Variety (December 1909)

VARIETY 49 WHEN A CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN What the Advance Department Must Accomplish Be- fore the Big Show (lets on the Lot. More Work Than In any Other Part of the Business. Did you ever stop to think that it takes a vast amount of work and many months of preparation to bring a circus to town? Or did you, like almost everybody else, just take it for granted that the show came in early in the morning, left late at night and that's all there was to it? Herein is a detailed account of how a cir- MTNERVA (QUKBN OP MYSTERY). Introducing Her Latest Sensation. "THE DEATH DEFYING WATER ESCAPE." From an alr-tlgbt barrel locked up with eight (8) massive padlocks. The barrel la filled to the brim with water. To fall In this trick means a drowning death. MINERVA will give $500.00 to anyone who will allow themselves to be locked up in the barrel and escape without breaking It. Also. MINERVA'S record breaking straight Jacket escape. This Is performed In full view of the audience. NOTE.—How long can a human being lire under water without breathing. ens advance corps advertises a show, transports it from town to town and places it on the side tracks, ready to be hnnled to the lot. The yellow cars of the circus are stand- ing still, the animals are in winter quar- ters oat inj; their heads off, the acrobat of the sawdust ring is in vaudeville, and the "story man" is out ahead of a "hall show." For it is now December, and the general public has forgotten that such a thing as a tent show ever existed. But have no fear; when spring comes the first har- hitiger will he the lion's roar at Madison Square (iarden. New York, and the Coli- seuni. Chicago. Soon after the broad land will bloom forth in the gaudy colors of the circus poster and the tenting season will be in full swing. Meanwhile there is much to be done, for it is during the winter months that the work of preparation must be accom- plished; the designs for printing must be submitted and accepted, the presses must he started upon their giant task of print- ing millions of sheets of paper, millions of heralds and "small stuff" and the ad- vertising of all styles whicjjjf'will be needed to awaken interest in the future coming of the "big show." Everything must be in readiness for the advance brigades to start for the open- ing stand; everything must be prepared in the department of advertising and pub- licity at least three weeks before the show itself shall begin its season. There is no time for anything but "keep going" once the advertising cars start upon their way; for each day has its under the jurisdiction of the general agent. All these men work under the close di- rection of their superior. No matter in what part of the country the general VERONICA and HURL-FALLS. The team known by this name Is composed of MR. ERNEST S. HURL-FALLS and MR. ARCHIE FALLS, both from Philadelphia. This Is the second season for their new act. The first engagement was with MR. REN HARRIS at Atlantic City, N. J. The act being a great success, they continued playing the beat houses under the exclusive direction of MR. AI.F. T. WILTON, giving vaudeville an act that has met tbe approval of manager, press, public and tbe severe erltlcs. The comediun as well as the straight being expert ground tumblers, enable the team to produce new and original feats, therefore affording the opportunity to make new comedy. Their original and sensational finish feat, illustrated here, never falls to make an audience scream, laugh and applaud. duties, and there is no time to wait for things to be accomplished. The most iin]>ortant factor in circus management is the general agent. The success or failure of a circus season is up to him. Certainly he acts upon orders in a general way; but the working out of all details, the responsibility of engaging the advance staff, and the details of promul- gating a successful advertising campaign devolve upon him. lie lays his plans; his subordinates carry them out. The general agent with a well organ- ized circus of the first class has these as- sistants: railroad contractor, local con tractor, excursion agent, contracting press agent, 'story" man. press agent with the show, manager for each of three advertis- ing cars, "checker up" and a '"21 hour man." (If these the press ajjeni with the show and the "24 hour nun" niav not he strictly eon^ide:«-.| a> subordinates of the general agenl I mi t as they are important factors in landing a show in town they should he considered in the present article. About seventy-five billposters and lithographers are also age:it may l>e on any given day he is in line of communication, directly or indi- rect I v, with everv man of the advance stall", lie is also in constant touch with the show, and continually advised of con ditions. Not the most minute detail escapes him; the most trivial thing re reives his attention and, it may he added, he is ahont the busiest person in the land. Karlv in tin* year a tentative route is mapped «tul by the owners of the show. Later on towns may be changed, can- celled or added. In circus parlance, by the way. a town is not cancelled; it is I a ken up." meaning that the contracts made are lifted, always at more or less expense. About dan. 1 the general agent is informed of the proposed route, about how many weeks the show will run (around 22"> show days is an average cir- cus season) and then his preliminary cam- paign is mapped out. Designs t".»r printing arc passed upon {Continual nil Page 113.)