Variety (November 1908)

12 VARIETY GIRGUS NEWS PARKS AND PAIRS WORMS fc ROWE'S DIFFICULTIES. The Norris & Rowe Greater Showi arc back in quarters at Venice, Cal. f after a rather disastrous season, according to all accounts. Artists returning to New York this week declare that after the circus left Pacific Coast territory it lost money steadily, although the season had opened well. In Globe, Ariz., it is said, the mechani- cal force threatened a strike unless sal- ary claims were settled immediately. The Donaldsons are said to have settled a $80,000 printing bill at a big discount, and the Shannon Company, which supplied part of the equipment, was another press- ing creditor. One act declared that the show still owed it the last four weeks' salary. JOHN RINGLING REMAINS ABROAD. The return of John Ringling to-day from abroad will not occur, Mr. Ringling haying remained on the other side. His companions, Max C Anderson and 8am Gumpertz, left last Wednesday, baring delayed their departure beyond the sched- uled time. Mr. Ringling is still. booking acts on the other side, or looking for them. The recent proclamation issued against the Ringling enterprises by Da$ Program, the official organ of the artists' associa- tion in Germany, has been withdrawn, it is said, by the paper allowing Ringling to print a notice in its columns. Mrs. Ringling, who accompanies her husband on the other side, has secured Mr. Ringling's promise to visit Egypt and Jerusalem on this trip. COLE SHOW IN QUARTERS. Erie, Pa^, Nov. 19. Cole Brothers' show got into winter quarters at Harborcreek Sunday. The closing stand was Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 12. The two circus trains made fast time in. Ed. C. Knupp will be general agent next season, and Manager Martin J. Downs will be in charge, back with the show. Every- thing will be thoroughly overhauled. BILL SHOWS LONGEST TRIP. The tour of the Buffalo Bill Wild West which closed this week has been the longest in the history of the organization. The show was out 31 weeks and covered a mileage of upwards of 15,000 miles. This immense total was piled up by the show returning from St. Louis to Maine, and starting their journey to the Pacific Coast from that extreme eastern point. MIKE COYLE RECOVERED. Michael Coyle, who retired from the post of contracting agent with the Buf- falo Bill Wild West during June, because of ill health, and who it was supposed would never return to active circus life, arrived in New York this week com- pletely restored after several months in a New England health resort. He has de- clared his intention of taking to the road again next season. RAILROADS BID FOR TRAFFIC. Artists returning from the Ringling Brothers' Circus had an interesting story to tell this week about the incidents of the closing in Macon, Miss, October 11. Both the Baltimore & Ohio and the "Big 4" railroads had their agents on the ground bidding for the business of carry- ing the artists home. It was finally de- cided to submit the choice to a voting contest. Accordingly polling places were set up in the ticket wagon after the afternoon show (only one performance was given) and the electioneering com- menced. The railroad agents worked like a couple of candidates for office, getting their voters in and displaying generalship like old primary workers. George Hart- zelle represented the B. & O. and F. C. Weaver the Big 4. Al Miaco was one of the last to vote and both agents claimed him as an adherent. Finally he went over to the Big 4 side. The latter road won the day by a vote of: B. & O., 26; Big 4, 62. A special train was sent out over the Mobile and Ohio to St. Louis, Big 4 to Cleveland, Lake Shore & Michigan Cen- tral to Buffalo and New York Central to New York, a distance of 1,443 miles. PAID OWN RETURN TRANSPORTA- TION. More stories come up from the West Indies of artists' unhappy experience there. Young and Ladell returned to New York last week, paying their own trans- portation from Kingston, Jamaica. They went out some time ago with a tent show promoted and managed by the Maginleys, a double trapeze act. After a short tour disagreements arose in the show and finally got into court. The Franz Duo, who were likewise with the outfit, secured a berth with the Tatali show, which is about in the West Indian territory. PLAN MEXICAN TOUR. Miller Bros.' "101 Ranch" is working through Texas back toward Bliss, Okla., the regular winter quarters. It is reported about among circus peo- ple that the Brothers plan a tour through Mexico this winter. In all probability the show will be lightened when it gets to winter quarters and a small outfit of about a dozen cars will be sent South from Bliss to spend the winter in Mexico. Wallace-Hagenbeck and several other American circus organizations have tried the Central American republic with dis- astrous results, but it is conceded the main difficulty was they carried an ex- pensive and unwieldy organization. Many showmen believe a small compact show will bring returns. W. E. Cory, general manager of the Ben Wallace circus, was expected in New York this week on a booking expedition. Charley ("Pink") Hayes, last season contracting agent with the "101 Ranch" ("Wild West" show), is out in advance of the Kelsey-Shannon dramatic company playing "The Thief" (No. 2 Co.). Fred Beckman, who was also with the Miller Brothers' outfit, will return to his old post in advance of Lew Dockstader's Minstrels. London, Nov. 1. J. Calvin Brown, the manager of "White City," Manchester, and Tower Park, New Brighton, has entered into contract with the direction of the exposition of the East of France, which will be held in the City of Nancy, commencing May 1, and continuing until November 1. For this ex- hibition great preparations have been mak- ing for more than two years past, and one of the most beautiful parks in all of Eu- rope has been prepared for the purposes of the exposition, which is financed by the City of Nancy Corporation, and by the Chamber of Commerce of Nancy in its Corporative Capacity. The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition will be held in Seattle next summer, from June until Oct. 15. The time for conces- sions expires Nov. 15. Chicago, Nov. 12. The third annual National Dairy-Show will be held at the Coliseum Dec. 2-10. There will be educational and other fea- tures, including band concerts and theatri- cal performances. Half a dozen modern park amusement devices were shipped this week from New York to Manila, P. I., to be used in the summer park now under construction there, and which is scheduled to open about Feb. 1. Among the consignment was a "Human Roulette Wheel," Carousel, "Old Mill," "House That Jack Built," "Crystal Maze" and "Laughing Gallery." Arthur Hopkins has been made the Ameri- can representative of the enterprise. He will act as purchasing agent, but what at- tractions are booked for the resort, if any, *will be brought from Australia. Probably the main attraction will be a local band. R. A. Clark, a Manila merchant, is the promoter of the park. He has organized a $150,000 company to build and exploit it, and declares that if the institution proves a success it will be followed by a chain of similar resorts through the Orient, located at places where there is a considerable American or European population. The Menlo Mineral Springs Co., a recent corporation of Menlo, Ga., will build a park and several small theatres for open- ing next summer. C. H. Funk is president of the company. Chicago, Nov. 12. Joseph Beifeld has been elected Presi- dent of "White City"; Morris Beifeld, vice-president and Aaron J. Jones, secre- tary and treasurer. The annual meeting was held Oct. 27, when the following Board of Directors took office: Joseph Bei- feld, Morris Beifeld, Aaron J. Jones, Adolph Linick, Eugene V. Beifeld, L. A. Dehan and Wm. F. Merle. The intention is to enlarge "White City" for next sea- son, and many surprises will be given the summer amusement seekers of Chicago. This was announced after the meeting. The management of "Forest Park," which has been accepted by P. and D. Howse brought about his resignation as manager and a director of "White City." The resignation was accepted leaving Mr. Howse free to devote all .his attention to "Forest Park." Jos. A. Muller is the present manager of the Orpheum, Spokane. Geo. Harrison, who has been in charge since the house opened this season, has returned to the Chicago offices of the Western Vaudeville Association. James Dutton and Co. sailed for Eng- land on Nov. 19. They will return in March to open with Ringling Bros. Joly Violette, described as "the most beautiful dancer in the world," will ar- rive from Paris next February to com- mence a tour of the Orpheum Circuit. The Sun Bros.' Circus is extending its season beyond most of the other tented shows. It is playing through the South and has signed railroad contracts which will keep it moving until Dec. 10 at least. Nine cars make up the equipment. Horace Webb, the clown, has re-engaged with Barnum-Bailey for next season. He joined that circus at Sacramento Sept. 3, having opened the season with the Norris- Rowe shows. Art Adair, the clown, the past season with Hagenbeck-Wallace, announces he has retired permanently from the saw- dust and will take up vaudeville perma- nently. On the return trip from Macon, Miss., to Bridgeport there were eighty- two cars in the Barnum & Hailey circus train. Forty-two cars were in the Buffalo Bill Wild West string on the homeward- bound trip, which started from Memphis, Miss., Wednesday. Willard Coxey, former press agent for the Barnum-Bailey Circus, is now asso- ciated with J. D. Barton, of the National Printing Co., in the exploitation of a string of legitimate attractions. They have four companies out playing "The Devil," as well as other organizations on the road over Stair & Havlin time. The Flying Jordons, this season with the Ringling show, have gone temporarily into winter quarters at Bridgeport, Conn., where under direction of Lou Jordon they will practice for a partly new aerial cast- ing act. The Marinelli New York office booked the Braselli Sisters for a winter tour with the Pu bill ones Circus in Cuba last week, but when it came time for the boat to leave for Havana the pair became fright- ened at going so far away from home and retired from the engagement. "Talking" pictures are now given at Bennett's, Quebec. The Tiger Lilies Amusement Co. has been incorporated at Cleveland by Frank X. Drew, Woodson T. Campbell, the bur- lesque managers, and Chas. J. Kitts and Harry Dillon. The capital stock is $5,000. The company will conduct a park next summer.