Variety (June 1922)

I lllll t Friday, June 2, 1922 WORTHAM'S WORLD'S BEST SHOWS St. Louis, May 31. Strict adherence to a policy that Invites complimentary credentials from public official! and the police, instead of interference for misuse of the name 'carnival," Wortham's World's Beet Shows easily displays to the visitor why it how a rating of being ono of the strongest and most satisfactorily arrayed outfits under its system of management. Under the auspices of the Ameri- can Legion, Wortham's 30-car show, involving 450 people, is holding sway here for two weeks. The crowds in attendance indicate the public has a tip-off as to what car- nivals are worth witnessing. Auto- mobile visitors proved beyond any doubt that Wortham's clean adver- tising, supported by clean offerings, makes the caliber of 'draws" that decent people will Hock to. if the proper trademark is floated. Wortham's outfit has this, and keen observers probably became acquainted with the trademark by exactly the same atmosphere which predominated when the writer paid this carnival an unexpected visit: It was an atmosphere that boasted ©f "cleanliness" and an entire ab- sence of an 'air" of "come-on." Fred Beckman directs as man- ager, and the machinelike manner in which matters needing attention are adjusted gave the visitor only the thought that the executive work of this outfit is efficient, as the result of having been oiled with common sense and desire to hold aloft the good name of "carnival." Beverly White attends to the press work. Stepping on the grounds, one la impressed with the cleanliness of all stands, booths and the dress ap- pearance of the concession directors and the ballyhoos. There are two merry-go-rounds, three abreast, all freshly painted; two ferris wheels, a whip and seaplane for rides. They have such places as "Noah's Ark," "Room 202" (trick house), another trick house called "The Jazzer" and one called "Over the Falls." The shows comprise a pit, with various animals and reptiles. There is an- other entertainment called "Mamie," which is a girl show, a musical comedy, with eight women appear- ing on the stage, strongly directed to refrain from all risque work, and the show "plays" on its merit as a perfectly clean attraction. Five minutes of an open-air ballyhoo is done for "Mamie.* In brief, it is a small time musical comedy. The whole Idea should bo a lesson to those who claim «uch a girl show cannot bo made a success without hip movements and the like. The girls do not mingle with the patrons, but immediately after the open-air ballyhoo walk through a side entrance to tents that lead to the stage and go right into their work. A monkey circus is put on in the form of a pit, with at least 65 mon- keys on display, with 30 of them actually working. The usual monkey stunts ate done, the monkey band, etc. The auto drome makes a tremen- dous appeal to the young and old, and especially so to the mechani- cally inclined. A pcrpendiclar circle, 40 feet high, is used for the actual riding, the riding being done by two men and two women in miniature automobiles and regulation motor- i * V* o 1 o fl Another pit show Is "Dido Park" and the "White Mice Palace." Dido Bark is an entire amusement park layed out in miniature mechanical form, while the White Mice Palace jue real white mice going through various paces. A magic show with 14 people, showing various illusions, mind reading, answering of ques- tions, etc., served as another time killer. The biggest attraction on the ground is probably a pit show of freaks, conducted by Myer Myers, featuring the Hilton Sisters, the grown-together twins. The girls are not exhibited as a monstrosity, but more on the order of a human curiosity. The girls are about 16 years old, and for their exhibition run a string of cockatoos through various tricks. Other attractions in this side show are a glass-blowing exhibition and an Indian clay jnolder, a colored armless boy, who docs free-hand drawing with his t. . t, a mind-reading act and a rub- ber skin man. In point of size a diving exhibition ■with five girls and ten seals is prob- ably the biggest thing on the ground. This show also makes an outdoor ballyhoo, with tho girls dressed in oiio-piceo bathing suits, but stand- ing absolutely rigid during the hal- lyhOO, after which they go through tlxir various exhibition of diving tricks. This show would make a corking good feature for big-time vaudeville, with tho girls and the seals working in one tank. An act Similar to this was shown, though not on such a pretentious basis, by Captain Winton somo years ago on the big time. The main tent feat- ures a wild animal exhibition, with four lions that are handled in show- man-hip stylo. The show Itself con- sists of an act of wire-walking, Jug- gling, high-school horses and such. with a 12-piccc band for good meas- ure. A war exhibition, showing various trophies of the World's War, has a free gate, with various souvenirs for sale. The concessions are run without any grift. All running under the term of "Merchandise Wheels," and exhibiting such things as canary birds In cages, beaded bags, Indian blankets, Japanese baskets, dolls, hams, bacons and market baskets filled with merchandise. It is im- possible to play for money, each per- son paying their 10 cents receiving something in return, either a small package of candy or a few sticks of gum. No buy back is permitted, and no percentage wheels operated. Anyone is privileged to turn the wheels, and it is not at all neces- sary to run crooked wheels, as, if every number is played, enough is grossed to give the concessionaire a fair profit on each spin. If all the numbers are not played, the conces- sionaire has the same chance of having the numbers not played turn up as the numbers sold. There are also no games of skill, where the percentage is so great it is almost an impossibility to win. In the language of the carnival people, "no gaffs or hold outs." Every ven- dor working a wheel was cleanly dressed, presentable, never facetious or bold, and showed extreme courtesy to the patrons. They all cried their wares and made a bid to the passing people, but no one was pulled off the midway. The vendor stands behind his counter, never coming in per- sonal contact with the customers. Other games are run, such as "Pitch Till You Win," which insures the buyer something for his money. All in all, this can be rated as a clean commercial enterprise, with most of the games run on the same principle as church bazaars. Car- nivals may be classed as a poor man's amusement and, though in this instance there was a small ad- mission gate charge of 10 cents (which all went to the American Legion) the entrance is usually free, and one can pass through and around the grounds without going into any of the shows or riding any of the devices or playing any of the concessions, and spend an enjoyable hour or two. It is understood that this show plays mostly large state fairs, cen- tennials, celebrations, home comings, etc. C. A. Wortham. beside owning the World's Best Shows, is also owner of Wortham's World's Greatest Shows, Walter Stanley, manager, William F. Floto, press agent, and is interested in the John T. Wortham Famous Shows, John T. Wortham, manager (father of C. A. Wortham); Snapp Brothers* Show, Ivan and William Snapp, owners (brothers- in-law of C. A. Wortham), and the Alamo Shows, Wortham, Waugh and Hofer, owners, with Homer Jones manager. Clarence A. Wortham is said to be the largest individual carnival man and owner in the United States, having taken a leading part in out- door attractions. The two shows carrying his own name are said to be the biggest of their kind. C. A. Wortham himself is looked upon by all carnival men as a leader whoso first principlo in running his organizations is clean shows, posi- tively. NEW TORONTO PARK Toronto, May 31. The new amusement resort and bathing beach at 'Sunnyside near here opens June 15. Abe Solman is the manager. SAM McCRACKEN WITH CARNIVAL AGGREGATION Circus Man of Note Becomes Agent for Cooper Rialto Shows Known throughout the open-air field as a promoter of indoor cir- cuses and formerly general manager of the Barnum-Bailey circus for the Bingling Brothers, Sam McCracken is now general contracting agent for the Cooper Bialto Shows, a carnival aggregation operating in the middle west. It is McCracken's first venture in the carnival end, and he is reported making good at it. The Cooper Bialto carnival is rated as a small show. It carries a girl show, a wrestling show (called an athletic stadium) and a snake show. It has six shows in all and three riding devices. LEGION ATTACHES CARNIVAL Akron, Ohio, May SI. The "Bearded Lady," "Missing Link" and cage of monkeys were attached Saturday by the sheriff and are being held until the owners of the Rubin and Cherry shows can raise the required bond. East Liverpool Legion members and Moose Lodge of Wellsvllle ob- tained the attachment and filed suit for $2,000, which they allege, is due. The attachment was served on the show owners here Saturday by Sheriff Pat Hutchinson. CONDITION SERIOUS Kansas City, May 31. The injuries received by Charles (Daredevil) Wilson in # a high dive at Electric park, May 21, are much more serious than first reported. An X-ray examination showed that he has suffered a fractured skull, a broken left shoulder, and that sil- ver wires which reinforced three of his ribs following a similar acci- dent a year ago. v had been torn loose. After Wilson completed his dive Sunday night he arose and walked to his dressing room, but collapsed shortly afterward. His condition is serious. MIGHTY DORIS SHOWS SOLD TO MRS. BERNARD! NO CALI0PE IN WHEELING Wheeling, W. Va., May 31. An ordinance making it unlawful for a circus to play its caliope within the city limits of the city has been passed by the city coun- cil here. Show boats are also prohibited from giving the customary caliope concert each night before the per- formance. CONDUCTING AT SAN MATEO San Francisco, May 31. Herman Heller, who recently re- signed as leader of the California theatre orchestra, will conduct at Pacific City, the new San Mateo amusement park. CARNIVAL FINDS LOT IN FRONT OF CITY HALL Baltimore Worked Up Over Location—Formerly Played Far from Center of City Baltimore, May 31. The dailies have been giving con* siderable space to the fact that en the site of the buildings demolished at Gay and Fayette streets to make way for the civic memorial to the soldiers of tho world wa \ the John T. McCaslin Carnival shows are doing a thriving business. Here* tofore carnival show have had to content themselves with a lot far from the center of the city, and the papers of the town appear con- siderably perturbed because the show has come right down into the heart of the town. The affair is givta for the benefit of the disabled veterans*of the world war, and there is a small tent at one corner of the grounds where the vets sit and watch proceedings. There is some public feeling against the carnival locating itself directly in front of the city hall, as it has, and it is probable that editorial attention will be given it. When the negro manager of the N. J., next week (June 5). I ''°} d £ la " ta " on lt sh ™s" with the Harry Mohr, brother of Mrs. | J°l? n _T. ^McCaslin Carnival Shows Brunen, and another carnival man named Powell are awaiting trial of the murder of Brunen at his home in Mt. Holly, N. J., last March. Brunen was shot dead while seated at a table on the ground floor of his house, his murderer shooting him through a window. Brunen's Widow Transfers Property—Name Changed to Bernardi's Shows The mighty Doris and Colonel Francis Ferari's Shows (combined) have been sold by the widow of John Brunen to Mrs. Felice Ber- nard!. The title has been changed to the Bernardi Greater Shows. This week the carnival is at Garfield, N. J., and will play Morristown, LEAVES BERNSTEIN'S TROUPE Joe Woods' "Mimic World,' a girl act which he took to San Domingo some weeks ago with Freeman Bernstein's carnival company, has split away from the unit and is now in Porto Rico. Frank RafTn's Monks, also with th0 Uernstein out- fit, also went to Porto Rico with tho Words show. The balance of the Bernstein ; arty is still in San Domingo, being last reported at San Pe d ro-Macoris. The shows with the outfit have done mediocre business, the natives, however, patronizing the merchan- dise booths which arc a part of the carnival. CIRCUS ROUTES Ringiing Bros.-B. B. June 2-3, Cleveland; June 5, Ni- agara Falls; 6, Geneva; 7, Syra- cuse; 8, Watertown;' 9, Utica. N. Y.; 10, Pittsfield, Mass. Following week (June 12), Boston. Selli-Floto June 2-3, Boston; June 6, Lynn; 6, Salem; 7, Haverhill; 8, Lawrence; 9, Manchester; 10, Lowell, Mass. Al G. Barnes June 2, Caldwell, Idaho; June 3, Boise; June 5, Twin Falls; 6, Bur- ley; 7, Idaho Falls; 8, Pocatello; 9, Ogden, Utah; 10, Salt Lake. Walter L. Main June 2, Marlboro; 3, Waltham, Mass. Cole Bros. June 2, Norwood; 3, Morla; 5, Chautauqua; 6, Rouse's Point, N. Y. Hagenbeck-Wallace June 3, Plattsburgh, N. Y.; 5-6, Montreal, Can.; 7, Ottawa; 8, Corn- wall; 9, Brockville; 10, Belleville, Can. Sparks' Circus June 2, Hempstead, L. I.; 3, Hunt- ington, L. J.; 6, Bennington, Vt. (on the Civic Center Plaza) struck an eight-year-old white girl with a brick last night a mob of 200 white men attacked him. It was only after a battle that the police were able to rescue the negro. The negro, Cecil Carter, saw the girl, Catherine Bradley, 507 North Exeter street, peering under the flop of his tent show. According to witnesses, he shied a brick at the girl and struck her on the temple. Carter then came outside of his tent and was forced to beat a hasty retreat from a crowd of men who were crying "Get him." The negro was rescued by a patrolman and taken to the central police station, where he was charged with assault. Two concessions connected with the same show were ordered closed yesterday and a number of alleged cappers, men and women, were driven out. The cappers were driven out after they had been watched for several hours by the police, who say that after each game the cappers always came out in the lead. Monday night, according to the police, cappers were caught slip- ping through the back of the booth the articles which they had ap- parently won by chance when play- ing with the crowd before the booth. Auburn Gets Its Circus Auburn, N. Y., May 31. Auburn will have its circus thla year that it has been yelling for. G. W. Finney, advance man for the bits Sells-Floto organization* was in town las'- week and se- cured a permit from City Manager John P. Jaeckel to show and parade here June 23. Wild West at Hillside Park Newark, N. J., May 31. Hillside Park opened Saturday, featuring a Wild W<^3t show. LEBLANG'S PUBLIC SERVICE BALL TEAM The photo does not do Justice to the color scheme of the new costumes sported by cut rate ticket men's baseball team which battled to a twelve inning tie with tho Broadway theatre treasurers at the annual "Hellraisem's" outing at Glen Cove L. I last Sunday The suits are violent green, stockings and caps Just as violent orange When the team paraded on the field they sported red bow ties which were discarded in the heat of the contes -someone said it was bad luck. Just visible are letters over the chests of tho players, they meaning the names of various theatres and tho location or the houses worst seats. No effort is made at pretentiousness Joe Lcblang, himself, Is the man in civies. He was "umps" for the game. Matty Zimmerman is the hefty chaD on the rlirht He dot«nt and a 15-cent admission is charged, play with his goof team but la the principal •hellraisem." ■ neiiy cnap on tne r,gnt * £?,.™