Variety (March 1908)

VARIETY 13 The Barnum-Bailey Circus, under the management of Ringling Bros., opened at the Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. An extraordinary interest was cen- tered in the appearance by showmen through the Ringling connection, the first time in the history of the famous named show it had not been directed by a Bar- num or a Bailey, or a relative of either. The opening cavalcade was a medley of the richest coloring, most resplendent trap- pings and gorgeous costuming a circus has ever shown in the Garden. An Egyptian and Persian effect was altogether brought out. A dress rehearsal was held Wednes- day evening at which a few guests of the management were allowed to be present. A full dress rehearsal followed on Thurs- day afternoon, the first public perform- ance being given in the evening to an im- mense crowd, testing the great arena to its fullest capacity. A review of the Bar- num-Bailey Circus will be given in Vari- ety next week. GIRGUS NEWS. Cincinnati, March 19. Suit has been commenced here to wind up the old corporation which operated the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus. The ap- plicants for a dissolution of the old stock company are John H. Havlin, Harry Rain- forth, W. Austin Goodman, Frank R. Tate and C. Lee Williams, who make up the majority of the directors of the old com- pany. The liabilities of the concern are $135,648, which losses and depreciations have made it impossible to pay. The only asset is a claim of $875 against the United States Tent Co., of Chicago. It is stated that the circus lost between $600,000 and $700,000, in its tours. Among the credit- ors are John H. Havlin, $81,106 for moneys advanced; Frank R. Tate, $36,011 for cash advanced; Carl Hagenbeck, $16,311 for goods sold and delivered; Al- bert Bode, $2,106 for goods sold and de- livered, for which a note is held against the company. This makes a total of $135,687. The corporation was a stock company with a capital of $500,000, of which 3,000 shares of $100 each were preferred. John Havlin owned 1,543' shares of preferred, fully paid, and 297 shares of common; Harry Rainforth, one share; Albert Bode, 50 shares of preferred, paid, and 25 shares common; A. Kurynski, 20 shares of pre- ferred, paid, and 10 shares of common; C. Lee Williams, Philadelphia, 120 shares preferred, paid, and 278 shares common; Carl Hagenbeck, 450 shares common; Lorenz Hagenbeck, 50 shares common; Frank B. Tate and C. Lee Williams, Phila- delphia, 1,030 shares of common, making $404,000 paid and $3,500 owing on stock. \. B. Huston was appointed referee. He will hold a hearing June 15 to decide whether the application shall be granted. Peter Hirtz, for many years train master of the Barnum & Bailey Show, during its foreign tour, and who succeeded to that position after the death of Byron Rose, so well known throughout America as a popular trainmaster, has decided to resume life with the white tents, and is going out this season in charge of the Buffalo Bill Wild West train. S'ydney, Australia, Feb. 1. An international buck-jumping contest is to take place in Sydney this month. Cattle-throwing and tying, typical of the prairie, are also included. It is the inten- tion of the promoters to send a team of "rough riders" to England for exhibition purposes. Campbell Brothers* shows open at Fair- bury, Neb., April 25. The circus has been greatly enlarged, overhauled, etc., and will go out stronger than ever. . , The Mizano Troupe of Japanese are concluding their vaudeville time, and will open with Campbell Brothers* shows on April 25, making their eighth consecutive season with this organization. Raleigh Wilson has about one of the poorest single acts in the Dusiness, and he has not met with any success at all. He can not get return dates, and has only two weeks booked between April fools* day and Christmas. Mr. Wilson says so himself. The press and public have been unanimous in roasting him. Wilson has signed with Campbell Brothers as prin- cipal clown—his third year with them. The Brays, Harry and Clara, have been re-engaged with Campbell Brothers* shows. They will be featured in their novelty tight-wire act. William R. Musgat, the general agent of tlie Sells-Floto Shows and one of the best known circus men in the country for the past twenty-five years, died at the Hotel Windsor, Denver, March 11. He had but shortly before returned from New York, where he attended the funeral ot William Sells. His death was caused by heart failure. A moment before he sud- denly toppled over he had jokingly spokeii to Coleman Boll, now a police officer in Denver and at one time attached to the same circus. He leaves a widow, but no children. The widow removed the bo<ly to Fort Dodge, la., for burial. Mr. Musgat's first road experience wa;* with a wagon show, Taylor's Circus. He joine<l the Sells-Floto Shows in 1906 as general agent, holding that position up to the time of his death. ——-—■ -^— ' ■' ■ bill-posting plant all winter. Walter K. Hill, contracting press agent, is preparing the newspaper advertisements and ad- vance press work; Major John M. Burke is drawing upon his fund of knowledge for his series of "stories" to be used two weeks ahead of the show, and Fred Mor- daunt Hall, who will be press agent back with the show, will remain upon the staff of the New York "Press" until a week before the Garden engagement. This is the same staff of press agents who were fortunate enough to be concerned in the record-breaking season which the Buffalo Bill Wild West enjoyed last year. "The Battle of Summit Springs,'* "A Holiday at T-E Ranch" and "The Great Train Hold-Up," features of last season's exhibi- tion, which will be retained and enlarged upon for this summer. Johnny Baker is equestrian director. Col. Wm. C. Cody is enjoying the final days of his winter vacation on his ranch near Cody, Wyo. Within a fortnight he will have returned to the "confines" of the metropolis, and when rehearsals begin he will personally direct them. The Cossacks are on their way from Russia; Orapeza is bringing his band of Mexicans from the land of the Aztecs, and "Billy" McCune is at Rose- bud Agency taking his pick from the In- dians whom the Government will "bond out" to Buffalo Bill for the season. There will be an even hundred. Ernest Cook, who managed the show for several years prior to the Wild West*s trip abroad, but who of late years has been identified with the Barnum-Bailey Show, will again be found in his old position with the "Bill Show'* this season. \ time to keep Buffalo Bill continuously before the New York reading public, of which the "Evening Worl4" haa a good share. ■..■>' .y'-r-.-.': ■' '-.■•'■ •'■:.' -•,;■..'■■•■'; •'■ ' '■.' ■■"■'■"} The following attractions have boon booked by F. M. Barnes for the Iowa State Fair at Des Moines, Aug. 22-28. Babcock, Throe Yoscarys, Four Bards, Ranza and Arna, Aerial Lloyds, Hatty's Boars, Lew Sunlin, Aliie Jaxon, Liberati's Band (60 pieces), and Pain's Pyrotechnical Spec- tacle, "Sheridan's Last Ride." There has been a street fair all this week at Moridan, Miss. The St. Louis Amuse- ment Company is conducting it. ., •' '_,_ Buffalo Bill's Wild West will open at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday after- noon, April 21, taking possession of the arena immediately the circus departs on the preceding Saturday night. On Mon- day evening there will be dress rehearsal, and the three weeks' engagement will open with the Tuesday matinee. Phila- delphia will be the first big city played outside of New York, and the road tour will include, practically, the entire coun- try. At present General Agent I^uis E. Cooke is completing the details of his ad- vertising campaign. Orders for paper have long since been placed and the de- livery will soon be made in order that the car agents may "lay out" their New York billing. lister W. Murray, manager of Car No. 1, is now in the city await- ing orders; Victor Cooke, who will handle the No. 2 car, is at his home in Newark, and E. H. Wood, who will be manager of No. 3 car, will soon come in from Cin- cinnati, where he has been managing the The New York ofllce of H. B. Marinclli has booked Webb's Seals for the Circus Brown, Buenos Aires, South America, in- stead of Winston's Seals, as reported. 'Iho onfiagoiiiont is for six months. Win- ston's Seals' time at home prevented ■'the acceptance of the proffered date. Rin;,']ing Circus opens at the Ojlisciim, Chicago, on April 2, for a stay of three weeks. ■ Major J. M. Burke (of the Buffalo Bill show), at the request of the New York "Kvoning World" has continued beyond the agreed twenty "Tales of the Plains.*' The Major drew his pen pictures so graphically that the "World" cunrluded it was "too good stuff" to let get away, and Major I'uiko's daily short stories are now labeled by the paper "Now Tales." The Major is a very busy man, but con9i<loring that the "Bill Show" will follow Barntim-Bailey into Madison Square Garden, he has found Ned Alvord, formerly with the Wallace & Hagenbeck show&, but for the past sea- son press agent for the Jack- Hoefl3er Vaudeville Circuit in the West, has ac- cepted a position with the Ringling Circus for the coming season as special agent. Washington, March 19. The circus grounds in Washington, which are located at Fifteenth and H Streets, Northeast, have been sold to the Union League to be used as baseball grounds the coming season. This location has been known as the circus grounds for the past ten years, is centrally located and convenient to the car lines. As this is the only desirable circus lot the cir* cuses playing Washington this season will probably pitch their tents in the out- skirts of the city. /. ■ V, v: Cole Brothers' Circus will open the sea- son at Youngstown, 0., April 18. Arrange- ments have been made with the Chamber of Commerce to rehearse in the city pre- paratory to taking the road. The city will furnish water supply and other conven- iences during rehearsals. John R. Davis, a Youngstown, C, coun- cilman, on March 9 asked the city council to amend the ordinances so as to pro- vide for a higher license for shows and circuses. The solicitor was ordered to draft an amendment. The Aerial Smiths, who signed two contracts, one for the Ringling shows, and the other through the Marinelli oflBce for Europe, will open with Ringlings* at the Coliseum, Chicago. After the Chicago engagement, the act will carry out the European engagements, the Ringlings having graciously consented to the cancel- lation of their agreement. Last week the family group of the Davenports, the American riders, at their home, 2067 Madison street, Chicago, broke up for the summer, all leaving to enter upon the season's engagements. Orrin Davenport, with his wife, Victoria, are now in New York with Barnu«i-Bailey; Jiihn Davenport goes with the Yankee Robinson Circus; Homer Hobson and wife return to Ringling Bros.; Stick and Norma Davenport will be with John Rob- inson; Reno McCree and Lulu Davenport will once again travel with Hagcnbeck- Wallare in a triple jockey act, styling it "The McCroe-Davenport Troupe." May Davenport is considering several offers for the tents, while Orrin Davenport, Jr., the youngster who made his appearance dur- ing the Winter, has reserved a sjHJcial cow for the roming season, which, his father says, will snpj)ly the boy with new fresh- laid milk daily. NEXT "RAT" AFFAIR APRIL 26. The next affair to be given by the White Rats will be a benefit on April 26 at the New York Theatre. There will be many prominent features for the evening, chief of which is a spe- cial sketch, now being written to be pre- sented by members.