, playing N. Z show dates. When the stork arrives tell The Bill hoard. And the same goes for wo di about marriages, engagements and Dorcceas, ~~ ~ A > ob & = 3+, sSnS39