Variety (November 1908)

VARIETY 11 CORY SAILS AWAY. On Tuesday W. E. Cory, general man- ager of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, with his friend, Dr. Tindolff (Cory's "Dr. Watson") sailed from New York for Paris. Mr. Cory will remain abroad until about the end of December, engag- ing numbers for the circus next season. It has been rumored without confirma- tion that the Hagenbeck-Wallace outfit may come east again next summer. This is not looked upon as probable. Since the disastrous visit that show made to Brooklyn in '07 there has been no hank- ering for a return engagement. Among show people, the mismanagement of the Brooklyn engagements wiil never be for- gotten. GIRGLJS NEWS FRANK MSLVILLB DIES SUDDENLY. While his brother George was working on the New York Hippodrome stage Mon- day evening, Frank Melville was stricken with an attack of organic heart disease in the office of Wells Hawks, the Hippo- drome press agent, and expired immedi- ately. The news was withheld from the younger brother until after the per- formance, in which he was substituting, Frank having been ill for several days. Melville had gone to Hawks' office to look up steamship arrivals, having ar- ranged to meet a party of European cir- cus acts which arrived Tuesday on the Georuic to reprace the present circus part in the Hippodrome show. While he was talking to Mr. Hawks, Melville suddenly pitched forward and before physicians could be summoned, was dead. He had suffered from mild seizures several times before. Frank Melville was 59 years old and belonged to one of the oldest and best known families in the circus field. He was among the first to accomplish the feat of a somersault on a moving horse, having learned the trick from his father, also Frank Melville. With his father, a sister and two brothers, he was a mem- ber of the Barnum-Bailey show for sev- eral years. He was later ringmaster with the same organization and left that posi- tion to become equestrian director of the Hippodrome. Melville leaves a widow, Rose Melville, formerly a bareback rider. SEEKING NEW FIELDS. The Flying Potters, an aerial casting act including ten people, have arranged to take out a regular circus next season. The Potters were this season with the Norris & Rowe Circus, and it is said they left that outfit short in their payroll account. During the early spring, according to the plan, they will assemble a show in some middle western town. It will bu transported in six cars or so and will hold to the Pacific Coast during the en- tire season. Soi RANCH" SOON IN MEXICO. The Miller Bros.' "101 Ranch" is work- ing across Texas on its way to the Mexi- can border. The show is due to arrive in Mexico City Dec. 8. In their travels through the Central American republic the showmen from the States are quite likely to encounter opposition with "Dick" Bell, who has a strong following among the natives. NORRIS & ROWE'S FOR SALE. According to a story which was going the rounds this week the Norris & Rowo Circus property will shortly be placed on the market and sold to the highest bid* der. The best information obtainable in New York is to the effect that William M. Donaldson, the Newport (Ky.)' print- ing concern, has taken over the outfit, and is wintering it in California, the pro- prietors of the show turning over the property as payment on a printing ac- count as well as for certain money ad- vanced by Donaldson early in the season. The show carried twenty-five cars dur- ing the tour last summer. The amount of Donaldson's claim against it is unknown. LILLIE-CODY DEAL CLOSED. The deal whereby Maj. Lillie ('Tawnee Bill") and Col. William F. Cody are to travel as joint stars with the Buffalo Bill Wild West exhibition next season has been closed. No announcement has come from the Cody headquarters as to the terms of the transaction, but among cir- cus people supposed to be "in the know" it is the understanding that Maj. Lillie has bought out what is known as the "McOsddon interest." This is the prop- erty of Mrs. James A. Bailey, and is said to represent half the value of the show. Col. Cody will continue with the Wild West, but will appear only for the open- ing ensemble, Maj. Lillie taking up the star's position for the rest of the perform- ance and also taking over the executive duties which formerly belonged to Col. Cody. NO PRIVATE CARS, SAY WIRTHS. Wirth Bros., the Australian circus men, have written to the Marinelli office in Paris claiming some of the foreign acts, booked through the Marinelli branches, expected to have private cars placed at their disposal upon reaching Australia. The Wirth Bros.' Circus is now playing over there. There have been complaints from artists about accommodations fur- nished, and in this connection the Wirth Bros, allege the fault was mostly found by the Sydne Bros. These foreigners, says the letter, asked that they be given a car to sleep in where they could also do their own cooking, and requested that writing utensils be placed at their disposal in order (as Wirth says) "to communicate with their new found lady friends over here." The circus travels by train. When the jump is not long enough to require a night trip, the aggregation travels the following morning, the artists putting up at some hotel during the night. Other- wise they sleep upon the cars provided for that purpose. "The objection," say the Wirth Bros., "seems to be we will not allow cooking on the cars. We can not permit this gypsy manner of living. It has brought derision to us from the town people where we have played." The Messrs. Wirth say not whether the argument over the cooking and writing utensils has been settled, but the surprise which the demands of the Sydne Bros, caused may be gleaned from the letter. COL. CODY IN NEW YORK. A big special carrying 150 people from the Buffalo Bill Wild West arrived in New York late Saturday afternoon. The train was made up in Memphis, Tenn., where the last show of the season was given, and came to New York via the Big Four, Lake Shore and Michigan Central and New York Central. In the company was Col. William F. Cody himself. He went immediately from the train to the Hoffman House, his reg- ular New York headquarters. In conversa- tion with a Variety representative the Colonel said: "I am more than pleased with our 1008 tour. We traveled about 16,000 miles —15,040 to be exact—quite the longest journey the show has ever taken. Every- body enjoyed good health and tne show was prosperous. "I shall remain about ten days in New York and then make tracks for Cody, Wyo., where I propose to herd cattle dur- ing the winter. That has all the health resorts beat a city block." Col. Cody looked far from needing i vacation. He was ruddy and bronzed, the picture of health. He would say noth- ing about the proposed "Buffalo Bill- Pawnee Bill" deal except: "The whole business will be settled within the week. We have a meeting scheduled for a day this week and after that, when the details have been agreed upon, we can talk for publication." The regular train of the show was dis patched from Memphis Friday and arrived at winter quarters in Bridgeport, Conn., Tuesday. CO-OPERATIVE SHOW FOR MEXICO. Dewar, the animal trainer, has con- ceived the idea of working through the West Indies, Mexico and South America with a 10-act tent show during the com- ing winter. Several important circus acts which have not yet accepted vaudeville contracts express their willingness to venture in the project. These acts will go through the tour, the circus working on a co-opera- tive basis. Harry Clark has been ap- proached with an offer to act as the gen- eral agent. BIG YEAR FOR ROBINSON. Cincinnati, Nov. 25. The John Robinson Circus arrived here Sunday and went into winter quarters at Terrace Park. Forty-five cars made up the circus train. "Gov." Robinson got home a week ago, and with his young wife took up residence in the Robinson home- stead. According to the "Governor," this* has been one of the best'years in the history of the show in point of net profit. It is of record that one season about five years ago the circus came home $156,000 to tha good. Although Mr. Robinson did not give out any figures it is said this year was not much below that amount. During the trip home the circus train ran for hours with all the windows closed and the landscape blotted out by smoke from huge forest fires in Missis- sippi and Georgia in which millions of dollars worth of timber was destroyed. OLD RUMOR REVIVES. The old rumor that the Ringling Bros.* Circus would open next season in Madison Square Garden was about New York this week with a bit more than its original strength. In the absence of any of thm Ringlings nothing by way of confirmation or official denial could be secured, but sev- eral acts declared that in the notices of re engagement for the Riogling Circus they had received there was a warning that they would be required to report in Madi- son Square Garden during March, 1000. The property men are also said to have been given like instructions. In some quarters this is taken as having ho significance, the Ringlings now having gone to Baraboo to winter and the Bar- num-Bailey outfit being already safely packed away in Bridgeport. It may be that the Ringling show will assemble in New York and journey to the opening point (Chicago) in a body. However, the guessing cuuteac i» re-opened, and is free- for-all. Maj. Burke did not return to New York with the rest of the Buffalo Bill people. He is spending a week's vacation in Texas. He will be home about the middle of next week, having instructed the new proprietor of Joe Smith's place on 14th Street to that effect. Since Maj. Burke left town on this trip the hotel has changed hands, Smith selling out. II is understood, however, that the accom- modation of Maj. Burke was a condition of the transaction, being specified in the original lease. Walter K. Hill, contracting press agent for the Buffalo Bill Wild West, who has been in Chicago since the No. 1 ear fin- ished its season, returned to New York this week. John F. Adams, secretary to Antonio Pubillones,' the Cuban circus manager, has booked for his principal through the office of Charles L. Sasse the following at- tractions : Fredianis, Ernesto Sisters, Tarn- agata Japs, Carl Damman, Keller Troupe of cyclists, Bo wen, Lina and Moll and Ferari 'Performing Animals and Menagerie. The Fassios, a foreign act, opened at the Hippodrome this week. BRIGHTON'S NEW HOUSE. Incorporation papers of the Robinson Amusement Oo. were filed at Albany this week. The capital is $100,000, and the concern Is under the management of David Robinson, who will erect on the site of the present Proodmmn's Hotel at Brighton Beach, a restaurant, theatre and casino. It will open in theaummej., The theatre will be named "Brighton's New Music Hall." Building operations will be commenced next month immediately following the demolishment of Proudman's Hotel. Mr. Robinson has severed his connec- tion with the Music Hall at Brighton, which he directed last summer. Several wealthy and influential men are inter- ested with him in the new venture. The theatre will likely play vaudeville, although the policy has not been decided upon ns yet by Mr. Robinson, who will !><• in c!i;i !■•:»' of the entire premises.