Variety (Sep 1938)

Wednesday September 7, 1938 OUTDOORS VARIETY 55 Carny Boys Ordering Aspirin Already, Before Frisco's Fair Opens in Feb.; Comml Doubts San Francisco. Sept.- , of aspirin already being timed along the corridors of the World's Fair; the outlook is none too promising around here. any of the'proposed concessions have fallen through and the hopes for a gala fair are slowing down. Reported figures on intake considerably be- low, early expectations and indica- tions are that much of the proposed ill have to be revised, ittee had originally figured on a pre-sale of $1,500,000 in tickets. But last week the total ducat les are understood to have reached only $269,000, far below what had been expected by this date. And to top that. disappointing mark it is esti- mated that it cost $76,000 to sell the $269,000 worth of tickets. Fair had been planned on the basis of a bond subscription of. $7,- 500,000, but the figure at present stands at $5,800,000. Of the latter figure the fair has obtained about 6% in cash. Bit Shows Look C«M It now appears, also, that many of the big shows which had been expected for the fair will not ma- ter' lize with the pull-outs slated to be the Barbary Coast, Cavalcade of the Golden West, Black Forest, Showboat, Midget Village and the Streets of Paris. Also in the doubt- ful list is the proposed Casino which was slated to cost $250,000 and to operate with a weekly show hut of $18,000. Harry Joe Brown, a 20th- Fox production executive, who was figured on,for a 'Hollywood' setup, is reported chilled on the deal as it now stands. Concessionaires' yelp is based on the percentage take for the home office, which will run from 15% for the Villages, on the gate admission',: and 5% on the inside receipts, to 17^4% on restaurants and 20% on the rides. This is to be figured from the first dollar in nearly all > in- stances, with no waiting on the per- centage until the building cost has been amortized. Midway boys are yelping that the middle walk is too wide, being 70 feet, as' compared' with the 50-foot spread in Chicago. Feel that the wide stretch will run the people down'the middle and keep "em out of reach of the spielers. IS Months, Too Long Most of the concessionaires also feel ■ that the proposed 10-month period for the fair is far too long and that they could do as well on a six-month basis without going on the nut for the additional four months' upkeep. Squawking that the "scheduled opening for Feb. 18 is at least a month too early. As far as the general works setup on the fair grounds, it is generally conceded to be exceptionally fine and well made. Have planted around $1,000,000 worth of trees. The build- ings and architecture of the general .structures are acclaimed as truly beautiful. Fair also has received a remarkably high percentage of ac- ceptances from a flock of foreign governments, already on the line for participation in the fair. Structurally, artistically and edu- cationally, everybody agrees that the 1939 fair is a knockout. But the boys who are around looking for a quick buck in promotions are putting up. a Rreat holler that it looks like an nrtistic triumph. But commercially Fales the East Lynchburg, Sept. 6. . 'Mighty Sheesley Midway, backer of fairs in Lynchburg and neighbor- ing Amherst County for four or five years, has faded out this season, transferring rights to Amherst Agri- cultural Exposition to Marks Bros., of Richmond. Understood Sheesley is riot play' ing anywhere in east this season. AFA'S UNIONIZATION DRIVE ON CARNIES INCLUDES A100 % LAW-ABIDING BALLY MOVE IN ON FAIRS AFA to Picket All State \ni Coonty Events Using Non-Union Acts OHIO PARKS SUFFERED FROM BIZ DEPRESSION Canton, O., Sept. 6. Eastern Ohio amusement parks, which folded for the season Labor Day, experienced their worst season in more than a decade, a survey of the major spots, recently revealed. Take at Meyers Lake park here, one of the largest in the'district, was 50fE> off, as compared to last season, Carl Sinclair, manager, has an- nounced. Idora at Youngstown, 30% off; Summit Beach park at Akron, about 15%; Chippewa • Lake park, Medina,. 25%; Rock Springs park, Chester, W. Va., better than 50%; Lake Brady park, Ravenna, about the same as last year, with bingo and slots helping there, and Craig Peach park, near Youngstown, about 30%. ides fared badly all season, while concessionnaires reported their busi- ness better the last half of the sea- son. Crowds were as . large as in former years, but did little spend- ing. TROUBLE FOR BARNES i OUamwa Brings Suit far Skewing Wltheat a License Des Moines, Sept. 6. - Charges of exhibiting a circus without a license has been brought against the Al G. Barnes, Sells-Floto circus following its recent appear- ance at Ottumwa. Information was signed by county attorney' E. J. Grier.in district court after the show played just outside the city limits. Wapello county fair at Eldon, la., opened on the same date. Circus representatives at first brought a mandamus action against the board of supervisors but later dropped the district court fight. Despite action of the board in refusing the license because of the fair, the circus made plans to show and. had an audience estimated at 5,000. Circus Juicer Slugged St. Louis, Sept. 6. Earl R. Geithman, 47, a juicer, em- ployed by the Al G. Barnes and Sells-Floto circus is in a serious condition at the City Hospital under treatment for a fractured skull suf- fered when he was attacked while the circus was making a four day stand here recently. Geithman and Andrew and Charles Legg, brothers, also employees of the circus told cops that Geithman was struck by an unidentified man who accosted them on the street near the circus grounds and first struck at Charles Legg. The gendarmes are holding a sus- pect pending the outcome of Geith- man's injuries. Geithman resides' at Genoa, III. Chicago, Sept. 6. Fair agencies and bookers have come within the range of notification, by the American Federation of Ac- tors here, which has begun an active campaign to organize the outdoors division around this territory. Barnes fit Carruthers agency and the other fair agencies and outdoors talent, of- fices have been sent letters notifying them that the AFA will expect them to operate on a closed shop basis, and handle only AFA members. This follows notifications to the fair secretaries that the AFA will picket and declare unfair all. fairs, county or state, which persist in us- ing non-union performers. This takes in free acts as well as grandstand and. midway turns. Campaigns Against Lewd or Gambling Shows 1 —Car- nivals Cooperate Because U. S. Mass Patronage These Days Is Very Union-Minded :———— ' ' "' . —+• ■ Jam Session at N. Y. State Fair's Benefit; Attendance Off So Far FAIR'S $1,000,000 SUIT BY N. Y. IDEA'MAN While the N. Y. World's Fair cur- rently is facing $1,000,000 suit be- cause Joseph Shadgen claims he first thought of the 1939 exposition, San Francisco fair officials say thus far they'have been free of such difficul- ties. Reason is believed to be that a bill seeking $1,500,000 for the Coast exposition was introduced in Con- gress in 1932, .and hence it is officially on record that far back. Shadgen, the New York man pres- ently, suing the world's fair company on the clai that he originally sug- gested the exposition, at one time was employed by the. N. Y; Fair at about $600 per month, t r so the fair officials claim. They also contend he Syracuse, Sept. Performers on the New York State Fair grounds, more than 400, will stage a 'Fair Inside Out' party at the Coliseum here Wednesday night (?) for benefit of the National Showmen's Association. A battle of music between Paul Whiteman and Tommy Dor9ey will help, swell the gate. Other music for. the jam session will be provided by the In- dian band of the J. E. Roach Ranch Rodeo, the Syracuse WPA band, and Willie Austin's swingsters from, the Cherry & Rubin midway. Party will open at midnight at close of regular dance program on fair grounds and - will be on the open-house plan, with performers and chorines as hosts and hostesses. Between dances, performers will present acts and chorus ensembles. Reuben Gruber, president of the Showmen's Association,, who con- ceived' the party idea, is bringing over one of the midway rides to add novelty to the event. This will be first time Syracuse has ever seen the dawn-to-dusk event and-it shapes up as biggest 'after hours' jubilee in the history of the fair., Good Labor Day turnout failed to bring the State Fair attendance anywhere near '500,000 attendance mark set for the first two-week pro- gram in the expo's, history. Offi- cials have, now revised their goal and are shooting for. 300,000, de- pending on four-day running, horse meet now in progress and auto races on Saturday, final day, to turn the trick. First week of the'.fair drew Only 161,000, . thus running more than 100,000 behind-record for the. same days set {last year. Concessionaires, socked plenty this year because of worked for about a year, but quit I ?^ en *f d run .° r < ai ^' ' WW«*- ■ ■ —" Many reduced staffs during the because he had so little to do. Suit followed. In exposition circles, Shadgen is credited with having been on a much higher salary basis, reputedly as a consulting engineer when he re- signed Understood that his discov- ery that George Washington was in- ducted into office in the region near New York City prompted him to sug- gest the exposition, idea. N. Y Fair officials say that they had the idea in mind while the Chicago exposition was still in progress, and that every World's Fair of size i goes through si ilar experience of having people claim that they first thought of hold- ing the exposition. Corrigan Crate , at S. F. Douglas Corrigan has promised the 1939 Golden Gate International Expc officials that h. will exhibit hjs nine-year-old crate which car- ried him to Ireland/ during the en- tire 288-day run of the local fair next year. Corrigan also has prom- isor, that he will spen," as much time as possible on Treasure Island, site of the fair. The exposition will show news- reels of the Corrigaiy trip to Ireland, including shots of his welcome in Dublin and leading cities of the United States in connection with the cxhi ition of the plane, N. C. to N. Y. Charlotte, N: C, Sept. 6. North Carolina has launched plans for a $100,000 exhibit at the New York World Fair next year, having signed contracts for 4.S0O square feel of space within the slate buildings area at the exposition. W. E. Fenner. of Rocky ount, is chairman of the commission and Coleman W; Roberts, of Charlotte, exhibit director. Recent special session of the Gen- eral -Assembly appropriated $75,000 ing. week and are praying for banner turnout on auto race doy Saturday to get them out of the red/ Flop of the Arthur Murray New. York state dance contest, finals of which were staged at the State Fair Coliseum here Saturday night (3), coupled with legal complications re- sulting from a suit charging viola- tion of copyright, may lead state fair officials to drop the contest next year. Although house was liberally papered in last-minute effort to build up crowd, less than 2,000 turned out for the finals, which were conducted by Murray. Lucky win- ners among the couples entered after sectional elimination contests walked out with $500 in cash and radios as prizes. Poor billing and lack of publicity also killed the 'WLS National Barn Dance' Saturday afternoon. Although the event marked first use . of the coliseum's new $17,000 dance floor, it drew less than 500 paid customers. G ranters' Eskimo-Pie Annahelding; New Bally Minneapolis, Sept. 6. Local i cream manufacturers get a break this week when Gordie Greene, going wrestling in the mud one better, launches wrestling . in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla ice cream for the first time any- where as an 'added ■ attraction' one night weekly at .his Palace- theatre, lower loop subsequent-run film house. Shades of Anna Heidi Greene will use the same ring as t for. mud~\vi'cslling, but will substi- Spartanburg, S. C, Sept. 6. tute 50-60 f M -gallon cans (a ton Cotton, peach and tobacco up and a half) of Eskimo-pie filler, pre- swing indicates a turning of finan^ cooled to 30 below zero before'leav- cial tide for circuses and midways ing the creamery for the mud. The i playing upper South Carolina this gooey stuff will be dumped between I fall. Rurals are well-heeled and the padded sideboards,of the ring, indications point to ono of lop fail- seasons in years. CIRCUS TILT INDICATED FOR S C. AS CROPS HIKE Gounin to Head French Chicago, Sept. 6. At the end of its first week of an organizational drive, the Carnival Division of the American Federation of Actors has made considerable progress in lining up the carnivals under the AFA banner. In a single week Ute Carnival Division has re- ceived offers to negotiate from such top carnivals as Royal American, Beckmann Si Gerrity, Rubin & Cherry, Hennies Bros. It marks the start of the most ambitious, and intensive labor organ- ization campaign in the history of the carnival business. Both- labor leaders and the carnival chieftains believe that the time has arrived for such organizing considering the temper of the American public and officialdom. Carnival leaders openly state that- they believe that the unionizing of their shows would re- sult in increased- business for. the carnies in view of the fact that the great majority of the patrons at the carnivals are union members and ex- tremely union-conscious. AFA carnival division, which is being handled by Paul Sander, is asking for 100% closed shop on the part of the carnivals, and has so in- formed the carnival owners and the leaders of .the American Federation of Labor, which Is cooperating in the current AFA' drive. Official C««DeratUn In a decision to keep the entire organizational campaign out in the open, the AFA heads have kept in touch with officialdom and public leaders throughout the country to keep them informed of their activi- ties regarding the carnies. Letters have been sent to the secretaries of the various state and- county fairs throughout the nation, to' the cham- bers of commerce, to .governors and state legislatures, to the mayors and ■the city councils, to chiefs of police and sheriffs. Also to the heads of such sponsorship' groups as the American Legion, the Moor.e, Elks, etc. . . These -letters explain the stand that the AFA carnival division has taken in its organizational drive and state that besides merely seeking unionization, of the carnivals, the AFA is determined not to permit its members to work for carnies which are lewd, obscene, and which permit gambling or immorality. . Pulta no, Punches AFA letter, is blunt in its discus- sion of the carnival situation and doesn't hesitate to declare that the presence of gambling or immorality on any carnival is prima facie evi- dence that there is collusion with the law enforcement bodies of the city, county or state. That, if the. police chieftains are in earnest, there is no likelihood that the carnies could get away- with lewd shows or open-air gambling. These notifications to the various officials, of the nation has resulted in a flood of commendatory replies from these bodies, all of whom de- clare that they, are 100% in accord with the campaign and will co- operate in every way with the AFA in its determination to obtain superior conditions for the carnival performers. AFA leaders are planning to bring their campaign directly to the public by a picketing campaign against carnivals which refuse to recognize the jurisdiction of the American Federation of' Labor and the AFA. Not only will the carnies be picketed, but also the state and county fairs which book non-AFA carnivals, AFA carnival division has pre- pared a large plaque to be exhibited by AFA-member carnivals as the sifin to the public that the trick 100',;. union. Spartanburg counly f;iir, one of top Carolina layouts, opens laic tiA'SLSi _* V*icM Vvnn.' October for 30th season. Kobbins Exhibit at fnsco fcxpo. Bros _ with Hool Cib .. on and a ,„„. Paris. 27. |Realty, booked here cpt. 5. Cal. Fair Gets Going Though belatedly getting under; way, the French have finally named a commissioner general. Rene Gou- n'n, to take charge of the Pavilion France will have at the San Fran- CIRCUS ROUTES Week of Sept*- \>?r 12 for the stale to use on its exhibit, { Cisco exposition next year, which fund will be supplemented j France'has voted lfi.000.000-francs with private, contributions, ■' (about $275,000) for the pavilion. -SHN-KIii'o 11