Variety (March 1908)

10 VARIETY GIRGUS NEWS. PARKS AND PAIRS / Everything is in readiness for the annual hegira of the Barnum & Bailey circus from Bridgeport to New York. During the entire winter a large force has been planning for what promises to be the greatest circus performance pre- sented by the "Greatest Show on Earth" in many years. The show leaves Bridge- port to-day (March 14) in four sections, and is expected to reach Mott Haven, where the trains will be unloaded, shortly after dark. The march to Madison Square Garden will begin about 9 o'clock. By midnight or a little later it is expected that the entire show will be in the Garden. In response to an offer of a box at the Barnum-Bailey show for the person who submitted the best name for the Bridge- post baby elephant 600 letters have reached the Ringling office. Jay Rial, one of the show's "story men," was assigned to the task of sifting the huge volume of matter. Out of the collection a majority of writers showed a preference for "Bill Taft" as a name for the addition to the Barnum menagerie, although a number of misinformed correspondents offered such inappropriate titles as "Bridget," "Rose" and "Carrie Nation." Dexter Fellowes, press agent with the Barnum-Bailey Circus and Frank O'Don- nell, contracting press agent for the same organization, arrived at the Ringling head- quarters in New York this week and took up the preliminary work of the Madison Square Garden opening. Willard D. Coxey, "story man" of the Barnum-Bailey press department, resigned from the staff this week, and announced his retirement from the circus business, after eighteen years' connection with it. "I part from the Ringlings with the best of feeling on both sides," said Mr. Coxey. "I had my ideas as to the conduct of the publicity bureau. The management had quite another idea and in an entirely friendly spirit we agreed that the proper administration of the department was impossible under these conditions." Mr. Coxey has been connected with the Fore- paugh, Ringling and Barnum-Bailey shows and has been in every newspaper office of any consequence in the United States. He declares that he will spend the Sum- mer abroad, and in the Fall enter the theatrical business. Tom Namack steps into Mr. Coxey's position. Cole Brothers open at Erie, Pa., April 25th. ent plans of the managers are carried out. For this reason it is not probable that the Buffalo Bill outfit will visit the baby borough, although this point has not yet been definitely decided. The "Bill" man- agers are anxious to avoid following the circus too closely, and may jump directly from the Garden to Philadelphia. , Cincinnati, March 12. Judge Otto Pfleger named A. B. Huston as referee for the Hagenbeck Circus Com- pany on motion of W. Austin Goodman, representing John Havlin. He announces the corporation had been dissolved, and that Mr. Havlin was the principal stock- holder. Doc Waddell, formerly prefts apent of the John Robinson Circus, joins the Sells- Floto show, which opens the season at Los Angoles, Cal., April 6, for one week. The Todd-Siegrist Company, which con- solidated with the Bell show in Mexico this Winter, arrived from Vera Cruz last Saturday, Siegrist himself reached the city a week before, having come North by rail. He declared that during the circus fight in Mexico City, Bell had had all the best of it, the advantage of being in the Orrin Theatre being on his side, while Pubiilones was under canvas. The Trc- vini show was playing Mexico at the same time as well as Dr. Carver's outfit. Be- fore leaving the city, Siegrist sold his top, 100 X 150, centrepiece to Dr. Carver. Carver is working North, having left Mex- ico City and moving toward Texas. Mr. Siegrist said that now Bell and the Orrins had patched up their disagreement, it was probable that the Bell show would play an annual engagement in the theatre. Louis E. Cook, general agent for the Buffalo Bill exhibition, declared this week that the outlook for a good show season was excellent. "All the reports that have come into this office," said Mr. Cook, "in- dicate that bit by bit the country has re- turned to normal conditions, with the re- turn of commercial confidence. I take the receipts of theatrical companies on the road as a clear indication of conditions. For example, 'The Red Mill' played in Newark, N. J., my home town, recently to $14,000 on the week, including a $2,200 Saturday matinee. Surely if a theatrical entertainment draws such a large patron- age from people who have money to spend for entertainment, the outlook for the big^ shows, which offer more for the money than any other amusement, is rosy. I look for an all-round prosperous season." The advance of The Great Yankee Rob- inson Shows for the coming season will be composed of W. H. Quinnett, general agent; Homer E. Davis, agent in charge of paper and bill posters; Toley Beers, as- sistant boss bill poster; Ed. C. McClure, in charge of lithos; and Henry Thomas, Albert Knauff, Walter Rockwell, Geo. F. Sommerville, Harry Thomas, bill posters. The National Park Managers' Associa- tion's headquarters are now located in the Knickerbocker Theatre building. C Oberheid, the secretary and general man- ager of the Association, when seen this week, said the Association was not a book- ing agency, as presumed. It was an asso- ciation of summer parks for the protec- tion and promotion of mutual interests. Mr. Oberheid stated the Association would book any act for which a requisition might be forwarded by one of its members, and would book through the agent controlling the act, but did not either demand or ex- pect any exclusive booking contract from parks. The booking rule also operated the other way, Mr. Oberheid added. Any act enrolling itself upon the Association books would be called when asked for by a manager, but that did not imply that the Association assumed any proprietary rights to the act or its booking privileges. Contracts would be signed in the indi- vidual name of the manager the act was booked for, and a commission of two and one-half per cent, retained for the benefit of the manager's New York office, which would be nominally in the offices of the Association. A very large number of parks scattered all over the country had been enrolled, stated Mr. Oberheid, and after the summer park season the fairs would be taken up, fairs coming under the general scheme as well as parks. Mr. Oberheid said that R. C. Mudge, whose name was upon the Association's letter- heads, had not decided whether he would take the position offered or no. Earlier on the same day Mr. Mudge, when seen by a Variety representative, stated positive- ly he was connected with the Association, although a flattering offer had been re- ceived by him. The Association had been notified to remove his name wherever ap- pearing, according to Mr. Mudge. Mr. Oberheid will continue to manage his "White City" at Trenton, N. J. As the purpose is to promote the interests of summer parks, the course and actions of the Association are being watched with a great deal of interest by park people. "The Red Raven Cadets," a military girl act, of which Hilda Carle is the leader, may be an attraction with the Ringling show next summer. Negotiations for the engagement are on, according to J. A. Mo- ross, manager of the act. Sixteen girls will be used. Several of the artists making up the company touring South America and the West Indies, brought their disputes with Maurice F. Raymond, the handcuff escape expert, into the courts in Trinidad, British West Indies. The Barnus-Bailey Circus goes from the Garden to Brooklyn this year, if the pres- John Ringling left New York for Clii- oago Shinday night. Alf T. Ringling is still in the city, and Al Ringling is ex- pected in the Ringling headquarters daily. Llora Park, Youngstown, and Cascade Tark, New Castle, both on the lines of the Mahoning and Shcnango Railway and Light Company, will open the season May 30. It is announced by the Adams Amuse- ment Company, owners of Avon Park, lo- cated on the same electric line, between Youngstown and Niles, that the resort will not be opened this season unless some one may be found who is willing to pay a season's rent in advance. Although pos- sessing many natural advantages, the park has passed through an eventful history since it was opened three years ago. Pain's fireworks spectacle, "Sheridan's Ride; or The Battle of Cedar Creek," will be a special of the Old Home Week cele- bration at Youngstown, O., June 9, 10 and 11. Fred. B. MaoTx»an was in the city to close the deal March 10. Woodland Park at Shenandoah, Pa., will open for the season on Decoration Day. A large out-door feature is be- ing sought by the management for the first attraction. Acts of this nature will be featured throughout the season. Arthur Hopkins closed negotiations last week with L. Solman, the manager of Ilau- lon's Point at Toronto, to book the at- tractions for that resort the coming sea- son. Many large features will be used. The Grunatho Family has been booked by B. Obermayer for sixteen weeks over the Dorsey chain of parks, after which the act goes abroad for six months It is reported in Peoria, 111., that Chest<;r Sargent, manager of the Majestic Theatre in that city, has leased an amusement park at Bay City, Mich., for the summer. Arrangements are about completed whereby Frederick Thompson of "Luna,'* Coney Island, will act as American rep- »-esentative or booking agent for "The li^nglish Gardens," Vienna. Gabor Steiner is manager of the Austrian summer resort, claimed to be the first of its kind on an extensive scale, and from which all others patterned. Steiner is backed by a brewer of Vienna, Drecher, reputed worth fifty or sixty millions of dollars. The connec- tion made with Thompson is for the pur- pose of securing all the best known and latest of American amusement devices, par- ticularly those becoming popular at Coney Island. "A Trip to the Moon" and "The Tickler" will shortly be shipped to "The English Gardens." Barnes' Western Theatrical Exchange, of Chicago, has issued its annual Fair Catalogue. As usual, it is a highly com- mendable sample of the printer, both in its general makeup and illustratibns. The standard comedy acrobatic features so much souglit for during the summer are listed, as well as all other styles suitable, includ- ing several sensational numbers. Among the latter is Diavolo, who will this season make a high dive into a tank of fire. The illustration in Mr. Barnes' catalogue for this act gives an excellent idea of its sensationalism. Oscar V. Babcock is an- other of the Barnes "thrillers" in an act termed "Ix)oping the Death Trap Loop and Flving the Flume." Mr. Babcock carries 12,000 pounds of baggage, requir- ing a special car when travelling. A curi- ous incidental to Mr. Babcock's exhibition is that he can adjust it to a time limit at the pleasure of the management, either giving his act within five and one-half seconds or extending it to fifteen minutes. Mr. Barnes has a formidable list of fairs which his agency books. It is printed in the Catalogue. There are over 250 fairs supplied by Mr. Barnes with amusement features, besides eight State fairs, all lo- cated in the West. New Orleans, La., March LS'. The people of New Orleans are wonder- ing as to the fate of West End Piirk here. As reported in Variety last October, the lease of the resort was offered for sale for a term of twenty-five years with the stipulation that the lessee spend $250,000 in improvements. No bids were received at the time. It is not unlikely that the authorities will prevail upon the railway company to take over the lease for the coming summer. In that event it is very likely that the Orpheum Circuit Company will furnish the attractions.