Variety (July 1922)

OUTDOOR AMUSEMENTS Friday, July 14, 1922 ALL CARNIVALS, TO ENDURE, MUST ADOPT CLEAN POUCY Old Days of "Gun Mobs" and "Cooch" Dancers Gave Bad Name to "Carnival" —Those Days Are Over—Natives and Officials Now Wised Up—Only Chant:e Now for Thorough Clean Show SomethinK iloiiig in carnival cir- Vies; radical changes in the present- day methods may soon be looked for. An undercurrent of unrest is rife. Carnival managers are beginning to think, while some are actually act- ing in a direction looking toward the betterment of their attractions and the carnival ihdustry in gen- eral. The word "carnival" la being eliminated in all billing oi: local events. These are now advertised as "Al Fresco Fete3," "Jubilees," -Festivals," "Kermesses," "Out- door Bazaars," etc. Within the past weeks four shows have closed and gone into storage until the fair dates begin, while several managers are offering their shows for sale—lock, stock and bar- rel. -) Two carnival owners have leased their shows for a stipulated term, while others have openly declared th'..j will be their last season. Managers with a view of remain- ing in the field have taken active to all of these big celebrations in droves. These dips plied their rac'.et un- molested, working in the big "tips" ("tips"—viz., alang for a big crowd) in front of the main bally- hoos, or frisking a simp as he hung onto the handles of the magnetic batteries which were all the rage In those days. A favorite "tip" for tha "gun mobs" was around the big ' ee acts —always free acts at the big doings —and in the big crush the "tools" and their "stalls" could work with impunity. In the general mixup there was little chance o' a rumble. This was in' the days of the big celebrations when lodges were put- ting on the big carnivals, and from which the present-day carnival business really sprgng. It was a day of easy money. Out of the nucleus that it created, carnival companies began to spring up like i EDITOR MacMANUS LEFT $2,000 ment it has been receiving from the average carnival in the past. It demands a clean show, with clean and legitimate concessions; it will see to it that it gets what it wants. The carnival manager may dis- card the word "carnival," and he may go to all lengtfis to camou- flage his shows, but he may call it a circus, a Chautauqua or a church revival, but aothing will avail him in the long run outside'of the absb- lute elimination of all money games, crooked devices and immoral or re- pulsive shows. The carnival may stay and it will continue to prosper, but not un- til it can live down the evil repu- tation ^ by a complete renovation and a determination to honestly declare a policy of cleanliness and refinement, and to live up to that policy to the letter. RINGLINGS' CHICAGO DATE After Co|i«t Trip, Through Sguth and Close While the Ringling-Barnum-Ba<ley will play Chicago it will not inter- fere with the proposed coast trip of the big circus. The Chicago stand has been dated from July 22 to 30, shorter than the customary stay (two weeks) out there. The coast tour of the Barnum- Bailcy circus will Include only the larger cities of the far west. Fol- lowing, the circus will move down the coast and along the southern tier, probably into Texas, making its KANSAS STIRRED UP OYER LOOS' TROUBLE Injunction at Ft. Scott Agi^ tates Entire State Against All Carnivals Kansas City, July 12. When the J. George Loos Shows refused to heed the advice of the county attorney of Bourbon coun- ty, Kans., and not unload at Fort Scott, a couple of weeks ago, they not only caused themselves a lot final stands in the south, with no of trouble, expense and los^ tkjne, closing date even yet s\jggested. It may be later than has happened in previous seasons, through the ex-^, news the shows had been stopped but have made things bad for iot other carnivals in the state. Th« ?)>H mushrooms. Every Syrian or Ar- menian that owned a dancing girl show soon blossomed for as a carnival owner. They grew too fast, and they worked too swiftly. I P tractions. Many have gone so far as to engage real circus and novelty acts to bolsster up their weak shows. A • strict eye is being given to conce.«^sions. These are being care- fully watched by the conscientious manager. All infringements of privilege are imipediately remedied by closing u:> the delinqueiit stores and leaving them with their owners flat on the lot. The far-seeing manager Vealizcs the days of "ripping" anl "tearing" are gone. The old-time stories of how "We trimmed a ma.rk for a C and • half," and^of how "We clipped a couple of monkeys for their whole roll," are no longer heard around the cook tent, counter o. in the privilege car after the night shows, as in the old days when the "fiat joint" and the thieving store were the .icc . led rule instead of the ex- ception. That the carnival has changed materially since its inception some 25 years ago, all observers will agree. In the ,old days there were few' shows that didn't carry "strong joints," and most managers were in the business solely for "the racket." In fact few of them believed it possible to operate without money fjambling and its kindreu evils. Thoy were by no means particular about attractions and sideshows, and the Oriental show with its cooch" dancing girls \yas usually the big feature of thO midway. Platform .shows with "Sleeping Beauty," "The Girl in Blue," and the "Girl From Up There" wore all favorite features. Thoy got the money in the good old days of big Klks' Carnivals, 'ilome Comings" and the big centennials that were put on and si.on*<orod by the civic authorities in small cit! s all over the States. Then it was all wide op< i. go as you please, and the carnival mid- way soon became the happy hunt- ing ground for every petty grifter and tinhorn gambler in the country. Everything was O. K. The car- nival nanager was glad to get his bit. Small town police were not yet familiar with "the racket," and the local law was innocent of the "spin- dle," the "drop case," the "hand striker" and the other mechanical thieving, machines brought Into ex- Istcncfl hv_ihirccc;:7C^*v.l KH»Tmi«Ts who were out to make hay only, re- gardless. It was a common thing to see a chief of police or a sheriff -tanding up against a "gaff joint" in those days and getting a trimming like any othi. yap. Everything went, and everybody was making money. It came too fast for most of them— It turned their heads. They thought the good times would last forever and they got reckless. Anything and anybody that could pay r privi- lege was allowed to work, many f^oing so far as to cut themselves in with the "gun mobs" which flocked ..«..- v»«^.. >.^v.,». J5£H® ^® ^^^ tradition of the car- steps" toward" improving their at-inl^aHnanager, they gave no thought of tomorrow. They overstepped the mark. They killed the goose. They took such liberties in some com- munities that they invoked the ill- feeling of the local autho.'.ties. Their brasen activities insulted the intelligence of the public. With their filthy shows, thqir thieving concessions, their pickpockets and othe^ highbinders, the carnival then gained the bad name which has never left It. But came the deluge. The Grand Lodge of tne Elks took up the mat- ter seriously, and issued a decree forbidding subordinate lodges to hold any sort of a carnival where shows and concession were a part of the entertainment. The Eagles followed, as did several other large lodge organizations. The big local and civic events petered ut be- cause the mercha*nts were dis- gusted. Thoy refused to Turther subscribe to the big bon\ ses the carnival agents demanded. There were bonuses in those days, and carnival managers got a big pitece of this for themselves after the cost of the free acts was deducted and after the general agent had got his share; for the general agent, instru- mental in securing the bonus, usu- ally claimed a full 50 per cent, of the net for his. Business with the carnival began to peter out. Many of the newly formed companies went out of busi- ness. For five or six years there was an actual sl^mp. But few of the shows seemed to be creating much of a sensation. Along about 1910 there came a new impetus. The big shows began to awaken to the importance of the big State B^airs and the present lively fight for opposition for fair contracts began to rear itself into a real battle of strategy. Since that time new tihow^ have popped into existence. Many small shows commenced to assume real proportions. A number of the old shows have gone forever, and in their places are others, until it is safe to say that never before have there been so many midway or- ganizations on the road; never in the history of the carnival business has there ever been such a mixed collection of good, bad and indif- ferent shows as are current. "While true Ihere ara_mor» ijig- g^njws an more legitimate attractions, it is still a fact the country Is over- run with shows of the "gypsy camp" type, whose man: jers, w" hout a though^ for the future or a care for others, Jufst amble along, ripping and tearing, robbing ai.d pillaging, and in every way ruining the busi* ness to the everlasting detriment of the enlightened manager, who wants and still strives to give the public a clean show and value for their money. The authorities, even In the smallest of towns, arc getting wised up to conditions. Even the public is beginning to resent the treat- The will of Jo83ph D. MacManut^. editor, author and founder of the magazine known as "The Bill Poster," who died on April 1, nam- ing his widow, Florence Worshal MacManus, of 15 Wadsworth ave- nue, sole legatee, and, without bonds, also the executrixyof his es- tate, estimated at about $2,000 in personalty, which recently was filed in the "Surrogate's Court, was or- dered admitted to probate by Sur- rogate Cohalan this we'^k. Mr. MacManus. survived only by his widow, lo whom he l^d been married about 11 years, died after ji brief illness at the Post Graduate Hospital and* was laid to rest/at Roanoke, Va. He was born in Bal- timore and during the Spanish- American war served as a corre- spondent in the Philippines for Han Francisco newspapers. He was a short story writer, wrote two books, "The Might of Manhattan" and "Soldiers of the Philippines." and for many years was the editor of "The Bill Poster." His will was executed March 25, and witnessed by Thomas C. Nettles, Frederick W. Heller and Harry P. Uhlitz. HAGENBECK ARRESTED Paris, June 30. The French police interrupted me performance of a circus at Grenoble last Saturday and demanded to see <he identity papers oU performed. It is alleged 14 were Germans trav- elling with passports describing them as Czecho-Slovak. which led to their arrest as bearers of false documents. Among them was a member of the Hagenbeck family, from Hamburg, and his wife. COPPING SHOWS FOR SALE Port Allegany. Pa., July 12. The Harry Copping Shows, which exhibited here, are for sale. The material includes nine railroad cars, tents for four shows,- and one rid- ing device. The show is under the manage- ment of T. J. Gigliotti. OUTDOOR ITEMS Billy Kline, former high diver. Is with Gloth's Greater Shows in the capacity of business manager. Ted Custer, general agent of the McCort Shows, Is 'now resting at Omaha. The big Los Angeles event, which l3_b£iilfiMiresu;^i^ wy Jmmny I5er- ger, will be known as California's Pageant of Progress and Industrial Exposition. There will be amuse- ment features. Including a mam- moth midway. Da.te Aug. 26 to Sept. 9. I. C. Bartlett, press agent, has closed with the H. T# Freed Exposi- tion Shows. J. D. Duke is now handling the press. Ed C. Warner, general agent of the Sells-Floto Shows, has been ill at the Palmer House, Chicago. W. A. Creevey. former general agent ahead of the Burns Greater Shows, is now with th<i^ Dodson & Cherry Shows in the capacity of special agent. pectation of outdoor showmen that the south this fall will be good ground for exhibiting until the win- ter months. Jt has been first reported the big show might pas9 up Chicago this summer to speed Into the west, but the plan, if decided upon, was changed. Even before the gossip that the RInglings would surely go to the coast got into the open there was a sudden reversal of the Hagenbeck- Wallace route. The Ballard-Muggi- van property had made several small stands in Indiana the last week in June and had progressed as far west as Minnesota by the beginning of this week. On the surface the In- tent was to carry out the declared Intention of covering the Pacific Coast territory. Since the determination of the Kinglings to complete the transcon- tinental round trip the Hagenbeck route has suddenly been changed, and by next week It will be playing back in the Hoosier State, starting at Gary, in the northwest corner, and moving southeast to Anderson, Ind.. July 22. An odd-aspect of the Hagenbeck-Wallace route Is that It is skipping the big towns and mak- ing aiSJrtla nearly all under 30.000 population. The show apparently will pass Muncie. with 40,000 popu- lation, and Indianapolis, with over 300.000, although it travels within 40 miles of both towns. The circus ap- pears to be specializing in small towns. The biggest community It visits this week is Mason City, la., with 20,000, scheduled fo.- Tuesday, while it makes Monmouth. III., with 8,000 population, today (Friday). The deduction among circus men is that Ballard & Muggivan declined the challenge of playing the narrow Pacific Coast strip In competition with the big show, and Is using up the Middle Western small towns, leaving the main towns for Sells- Floto. The Ringling new route card, tak- ing the show up to mid-August, was out early this week. It disclosed it will make a nine-day stand under canvas at Grant park, on the Chi^ cago lake front lot. Some of the railroad jumps in early August are enormous move- ments for a show with nearly 100 cars. During the week from August 7 U> August 12 traveling through the Canadian wheat belt of Mani- toba and Saskatchewan the total of six jumps Is over 1,000 miles. The longest jump is 224 miles. To make the movement in time for an after- noon performance the previous night show will be abandoned and only the afternoon show played. This plan of fitting in long jumps is used several limes. The early August travel total of 1,009 miles in a week compares with 337 for the current week and 368 for next week. "John RingMng.who Is do- ing the routing, assisted by Charles Meagher, apparently intends now t<i make the Chicago stand and then jump ahead of the rival circus. The route evades the underpopulated northern states of North Dakota and Montana, making the width of Minnesota in one jump of 241 miles and then moving almost straight north into the rich wheat lands of Western Canada. From this "^o-i- tiOH it TTii; t* niceh' placed to start the coast territory from Vancouver. from showing just outside the city^' limits of Fort Scott by the injunc- ' tlon process flashed over the state and was played up heavily by the Kansas papers, especially In a num- ber ot towns where the authorities were contemplating closing their towns to this class of amusement. It was also discovered cities of the first class in Kansas had a right under a state law to enjoin, within three miles of the city limits, "any nuisance that exists, or is about to be created." This measure gives the city offlclals of such cities a wide latitude and can be made to cowr about anything desired. I As an illustration of the feeling In the Sunflower state regarding the carnival, the Panama Exposi- tion Shows came near losing its date at Ottawa, Ka.n»{f on the Fourth. The show had been bookeu as part of the American Legion's celebration, yhen Mayor Walter Pleasant adrlsed the local commit- tee and the show's advance repre- . sentative that "No carnival will be permitted in Ottawa." The agent claimed his show was not a carni- val and the Legionnaires asked for an official ruling before the show arrived. The Mayor and commis- sioners held a special meeting at .' which It was made clear that there was a decided sentiment in Ottawa against carnivals. Upon the under<i^ standing that the show was to be but for one day and with the posi- tive orders no objectionable i«f«i.- tures should open, they were al- lowed to come In. The Loo shows after being pro- hibited from opeiWng at Fort Scott went to Pittsburgh, and although warned not to open, set up on the Fair grounds and opened cold. Re- ports from that city say "After the first night of operation county au- thorities, who were determined to keep the outfit from showing, were pacified by the utter lack of wheels of fortune, games of chance, or im« moral ^shows. Local officers state that the show Is no worse, If not really better, than other such shows that have been permitted to show here." In justice to the Loos man* agement. Deputy Sheriff Lyngar, who investigated the show, declared that while all carnivals are undesir- able, in his opinion, the Loos show is less so than many others. PARACHUTE DIDN'T OPEN "Dare^Devii Slim" Spain Jumped at 2,000 Feet Kansas City, Mo., July 12. The remains of J. W. ('Dare- Devil Slim") Spain, the Tulsa stunt flyer, who was killed at Seneca. Mo., the Fourth, were buried at Seneca. The city ollkials furnished a lot in the main part of the cemetery. EDDIE ARLINGTON'S HOTEL Edward Arlington, well known biff top executive, is now an extensive hotel owner In New York. His most rfecent acquisitions are the old Cad- illac hotel at 33d stVeet and Broad- way and the Yates, which adjoins on 43d street, east of Broadway. The latter was formerly the Metropolc. It passed following the Rosenthal murder. For the past two years the Cadillac has been part of the Clar- Idge, which Is passing as a hoteL Prior to Its joining with the Clar- Idge it was called Wallick's, but the old Cadillac n^me will be restored under Arlington.' Also under his control are the Harding, the Flan- ders, the American and a hotel on Long Island. Arlington conducted the Maryland up to two years ago. Upon disposing of It he took over the Albemarle, changing its name to the Harding, thereafter Stcurlr-B ine CiHif-iftyffityiries. " NICE KIND IIONS Paris. July 5. A motor-cyclist, giving an act billed as "Flirting with Death ' in a circus installed in a local 'fair, scared a couple of lions badly last week. The audience is kept In breath- less awe as the motorist turns on a small platform over a cage of vora- cious animals waiting to receive him should be slip. Such a slip oc- curred and the young man fell with^ his machine into the cage. The lions merely stared while attend- The flyer was killed when his parachute failed to open after he I ants went to tho cyclist's assistance had jumped from a plane 2,000 feet I and carried him to the hospital witb in the air. J a broken leg.