Variety (September 1924)

wwh^ay:'^t^bevs/iw* CHAUTAUQUAS VARIETY u WAR BEGINS IN EARNEST BETWEEN KLANTAUQUAS- CHAUTAUQUAS; NOTE SENT "Criau" Man Answer* Klan's Request for Talent With Scathing Denunciation of Hooded Gang— Klan Secretary Says t Nqbody But Members Knows Anything About the Knights of the Sack - SUGGESTS GROWTH Chicago, S«pt. 3. Um war is on between the Klan- tauquas and the Chautauquas. It begins to look like a real' battle. The two letters quoted below in full tell the whole story of the start of the war. The following letter la addressed to Leroy J. Mitchell,' manager, the Illinois Klantauqua System, Mount Vernon, 111. It is signed by Coring J, Whiteside, president of the Com- munity Chautauquas, Inc., Church and Grove streets. New Haven, Conn. It reads: "Dear Sir: In answer to your let- ter of August 7th, will say that we have no talent at any price to offer you. I think It an outrage to dis- grace the Chautauqua business with hooded figures such as appear in the upper right-hand corner of your let- terhead. I have never been Invited to become a member of the Ku Klux Klan, so that I do not know exactly what their purposes are. I Imagine, from what I have heard by rumor, that every right-minded citizen in the country believes in most of the principles of the Klan, but. I think the methods the Ku Klux Klan adopts for carrying out their princi- ples are Outrageous, are Illegal and | a disgrace to the American people. "I have talked with members of the Klan, with Catholics and with promi- nent men about the alms of the Klan, and I find that all of them, without exception, agree with the main principles of the Klan; but, without exception, all right-minded citizens disagree heartily with the secrecy, the intimidation and the hooded character of the Klan. ' Not Attacking Klan "I don't want to be misunderstood as being in the position of attacking your Klantauqua System: I wrote a letter a few weeks ago, in response to one received from some magasine asking what I thought of your sys- tem, and I told them that I was quite content for you to continue to oper- RAIN INSURANCE SBaaasafasBBUe* Parks, CamTals sad dresses. Special Bates Protect your Pair and Labor Day / dates expenses. ' application and check seven days before v= date HARTFORD SERVICE .' OH AS. O. KII.PATX1CR Hooker, Bnlldin*. Chleaso, ID. C.Rueckert&Co. Portable rlrrui light*, bdcon, Mow torrhrs. saasHoe sawn, lanterns, nutln and hollow m •ystesM. rtc Write Quetatleni and eataloa. rot CHICAGO. ILL. Tel. Lleiale MM MAJOR SMITH ate as long as you wanted to, and that if there were people who wanted the kind of service you have to offer I was quite content that they should enjoy it as far as they could. But when you have the nerve to write me to submit talent for your use, I take the opportunity of telling you just what I think of your methods." The answer Mr. Mitchell sent Mr. Whiteside: "Dear Sir: Tour letter of August 12 giving me your opinion of the Ku Klux Klan is received. It is actually funny. Tou no doubt will be better informed in some time to come. Tou are quite right in saying that you do not know anything about the Klan. It is Impossible for anyone to know unless they are members. I am taking the liberty of submitting a Non-Silba card. If you care to sign this card and return it to our office, we shall be very glad to give you more information. "Regardless of the tone of your letter, I wish to say that I have known you for a number of years and do know you are a capable Chautauqua man and that the Chau- tauqua business is undergoing a rad- ical change and there are some fine openings for real chautaqua men. Advice for Chautauqua Men "In one paragraph of your letter you say you don't want to be misun- derstood in the position of attacking the Klantauqua System, and state something regarding a friendly atti- tude that you have taken in a letter to some magasine. It would be quite a nice thing for all the outstanding chaUtauqua men to be as friendly as possible, because there will be some grand openings for them in the future. "I trust that you have bad a suc- cessful year in your Chautauqua movement, and assure you that we have nothing* but the very best wishes for all the Chautauqua people, and stand ready at all times to help them In their worthy enterprise. I know that in Illinois in many places this year our disgraceful organisa- tion has been the thing that has put over the Chautauqua, which would have otherwise failed. "If you were ever to be in this ter- ritory, I should enjoy a personal talk with you regarding the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan." - Klantauqua After Chau- tauqua for Three Days Quincy, 111., Sept. 2. I Barry, Hi., has just completed a big Chautauqua, one of the few. which paid out, 'and left a little money in the treasury. Now comes the announcement that the Ku Klux: Klan will bold a Klantauqua Sept. 4-6. They promise a tent seating 1,700, and some of the best musical talent to be secured. The Klan- tauqua program Is the first one to be held any place in this section of country. Glenn Young Still Has $161,000 in Bail Bonds Herrin, DX, Sept. 3. Stories of the financial success which attended Glenn Young's thrilling tour and address at Il- linois, Iowa and Missouri klantau- quas this summer penetrated to the office of State's Attorney Delos Duty last week. When the criminal court term opened with Toung re- ported In Atlanta—there all «good klansmen hone to go when they die or before If they have sufficient klantauqua success—the prosecutor demanded forfeiture of $200,000 ball which Young had posted in the courts there for charges ranging from rioting to murder. Affidavits from Georgia hospitals declared that the gallant crusader was unable to travel—with no other Inducement than a trial and no expenses guaranteed—and the court, after declaring some\J39,000 bonds forfeit, took other matters under advisement. America'a Fraaaler Ballooniet. apes far Palm, Parks and Celebratleaa Room 500, 1531 Broadway, Now York the The Ku Klux has a membership of over 1,600 in Pike county, and ex- pect to draw from Quincy and other cities which have large organiza- tions of tbe Klan. •** Quincy, 111., Sept, 1 Many of the towns and jjlties that had Chautauquas this year ran behind; the guarantors hav- ing to dig up are not signing up so readily for next year's Chautauquas, as the companies promoting would like. This is doubtless due to the fact that a commission is allowed on season tickets only to the guaran- tors, while the Chautauqua con- cerns take all the single admis- sions. Holding that it costs them $200 a day to produce the enter- tainments, many towns are under the Impression this estimate is In- flated to a considerable degree. The Lions' Club of Pittsfield, 111., has taken over the Chautauqua, but not until the Brown and White company gave the usual split on season tickets, after taking in $260 then a split on - the single admis- sions. It is evident that all the Chau- tauquas working In this section with tbe companies putting them on are going to see that they lose nothing la the venture regardless of how much the guarantors In the r. ..EXHIBIT.aUPRLY CO., SO* So. Dearborn St* 0Wt«j»j <o f n WeWS tbe .Chautauqua is bald have le dig. GEM POST CARD VENDER ITS NEW—ALL METAL OPERATORS, RRAD THIS— 1 am operating various kinds of devices—Platol machines. Picture machines. Scales, Peanut and Ouro Venders Shock machines, etc.—bat jour postcard venders are the backbone of my business, because they average a steady profit without betas moved Into new locations everv week or so."—CARL BERG. Chicago. WHY ARK OPERATORS CLOSING TERRITORY? Because our card vendere appeal to men, women and children and are backed up by our ever-Increasing, wonderful and attractive line af picture postearda The Interest does not wear off. Tbe profits are steady. SPECIAL OPPKst—Write for our new proposition whereby operators can obtain the new Gem, all-metal vender at an investment of less than $3.60 per machine In Iota, Big de- scriptive circular ready to mall. KLANTAUQUAS WILL DO ALL : BOOKINGS Change Shortly to Occur —Now Made Outside— Expect New Talent Chicago, Sept 1. The Klantauqua system of Illinois is planning some radical changes In their booking department. They will be announced very shortly. At pres- ent all tbe acts for the Klantauquas are being supplied through offices not connected In any way with the Klan. The new plans call for Klan men to handle the bookings. All bookings at present are made from Chicago. When the change does happen it will lose one office in the city, an account that baa helped refit the office and pay tbe rent far in ad- vance. Tbe change will also bring new talent to the Klantauqua list FREESPLIT - ON ALL TICKETS Towns Growing Wary in Arranging Chautau- qua Term* 50th Session Made Money Chicago, Bept. 2. The 50th Summer session at Chautauqua, N. T., closed. A1-" though the attendance was less than last year the Institution made money. LIGHT BANK ROLLS OUT OF LUCK IN ILL Strong Chautauquas Made Money in Down- State Centers Aledo, 111., Sept. 2. The closing weeks of August were more successful ones or down- state chautauquus In Illinois, ac- cording to weekly reports from the various centers, but found associa- tions which had been operating on doubtful margins still in the red, while organisations with a record for financial stability ran true to form. Cowden has announced that It will give up the summer lyceum after guarantors had to dig for $261 deficit, when attendance at the bill failed to meet the guarantee. The Arthur course ended with a $189 total In the debit, column, tut with 101 underwriters the assessment wasn't large and win not likely en. danger next year's program. At Blue Mound the Morgan Mutual course, after three years of free assembly, will try to make the people pay and $00 tickets are scheduled for advance sale. Maroa, which still has free Chautauqua, Is seeking a $500 contribution to pay the bill. Aledo is conducting a drive this week to run Its 421 voluntary sub- scriptions to the 700-guarantee, and David Kadyk predicts an $00 sale. The old Salem Chautauqua at Petersburg Is cinched for 1925 with more than 1,000 advance subscrib- ers. Rain the last day didn't damp- en the ardor of the Old Salem fans and the farm bureau program went off before a record crowd. It la one of the best organised chautau- quas in the down-state circuit. Klan Buys Block Six hundred subscribed to the Sullivan program for next year and the guarantee raised in 10 minutes with a 50-ticket block sold to the klan. O. J. Gauger Is president of the association. Kaston has con- tracted with the Mutual Morgan company for Its next show after a successful season this year. Guarantor* of the Klrkwood Chau- tauqua renewed their pledges for the Mutual Morgan bookings In 1925. Hamilton concluded its 20th suc- cessful program and raised over $1,000 for its 1925 program. A larger tent with greater seating capacity will be necessary next year pro- moters have decided. $1 CHAUTAUQUA ENDS SEASON WINNER Toldeo, la., Had 7-Day Program—Keokuk Not So Good Toledo, la.. Sept 2. Toledo, which claims to have the only $1 Chautauqua In the Middle West, closed Its 22nd session last week after a fine financial -season. After the seven days' program was' paid, the association retired a $(00 debt on repairs to. its. permanent pavilion and checked 1n 2,000 ad- vance subscriptions to the new season. Keokuk didn't fare so well where 41 guarantors were assessed $15.50 each to meet the overhead for the season. Plans for next year are still vague and the individuals who paid the bill this season announced that if Keokuk has a lyceum next summer It will be promoted by an organization rather than Individ- uals. Report of the Waterloo ehautau- qua showed it was a financial suc- cess and pledges of 1,200 tickets for next year are on file. Shelblna, Mo., closed Its program in two terrific rainstorms, the last of which blew down the tent and caused some minor damage. The top. was raised ngaln for the last day. Klan's til. Dates Chicago, Bept S. The route of the Klantauquas through Illinois Is as follows: Vir- ginia. Sept. 2-4; Quincy, $-5; Barry, 4-0; Waverly, 6-8; Jackson, $-9. Business through Illinois has been so big for the Klantauquas that they have been forced to raise the sidewall and set seats outside the tent, and use loud speakers. In some of the towns, even this method cannot care for the crowds. - ♦ ♦♦♦■♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦»♦)♦♦+» X NOW PLAYING JERRY DREW ORCHESTRA at COLUMBIA PARK ; NORTH BERGEN, N. J. BOOKED BT. J. A. DRISCOLL i Haw V* ***» *♦♦♦♦»■» ♦ + ♦♦♦♦.♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ C. F. ECKHART & CO. I>arsest Manufacturers of Carnival Supplies in the World nam fob cataixkjdb Main Ones and Factories 115 Natleaal A venae, Milwaukee, Wto. M-M W. De Beta M. r, Milwaukee t., Mempblo. We Hold Exclusive Concession Privileges MERIDIAN, MISS., FAIR Oct 6-11 ALL CONCESSIONS OPEN Including GRAND STAND, ICE CREAM, SANDWICHES and BOTTLED GOODS Can aUo turn WheeU and Grind Store; Palmistry, Peanuts, ale., at HUNTSVILLE,ALA.,FAIR Sept 16-20 .■• a. I - • A^^w MORR4S A CASTLE SHOWS, care sBwMUMwfe Stats P*\r /.'*. w a? k (8 * pt - 1) *' Minneapolis* than <^sdkso«V<T4*rW vie*t *•#«•« (Bept 8).