Variety (February 1910)

VARIETY 13 OLDEST AMERICAN SHOWMAN PREDICTS GOOD 1910 SEASON "Gov." Robinson, Visiting New York, Declares that all Signs Point to a Profitable Spring, Summer and Fall Tour Among the Tented Enterprises. "Gov." John Robinson, the Cincinnati veteran of the circus field, left New York Saturday evening after being in the city ^for the annual directors' meetings of the United States Playing Card and United States Lithographing Companies, in which he is a large stockholder. Before departing for his home he re- ceived a Variety representative at his hotel and granted an interview. After speaking of his business visit, the "Governor" declared that the coming circus season promised to be one of the most prosperous that traveling organiza- tions have ever experienced. "I have been following the general trend of the circus business for many years/' he said, "and it has become more and more apparent that the field is being en- larged. Very lately it has been brought to my attention most forcibly that small towns which were not formerly worth a stop by a large sized circus now offer every opportunity for a profitable stand. "This condition has been brought about to a large extent by the promoting of trolley lines from small centres. This movement has been common to every part of the country. When formerly a farmer had to hitch up his team and load a fam- ily of six or more and drive twenty miles to the circus lot, now the family climbs aboard a trolley car and rides into town in half an hour. "All of which means just this: the cir- cus field has extended so that a show can now play small stands which were formerly unprofitable, and the trolley line has done this. That modern development has made it possible to draw patronage from a circle of 50 miles radius where formerly the circus lot wns the centre of a circle of les9 than half that extent. "That's why 1910 is going to be a highly profitable season for the circus folk. This local transit development has been the biggest boost circu9men have had handed to them in years." The "Governor" added that he would continue the coming year his supervision of "Young Johnny's" routing. John Rob- inson is probably the most expert routing Iman the circus business can boast. His retirement from the "Ten Big," when that property passed to hi9 son, did not carry him entirely away from the "game," for since that time (about a year ago) the "Governor," despite all rumors of a break in sympathy with "Young Johnny," had been giving his son the best he had of advice and council. He declared to the Variety representative that he would con- tinue to supervise the routing of his son's enterprises for 1910. The Norris & Rowe Show will hereafter advertise H. S. Rowe and Walter Shannon as equal owners and managers. Mr. Rowe will have charge of the advance and Mr. Shannon will manage the show. CAUSE OF CUSTOM RULING. The recent experience of showmen in crossing the line from Canada to the United States with animals used in their productions or exhibitions were brought about by changes in custom laws through the enactment of the Payne Bill, in effect Aug. 5 last. Up to that time live stock, embracing horses, mules or cattle, could be bonded into Canada and returned without the payment of duty. Taking advantage of their opportunity horse traders and some showmen would bond inferior livestock and return to the United States with valuable animals under the same bond. To prevent this the Payne Law de- clares that livestock, whether owned in the United States originally or purchased in Canada, must pay a duty of $30 for all animals valued at $150 or less, and 25 per cent, of value for all auimals of a greater marketable price. Dramatic companies, using animals, and circuses will hereafter be held to strict accountability for what- ever horse, mules or cattle they may bring across the border from Canada. When Rex's Comedy Circus returned from Cuba last week the full duty on the stock and costumes used with the act was collected at the port of New York. The act went to Cuba by way of Tampa three weeks ago and returned by direct steamer to this city. Although exactly the same animals and paraphernalia were taken out and brought back there was no way of avoiding the duty. Rex was compelled to pay $104 as the duties on his stock. The Transfield Sis- ters, who came from Cuba on the same boat with Rex, were obliged to pay im- port duty on the American-made musical instruments and costumes which they took to Cuba with them. Recently Blake's pony and dog act went to Canada, and upon returning were obliged to pay the regular customs fee for their stock re- gardless of the fart that the animals were originally purchased in the United States and are owned here. The llagenbeck-Wallace Show will have the Flying Weavers as a feature this sea- son. The Weavers came up from South America recently and opened for one week at the Circle Theatre, New York. The act was engaged forthwith to open this week :n Boston on the Morris time. The Chicago & Northwestern's Circus Contract No. 1 calls for a movement of six cars for Ringling Bros, from Chicago to Baraboo, $150 for the movement, ef- fective Jan. 20. John O. Talbott had his wrist broken while autoing at Denver. PROTESTING HIGH LICENSES. There was a meeting of circus owners, managers and general agents in Corry, Pa., Thursday evening before the Cole Show auction, which included representatives of most of the tent shows outside of the Ringling group. Alf T. Wheeler, the wagon show magnate, presided. The purpose of the meeting was to start some concerted action in protest against the exorbitant license charges which prevail in many places. There seems to be a growing movement among cities and towns throughout the country to "hike" the license fees. Whether or not circus men will be able to do anything in the line of getting these charges reduced remains to be seen. Inci- dental to the meeting, Wm. E. Franklin, general manager of the Sells-Floto Show, remarked: "My people have forced the Ringling Brothers to pay $38,000 State taxes they tried to avoid and we have also raised the license on them to $1,000 in several towns. This license only affects shows of 40 cars or more; consequently the independents are not affected." It seems circus men have not lost the delight- ful art of blowing hot or cold in accord- ance with how their individual interests are affected. NEW LIGHT ON CONTEST. Discussing the much-mooted point of rights of the "Barnum head" as used by the Yankee Robinson show, an old circus man declared this week that Fred Bu- chanan, owner of that circus, had really grabbed the name of his show from the Ringlings. It appears that the original Yankee Robinson combined with the Ring- lings many years ago, and upon his death the name passed to the possession of the Baraboo Brothers. It was permitted to expire and at that period Buchanan re- registered it. The Yankee Robinson show will prob- ably open its 1910 season at Des Moines April 21. It will spend three days there before going on the road. Buchanan toured in wagons only two years ago. In the middle of a season he went on the rails and last year had ac- cumulated a sixteen-car show. The com- ing season, report has it, the equipment will be increased to 22 cars. TO STUDY AVIATION. When the Curzon Sisters, who are now resting at their home in Indianapolis, start their season at Pittsburg, Monday, they will commence practicing aerial nav- igation. J. W. Curzon is now building a small hi-plane for this purpose. Pearl Curzon has designed an aviation costume which has been placed on the mar- ket by a New York firm. Mr. Curzon will move his aeroplane winter quarters south, the cold weather having proven too severe this winter in Indianapolis. Ernest Cook, who is running an opera house in Port Arthur, Tex., will have a two-car show in the South this season. Ernest Haag, proprietor of the Mighty Haag Shows, will be in New York for a few days, due to arrive here Saturday. The "Two Bills" engagement at Madi- son Square (Harden begins April 26. Bar- num & Bailey will close the preceding Saturday night, April 23, and the "Two Bills" will take immediate possession. As usual Mondav will be devoted to re- hearsals and the regular opening will take place Tuesday evening. HIP TAKES A DRINK. Chicago, Feb. 2. Little Hip went out for an auto trip with John J. Nash, manager of the People's, and Hip's trainer one day last week and upon returning the men in the party concluded to have a drink. little Hip followed them in to the bar and they gave him a pint of whiskey. After he had downed it he reached over and stole a bottle of beer from another imbiber and took it as a chaser. In spite of the fact that he is fond of intoxicant* Hip never misses a performance from in- ebriation. Practically the entire organization of bosses with the old Cole Bros. Show has been signed by Fred Buchanan to equip the Yankee Robinson Show for the coming season. Sun Bros. Show, in winter quarters at Macon, Ga., will make a March start on its coming season, opening at that point and running about forty weeks. k Clinton Newton will be business manager and principal newspaper man with the show. There will be no parades given by the out- fit this summer. The Mardo Trio, now in vaudeville, have signed with the Ringling Show for the coming season. Ed C. Knupp, who was general agent of the Cole Show, will be the adjuster for the Hagenbeck-Wallace Show this season. Geo. Stumpf, who was reported to be engaged for the Forepaugh-Sells Show, will stay with the Sells-Floto people for anolher season. Chas. Zelno, an old-time circus attache, was in New York early this week on his way to Florida to finish the winter season. Thos. L. Evans, treasurer for many sea- sons with the Forepaugh-Sells Show, and latterly with BufTalo Bill's Wild West and the "Two Bills" Show, will possibly not be on the road next season. He is spend- ing the winter at his home in Newark. Col. B. E. Wallace is reported to have picked up a menage horse of which much is expected next season. The animal has never been seen with a circus and Wal- lace bought it at Huntington, Tnd. John Ilickey h.is hern re-engaged as superintendent of lights with Norris & l?owo and is now at winter quarters. Mrs. Maud Earl and their daughter Hazel are there also. Maud Earl will do a contor- tion ladder act and she and her daughter will work in the concert. Louis K. IMamondin is spending the win- ter at Topeka, Kan., his home. He will be with Hagenheck-Wallace again next sea- son doing his revolving ladder-act and working with The Delno Troupe. James F. Graham, general press repre- sentative for Pain at Brighton Beach, L. T., and who arranged many of the spec- tacles shown there, died Monday morning at his home in Brooklyn after a short illness. lie was horn in England.