Variety (September 1907)

VARIETY ON THE ROAD WITH A CIRCUS GIRGUS NEWS By RUSH. (NOTE.—Tbla Is the last of s aerie* of four article* Laving to do with a tour of that many dava br Buah with the Frank A. Robblna Circus In Pennsylvania and New Jersey.—Ed.) Perhaps it was because the managers of the Lackawanna Railroad were too busy writing "Phoebe Snow" ads. to at- tend to their proper business that the show train was held up in a siding for three hours somewhere between Bangor and our next stand, Dover, X. J., waiting for a new train crew, to take us through the rest of the 53-mile jump. This cir- cumstance brought the show rather late into Dover, but travelling with a circus breeds infinite philosophy, and the only comment made was a mild discussion upon the relative expertness of Eastern and Western railroad men. If I remem- ber rightly Mr. Beckman got the de- cision on the contention that there weren't any good railroads anywhere. I started for the show lot a mile away, but on the way met Girard Leon and got interested in his advertising campaign. It is Leon's business to promote publicity in the interests of local merchants. For a consideration he will compose a dialogue running something like this: First clown (displaying a paper pack- age)—Know what I got here? Second clown (violently interested) — No. What? F. C. (simulating enthusiasm)—A beau- tiful washboiler (or statuette, or silver jewel-case, as the case may be). S. C. (with emotion)—Where did you get it?' F. C—Why, at the Bee Hive Five and Ten Cent Store. S. C.—Who rurts the Bee Hive store? F. C. (pityingly)—Why, don't you know? It's John B. Doe, the best hard- ware dealer in BlankviHe. For a consideration Leon will have this jewel repeated in a loud voice by the clowns before the assembled audience at the show. Leon is a hypnotic salesman, and if the local merchant can't be inter- ested in this device he has a whole series of advertising schemes to offer equally as good. But Leon was discouraged this morn- ing. "Shine burg," he confided to me. Up to this time his campaign had consisted of a visit to the saloon across the street from the railroad station and a half- hearted look down the length of Main street. He couldn't tell me how he knew he had struck a barren field except that "he could always tell." His intuitive "hunch" proved the right one, and al- though he hustled on business until two hours after the parade had passed through the main streets, it turned out that he had guessed aright. One hotel keeper out of a visiting list of thirty made up the "bag" for the day. Leon boasts he can "size up" a town from the railroad sta- tion and the nearest cafe, and from the experience of that Saturday, I'd bate to make book against his ''hunches." The afternoon and night business was only fair with the show, and at midnight we were off for Somerville, N. J.—that is to say, some of us were off to Somerville, for in the afternoon Press Agent Hughes and young Robbins left for a pleasure trip to New York and Coney Island over Sunday. Sunday morning about a dozen others followed on recreation bent. Sunday is loafing day for everybody except the "twenty-four hour man," the agent who travels one day ahead. The Bobbins show has no Sunday perform- ance, and this gives the circus people an opportunity to luxuriate in hotel ac- commodations until Monday night. The Bobbins agent carries standing orders for fifty persons or so, and when the Sunday town does not contain enough rooms with baths attached, he has his own troubles portioning out the available sup- ply. In addition to the exquisite delight of having nothing to do and sleeping in a regular bed that doesn't swing around curves and bump over railroad ties, Sun- day is a day much to be desired for it is "kale day on the lot," that is to say, sal- aries are paid, and one may experience that delightful combination of having money and plenty of time to spend it in. The edge of this experience was some- what dulled in Somerville, because Somer- ville is in New Jersey, and there is no place to squander money in on Sunday. So everyone loafed about the lot— everyone except the workmen. The can- vases were put up upon arrival, but that job was completed by noon and thereafter even they laid off. The candy booths were open for business, but that was the extent of the Sunday activity. It was then that I began to realize why Hughes had seemed so pleased to get away to Coney. Somerville is a pretty place and Coney Island is hot, dusty and noisy. I was inclined to question Hughes and the others' good taste, but with the monotony of sitting around the lot with nothing to do and nothing to watch, Som- erville became a highly undesirable place to be in. Out under the big top an Italian who belonged to the band had unpacked a vest pocket shaving outfit, and was operating on a succession of canvasmen, and sud- denly the process of being shaved took on the complexion of an exciting experience in contrast to dullness of nothing-to-do ; but the barber was a crude worker and I forbore. The monotony drove me back to the empty cars and the empty cars drove me back to the lot. Then the luminous thought struck me that by sprinting I could catch a train that would take me back to Xew York in time to catch the last two acts at Hammerstein's. I'm afraid my adieus to "the Governor" and Mr. Beckman were a bit hasty and incoherent, but I was a stranger in a strange land and I had only twenty min- utes to get that train. It's a fine. carefree life when there's motion and action on foot, but there's twenty-eight weeks to the season. That's twentv-eight Sundavs and high heaven and the man who routes the show alone know how many Someivilles that's going to mean. ( At the opening of the Gotham. Brook- lyn, last Monday, B. F. Girard. the man- airer, uas presented with a floral horse- shoe six feet in heighth by the Business •Men's Association of the Twenty-sixth Ward. The Trevino circus, playing Mexico as the only important opposition to the "Dick" Bell show, is reported to have shown a large profit on the season. It was up near the Texas border last week. Five acta closed with the Dick Bell cir- cus in Mexico last week following the an- nouncement that the season would be sus- pended through the next three weeks. The stated reason for the suspension of busi- ness was that the rainy season made it practically impossible for the circus to show. Of the acts which cloned rather than lay off four are said to be en route for home by boat. Frank and Edith Ray- mond, who also quit the show, arrived in the city Monday, having come North by train. The others were Truman and Schaefer, jugglers; Barney Gallagher, dancer; Hizal and Fatima and Aldo and Vannerson. They are expected in New York to-day. All salaries were paid up to the minute of the temporary closing, and Bell offered to extend his season three weeks into the winter in order to make up the lost time. The acts, however, refused to remain, being anxious to get back to the 3tates. These acts were members of the show booked about the end of Mareh. They were engaged for 30 weeks, but owing to the suspension of business they felt them- selves at liberty to disregard the contracts. They had played only 21 weeks of their contracted time. There was no contract jumping with the show this season. Mr. Raymond became dissatisfied several months ago and asked to be released from his engagement. The result was that as he left his hotel one evening he was loaded into a hack by a policeman and started to the jail. He agreed to remain and was re- leased. The Bell show will resume its tour Sppt. 23. There is talk of the Xorris & Rowe cir- rus going hack into Mexico late this fall after finishing its Canadian and United States time. The Norris-Rowe people were in Mexico last season, and like the rest of the American circus organizations trying that territory, returned with a large dent in the bankroll. No statement has come from the Xorris & Rowe people them- selves, but gossip has it that they are de- termined to give Mexico another trial. The plan, according to the story, is to open toward the end of November and stay as long as business makes it profitable. Fred Matthiessen. known professionally as "Diavolo," who for many years per formed a "loop-the loop" bicycle act. is dead. Matthiesten was Injured about a year Ago in an accident at Frederb ktou, New Brunswick, and it is to these Injuries indirectly that his death Ls attributed. The artist was badly nit up at the time. Al- though ho iftmfaf lf re c o v ered, he went into a decline and some time ago entered tie 1 BtetSOfl Hospital in the Bronx. >?eW York, to be treated for ■ lung affection. It was there be died. II»' had worked only one week between tie* date of his injury and his death. It is said of Matthieesen that he never failed to givp a performance for which he had eugaged, and was one of the surest riders in the business. Mr. ami Mrs. Clmrlcs Ringing are at their home at Bamboo. Wis., after an ex- tensive tour of Europe. The Varno-Valdore Troupe closed with the Sell3-Floto shows at Fort Worth, Tex., last week, on account of the serious illness of Mr. Valdore's daughter in Chicago. The Troupe has signed with the same show for next season, opening in Ijos Angeles, April 2d. Lewis Sells, the last surviving member of the Sells Brothers, who for 30 years were prominent in the American show world, died recently in Cincinnati of Bright'* disease. Mr. Sells had been in ill health for some time, but his death came as a surprise. He had been in retirement for a number of years. Lewis Sells was born in Cincinnati 65 years ago. He was an auctioneer before entering the show business and later with his brothers man- aged a wagon show. A widow, formerly Mary Cross, of Topeka, and a daughter survive. Ella Bradna and Fred Derrick will re- appear in vaudeville in Xovember, playing the United time. The equestrian act is now with the Barnum-Bailey circus, and has been re-engaged for next season, mak- ing their sixth with the same show. Art Adair, principal clown and panto- mimic comedian with the Hagenbeck- Wallace show, has signed contracts which will take him over the Western Vaude- ville Association circuits following the close of the circus season. This is his third season over the »ame time. Buffalo Bill gave two capacity perform- ances in Wheeling, W. Va., Sept. 6. So great was the demand for seats that ex- tra chairs were placed in the aisles and arena. The Hagenbeck-Waliace circus shows Xashville, Tenn., Sept. 20, and already the local newspapers are blooming forth with some of Harry Karl's press matter. 'The Tennesseean" prints a column-long interview with the press representative, in which the latter applies the "salve" with a lavish but expert hand, as wit- ness "The South is forging ahead in a Splendid way, and is destined to become the real commercial centre of the United States. Xashville is the queen city of the Southland. Your long list of manu- factories, handsome department stores are features to be envied. . . ." and so forth through eight sticks of type, with a royal "boost" for the IIagr»nbeck-Wal- lace aggregation of world wonders neatly t inked into the end With an announce- ment that the show is coming next week. Hugo, ''TV-* Roman r > ■' r." now with the Dick Bell - in Mexico, ex- pects to show his new act ill Xew York during the leal b, II ;£n ha- yet a few weeks to play with t" - >.v. Ma til i d n . * " add- • ■! to the irei at Miner*! Kighth Arenas 1 ttre, leaving Friday afternoon only vacant there.