Variety (Apr 1927)

OUTDOORS VARIETY BRIDGEPORT LOSING BIG SHOW;. ROBT. RINGUNG WITH CIRCUS Ringling-Barnum Decided Upon Sarasota for Win- ter Quarter*—Zoo With Admission—^Did $669^ at Garden Easter Monday III I Robert Ringling is preparing to travel with the KingUng-Barnum •Clroua this ■eaton. The car always used by his late father. Charles RinglIng, is being fitted up for the son. It's the first time Robert has taken to road travel with the Big «bow. Hia familiarity heretofore with the show business Bas been gained mostly through concert work, young Robert being a tenor •Ing^r of notOb Terrific matinees have been the record ho far of the R-B Circus at the Madison Square Garden. Night attendance has not held up propor- tionately. In Variety's list last week of high grosses on Broadway Kaster Mon- day^ the circus was Inadvertently neglected. It did i<f.000 on ihut one day. At the Garden the scale has been hficreased to |t.60 top, inclusive of war tax. This takes in the boxes and also some orchestra seats. There is an unusually large ad- vance sale. Sad SiShts Through the announced scale ad- vance, although but 50c, there are said to be a repeat of the sad scenes of last spring around the Garden, when mothers with chil- dren ■ and but sufficient money to pay admissions and transportations for their brood are obliged to turn back, not having the miwnt the Increase calls for. Speculators are again in evidence, made more bold than formerly through the recent decision of the IT. S. Supreme Court overthrowing the theatre ticket premium law. There is at present no legal curb upon the specs. General report aprees that the Rihgling-Barnum Circus will here- after winter-quarter at Sarasota, fla., as prevleiliAy reported, remov- ing it to the Ringling-founded town in the south from Bridgeport, Conn., a city that has enjoyed publicity for years through lMaihi#^/1t^B winter quarters. '}r^i. Longer Season In Sarasota, the Ringlings. with an idea from John Ringling. chief operator of the circus, a zoo Will be established, with a fee charged for admission from the tourists. Al B. Barnes' Circus, on the west coast, has a fee soo the year around. Through the establish- ment of quarters for the off season at Sarasota, the circus will be en- abled to enjoy a lonier season. Bound for the Pacific Coast before the summer Is over, the R-B show Will probably return east by the southern route, closing possibly in Florida during November. Carnival License Now Necessary in Philly Philadelphia. April 26. Philadelphia no longer looms as the carnival operator's paradise. Legislation was slipped across last season whereby all carnivals entering the city must be licensed. The measure was slipped across for protection of tlie Sesqui-Cen- tennial but not jammed through, however, until the Sesqul was tun- ing up for its swan song. Few carnival men, esperially those carrying bazaar outlits, had been aware of a license regulation. T'nder the new regulation evon outfits carrying rides or attractions will have to be licensed. LANSING PARK SOLD Lansing, Mich., April 26. Sale by the Michigan Catering Company of its Pine Lake anrmso- nient park to the Wonona Bearh Company of Bay City has been closed. The* new owners plan the fftp a nditurc of < HiO,000 in » x < ? < »«« o f the purchase pi-iro for imnrnvo- Wents and new amu.sement devices. Th^ now owners have operated the Wenona Beach amusement park at Rtv City for many years. Paul TliornpsoTi is the new busi- ^''f^ manager of the park. Tlu- Pine Lake resort Is the only nmnse- '^^nt park In thr vl. inity of Lnns- •^P. on the shores of Tinf Lakf. ^'^""-it IC miles from this city. • CARNIVALS (For current week (April 25) when nbt etherwiie noted.) ABC ^ows, WhitUer, Cal. Anderson-Srader, Red Cloud, Neb. O. J. Bach, Herkimer. N. Y. Barkoot Bros., Hamilton. O. Bernard! Expo., Las Vegas, N. M.; May 2-7, Dawson. Bernard! Greater, Cumberland, Md. Curtis L. Bockus Shows. 30-May 7, Framlngham, Mass, Bunts Am. Co.. Smock, Pa.; May 2-7. Hamden, Conn. Byers Bros., BerryvlUe, Ark. Canadian Capitol'Shows, May 7, Ottawa. Ont. Capitol Out Boor Shows. 28-May 7, Hamden, Conn. Centanni Greater, Wallington, N. J. Coleman Bros, Shows, 28-May 7, Hamden. Conn. C. O. Coles United, Tezarkana, Tex. Colonial City, Garfield, N. J. Conklin ft Qarrett, Vancouver, B. C, Can. Harry Copping, Reynoldsville, Pa. Crafts Greater, Fresno, Cal. * De Kreko Bros., Peoria, 111. Dodson & Mott, Carbondale, III. Dodson's World's Fair Shows, 80, Cedar Rapids. la. Drew's Wonderland Shows, 30- May 7, Exeter. N. H. Eastern Bazaar Co., Newark, N. J. Enterprise Shows. May 7, Coal City, in. Evans Shows, Walsenburg, Colo.; May 1-6, Alamosa. Noble C. Fairly, Baxter Springs, Kan. Fairyland, Kansas City, Mo. Fritz Expo., Lutcher, La. Billy Gear, Aliceviile, Ala.; May 2- 7, Reform. Gerard's Greater Shows, 80*May 7, Waterbury, Conn. Great Eastern, Crosvllle, Tenn. Greater Sheesley, Danville. Va. Greenburg Am. Co.. Lords'burg, N. M.: May 2-7, MorencI, Arls.; 8- 14, Clifton. Gold Medal, Ada., Okla. Gulf Coast. Beebe. Ark. W. R. Harris. Monticello. Ga. Henke's United, Milwaukee, Wis. L. J. Heth. Central City, Ky.; May 2, New Albany, Ind. Hill's Greater, Atlanta, Ga. William HofTner Am. Co., May 7- 14. Galesburgr, 111. Isler Greater. Chapman, Kan. Johnny J. Jones, Washington, D. C. K. F. Ketchum's, Weston, W. Va.; May 2-7, Buckhannon; May 8, Clarksburg. Abner K. Kline, Burbank, Cal. Lachman-Carson, Enid. Okla. J. L. Landes, Junction City, Kan.; May 2-7, Salina. • M. J. Lapp. UridKt'Port, Tonn. Liberty Fair & Am. Co., 30-May 7. Paterson, N. J.; May 14-19, Hill- side. Mantley Shows, Marietta, Ga.; May 2-7, Decatur. MeClellan. Kansas City, Mo. Michael Bros. Shows, Martins- burpT, W. Va. Mighty Argyle ShoWs, X^incoln, III.; May 2, Streator. Miller Bros., Martlnsburg. W. Va.; May 2, Cumberland, Md. Monarch Expo., White Plains, N. y. Mountain State Shows, Charles- ton, S. C. Murphy Bros., Pittsburgh, Pa. National Am. Co., Washington, Kan. Page & Wilson, St. Charles, Va.; May 2. Benham, Ky.; May Mid- dlesboro, Ky. C. E. Pearson, Ramsey, 111 Pennsylvania Shows, Wilkes- Al Porter's. Meclianicsville. Md. Itice Bros., Providonce, Ky.; May 2, .Marion; May 9. Princeton. Matijew J. Riley Shows, 30, r,ridK( ton. N. T. Hock City. Coal rr»-ek, Tenn. Royal American. Belleville, 111. Uuhin & ('berry, Lexington, Ky.; .May 2. Hamilton, O.; May 9, Mid- dktown. j^an.lv's Shows. South .\niltoy. N. J.; May 2-7, Fords; May 9. Collin- ville; 16. Hackrtti^town. S< «>tt iireater. Price. Utah. Smith Greater United, Oakland. Md. Short 's Greater, KinK'*t<'n. N. Y. S;. m K. .Sr>ei^(^^g, BrrnjkvlUp. Pa. — Southern Tier Shows, Elmira. N. y. Tr.iver Chautauqua Corp., Pnter- 'r'n'itfd .Atii. Co., 23-30. II..ov<^rs- vlllo. IM : M.iy 2, Boswcll. May 9. S'lUM-IXf. C A Vernon, llin^'cr. T« x. Viririni.» Am. <'o.. SO-May 7. Quanti" H. .M. W.iiivr, aO-.Mi«> I. J-i.ic.iS- t€I, O. GALVESTON'S NEGRO FAIR Due to Last from August 14 to Nov. P. Jenkins Direeting What is expected to be the biggest Negro fair and exposition of 1927 is scheduled for Galveston, Tex., Aug. 14-Nov 2. The musical program will be In charge of Dave Peyton. Chicapo mu- sical man and orchestra director. While special display in dramatics will be in charge of a Mi.^s Savage. Special sports, includintr bnsoball. will have Louis Watson directing. C. D. Jenkins. Galveston, is fair director. KUNE CARNIVAL ROUGH AND HOW GRin SHOWS" PUT UNDER BAN BY CIRCUS FANS' ASSN. MEEHNG Annual Session at West Baden—Another Slogan for Pant' Members 'To Pay at We Go"—See Rob- inson Circps COPS PUT DAMPER ON CIRCUS TICKET SPECS Goes the Limit on Strong Jointt in Hollirwood Merchantt' Expo Los Angeles. A^rll 26. The Abner K. Kline Shows, billed as "America's Cleanest Shows." opened a six day engagement, in conjunction with the Merchants Exposition at Hollywood, last week. The hilling, "cleanest amuse- ment" was very appropriate, for every sap that went against any of the Joints went "clean to the cleaners." While one Variety re- porter was stalled by the fixers and ihflls^ all wearing the lanffsst lodge pins the writer ever saw. the other Variety man and his cona- panion made the rounds. ■ If appearances count for any- thing, the "fix" was in good and strong. This reporter has seen plenty of ripping and tearing In his day. but nothing so raw as with the Kline Shows on Tuesday night. April 19. The reporter could not stand to se« a kid taken at one of the Joints, tipped the kid off and spoiled the play, to the discomfort of the worker in charge, who re- marked, "we take ^em all and how.'* Most of the joints were buying back and money was flashed for bait. Tho usual lino of **stortesr' gaffed, glmmicked and othorwiso. were used to relieve the chumps from their money. Wheels, roll down, swinging ball, creepers, mitt joints, etc., were in operation. What few joints there were on the square, were starving to death, not being able to withstand the op- position and flash of coin from the greater number of stands that were working strong. It suro looked like the good old days. With the ex- ception of one or two. most <)f the shows were rag fronts. David Horsley, one Of the pioneer motion picture producers, had an old time movie show on the lot. Fate plays some queer pranks, for the Kline show was pitched on the former site of the old Paramount Studio. Running in" the Ilorsley tent was a one reeler, "Her Indian Hero." one of the earliest single reel films produced In Hollywood in 1912. In the cast was Dorothy Davenport (Mrs. Wallace Reid) and Jack Conway) not the Mirror Jack Conway or Variety's Con. hut the director at M.-G.-M. "The Great Train Robbery" and illustrated songs, comprised the Horsley show. Frimini's Palace of Sensations, Monkey Speedway, The Charleston, Russell and Barnett's Penitentiary show and the Aikans.is Minstrels alonp with five of the usual rifles. Is the line up with the Kline show. For' some reason or other, the shows under canva.ss w< re dolnvc no business on Tuesday ni^lit. while the strong working joints were getting all the mob. Speculators around Madison Square • Garden handling circus tickets were hard hit by Police Captain Kdward Lennon and his staff of "spec hounds.** Dosens of speculators and "steerers" were arrested by Lennon and his men. In West Side Court, Magistrat^^ Michael DelagI, fined them all $10. One speculator told newspaper- men that he had been stuck the day before with more than 126 tickets that he couldn't dispose of. l^nless a person had a ticket for the circus he was stopped from coming West on 49th and 60th street. Speculators peddled their tickets on the side streets last year and did a landofflce business. The steerer "parked" himself on 8th avenue and directed folks where tickets could be had. Captain Lennon learned how the ''specs'* cleaned up last year and wtm pre- pared for them. The first week of the circus the speculators did no business because it was Holy Week. However, they had to pay high prices for the stores they rented. The lessees made the brokers engage the places for three weeks. Last week they were planning to make a grand coup, only to receive a set-back from t«snnon. \0m FAIR DATE JAM thift of Sioux City Causes Conflict All Along the Line Inland Park at Lodi, N. J. A new amusement park venture is under way at Lodi, N. J., with a syndicate of local business men headed by L. J. Tucci bfhind it. Through being an inland park the main feature will be a swim- ming pool. Los Angeles Rodeo Date Los Angeles, April 26. —— Lo s Ang e l e s Hf*ruu — Ula < w Spencer, la., April 26. Change in dates of the Interstate Fair Association, Sioux City, la., to Sspt i*t will noosssitats general shift of dates for the Northwest Iowa County. Fair circuit. Leo C. Dailey, secretary of the Spencer CoRimercial Club and of the Clay County Fair, this week announced a meeting will be called to con- aider shifts of the circuit calendar. Thm present arrangement prom- ises many inconveniences to ex- hibitors, race and midway and con- cession men. Canyoa's Aooutics Los Anpeles, April 26. Tho Roniona Bowl on the out- skirts of Memet, Cal., will have 1,100 concrete seats added to Its capacity when the fifth annual pageant gloryifying early California life is produced April 23. Garnet Holme, pageant director for the United States National Parks Service, will aUmo thi.s year's pap^cant. Komona Powl is a natural amphl- thoatro formed in a <»niyon. The acoustics ar<' so perfect that 10,000 persons (rin hea.- a whisper spoken on the .stage. Frontier Town u AnBory I'ndor aiisidees of the Madonna House, a frontier town has been erected In the OOth Regiment Armory, 26(11 str< et and Le xington avenue, New York, with the affair to run April 23-May 1. Proceeds are to go to the "Save a Child's Life Fund." with current headquarters at 7H9 7ih avenue. West P;i(len. Ind.. April 26. The Circus Fans Association In Us 2d annual gathering held at ths West Baden Springs Hotel elected all officers. Tho association adopted the fol- lowing neiw slogan: "We pay as we go—we stand be- tween the "griftInR" circus and the public—and between the "grifting'* public and the circus.** Cioinp: further In rescdutions to say that they will refuse the asso- ciation and Individual members aid to any circus carrying grift or im- moral shows. The members attended the open- ing performance of the John Rob^. Inson circus and a great oolorfiil and typical circus program. They also ate lunch on the lot In the'cook house. Oil Robinson. 82, was present as a guest and was made an honorary member. Jerry Muggivan was also present and with Aam Dill extend* ed every courtesy to the circus, ex- cept admittance to the big show— the Fans following^ their slogan. Members were present from aJl sections of the country. The banquet at the Hoosier Club had Lieut. Gov. Harold Van Orman of Indiana, as toast auMUr« THAT ASBESTOS CURTAIN Minn. Judge ^ays City Can Pur*' sliase It Anywhere Minneapolis, April 2t. R. D. Cone, local realtor, lost his suit as a taxpayer to prevent the city council from awarding a $29,- 000 contract for the new auditor- ium's a'*>estos curtain to the Twin City Scenic Co., Minneapolis eoB* cern, of which Theodore Hays, gen- eral manager for FiQ||l||)i|el||. A Ruben, is president. ;-^^^^^^7^^^ Refusing to Issue 0m ti^ttmO^ Judge W. W. Bardwell. In distrlet court, ruled that the city council has the right to buy the curtain from whatever firm it chooses, eve^ If the concern in question does BOt happen to be the low bidder. The Peter Clark Co. of New York submitted the low bid of $25,500. la passing this up the aldermen votlnff for the Twin City Co. said they preferred to favor home industry and felt friendly toward Hays be* cause of the service he has rsttdersA gi-atuitously to the city In connec- t'on with the auditorium project. Sues Musivan for $35,000 In Heritage CircuA Case South nend. Ind., April 26. J. S. fJriinn, receiver for the Heritage Bros.* circus, filed suit Itt the ITnlted States District Court here last week against Gerald Muglvan. one of the owners of the Sell.s-Floto and other circuses, WIUl iieadquarters at Peru, Ind. The lawsuit asked damages of |3.'>,000 and charKed .Mu'^'ivan with seizing the Heritage show prop- erty. Orlffln said he paid $00,000 for tlie Herltn^e show and Would have m<ade $1,000 a d.iy proMt. As.'-o'ialion. will sta^e its r«»(Uo and roundup at the Coliseum, May 20 to 22 inclusive. H P. Wehb Shows, 30-.May 7, HowelJ. Ind. Works Am. Co. Indian.'i. r»a. A. S. Yetter Attraelions, May 2, ! M<iri« ss*'n. Pa. 1 ZAriuM Moaoi-wh, South Uivcr, N. J. Gil Robinson, 82, Oldest Showman, Goes Joyriding Dayton, April 26. (U\ Robinson. 82. one (»f tiie old- e.st silow men in tlie World, and srui ! of tho ori;<inal Joijn i4ol»inson, mo- I tored through from Atlantic City .Monday to be h»rre at the opening of I lie .*<lii in" rireus. In ch.irK'' of his nepin'W, .lolin ^l. Robinson. He 'cJtme west to attend the mect- inif of the t'nlted States Playing Car<l Coiiijctny at Ciri'inniti next week. Iiut hurried his trip in onler I IhMt he miwht attend the openin;: i perrorniance.s of the bhrine circus. ^ TINSEL METAL CLOTH FOR DROPS 36 in. wide at 75c a yd. and up A full linn of Kold and allver bro- f'a<l<-n. m«tal c-lothii. tn]d and allv«r trinirniriKa. rhlneatonaa, apanclaa, tii;htH. opera hos#. etc.. ate, for ataga < <ih( unioH. ^'am[)|p^ iii>on rcquvat* Ja Ja Wyle & Bros., be. 18-20 Eatt Z7th Street NEW YORK SCENERY and DRAPERIES K'UKLX SCEMC STt DlU. Celoniliea. O.