Variety (May 1936)

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Wedncsd^ May 27, 1936 ¥ D OO R S VARIETY 65 Gorman Bros. Circus New^Haven, May 22. ■ ^iifB year's stand ot Gorman trick j9 « good e3cample„of what a favor-' T«P can . do for small, rubber- V$lred outfl*^ Show has played hei.e Bievipua two "years, and, scored s6 nicely that this year's business was GOBX^d in with the expenditure of '■-■"^ia^- about encMigh paper for a fflSteet'*- napkin-. -OiAy^ posting was a few one-sheet date announce- ui^qts, but it sufficed to pull cus- tplA^rs enough for an'extira evehing '^^ybe it's becauae of : the load of entertainment Tom Gorman' hands out for a single two-bit -piece, With j^^ryed Section another quarter, nlo^ a "dime-a-throw wild West con-, cert. Gorman Has cut his daily hut <3<jnslderably this year, but still inanages' to oiTer 85 mlhuteg of snappy variety that fills his 3,500- seat top and sends 'em out boosting the trick to ,the proverbial,skies. Show Is in ahead of Downie Bros., Itfay 27; and Bingllng-Barhum, June 10. hut would, probably have done just as good biz without advan- tage of being number One on dates. Opened in Hackensack a week ago and, despite cold, has required thr^e shows in several repeat stands. Opening date. May 15, is over three ^j-eeks behind last year. ■ Trick will trek through New England, but may '■■ hit New York State eventually; F6r ■ * line-up that' was tossed- together jfl a'hurry; this year's,.offering zips ttodugh a peppy routine, with every- thing handled in one ring. Outfit is .Wiled as a three-i-inger, but ring luldlber two is used for storage of jprope and ring number three just isn't . ' . - • .A-band of eight men warmed up t^e crowd with a pleasing overture;, a'eii came a bHe^ entreie. AvUh three j^ark girls leading with baton ' swifaglng. 'Show proper.opens with -:. S^ii^atlonai ' Leiands and DeKuh, cpihedy ttimhlers,. followed by Lady Barbara'^'ponies, dogs aind monkey. Gracie' Hiannieford, 16-year-old datfghter of Poodles, oh next in a ~;>roIo. ddihg act. Kid ]s an eye-filler ' and, although her initial try on her own Is rather tame riding, she looks a- comer.' Merle Reiger puts a single high-school horse through a clever routinei : then clpwns are in for boxing bout. Maybe it was the hi^at, or something, but for a minute it looked like , the gag actually con- tained som^e hew business. . iRay Goody followed on. tight wire and. drew a nice hand. "Gopdy shovved more polish than in his previous work here» ConPert an- npljiicemeht- next. Clark family (thr.e6 femmes, one man) back ;;for a heat , juggling tm^n. Act finales with two"girls on separate platforms supporting between thejn a third giri doing; a muscle grind oh. a rope, first .two meanwhile criss-cross jug- gling flaming torches; flashy stuff. Hanheford family next, ^Ylth Poodles ■doing the clowning, over big. Hay Goody doubles here for a bit of riding. Clowns backr bucking mule;. • then Adele Nelson's elephants, cli- maxing with three bulls putting on ahaseball game. Show closes Avith Bay Goody's foot slide. .No menagerie this year and not .'air act on the .program, last yeav's flying team being out. Show is-essentially built around comedy and soft-pedals the thrill angle. Buddy-Montana features conceii. Tom Gorman lis owner and man- ager; Harold Corbett. agent; Sedg- wick Mekeil, treasurer; Tex Sher- man, publicity; Buck Buckner, bpss canvasman; Doc Leon, front door^ Poodles Hanneford meets himself coming and going as ahnounrer and l»erformer. Sideshow, operated by Max Kassow, contains contortionist, Wgic, handless wonder, fire-eater and astrologer; also a sneak-view trio Qf muscle dancers, the only sour element attached to the whole out- fit and one that won't help any on a repeat stand. Bone. BARNETT BROS. Warren, O., May 22. Confining its early season iiiner- . ary to the steel mill districts of eastern Ohio and western Pennsyl- vania, Barnett Bros, circus, oi|l now almost, a month and a half, is gross- ing better than any previous season in five years, Ray Rodgers, owner- manager, said here. Smaller than last year In every ^IfPaftment. With the exception of li ?j show canvas, which Rodgers »aid Soon would be replaced, tlie equipment compares favorably with ine Barnett show of former years, jmow has elimfnated the parade ; season, claiming a circus S m*'" i-ubber tires has no ap- 4^ \ sideshow is weak and so ni.ii* ? had no regular manager. Vh}^ 's carrying four bulls, all of irrl^ ^vorking in the big show pro- firam.. There is a Camel, several Ppnies and small animals in a ^^I'.^eerle. Avhich Is housed in a J'^'{,<>ne-pole round-top to the left show « '"'"■^u«'e. In many Hpols 5rnnM.o playing under aiispioes. curton , •'»'^o»'t and can he fiirthpr at niiw' ^" '-vent of two shows it tournament, entire com- pany; 2^jaouble traps, featuring the Aerial Lakes;- 3, Texas Ted Lewis, announcement wild west aftershow; 4, foot slidier Pat Knight; 5. single elephant; 5, one-arm swing; 7, table rock, clown feature; 8, ri ing act; 9, muscle gi-ind. Pearl Harris and Vivienne White; 10, Rodgers' Liberty horse act, eight well-drilled horses in excellent routine; 11, an- other concert announcement; 12, comedy acrobats; 13, bar act; .14, iron jaw; 15, CorrieU family act .with new features; 16, concert an- nouncement; 17, boxing and wrest- ling clowns; 18, wii:e act, with Pat Knight; Eileen Rodgers and Flo Mcintosh and Norma Knight;, 19, cloud swing; iO, head balancing; 21, menage act; 22, three elephants; .23, banner announcement; 24, hed.d Plide; 25, flag em out with an Indian spec, most of the big show people ■in Indian costuriie, closing -with 'Indian Love Call' solo and dropping of huge American flag from high up in the top, in,the glow Pf red firt burned in a;il three. rings and on the track. In clown alley are Howard Bi'y- ant, Iza and Charles La Bird, T. P. Lewis, Kotch Bros, and Walter Hohn, concert clown. PersPnnel of the big show In- cludes Pat (Polo) Knight, Aerial Lakes, Ersuline .MifTntosh, Eileen Rodgers and Norrtia Knight, who work the bulls; Vivienne White, CorrieU family (Verne,. Vernell, Everett, Zaza and Earl), Flo Mcln- to.sh, T. iP. Lewis, Howard Bryant, Pearl Harris, La Bird Bros.; Lewis Bros., Kotch Bros. (Beh and Sam), Amelia Lake: and Norma Knight. Concert: Texas Ted Lewis, T. P. Lis wis, Dorothy Lewis, Arizona Gordon and Olivette, Princess Silver Faun, Walter Hoh and Eddie Sha- boo, wrestler. " . ' , The staff: R. W. iRpdgers, owner- manager; George FeiristCin, secre- tary-treasurer; G. G. Cox, legal, ad-, juster; Tommy Burns, equestriain director, charge of the bulls; Charles. La Bird, sideshpw manager ; Ralph Cautin, supt of tickets; Jack Fox, concession manager; Mose Becker, privileges; Oscar . Wiley, general agent; Vestal Prultt, car .manager; Virgil Pruitt, boss bill- ppsteV; O'Dell Zimmerman, .supt of ushers; Alex D Mcintosh, transpor- tation; Ha:rry Mofris; 24Th6ur man; Harold Lings, press agent ahead; Dave Mcintosh, equipment; Walter A. Rpdgers, annoUnce'r; E. Bran- don, chief electrician; Walter Hohn, inside tickets, and Keller" Pressley, front door. Band: li-a Haynes, conductor, has a smaller band than former ypars, bu. siays personnel'will be increased later in the season. Now includes C, B. Van Vactiir,. Andy Martin, Charles Smith, Nick Altroch, Bus M :Gowari, C. O. Sears, Fred Keifer, Joe Williams, Bill Wymore and Charlie La Bird. Sideshow: Dixie Minstrels, Jphn Belle, manager; Clifford Blount, stage, manager; David Nelson, comedian; Levette Gardner, blues singer; J«rry Martin, trombone; Lucinda Blount, tap dancer; Sam Gardner, sax; Frank Gooki trumpet, and John Belle, double drums; Marionettes and magic, Charles La Bird; mentalists. Madam. Joan, Geraldlne Gerald; Indian'-Princess, Silver Swan; Hindu Swordbox; Dol- lita; sharpshooters and knife throw- ers, Arizona Gordon and Olivette; dancefs, Lucile Cautin, Dolly Eddy, Grace Berry and Johnnie Benja- min;. Joan Francis, Benny Wells, Chester Gregory, tickets; Dave Mc- Carter, ticket taker. LEWIS BROS. CIRCUS Sandusky, O., May 24. Substantially enlarged and replete with surprises, the newest edition of the Lewis Bro.«(. circus, motorized outfit out of Jackson, Mich., is lieading for Michigan after a sliort sojourn through northeastern Ohio, where several virgin spots were picked up and business at all stands the first two weeks of the tour has been better than a year ago, accord- ing to. Paul M. Lewis, owner-man- ager. „ Lewis is one showman who boasts that the complete equipment stocks and props are his and paid fpr. He has a neatly framed show again this season, performance runs lietter than 80 mlns and can be cut to an hour in the event two shows have to be given at night. There are several new trucks conspicuous about the lot. The parade has been dispensed with. The big show pro- gram is stronger than last season. The program opens with a spec labled 'A Fiesta in Spain,' with some 30 dancing girls in tliree rings and track, all new wardrobe, which with blending colors is a real flash under the light.s; (2) Capt. Jerome Smith and lions, larger steel arena this year and act is working much smoother; (3) clowns; (4) comedy acrobats, the Dolls, the MOrfen.s, and the MerrlJl.i-; (5) Riding dogs, Keith Polwv, Iiorothy Lewis; (C) Iron Jaw; (7) .<Iowns- again, t^livors .lohn.son and ronipany; («) ^If-nag*-. Mildred Meinke. and Dorothy Lewis. May MalKon, hof.<5e on trac^k. Chapin: CJ) Morfens carrying pprrli; nO) Kir.st i-iir\rCYX atinounrfm*nt; <111 clowns; (11) 3f?>r«. Harry Menil) ELITCH'S HEAD START Garden Pla>8 to 34,000 First Two Days of Season Denver, May 26. Elitch Gardens opened with a bang and broke all opening 'day crowds in the 46^ear history of the park. On the opening Saturday night over 15,000 paid the tien-cent admission charge, and Sunday's at- tendance xeached over 19,000. The rebuilt roller coaster was the big- gest attraction outside pf the "dance floor; - Herff . thie iin^ was often a block long and some waited in. line over.an hour for thethrlll ride. Con- cessions were sold but long before thP closing hour. Bernle Cummins and his orchestra, featuring Dorothy Crane, drew their share of the crowds, the dance floor being jammed to capacity both eve- nings. If the opening nights are any in- dication at'all of this seiason's busi- ness, local theatres will have plenty of competition to contend witi Parades and Wreaths Akron O., May 26; Becaui$e the circus parade seems, incongruous with the sad beauty of Memorial day, the Cole Bros, circus has been refused a parade permit for . Memorial Day, May 30. L. G. Gilleh, licehsiB clerk, said 'people want to decorate graves on Memorial day. They don't want to see a circus parade. They want to see soldiers parade.* Mayor J. p. Schory differs how- ever and has ■ iasked the .circus to' send a representative here ih an effort to airange a schedule whereby both the soldiers land the circus can parade the morning of Memorial day. and clowns; (13) Pony drill, Dor- othy Lewis; (14) clowns; (15) Swinging ladders, Mary Matson, Phyllis Stanwick, Mildred Meinke; (16) clowns; (17) Elephant solo, presented by Dorothy Lewis; (18) Single traps, Kelly,. Eddie and Mae Moreen. Harry Merrill; (19) clowns; Dogs presented by Dorothy Lewis; (20) goats worked by Keith Poley; '?1) concert announcement; (22 :re act, Three Chesters; -(23) Big ponies,. Dorothy Lewis; (24) Banner announcement; (25) Jumping horses on .tra.ck, ridden by Dorothy. Dlttbe,> Dorothy Lewis, Keith Poley, June R\issell, May Matson, Williart Os' wald and Robert Morris; (26)' the Six Moreens, closing with a teeter boa.rd to a chair; Slivers Johnson with his funny Ford brings the pro-, gram to a close. SUAE: Paul M. Lewis, OFPer-. manager; Joseph M. (Doc) Heffer- man, assistant manager; R^ B. Dean, press representative; C. S. Primrose, general agent; Harry Hamilton," special agent; Fred Thalhofer, man- ager bill car; Jerome . Smith, supt.; E. S. (Red) Monroe, general, fore- man and boss canvass; Sanford Sussell,' commissary; George V. Con- ners, asst. sideshow manager; Bill Concord, asst. boss canvass; Doc Burns, big show announcer and lec- tui'er; Sammy Maoreftia, supt. inside tickets; Bill Ben hay, boss, hostler?? R. C. Wade, chief electrician; Paul Lalley, asst. electrician; Mrs. Dell Kirkendall, Mr.s. Doc Tripp, Mrs. P. C. Hill, reserved seats tickets; P. C. Hill, front door tickets; Dor- othy Campbell, director of ring .stock; Louis Watson, inside tickets; Cy Perkins, inside tickets; Barney Ross, elephants; Bill Oswald, anl-v mals; Tony Lopez, ponies; Harry Merrill, equestrian director; Slivers Johnson, 'producing clown; Mae Smith, Myrtle Meinken, Cora Gray- bar, June Russell, Carrie Robbins, Mary Richardson, Ethel Sheppard, Carrie Elmore, menage; Phylis Stanway, director o£ spec; Buck Reger, in charge of banner adver- tising; Massey Brothers, novelties; Verne Hall, chief of transportation; Fred Adams, Herman Delamer, mechanics; Agnes Underwood, sec- retary; M^e Lewis, treasurer; Doc Ti-ipp, band director; Conrad Kirk- endall, assistant band leader; Wil- liam Tingler, steward; Frank Kuba, cook. Big show band. T. J. (DPc) Tripp, leader, Sid Antell. Harry Kohn, John Anderson,' Bverrelt Rammers, Ethain AJbbey. Carl Kuebler. W. M, Nolan, Tige Half, Dale Howey, Frank Val- lelv. I.^rry Welch; Sldfjs-how: Jake lYiedman, man- ager; (ieorge R. Connors, asst. manager; Art Woods, inside lec- turer; Ora Weldy. Roy Woodf^. ticket.s; Prof .Maxwells' colored band and min.^trds; Tpur Mar.shaJl sisf-rs, rhurnba dartrer.s; Dr. Ed- w,irds. Punch and Judy and maKir; fonr-l'-ggi'-d girl i)luf-ion; Aldo. fire- oat.'i--. LiJh'an Kuf^-r. .<-nak<'s; Havr-n and lifdwood, Sif.ux Indians; hlll- Jiilly singer'-; Ktj.f-l Kri'dmun and (jt-r'^le Tiobf-rtv. danf-ei '-. ('onc*^Kf-ions: F. l^ Vf.ung. man- agM - Lorrfiii.*- i-ng. stand; r'*.'.;H-.t I»'-'K V..;..- ur^d Pan] l.u \o: <. b!)t< .^'; Mnrlc. Buildings Are Already 90% Complete SUIT OVER SHOW John G. Robinson Sues Bowers Estate Over Miigivan Sate Cincihnatit May 26. John G, Robinson, great-grahd- son. of the founder of the circus which operated under that nanie for more than a century, flled suit last week in PerUr Ind., against the es- tate of the late Bert Bowers, banker and former circus magnate, for ^1,000,000 damage. . Bowers and the late Jerriy Mug!-, van bought the circus Interesits of RoblnsPn's late father and grand- father in 1916. Robinson's suit al- leges the. sale Carried the stipula- tion th&t the. Robinsonis should have first option if the clrcpS again was sold. The RlngUng interests ijought the. Robinson show in 1929 and Rob- inson, WhP makes his home in the family residence - here, asks- $500,- 000 for alleged loss of the circus and the: title and 1500,000 for alleged loss in the earning power of the Ciircus since he claimed It in 1934. HUNGERFORD'S PAGEANT FOR CLEVELAND EXPO Ed Hungerford staging a pageant based on th<9 .progress of land, Bca and air transportation for the Great Lakes^ Expoisition open- ing in Cleveland for 100 days June 27. Title .of the show, patterned after the. 'Wings of a Century* at" the Chicago fair, will be 'Parade of the Teats.' Others connected with Hunger- ford, ex-newspaperman, in the pro- duction are Charles Alan, Harry Homer, Adele Nathan and John Ross Reed. Mix Circus Weathers Idaho Blow Down ■Rock Springs, Wyo,, May 26. Tom Mix circus showed here yes- terday (25) little the worse for blPw- dowh that hit outfit week ago at Burley, Idaho; Mix at time suffered minor hurts and one or _ two^ other ^ e.mi>loyes ^slightly injured; ' That Rose Si^ Dallas,. May 26. Application of Billy Rose of Ft. Worth Frontier Centennial to erect a big sign on buHding across street from Dallas Centennial expo main entrance was denied because Rose's sign was large enough to endanger building. Inspector advised him to cut Its weight. Expo execs said idea was absurd that.they would retaliate by putting sign opposite Rose's show. Big Tenter Norfolk, May 26. Billroy's Comedians, a tent show, opened Portsmouth, May 25. Eighty people In cast, fifty of-them girls. A ladies free night is lure stunt to get biz. Daphne in fan dance, Palais Roy- ale ork and comedians are features. Two prices, kids 15c. and adults 25. King in Parks YpungStown, O., May 26. Manuel King, 12-year-old animal trainer, one of the acts left stranded when the James M. Cole circus folded recently in Cleveland, has found temporary bookings in east- ern Ohio parks, the first being a three-day engag'jment at Idora park hei'e. He hopes to be able to Contract one of the motoi'ized shows for hi.s act during \\)<' f-^-ason. Dallas, May. 26. Threa,tened labor strike and un- seating of a key executive last week failed to stop Centennial Exposi- tion's steady march toward June 6 opening. Skilled mechanics walked olf the 11,250,000 State of Texas Hall. job In 'sympa;thy' affair and union dele- gates spent the week trying to pev- suade workmen to quit the 300 other structures, in the parkv Looks like It will be only a tempest In a-^tea pot, as fair execs; are striving; only to get the niemoriars shell per- fected by opening sp it wPn't l)llght appea;*^ncj of the exposition. Hall is reserved for* regional historic treasures,, ai^d will open about Sept, 1. ■ "Walter Herzog received lila dis- missal ifroitn CSeh.'Mgr. W.. A. Webb. Under, tltlp of ass't finance mgr.t Herzog had been running .finance, service dep'ts, sports, much special events and even some prfomotlon. Webb disliked his tendency to try to cover too much and to dip into., other, dep'ts.. -it was said.. Herzog f^ecently refused a much higher salary offered- by i^Illy Rose at the Ft, Worth : frontier Centennial. Th^ labor walkout did.hot touch the mld%yay . nor any of .the majpr- exhibit structures, practically all of which are in the final painting stage. Sevejiteen large - pernianent. .halls have been turned over to the ^xpo managpment, and every prl-. vate building is at least . 90- per. cent complete^d.- Bigger exhibitors are nearlne completion. Ford building is being furnished, and Ford's old Southwest trail reproductions are being laid down around ■ park lagoon. Chrys- ler Indoor Exhibit and open theatre^ are well under way. -General Motors is whipping auditorium in shape for miisic and tab shows. Mainy, like Conoco and the 12 railrpads in the show, are ready to .open their dpors now. Telephone Numbers Expo ^veterans are predicting that Centennial opening will eclipise every prPVlpus' like diay. They are jftetting figure a^ ai^y mark between 600,000 and 1,000.000. Those in the know at Washington say President F. D. Roosevelt' will not be In Dallas to press open the gates, and execs are hoping he won't'—that he will hit town, some blistering day.In August. ; Parade ICO minutes long is planned to wend from business, dis- trict ta the expo gates; terminating in elaborate pageantiryt with, broad-*- casting;,', hook-ups,. in iiark etadlumk Stadium stunt is to go . to CBS^ while ceremony of lighting up grounds the first night is for NBC. Veteran exhibitors are pointing to Centennial as proving grounds for air conditioned fairs. Everybody that has taken enough . interior space to' be walled in, all private .exhib structut'es, all the eating houses, and a number of shows are air conditioned. General Motors has installed system in its auditorium, and same is being used In the four museums and the aquarium built by city of Dallas. Military Show Military camp of fair Is populated by 750 soldiers, sailors and marines. Special detachments of air attack groups and coast anti-aircraft artil- lery will come in to augment regur lars in spectacular maneuvers and dpehirig night air sham battle. 'Cavalcade of Texas,' expo's spec- tacle, is in the mill. Construction of grand. stand and three stages is about finished, and cast of 300 peo- ple has been iri rehearsal for severa;! weeks. A total of about 8 per Cent of the fair's exhibit and concession space is yet open, and Paul Mausmann, dir., has gone into special events dep't. and hegun shifting things around- to grounds and building spots. it,. Circus Routes AL G. BARNES .M;iV- S'iOk.-iik \V;i(<ii.; Mji.v WfilJH WriKh.; Mjiy 27, Jv-ridlfton, Ore ; Mar !'>•. Jtdkfr. <)ti:.: .May 1!9, I Narnii!.-. TiU ■ "O. Hdlnp. Iilji.; May '!!. Hiji-lf> 111:-.. f;n'.''J'JrK- 1. Twin ^■n^.\^. Mil., ,luri»- J'ocfiKMJo. J<Wi.: ,)Uiu; Sa)t ].»:.<■ fiiy fif.h; ,furi'- -( l-o>:nn. • !'?f(l, : .lunr H'ff'■I'f'KH U\:\ .luiK- j r.(l,-it/<j ViiV.y. 1<I,- , June ', O.J.'TJ, AJ(i.iit., Asks lOG for Fall Lo,"! Angeles, May 2C. Damage suit for $10,103 for irijur- los Hustalnrd on tlie high seas, has ijeeri flled by Florence Wix, eques- trienne and actress, against steam- ship California and operators Panama VacUVn line. Complaint charges. negligenco caused Hlippery deck on which she .fell, permanv^ntly Injuring her back, Shlp'.s j)hy.sicfan Is also charged wl»>i f-'lvlng medical attention that aggravated injury.