Variety (Jan 1939)

202 OUTDOORS Third of a Century VARIETY Anniversary TsauB Wednesday, JattuaiT 4, 1939 THE CIRCUS ON WAY OUT? By Epes W. Sargent In happier years circus men closed the show and put it into winter quarters. This year too many of them have been closing the show and putting it into bankruptcy. Then they sit home and chorus with Hamlet, To be, or not to be. That is the question!'^And it is a ques- tion that cannot well be answered until six weeks of the '39 season have elapsed. Nothing can be deduced from the season just closed. It was abnormal in every way. It would be equally useless to seek an answer in the '37 season, when most tent shows did pretty well by themselves. It is a question that must wait until the labor factors have, been put to the test, but the question of labor is only one of-the moot points. There are many other detrimental factors to be considered, the chief of which, per- haps, is radio. Others are the motion picture, the county fair, widespread use of the automobile by families in the lower income brackets, bank nites and, to sontje extent, a lack of novel- ties. Unionization of showfolk preisents a new and still undemonstrated prob- lem. In the past season probably the Ringling show was the only one to be closed as the direct result of the in- terference of the unions. In other sections it was a .minor factor, and with some shows it cut no ice at all, since it was so manifestly impossible to pay salaries in full that no demand was made. The show at least was feeding its people; it provided sleep- ing quarters, and that was something at a time when 7,000,000 persons' were vainly seeking jobs. Most shows got oft on the wrong foot with a new recession making itself felt, and a weather condition that would have caused even old man Noah to pull on his rubber boots. Day after .day the show came on a new lot just as soggy as the old, if it were not actually raining, as it did about 80% of .the time the first few weeks. Most.shows regarded it as good fortunv°i{- th^- took in sufficient coin to me6t current expenses. Sal- aries were something else again. Roustabouts y/rere content with a lit- tle money for smokes and'an occa- sional drink. The new union rates did not mean a thing. No test of the effect of the higher union rates could be'made. Both John Ringling North and Ralph Whitehead have positively an- nounced a satisfactory understanding for next, season. Neither has stated the terms. The past season North added most of the Ringling star acts to the Al G. Barnes, Sells-Floto show, starting at Redfield, S. D., July 11. There was some tendency to picket the show, particularly in the middle- western territory, and in some towns dates were .shifted. Apparently busi- ness was not greatly affected, and since the show got into southern ter ritory it has been mopping up, not going into winter quarters at Sara sota until. Nov. 27. Whether the Barnes namp will be used on next season's Ringling-Bamimi show is not known, but the general belief Is that the Barnes trick will return to its former status. If the Ringling show' ,can get along without labor Jams, it may work out all right, since it will be adjusted to meet the new payroll It must be schemed to meet the hew dispensation. It is unlikely that there will be much interference from the AFA, since Whitehead knows a lot more about circus business than he did when he attempted to mace the Norths into line. The labor problem may, very probably, will, take care of itself. How Radio ACTeoted 1 But nothing has been done, nor can be done, to offset the effects of radio. To understand how radio can affect the tent situation it is neces sary to go back into the past. Time was when the circus represented about the only forni of entertainment the residents of the hinterland en- joyed other than the modest local af- fair^ of school and church. It was the one time of the year when the denizens of the backwoods could revel in the spectacular and the dmazing. It was practically the only catering to the inherent desire for something to take the farmer and the small-town man out of his drab life and permit him to steep his soul in glamorous entertainment. Most, sections were reached by the mud shows,, the humble one-ring outfits, traveling from town to town by horse-drawn vehicles. The very nature of this transportation assured one or more circuses within easy driving distance, but these small tcickg merely whetted the' hunger for the gorgeous spectacle of the Barnum & Bailey, the Forepaugh or the Ringling shows. Traveling by train, these outfits made longer jumps, hitting only the high spots, but the show was advertised for 50 miles or more, and circus day saw the arrival in town of a curious cavalcade of ramshackle farm-wa- gons containing entire families, out for their one day of fairyland. Along the railroads special excursions were run, which reduced the hardship of the trip, but no effort was too great to be made by the average American family. The circus was an absolute must. They went 'downtown' for the grand stieet parade, back to the lot for the free show which invariably preceded the opening of the side- show; perhaps a peep at the won- ders so colorfully presented on the banner line. Then the afternoon show, and back home, to wait an- other year for a similar thrill. The circus was the farmer's all-in-all. The First Distraction—Films About 30 years ago came the first distraction. The motion' pictures came to the smaller communities. But motion pictures did not com- pletely satisfy the demand for glam- orous entertainment. It was all very wonderful to see photographs of men and women actually moving about, but the surroundings were inade- quate, sitting in a darkened store room, watching streaky, unsteady films was vastly different from the glory of the teht show. There were no beautiful ladies with pink tights and pirik cheeks, no gorgeous trap- pings, no daring gymnasts or dare- devil wire walkers. Merely some second-rate actors and many not even of that grade, going through their m.otions in thin and insipid one-reel stories. The motion pic- ture was then no competent substi- tute for the circus. It was not until some 10 years ago that radio, emerging from the ear- tube stage, became available to the most remote dweller in the farm- lands. Set prices were coming down. Radio reception and radio produc- tion made rapid pace. Here was something the farm family, could enjoy merely by switching a dial, right in the living room, and at a cost no greater than the small ex- p*ense for the renewal of dry bat- teries. No longer did the farm fam- ilies have to hitch up for the Jong drive to town. Father, in his carpet slippers; mother in her warm if shabby wrapper, and the kiddies in various stages of imdress could gather around the magic box to be enter- tained by the finest name bands in the country, by the highest priced comedians. The man who lived on. the edge of nowhere could get the same entertainment offered the city slicker, and get it every afternoon and evening. Night after night they get the best the stage has to offer. They no longer feel the keen need for the brief excursion into wonder- land that used to be represented by the big shows. They still care for the circus, and with better roads and the almost universal second-hand cars, it is a simple matter to rattle into town for the Greatest on Earth —if it is convenient. But the circus is no longer essential. The farmer and the small town man no longer feel that if anything prevents them from attending they have lost their chance to peep into Paradise for an- other year. The pictures, grown bet- ter, are more often visited, and the radio is always at hand. The cir- cus liad ceased to be a bucolic neces- sity. No Thrills Left Moreover, the circus was changing. The thrill acts which gave a punch dropped out. These were mostly planned by French military enflineers and some 20 years ago French military men were far too busy to design loop- the-loops, and various stunts in which autos defied the laws of gravity. In recent years about the only thriller has been the cannon act, which Za- zelle, Lulu and others popularized a half-century ago. New to the pres- ent generation, but arguing a poverty of invention. Even the gorgeous spec- tacles which now open most shows, date back to about the same period when Adam Forepaugh staged 'Llala Rookh,' with Louise Montague, his much advertised '$10,000 Beauty.' There is little new to the circus. It is the same old show offered to a new generation whose tastes have been expanded by the $1,000,000 pro- ductions of Hollywood. Probably it would be difficult to change the cir- cus program. The circus is standing still, or thereabouts. The audience is forging ahead to new demands, fresh appreciations. Acrobatic acts more daring than they used to be. Wire acts are accomplishing tricks that the funambulists In tlie heyday of the circus never dreamed of, but they are still acrobats, still wire walkers. Even banknite is a contender for circus business. Astute managers whose banknites fall on a circus day manage, to run up the jackpot until the average man, imbued with the gambling spirit of the day will pass up the circus to hang around some theatre lobby in the hope that his name may be calljed. State and county fairs also form stiff competition. Twenty-five years ago only a few fairs, such as the Trenton, N. J., and Brockton, Mass., fairs offered elaborate programs of acts to supplement the trotting races and the fat pigs and pumpkins. To- day scores of events ■ offer an elab- orate show with girl lines, star per- formers and all the trimmings. The farmer figures if he misses the circus he can catch the county fair. The circus no longer stands alone in its class. It is suffering from too much competition, without making much of an effort to meet the oppo- sition. Th? circus may nbt be on its way out. Probably not, for a time, at any rate. But it is too infiexible to make the radical changes to bring it up to date if, indeed, anyone can suggest a new departure for tent shows. The Wild West has passed. So has the old fireworks show on the lines of 'The Last Days of Pom- peii.' The futile efforts of Col. Tim McCoy to revive the cowboy show are still' fresh in memory. He gave practically the same program that Buffalo Bill presented. And any Hollywood mesa meller can give you a 10 times better show for 10c. The circus is moving more slowly, but its general trend is in the direc- tion of the gateway marked 'Exit.' 106 RODEOS SET FOR '39 SEASON Salt Lake City, Jan. 1. Rangeland epics, staged under aus- pices of Rodeo Association of Amer- ica, will number 106 during 1939. Of these,' 86 rodeos alrfeady' have* an- noimced a total guarantee of $184,- 835 in prizes. September will be «the busiest month for the corral classics, 27 be- ing scheduled with July next, 25. California, with 33 rodeos, leads the nation, and Canada for the largest state bookings, with Rocky Moun- tain and Coast states bunched close- ly for follow-up honors. Madison Square Garden, New York, has guar- anteed nearly $44,000 in purses dur- ing 24 days. Charlotte Fair Offers To Sell Out to Opposition Charlotte, N. C, Jan. 1. As a result of the decision of Dr. J. S. Dorton and his associates to build an amusement park and fair grounds here, the Charlotte Agricul- tural Fair Association will offer to sell its equipment and goodwill. This decision was reached at a meeting called to decide whether a fair should be staged next fall in opposition to the new outfit. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Newton, a son, in San Mateo, Cal., Dec. 21. Father is conductor of children's programs at KYA, San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Abel, daughter, in Hollywood, Dec. 28. Father with Republic, Picts. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Fredricks, son, in Hollywood, Dec. 28. Father is Metro cameraman. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Seymour, daughter, in New York, Dec. 28. Father is radio m.c. and announcer. Mr. and Mrs. Epes W. Sargent, Jr., son, in Bound Brook, N. J., Dec. 24. Father is son of the late Chicot (VARiErr). Will be named Epes III. MARRIAGES Claire Conerty to Pat Kelly, f)ec. 22, in Oakland, Cal. Groom is fiack at KFRC, San Francisco. Mildred Kenyon to Eugene W. Castle, in Wilmington, Del. Groom is head of Castle Films, industrials. Lorraine Susan "Vincent to Arthur Edward Grounds, in Beverly Hills Dec. 27. Bride is daughter of Frank "Vincent, Hollywood agent. Kay Morrison to Theodore Strauss secretly three weeks ago in New York. Bride is former costume de- sigher; he. is night club editor of N. Y. Times. Mrs. Ann Lee Brown to Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord at Rapidan, Va., Dec. 31. Groom is board chairman o£ Radio Corp. of America. OBITUARIES ZONA ^ALE Zona Gale, 68, novelist, poet and dramatist, died Dect- 27 in a Chicago hospital from pneumonia., She had been under an oxygen tent for seven days. Her husband, William Llew- ellyn Breese, of Portage, Wis., was with her at the time. Prior to 1905 Miss Gale was a re- porter on the old N. Y. Evening World. She had worked on Milwau- kee papers previous to that time. For the past 23 years she had de- voted herself entirely to writing. Her first play to reach Broadway was 'Miss Lulu Bett,' produced by Brock Pemberton at the Belmont in 1920. Others which followed were 'Mister Pitt,' .'The Neighbors,' 'Uncle Jimmy,' ' vening Clothes' and 'The Clouds.' FLORENCE LAWRENCE Florence Lawrence, 52, star of silent films, took poison in her Beverly Hills home Dec. 28 and died shortly afterwards in a hospital. For the past three years she had been a bit player at Metro. Miss Lawrence, billed as the 'Bio- graph Girl' and the 'Imp Girl' in the early days of silents, had once played with Maurice Costello, Mary Pickford and Clara Kimball YoUpg. She was married to Charles B. Woodring, cosmetic manufacturerj in 1921 and divorced liim in 1931. In 1933, she was married to Henry Bol- ton, but they were divorced 'flvfl» months later. GERTRUDE MAITLAND Gertrude Maitland, 58, who be- gan her stage career in stock com- panies in 1916, and ended it in 'Few Are Chosen* in 1935, died Dec. 28 in New York of a heart ailment. Miss Maitland, born in Boston, first appeared with Jere McAuliffe's. Repertory in Lynn, Mass. Her first Broadway appearance was in 'The Brat.' She also played in 'A Royal Divorce,' 'She's a Good Fellbw,' 'Little Jesse James,' 'The Kingdom of God' and Xiving Dangerously.' Jefferson Hall, her widower*, an actor; two Sisters, and a brother, Charles Horrigan, siurvive. MRS. SOPHIE HUBER FARRELL Mrs. Sophie Huber Farrell, mem- ber of the Leland Sisters song and dance team more than 50 years ago, died at Patchogue, L. I., Dec,28. She was the widow of Tony Farrell,. also a vaudeville player, who died in 1928. Mrs. Farrell appeared with her husband on the legit stage for Tony Pastor and Klaw & Erlanger. For 18 years the Farrells operated the Shore Inn at St. James, L. I. POP FRANK (Irving: Frankenbnrg) Irving Frankenburg (Pop Frank), father of the Four Franks, died in London Dec. 21, at 51. ^bout 25 years ago Frankenburg'* loured vaudeville with his partner under the name of Leonard and Clark. The Franks were scheduled to sail Dec. 24 for America, but postponed their trip. JOHN J. MALLOT John J. Malloy, 65, veteran stage manager, died Dec. 26 in Buffalo after a year's illness. For many years he was associated with the late Mike Shea in operation of the Garden and Court St., vaudeville houses. A few hours before Malloy's death his sister, Teresa Dale, opened in 'The Primrose Path' at Baltimore. ALBERT HENDERSON Albert Henderson, 71, stage actor, died in Hollywood Dec. 28 after a rehearsal, for his part in 'Sejanus' at the Biltmore theatre. He. had emerged from a retirement of sev- eral years only a few days before. He was at one time associated with Robert Mantell and played in many Shakespearean productions. McLAIN GATES McLain Gates, 60, former lead player in legit with Jane Cowl and others, and lately in radio as cast- ing director for the Radio Division of the Federal Theatre, died Dec. 29. He had been with the FTRD for the last seven or eight months. O. J. ASTRY O, J. Astry, 71, who owned and operated two of the first film the- atres in Salem, O., 20 years ago, died there recently from a heart ailment. His widow, t\yo sons and a daugh- ter survive. LESTER E. HECKAMAN Lester E. Heckaman, 39, musician, died Dec. 23 at his home in Canton, O., after several weeks' illness. He had played for many years with pit bands at the Palace and Lyceum the- atres and was a member of the Nor- wood and Wild orchestras and other musical units. He was vice-president of Canton local, A. P. of M., at the time of his death. His widow and four children survive. SHERIDAN S. MAIER Sheridan S. Maier, 70, at one time a singing clown with a circus ope- rated by Albert Wetter died at Mas- sillon, O., Dec. 21, after a long ill- ijess. He had been circulation manager of the Massillon Independent for 27 years. His widow, four sons and two daughters survive. JOSEPH E. HATFIELD Joseph E. Hatfield, 80, brother of Al C. Field and former advance agent and assistant manager of the Field Minsttel show, which for a quarter of a century had headquar- ters in Columbus, O., died there Dec. 27 after a lingering illness. The show dissolved in 1929. HOWARD R. (TED) TOUNG Howard R. (Ted) Young, 41, night club operator, died suddenly in Wellsville, O., Dec. 25. For several years he operated Lighthouse Tavern in Steubenville, O. Besides his parents, two sisters and three brothers survive. ERNEST BRINKMAN Ernest Brinkman, 66, character ac- tor on stage.and screen, died Dec. 28 in Hollywood. For years he toured vaudeville circuits in an art LiLled as Brinkman and the SI(?eU» ^-:ste^s. ■ Surviving is his widow, for- mer Mary Steele,. „ JEFFREY WILTI.TAMS- Jeffrey Williams, 78, stage and screen actor, died Dec. 27 in Los Angeles. He had completed his 2,001st performance in 'The Drunk- ard' the night before. Williams had been on the stage since 1908 and ap- peared in several pictures. JOHN VAUGHN MORRIS John "Vaughn Morris, 78, veteran vaudeville player, died Dec. 25 in Salem, O., a few hours after he had been run down by an automobile. He was on the stage more than 50 years. He retired only- a year ago. A brother survives. LEO BEERS Leo Beers, 53, monologist, died Dec. 28 in a Brentwood, L. L, hos- pital, He had been ill five months. Last winter he played an engage- ment at the Rainbow Room, New York. He had been a bachelor. LAWRENCE EDWARD PARRISH Lawrence Edward Parrish, 60, old time vaudeville performer, died Dec. 15 in Coshocton, O., after a lingering illness. His mother, three sisters, and two brothers survive. LESTER TIETJEN Lester Tietjen, head of Warners* playdate department, died Dec. 25 in New York after a long illness. Survived by his widow, Mrs. Gert- rude Tietjen, Joseph Dorf, father of Fanny Ward, died Dec. 27 in Great Neck, L. I. Survived by his widow and two other daughters, Selma'Rosen- bloom and Phylis Friedlander. Hanefeld to Direct Ohio's N. Y. Exhibit Columbus, Jan. 1. Ohio's part in the 1939 N. Y. World's fair will be directed by Earl H. Hanefeld of Ottawa by ap- pointment of CjOV. Martin L. Davey. Hanefeld, who" will retire as state director of agriculture Jan. 9, will take over direction of the state's New York exhibit the following day. The state commission .to handle the Ohio exhibit has appointed a committee of three to act between meetings of the commission. The committeemen are John P. Schooley, state architect; Senator Keith Law- rence, Cleveland, and Arthur Hamil- ton, Lebanon. An appropriation of $50,000 has been made by the legis- lature.