Variety (December 1914)

16 VARIETY The unseasonable weather and December shopping has caused a slump In the rink business, but, with the holidays now upon uu, rink managera are looking aheau to their busy season which generally comes during January and February. Despite the commercial conditions this year, there are more rinks In operation than in previous seasons, as a number of ball rooms have been converted Into roller rinks. The best evidence that the rinks are hav- ing an extraordinarily good season Is the fact that two of the largest and most popular convention halls have been utilized for roller skating. — The Coliseum, Chicago, under the manage- ment of L. M. Richardson, has a ten weeks' lease and Is doing big business. It is a com- mon occurrence to see from 800 to 1,500 skat- ing nightly. With the Rlvervlew rink, under the management of P. Harmon, and the Madi- son Gardens, conducted by Q. McCormack, enjoying a good season. It means the revival of roller skating for Chicago. A city of Its size could well support five up-to-date rinks tind not conflict with each other. Madison Square Garden, New York, opened aa a skating rink under the management of E. N. Tuttle this fall, and from the begin- ning up to the time the rink was discon- tinued for future bookings (that will appear at the Garden) drew enormous crowds. Other rinks well patronized In New York are the Palm Garden at Hunt's Point, managed by Myron Plnke, and the Grand Central Palace. The Madison Square Garden of New York and the Coliseum of Chicago, that have been operating so successfully will eventually lead the way to what promises to be a prosperous season. — Preparations have been made by prominent men, who make roller skating their busi- ness, to erect mamoth skating palaces In two cities that have a population of 250,000 and 000,000. If present plans materialise they will be in operation early In the fall. The present season will undoubtedly be a busy one for both the amateur and profes- sional speed skaters. The World's Champion- ship Meet held in Detroit last March cre- ated so much Interest throughout the coun- try rink managers are again beginning to hold races for the state championship, to determine the title holder who will later take part In the big meet. There will be more professional skaters In the field this sea- son than ever before. A number of the best amateur skaters have turned professionals. Leon Klmm Chicago winner of the amateur mile championship at Chicago, Detroit, Mil- waukee, St. Paul, 1912-13, and again last year In Detroit, is one. From the speed Mr. Klmm has displayed In his past per- formances he will make a number of the pro- fessionals skate some to beat him. Another good boy who will join the ranks of the professionals this season Is Elmer Eck- mnn, of Chicago. He holds several amateur records. •— Two English skaters, who made a good Im- pression last season in several contests they took part In. Including the Detroit races, are A. Egllnger, Amateur Champion of Great Britain, and Bert Randall, Chesterfield, Eng- land. Like Klmma and Eckman, they are now enrolled among the professionals. The world's skating contests will be divided into two parts this season, the ama- teurs to hold forth In the city that makes the highest bid. under the management of the Western Skating Association. The old standby, Julian T. Fitzgerald, will be In command. The city most likely to get the meet is Milwaukee. It is a good town and one that appreciates real contests. The professional championship meet rests between Chicago, Kansas City, Columbus, Cincinnati, Charleston. W. Va., New York and Detroit. New York, with its Madison Square Garden, would be the logical place to bold the races, as the Gardens can ac- commodate thousands of people. To hold such a contest in New York would be a great boom for the profession, and would undoubtedly be the greatest ever held. Only recently the state championship races were hold In Now York. Some 4,500 people saw Willie Hlackburn win the state title from a large field of skaters. Great things wore oxpected of Frank Bacon at the World's Championship Races held In Detroit last March. Frank devoted from one to two hours per day to training three months before the races took place; consequently he was not in good condition when the proper time came, having gone stale from over- training— a lesson that should be beneficial to others who are seeking laurels. When Ba- con is right they have to skate at a pretty fast clip to beat him. If J. R. Hayes can be Induced to install sufficient seating capacity In the Wayne Gar- dons Rink, Detroit stands a good chance of landing the big meVt, as It Is the most cen- trally located. The Wayne has been the scene of more World's Championship con- testa than in any other city in the countrj. The new Arcadia Roller Skating Palace, Fouth 5th street. Minneapolis, opposite Court House, will open for the season Dec. 5. The management In charge (Cornelius Lane) lias the reputation of being a hustling man- ager, and he wl" endeavor to make Minne- apolis one of the best roller rink towns In the country. With his many up-to-date ideas, he no doubt will. Manager Geo. J. Stelnhorst, of the Palace Rink, Medina, N. Y., Is having a successful season. Mr. Stelnhorst claims there Is noth- ing like good attractions; they get the people coming, but, of course, one must be governed by what pleases his patrons most, and that is the success of sll good paying rinks. Geo. A. Williams, manager and owner of the Coliseum Kink, Plattsburg, N. Y.. who has been connected with a number of en* terprlses throughout the United States—In- cluding rinks at Warren, Pa., Ithaca, N. Y., and Butler, Pa.—reports his rink Is doing an excellent business. ANDRESS "COMES BACK." Rumor has had it, during the past three or four days, that Charles An- dress would be identified with the Sells Floto-Buffalo Bill shows next season. Mr. Andress has been identi- fied with the biggest of the tent shows for many years, but retired from active service eight years ago. Recently he has been active in the field of amuse- ment journalism. It is generally con- ceded that he knows the circus busi- ness, and his latest venture may sur- prise a few. Mr. Andress is going to start a min- iature "merry-go-round" trust. A deal has been closed between Mr. An- dress and C. W. Parker, of Leaven- worth, the largest manufactures of carousels, under the manufactory name of "The Parker Carry-us-all." When the deal was closed Parker was $30,- 000 to the good and Andress was book- ed for an early spring delivery of three of the latest types Parker machines. Machine No. 1 will be placed with the Sells Floto-Buffalo Bill Show and will be managed by Mr. Andress' son, Cass. The locations of the other two ma- chines remains unknown, but it is said both are booked with large circus ag- gregations. Mr. Andress will be the first to have a riding device with a big circus in this country and will have a few other concessions with the Sells Floto-Bill show next season. CARRIERS 9 CARNIVAL FLOPS. Philadelphia, Dec. 9. A letter carriers' carnival with half a dozen vaudeville acts as the main at- traction, opened last week in the Sec- ond Regiment Armory and lasted until Wednesday night. The grand total at the gate was nearly $20 and the last seen of Theodore S. Pratt, the optim- istic young promoter, was when he was moving rapidly down Broad street in a direction which would lead him to the Pennsylvania station. He is - now said to be in Baltimore. In addition to the six acts the mourn- ers included a band, and a number of concession 7 *holders who paid from $15 to $25 for their privilege. Rent amounting to $650 was also unpaid. Young Mr. Pratt paid $300 in advance for lights and altogether parted with something like $1,500 in the venture. The Philadelphia Letter Carriers' Association and the company of which Pratt was a member were 50-50 on the receipts. The vaudeville acts concern- ed were Val Vino, a juggler, the Powell Troupe, aerialists; Seabert's Horses, Harry Dunbar, and Serpentina. FERARI SHOWS CONTINUE. Current speculation among the car- nival proprietors, managers and follow- ers, regarding the future of the carni- val owned by the late Col. Francis Ferari bearing his name, was put at rest to-day, when it was announced in Chicago that the show would again take the road next season. After a consultation with the execu- tive staff Mrs. Emma Ferari, widow of the late owner, anounced the selection of the folowing carnival wen who will be identified with the Ferari shows during the 1915 season: W. L. (Bill) Wyatt, assistant manager and treas- urer last year will act as general man- ager and have full charge. George W. Coleman was appointed general agent with full charge of the advance. John- nie Wallace will continue in charge of the concessions, a position he has held for several years. Carl Tournquist will remain general superintendent and Ralph Smith and Doc Stearns will al- so remain. Offices have been established at 156 W. 84th street, New York, where Wyatt and Coleman will start things off about the first of the year. Present intentions of the manage- ment are to open near New York about May 1. The show is now quartered at Lake View, N. J., where it is being generally overhauled. Twenty-one cars the property of the show, will be used for transportation next season. SHOWMAN'S LEAGUE SLIDING Chicago, Dec. 9. By their own admissions, in a state- ment sent out after a meeting of the organization at the Wellington Hotel here during the week, the officials of the Showman's League of America admit the death-rattle has been heard. The meeting was held Friday after- noon (Dec. 4) and the chair was occu- pied by Vice-president Charles An- dress, who left it temporarily when the resignations of President W. F. Cody and himself were tendered. Cody's resignation was accepted but upon request from his fellow members, Mr. Andress withdrew his resignation, resuming his chair. Though the financial report showed a balance on hand of $2,230.70, it was conceded the organization was not near the success its founders had hoped to make it and a motion was introduced asking that the affairs of the league be closed and that the cash on hand be turned over to some worthy charitable institution affiliated with the amusement world. TENT SHOWS SOUTH. Inability to get consecutive bookings and with feature picture programs thor- oughly booked in nearly all the cities and towns enroute, many tent shows are planned for a winter tour of south- ern states where Jack Frost is an un- known visitor. Of the territory under tent super- vision Florida appears to be the Mecca the tent managers are making for at present. An agent who reached Broad- way from a sudden closing in .Louisiana says at least 15 tent shows were en- countered by him which were headed for Florida stands. CHICAGO'S CARNIVAL NOTES. Nat Rsisrf, on* of the best known carnival men, tor years proprietor of the Famous Nat Relss Shows, and last season general agent for the Johnny J. Jones shows, Is spending the winter in Chicago at the Wellington. Mrs. Relss Is convalescing nicely from a recent Illness. Louie Berger, of the Harrington Great Southern Shows, arrived In Chicago this week from Natches, Miss., following an unbroken run of 01 weeks without a close or lay off. Mr. Berger will remain in Chicago for a couple of months visiting his mother. Ed A. Evans, proprietor of the Evans Shows, has closed his show, which has gone into win- ter quarters at independence, Kan. Mr. Evans is spending a few days with the gang at Well- ington and reports a fair season. Doc Allman closed his show and Is winter- ing in Lancaster, Mo. Allman Is In Chicago at present. James Patterson and Harry Noyea, bis gen- eral agent, are laying plans to capture some of the contracts from the big fairs. Dill Rice, of the Rice and Dore Water Car- nival, has furnished a home in Chicago and will make this the permanent residence of himself and family. Sam Rich Is here from New York In the in- terest of the Fair Amusement Co. Mort Westcott, proprietor of the Westcott Shows, has arrived In Chicago for the winter. J. Frank Hatch, of Motordrome tame, at- tended the convention of the Fair Secretaries in Chicago last week. Mr. and Mrs. Baba Delgarlan arrived in Chicago from Shreveport, La., where the World at Home closed. Mr. and Mrs. Delgarlan will spend the winter in Chicago. Among those of the carnival world visiting or wintering in Chicago are Felice Bernardi, Walter Stanley, Harry Wright, A. H. Berk- ley, A. A. Powers, John Martin, Al Gorman, Wm. Judkins Hewitt, Ed Jassop, Fred Beck- man, Bert Earl and many others. Wm. Aiken, or Gallon, Ohio, who will have his own show next season, met Col. C. W. Parker, of Leavenworth, In Chicago last week and closed a deal whereby he leased from the Carry-Us-All company, a three-abreast ma- chine which will be transported on wagons. A private car and dining car was also leased from Mr. Parker by Aiken. Maurice Llghtstone, who had four concessions with the Col. Francis Ferari Shows United, this season, win be with the same aggregation next season and have for bis partner in the venture Max Altman, of New York. Lon Williams, agent of the Gentry Brothers shows, Charles Sparks, proprietor of the Sparks shows, Butch Fredericks, legal ad- juster of the Sparks shows, and Frank Swee- ney, special agent of the Hagenbeck-Wallace shows, were among the circus men seen In Chicago this week. Fred Klass, concessionaire, made his final stand of the season In Macon, Ga., and has arrived In Chicago for the winter months. STATE FAIR DATES. Interstate Fair— Sionx City, Iowa—Sept 20-25. Oklohama State Fair—Oklahoma City—Sept 21-Oct 2. Missouri State Fair—Sedalla—Sept 25-Oct. 2. Utah State Fair—Salt Lake City—Sept. 26- Oct 3. Wyoming State Fair—Douglas—Sept. 28-Oct New Jersey State Fair—Trenton—Sept. 27- Oct. 1. Alabama State Fair—Birmingham—Oct 4-16. Interstate Fair—Muskogee, Okla.—Oct. 4-9. Texas State Fair—Dallas—Oct 16-31. Montgomery Exposition and Fair—Montgomery —Oct 18-23. North Dakota State Fair— Fargo—July 20-24. Vancouver, B. C (Vancouver Exhibition Co.)—Vancouver—Aug. 13-21. Iowa State Fair—Des Moines—Aug. 25-Sept. 3. Interstate Fair—St. Joe, Mo.—Dates later. Forest City Fair—Cleveland, Ohio—Aug. 19-26. Ohio State Fair—Columbus—Aug. 30-Sept. 4. Minnesota State Fair—Hamline—Sept. 4-11. Nebraska State Fair—Lincoln—Sept. 6-10. Indiana State Fair—Indianapolis—Sept. 6-10. Michigan State Fair—Detroit—Sept. 6-15. Rochester Exposition—Rochester. N. Y.—Sept. 6-18... Kentucky State Fair -Louisville—Sept. 13-18. Kansas State Fair—Hutchinson—Sept. 11-18. Wisconsin State Fair—Milwaukee—Sept. 11-18. South Dakota State Fair—Huron—Sept. 13-18. Interstate Fair of Spokane—Spokane—Sept. 13-18. New York 8tate Fair—Syracuse—Sept. 13-18. Tqpeka Fair—Topeka—Sept. 13-17. Illinois State Fair—Springfield—Sept. 17-25. Tennessee State Fair—Nashville—Sept. 20-25. Interstate Fair of Memphis -Memphis—Sept. 26-Oct. 2. Montana State Fair—Helena—Sept. 20-25. Mississippi State Fair—Meridian—Oct. 18-25. Louisiana State Fair—Shreveport—Nov. 1-13. Cotton Palace—Waco. Tex.—Nov. 6-21.