Billboard, January 2, 1904, p. 9, 10. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___.
For years Walter L. Main has provided a Christmas Day dinner to the men employed in and around the show's winter quarters at Geneva, O. This fact is known to all the laborers with the show, and not a few of them make arrangements to be on hand at the winter reunion. Christmas this year was no exception, and, in fact, the dinner provided exceeded by far all the Governor's efforts in this direction. In the neighborhood of one hundred men sat down to the tables in the long dining room at winter quarters, and what they did to turkeys, chickens, vegetables, plum pudding and pumpkin pies would have made a dyspeptic envious. Smiling Ed C. Knapp, the general agent of the show, acted as master of ceremonies, and his jokes and stories aided very materially in assisting digestion. After cigars had been smoked the men adjourned to the reading room, where each one was presented with two suits of underwear, two pairs of heavy socks, a pair of rubber boots and mittens. The village quartette and banjo club furnished a pleasing entertainment.
Miles Orton, the veteran showman and erstwile famous circus rider, died at Key West, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 22, of appolexy, in the midst of a very successful season. The show will be conducted by Myron and Norman, who will retain the name of Miles Orton to perpetuate their father's memory.
Tom Fay has signed again to take the canvas with the Wallace Shows.
C. S. Primrose has signed for advance of Forepaugh-Sells Shows for 1904.
Norris & Rowe have two new seals to add to their school, which will then number six.
Al. L. Salvail will manager the side show for J. C. O'Brien with Campbell Brothers Circus next season.
Jas. Brooks, wire walker and trapeze performer, closed his fourth season with Jones Model Plate Shows Christmas Day at Blacksburg, S. C.
Benjamin Bartlett, advertising agent for Gentry Brothers' Dog and Pony Show, died from the effects of malarial fever at Hot Springs, Ark., Dec. 12.
Art Burtoft, wardrobe man of the Norris & Rowe Shows last season, is visiting his mother at Guild, Ohio. He will sign with the show again for next season.
Thomas During, of the Sells & Downs Show last season, is working for the Frisco System at Danville, Ill. He now resides at 117 Washington Ave., that city.
Albert Aldridge, formerly boss canvasman of the Main Show, is conducting a hotel and cafe opposite the Norris & Rowe winter quarters at San Jose.
The Fraziers, late of the Gollmar Brothers R. R. Shows, are at Peoria, Ill., practicing a new aerial act for the coming season. They will also fill a little time in vaudeville.
Diavolo Looping the Loop, formerly with Ringling Bros., and Mrs. Clark Schaar, the fancy cycle rider, were married at Chicago, Dec. 21. John Ruel is Diavolo's real name.
Samuel C. Hammond, known to showmen as Long Sam, died in Syracuse recently at the age of 61. He was one of the old line circus men, and many years ago drove an eight horse team for Barnum.
Thomas W. Ryan, manager of the side show last season with Norris & Rowe Shows, will again manage the side show the coming season. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are spending the winter with Mr. Ryan's folks at Stockton, Cal.
The Bartine Shows for the season of 1904 will be new and complete throughout, and will be under the exclusive ownership and management of Charles Bartine.
Marvelous Melville has discovered on his arrival home in Sheldrak, N. Y., that he lost his mysterious revolving ball, which was a feature of the Forepaugh-Sells Show last season. As Melville has the ball patented since 1895, it will not be possible for anyone else to use the act next season.
B. E. Wallace, the well known circus proprietor, is at the head of the Wabash Valley Trust Company, just organized at Peru, Ind., with a capital of $200,000. Mr. Wallace is president of the institution, but his duties in this capacity will in no wise interfere with his management of the show.
The City Council of Indianapolis, Ind., have passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of the street for parades between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Funeral processions is the only exemption made. Local and insignificant as the action may seem, it yet marks a step towards the inevitable relegation of the circus pageant to history.
The St. Leon Family, five, opened at the Olympis Theatre, Chicago, Ill., Nov. 16, and met with success over the Kohl & Castle Circuit. They intend playing vaudeville dates till the end of January, after which they go to the winter quarters of the Floto Shows to prepare for the coming season, having signed contracts with that show last October, to arrive at their winter quarters Feb. 1.
Major Philo C. Kerwin died at the age of 94 years in Brookfield, Conn., Dec. 24. He was a partner in Turner, Bailey & Company's circus, which finally became the Barnum Show. Afterward as a railroad capitalist he bought the right of way of the Boston, Hartford, and Erie railroad, now the Highland Division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, from Waterbury to the New York State line. Mr. Kerwin was a member of the State Legislature in 1863-64.
Notes from Alex. Glasscock's Big Combined Shows. We are now in winter quarters at Longview, Texas, after having the most successful season in our history. When we took the road we had a 65 foot round top and a 30 foot side show top, carried about twenty people and had ten wagons. We closed using an 85 foot round top with two 40 foot middle pieces, a side show top 30x70 feet, carrying over fifty people and thirty wagons, including five cages. Our arrangements for next season are fully laid out and rapidly maturing.
Everything around the winter quarters of the Walter L. Main Show is hustle and activity now. The men start work every morning at eight o'clock and work until five in the afternoon, laying off an hour at noon for dinner. Veteran Dan Taylor is fitting the show out, and everything is systematized to perfection. As the show will be almost entirely new when it takes to the road in the spring, there is less repairing, but more building. Madame Taylor and Werntz have thirty seamstresses under them working on the new parade and tournament costumes.
An apt illustration of the good will and affiliation that exists among showmen and of their proverbial magnaminity toward their unfortuate brothers was given in the instance of the reception extended by the Norris & Rowe Show at El Paso, Texas, to Charles L. Davis, at one time general agent of the Forepaugh Show and likewise of Sells Brothers' Show. Davis has been sojourning at El Paso some years for the benefit of his health, he being afflicted with tuberculosis. A good fat purse was made up for him after he had been given a most enjoyable day.
Notes from Augustus Jones' Model Plate Railroad Shows. We closed a successful season of 35 weeks Christmas Day at Blacksburg, S. C., and shipped direct to the new winter quarters - Clifton Forge, Va., Augustus Jones, manager; E. H. Jones, general agent. Performers in the big show: Bob Peasley and wife, Emma Snyder, Carrie Franklin, Dick Murry, Three Baldwyns, Billy Lee, E. H. Sartwell, James Brooks, Lew Hershell, with his big troupe of educated dogs; Alex Jones' troupe of ponies; Arthur Dickeson, leader of band with the following musicians: Frank Poutey, Jerome Potter, Joe Rose, R. Powers, John Vanance, Marion Abbott, John Reynolds, P. J. Irwin, A. J. Anderson, manager side show: M. C. Lane and Clarence Erickson, door talkers; Salonna and Ella Nelson, Turkish dancers; Neita Levigue, snake lady; Big Elmo, fat boy; Bihus, snake eater; William Miller, magician; San Toy, smallest pony in the world; Ed. McVaw and the big lion act.
Billboard, January 9, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___.
Amusement circles have been much exercised for some little time back with various rumors concerning an impending negotiation involving a change of interest in the Buffalo Bill Wild West. These speculations were set at rest by the conclusion of a new and important deal last week between two of the most conspicuous and best known gentlemen in the amusement business in the world - J. A. Bailey, sole owner of the Barnum & Bailey Show, and Col. W. F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill." The death of Nate Salsbury, a year ago, made imperative a change in the management and proprietorship of the Wild West, and this change involved the purchase of the Salsbury interest by Col. W. F. Cody before the expiration of the present year and the beginning of the next season, because the widow, Mrs. Salsbury, could not take the active part in the control of the business her late husband was supposed to have exercised. This necessitated a new deal all aroung; therefor, the old agreement hitherto in force was dissolved, by consent of all concerned, and a new equal partnership formed between Cody and Bailey, by and through which these two gentlemen become the owners of all the rights, title and interest. The new firm will henceforth be known as Cody & Bailey and the Wild West exhibition will be continued on the same general lines and methods which have resulted so satisfactorily to all the parties in interest for many years past. At present the Wild West is in winter quarters in England, which country it will tour again next summer, and the year after, most likely, the field of its activities will be transferred to the Continent of Europe.
Mile Coyle and Fred Hutchinson sail for Europe Jan. 20.
Bob Stickney Jr. is enroute to join Orrin Brothers' Circus, City of Mexico.
The Fukino Japanese troupe has signed for next season with the M. L. Clark's shwos.
Over fifty men are working steadily in the winter quarters of the Main enormous shows.
George Bradenburgh, of the 9th & Arch Museum, will be a fashion plater next season.
Ed Lykens, boss hostler with Hargreaves' Show last season, is at liberty for next season.
There are thirty men at the Norris & Rowe winter quarters turning out work in a la jig time.
B. E. Wallace has placed orders for his printing matter for the coming season with a Cincinnati firm.
Howes Great London Shows closed at Palatkatld, Ga., Dec. 15, and went into winter quarters at Macon.Ed Waldem, an old-time circus man, has been wintering in Galesburg, Ill. He has signed with Campbell Brothers' Show as local contractor for the coming season.
It is rumored that Bill Ingert ("Smithy"), formerly boss canvasman with the Sells-Downs Show, will go as assistant with Tom Fay, of the Wallace Show, next season.
Virg Campbell, of the Campbell Bros. Shows, was recently married to a non-professional at Fairbury, Neb., the winter quarters of the show and the home of the Campbell Bros.
The Original Renzettas, formerly of the Robinson's Ten Big Shows, joined The Way of the Transgressor at St. Louis, Dec. 14, and have been one of the featurs of the show ever since.
Dashington Brothers closed a very good season in October and went into winter quarters at Danville, Ill., which they will make their winter quarters for five years at least. The show opens May 15.
Word comes from Fort Worth, Texas, that Herbert Moody, formerly of the Ringling Show, will manage the Floto Show the coming season, which is wintering at Fort Worth, and that the show is to be greatly enlarged.
West Baden Springs, Ind., will have quite a gathering of circus folk this week. Col. Hugh Harrison and wife, James Jordan and J. D. Harrison are already quartered in parlors at the New West Baden for a stay of some length.
The recent deal brought about between Messrs. Bailey and Cody was negotiated successfully by Louis E. Cooke, through whose instrumentality and good offices every import and detail was settled and the agreement reached and signed.
The Norris & Rowe canvas will be enlarged for next season to a 130 foot round top, with two fifties and a thirty, with two rows of quarter poles. The menagerie tent will have a seventy with four thirties. Thompson & Vandiveer are getting out the work.
Will S. Rydon and Harry McDonald were in Cincinnati last week buying paper for next season. McDonald Brothers' Show will open at Huntington, W. Va., in April. They want an agent capable of going in advance of a wagon show and also performers of all kinds.
Walter L. Main has issued a call for his executive staff to meet in consultation with him at the show's winter quarters at Geneva, Ohio, Monday, Jan. 4. At this meeting all plans of the season of 1904 will be perfected and the initial steps toward organization taken.
The winter quarters at Peru, Ind., of the Wallace Show are lighted by electricity, heated by natural gas and water furnished by the turn of a faucet in every department. There are 14 continguous farms connected with the winter quarters, from which feed is supplied to man and beast.
Dion De Marbelle is critically ill at the Sherman Hospital, Elgin, Ill. Yankee Dan, as he was familiarly known, is one of the oldest living clowns, making his last tour with Ringling's Circus some fifteen years ago. He is about 85. He is the composer of a number of patriotic song.
The World's Fair has endorsed the Ferari Bros., who are now running the zoo at St. Louis, Mo., as to the splendid specimens of animals, and are using the lions and tigers as models for the animal statuary at the World's Fair grounds. Certainly this is a high compliment for them.
The H. C. Long Palace Shows will open at Okolona, Miss., Feb. 15. They will have three cars, a 90 foot with two 40 foot middle pieces. Geo. W. Kline is now in winter quarters breaking a herd of ponies for the coming season. Everything will be brand new. Prof. E. Red Parkman will have charge of band.
At Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 19 last, a monument was unveiled by the people with the Harris Nickel Plate Shows over the grave of John Rourke, the elephant keeper, who was killed by the elephant Gypsy, at Valdosta a year ago. The entire circus force, accompanied by the bands, went to the cemetery, and with fitting ceremony uncovered the handsome stone.
A winter circus will be opened at the Auditorium, 3200 Olive street, St. Louis, Mo. A 42 foot ring and a 30 foot platform will be provided together with ample stabling accommodations in the building itself. The seating capacity of the Auditorium is about 2,500. Dressing rooms for the performers are attached.
A correspondent writes that "Leon" W. Washburn, of Uncle Tom's Cabin fame, was in Hornellsville, N. Y., with his show lately. He is getting all kinds of money this season, and while he admits he still cherishes a love for the circus, he thinks he will steer clear from another venture in that direction. As he wisely puts it himself: "I will leave well enough alone."
Lucky Bill's Show, after a successful season, has returned to winter quarters at Queneio [sic Quenemo], Kan. Lucky Bill has purchased a very fine residence and property in the town and a good many of the performers are also making Queneio their home. A number of contracts have been signed for next season, but Lucky Bill would be pleased to hear from first-class performers.
The Barnum & Bailey offices issued a unique New Year's card representing a Christmas tree, each bough of which bears the portrait of one of the Barnum & Bailey staff with the Buffalo Bill Wild West. Those so represented are: G. O. Starr, F. B. Hutchinson, C. L. Dean, H. L. Watkins, A. D. Starr, C. S. Wells, H. H. Cunning, F. Coyle, E. Mitchell and C. B. Meredith, who take a novel way of extending greetings.
Notes from Captain Stewart's Show. The show will open in Ft. Wayne, Ind., the last week in April. James Beatty's show and the Captain's may consolidate, as there is some talk to that effect. Oscar Gulliver is in the Woolf Bros. clothing store in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Jennie De Weese is with the Breezy Time Co. for the winter; Chas. Axley is at his ome at Duquoin, Ill. An 18 foot snake died last week at Jas. Beatty's winter quarters.
If circuses decide to abolish parades, "Tom shows" and minstrels will certainly become more conspicuous than ever. Probably circuses will resort to sending the band down town, and then it will be the circus with the largest band will be the best circus. How would this sound in an ad: "Wanted - circus people in all branches. Aerial people, riders, male and female; tumblers, clowns, jugglers, jockeys and concert people. All must double in brass." Who can tell but what it may be in the future the proper wording.
W. F. Cody has purchased the Nate Saulsbury [sic] interest in the Wild West show from the Saulsbury estate, and has formed a partnership in that show with J. A. Bailey, owner of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, under the firm name of Cody & Bailey. Mr. Bailey's interest in the partnership is equal to that of Mr. Cody. It is stated officially that the three tented shows in which Mr. Bailey is an owner are not associated in any way except that he holds a half interest in the Wild Wet, an interest in the Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Show, and is the sole manager of the Barnum & Bailey Show. Perhaps one of the most important bits of show news of the current season is the recent del whereby J. A. Bailey purchased outright a full half interest in the Buffalo Bil Wild West exhibition, thus becoming a partner with Colonel W. F. Cody in the operation of that valuable property in all parts of the world. The transaction was manipulated by Louis E. Cook [sic Cooke], who seems to have the happy faculty of "pulling off more big things" than any other man in the show business, and nearly every circus event of note within the last twenty years has found its basic principal in his ever ready fund of expansion and improvement.
Notes from the Snyder Bros. Big Vaudeville Shows. After a five year tour without closing in the Sunny South, the show has at last been snugly stowed away in winter quarters at Brighton, Ill. The show had a very successful season of 1903, turning people away in some of the larger towns. The show will open about April 1 at Brighton, Ill., with everything brand new and a much larger show, under the name of Snyder Bros. and Dowker's Wild West Circus and Museum. The show will still travel by wagon, carrying 60 head of stock and 40 people. The management is busy signing people for the season of 1904.
Notes from Haag's Mighty Shows. The Haag Shows will close on Jan. 11, after a season of 43 weeks. Many of the people who opened with the show are closing with it, a good sign for Haag. The Irwins, De Iveys, Ed Murphy and others think the warm sunshine of Shreveport is preferrable to the weather of the lake regions and will winter in Shreveport. Little Tex (Barnard Keyes) is breaking a bunch of elephants which have only been in this country a few weeks, being a special order filled for Haag. The people with the show are all healthy, and the show will start out this spring bright, clean and well polished. The past season has been good, but Mr. Haag does not think the coming one will be so good.
Our correspondent at Evansville, Ind., writes: There is enough circus talent in Evansville these days to float and handle anything that needs a white cover. Punch Wheeler, Billy Dale and Chas. Davis, of the John Robinson Shows, are burning up Evansville with announcements of the big vaudeville features they are to present at the Peoples Theatre for a run. C. A. Whit, of Ringling Bros., is also there managing the Grace Hayward Company, and it is said when these four meet it's canvas talk from start to finish. White and Davis sent Local Manager Pedley a healthy-looking goat of the "Bill" gender, bearing a car which read: "Compliments of Punch Wheeler." Pedley swears that he will get even and Punch refuses to be interviewed.
While the Putnam House, New York, has no "Amen corner," it certainly has a "that-reminds-me corner." Ever since the passing away of the Revere House the Putnam has been the New York rendezvous for the "bosses," many side show talkers and all kinds of wise candy butchers. When a New York space writer is pushed for copy he runs up to the Putnam and is soon in possession of material for a two or three column special. Not only are things of the past rehearsed, but those of the future foretold. One of the latest given out this week by a wise acre was that Pawnee Bill would follow the Barnum & Bailey Shows into Madison Square Garden next spring. It was no cook-house flunky who cracked that either. It was a conservative old-timer, who has a faculty of finding out how the wind blows.
Billboard, January 16, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses.
Stoke on Trent, Eng., Dec. 23, 1903. The Buffalo Bill Wild West Show is comfortably housed in its commodious winter quarters at Stoke on Trent, England, and just at the present the "Trent" is a big thing, as it has been raining four days steady. Manager F. B. Hutchinson has sailed for America, to be gone for six weeks. Chas. B. Meridith is in charge of the office, with Ben Powell (Blondy) as stenographer. Peter Halstead, in charge of the mechanical department has his work well under way. Jake Platt, with his able assistant, John Eberle, has his seats finished and nicely put away, waiting to be loaded in the wagons when the spring rolls around. Master of transportation R. P. Murphy is working with a large force of men rebuilding his train of sixty-four cars. Jake Posey has the horses out at Keele Park, where they have one thousand acres of elegant grass to roam about in. New and elegant stables have been erected on the estate especially for these horses. It is on this estate that the heir to the Russian throne resides in the magnificent Keele Hall. Tom Clare is in charge of the quarters at night, with twenty-two assistants. Smithy has charge of the paint shop, and is turning out some very nice work. D. Ballard ("Hop") is the eaterer, and there are none better. Preston Schaeffer is in the harness shop, with Frank Shearer assisting. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Tigers, founded Dec. 10, 1898, was reorganized Dec. 9, 1903, with 89 charter members. Nominations of officers for the ensuing year takes place tonight (Dec. 23) at the Sneyd Arms. The light for the quarters is furnished by the Buffalo Bill portable engines which also furnish the light on the road. Washington Smith remains in charge of buildings while the show is on tour. There is quite a bunch of Yankees over here. Among them are Butch Widmeyer, Larry Kane, Larry Sullivan (John, the Baptist), "Shorty" Chambers, Dave Van Cleave, "Pony" Miller, "Shoey" Wm. Toombs (Blackey), Frank Aults, Del Tripp, Chas. Corder, Thos. Tune, Joe Hannah, Spike Sullivan, Johnny Muck. All are well and enjoying themselves. There are two theatres and one music hall in the town. We have one or more American turns on at the music hall each week. We have been visited by the Royal Italian Circus, and have now the World's Fair and Circus., composed of continental artists. - R. U. Next.
Mr. Robinson is expecting from Europe a rhinoceros, also a hippopotamus.
I. C. Shipley will have charge of the side show with the Great Floto Shows.
J. D. Harrison is spending a couple of weeks at West Baden, Ind., the guest of his brother Hugh.
Frank Leopold, of Norristown, Pa., is preparing a one-ring circus to take the road the first of May.
S. J. Dulaney's Famous Shows are in winter quarters on the fair grounds at New Martinsville, W. Va.
Ralph W. Peckham has invested considerable money on the Pacific Coast, which promises exceedingly well.
Julius M. Rainey, a veteran circus man of Wonsocket, R. I., left Jan. 6 for a visit through the West.
Billy C. Lane, assistant treasurer of the Jones Railroad Shows, is wintering at his home in Hagerstown, Md.
The Teets Bros. Shows are working overland in Florida, the cars being left behind at Jacksonville on Jan. 3.
Rev. Wm. Sheak is wintering at his home in Peru, Ind., after a season with the John Robinson Show as a lecturer.
Frank A. Robbins Jr., and Chas. A. Robbins will jointly manage the privileges with Welsh Bros. Shows next season.
Wm. P. Hope, last season with the Sautelle Shows, is wintering at Norfolk, Va., breaking monkeys for the coming season.
Girard Leon has signed with Andrew Downie's wagon show for next season. Downie's property, horses and paraphernalia look fine.
John Ringling has purchased some features and engaged some people that are going to create a sensation on this side next season.
Dick Coll, of McAdoo, Pa., has signed for season of 1904 with the Lowery Bros. Show to act as steward in the cook house and double in band on drums.
Uncle Joe Gorman, of the Cole Younger and Frank James Show, is wintering at Fort Worth, Tex. All the troopers know they can eat wherever Uncle Joe is.
Ed C. Knapp, general agent for the Walter L. Main Shows, is established in his new office at winter quarters, Genevea, O. He is in the harness again after a little rest.
Prof. Chas. E. Rice is busy at this quarters in New Albany, Ind., framing up some strong acts for his trained animal show. His outfit will be enlarged for the coming season.
H. H. Gunning has sent us a half tone reproduction showing a few of Buffalo Bill's advertising scouts in Great Britain with advertising car No. 1 in the background.W. S. Dunnington writes that he is not engaged as manager of advertising car No. 1, Pawnee Bill Wild West for next season, as stated in "The Billboard" some time ago.
Reno & Alvord's Southern Show closed Dec. 29 at Stonewall, Miss., to big business. Stonewall, Miss., will be their winter quarters. The next season will be opened about March 10.
John Robinson, of the John Robinson Show, has just purchased a three hundred acre farm just opposite his big park at Terrace Park, Ohio. A large part of this farm is solid forest.
It must be remembered that the passing of the street parade not only effects the show people and patrons but it is the abolition of an attraction dear to the hearts of every American boy of all ages.
Circuses fitting out now are paying more than usual attention to their menageries. Owners are beginning to realize that a well selected collection of animals counts for a great deal of a show's magnitude.
Grimslely's New London Shows, of Pittsburg, Pa., will carry about thirty-five people and play around that city nearly all next season. James Grimsley is manager and W. E. Hibbs treasurer. They will both be one-ring shows.
W. E. Sands, of circus fame, is thinking seriously of enlisting with the Forepaugh & Sells Brothers for next season. Mr. Sands expectes to get a car with the aforesaid and if so he will likely desert the "Wild West" gridiron forever.
Major Charles Gantz closed his show at Ralston, O. T., Dec. 11, after a very successful season of eight months. He spent two weeks on a visit to a brother and sister in Nebraska and is now at home with his father and mother at Fairfield, Iowa.
Walter L. Main has volunteered to subscribe $1,000 to start a stock company to build a theatre in his home town. He thinks there are not enough of theatrical attractions in Geneva and possibly too many lodges and a sufficient number of dances and social functions.
Passengers on the Lake Shore road passing through Geneva, O., don't ask the conductor any more "what villiage is that?" when they see the Main Show winter quarters. A large white flag with "Walter L. Main Enormous Show Winter Quarters" in blue lettters tells them.
W. H. Davis, for the past two seasons in advance of the Great Wallace Shows, has signed for the coming season with J. C. O'Brien's side show of the Campbell Bros. Show. Mr. Davis is at present managing the tour of the Great Vandora, the ragtime wizard, through Oklahoma and Kansas.
Frank D. Berst, last season bandmaster with the Luella Forepaugh-Fish Wild West, was married at Stillwater, Minn., to Miss Frances Kallberg, non-professional, a leading young society woman. He is spending his winter at that place and getting his band ready for one of the large shows for the coming season.
Al F. Wheeler, who was at one time a partner of Sam Dock and later manager of Wheeler Bros. Show, but who for several years past has been retired from the show business, will again be in the field next season, and is now busy putting together a wagon show at Schenectady, N. Y., which will take the road early in May.
Maurice DeCastro, Punch, magic and marionette performer, last season with the Miles Orton Show, is in Savannah, Ga., and has not as yet signed for next season, although he has had several offers. Last winter he was with the James Shelby Show, and this summer and winter he has been with the Gregory Show, closing Dec. 10.
Col. W. J. Uden, of Flanagan, Ill., is organizing a overland Wild West show of eight wagons, 25 people and 30 horses. Ollie Toole is back from Iowa and has engaged with the Colonel for his fourth season. Otto Wiedeman, who has been with the show two seasons, is wintering in Kansas City, Mo. Cy Collins is training a couple of steers to be featured with the show.
Notes from the Showman's Club, St. Louis, Mo. John White (Slivers), Harry Martin (Forepaugh) and G. Rohabeck are in town stopping at the Cherokee Hotel. The boys just come up from Hot Springs and look prosperous. They tell us that the "ponies" didn't run so bad as might be. Len Blackenbury, and eight-horse driver from Bucyrus, O., last season with Ringling Bros., writes us he intends trooping another season. The proceeds from the Club's Christmas festival were beyond our expectations, and treasurer Jacobs will make a full report at our next meeting.
The following people have been engaged for Rippel's Show for the season of 1904: Prof. Snearley and band of 7 pieces; Prof. Mello, Punch, magic and ventriloquist; Lorello, foot juggler, clown juggler and bell traps; Barnard and Ratcliff, brother act and horizontal bars; Al. Radcliff, clown and Happy Hooligan; Bobby Rippel, boy clown; Charlie Rippel Jr., contortionist and flying rings; Miss Leon, perch, slack wire and web; Brad Davis, privileges; Link Baugh, boss canvasman; Vivian Snodgrass, contortionist; Dr. Snodgrass, boss hostler; Will Moore, advance agent, and Ella Mack, in charge of cookhouse.
A letter from Chas. E. Griffin from Paris reads: Frank Bostock's Animal Arena is doing immense at the Hippodrome, Paris. Bonairtas' twenty-seven lions, Mlle. Morrellis' leopards, Chas. Miller's tigers, Mlle. Auroras' polar bears and H. Weedon's mixed numbers are features. Octavia, snake charmer; Griffin, who swallows swords in a den of lions, and Giovanni's performing cockatoos are recent additions to the program. Consul Bostock's man monkey is now at the Hippodrome, London. Weather fine; health excellent.
Dion De Marbelle died recently in Elgin, Ill. He was Bailey's first clown. Later he had a circus of his own, which was burned in Canada at a loss of $20.00. He was a partner of Buffalo Bill in organizing his shows, and when a few years ago the famous scout found his old friend in Elgin, in want, sick and without money, Buffalo Bill took him to his hotel and when they parted, pressed a good roll of bills into his old friend's hands. One of his songs which became popular was Twenty Years Ago.
Notes from Mollie Bailey Show Co. The show has just arrived in winter quarters at Houston, Tex., 1215 Oak Street, and has certainly coined the money this year in its own home State, Texas. Mrs. Mollie Bailey says she has 125 horses and 34 wagons, not including the private wagons and special rigs. Her birthday has just passed, 62 years of age. Her boys and girls are her band men and performers and are all first class artists in their line of business. Mrs. Bailey was in the service of the Southern Army as a hospital nurse, and her show is very popular. She has added to her features Charles Dryden, the world renowned juggler. Her tents were destroyed by fire at Morgan, Tex., on the 17 of March by the burning of the depot. Her tents now are all new, made by Thompson & Vandiveer. Mrs. Bailey owns two large ranches at Blum, Tex., besides several others. She would be pleased to welcome visitors to her home or winter quarters in Houston, Tex.
The "Elmira Telegram" is responsible for the following touching information: Sig Sautelle, proprietor of Sautelle's Railroad Shows, who has been in New York for the past few days in preparation for starting his circus in the spring, has returned to his quarters in Cortland, N. Y., and reports that while in New York he was relieved of a $500 diamond shirt stud and a pocketbook containing several hundred dollars by an unknown person. Mr. Sautelle says he stopped at the Morton House, corner of Broadway and Fourteenth Streets, and on Tuesday night he retired to his room about 1 o'clock with the articles in his possession, but that on arising early in the morning they were missing. The lock on the door leading into the next room had been worked upon, and it is Mr. Sautelle's opinion that the thief made his entrance through that door. Detectives are working on the case, and Mr. Sautelle is confident that the articles will be located. It is to be hoped that it is not Sig's diamond horse that always adorned his shirt front, for it that is the case, he stands a very good chance of contracting pneumonia during the winter in the town that David Harum made famous.
Notes from the Great Wood Show. We are now playing the Cane country to good business, in spite of bad weather. Our roster reads: Wood Bros., proprietors; Ray Wood, manager; Al. Wood, treasurer; W. B. Wood, advance agent, with two assistants; John Tensley, in charge of side show; the Four Flying Allens, return act; James Family, acrobats; Little Irene, single trapeze and wire; L. Marks, juggling and barrel kicking; Minnie Leo, webs and rings; Clarence Tensely, rebounding rope; Anna Woods, contortionist and hand balancer; Prof. Tensley's Pony, Dog and Monkey Circus makes good everywhere. Our fun makers, headed by Ray Wood, have some good stunts for the French country that makes them go wild. Our band, under Prof. James, is a winner. E. R. James, cornet; Al. Woods, cornet; Al. Cornell, tuba; Lee Huston, trombone; Ray and Geo. Wood, altos; L. James, baritone; H. Smith, trap drummer. Our canvas is under our old-timer, Slim Tibbitts, with five assistants. Our stock, thirty-nine head, under Pony Charlie. Show consists of fourteen wagons; 70 ft., with 30 ft. middle, big top; 30 ft. dressing room; 40 ft. with a 20 ft. middle side show will be twice the size this spring.
Notes from Hulburd's Shows. The following people and acts have signed with the Great Hulburd Incorporated Shows for season of 1904: Robert Taylor as general agent; Everett S. Bulger as press agent. Manager Hulburd has landed a notable array of circus artists, among them the world famous Five Flying Banvards, the Cooper Troupe of Cyclists, Hagen's Death Trap, Loop the Loop, Henry Ross, Perpendicular Cycle Wall. Nebraska Bill and wife, George Hooker and wife, Earl V. Stoehr. Willaim Langill, the celebrated wire artist; the La Places, Mons and May, and a hundred others too numerous to mention. This show the coming season will also introduce many nivelties in the way of Wild West features, the foremost of which will be the historical military spectacle, Custer's Last Fight, a graphic description of the terrible massacre, the battle of the Big Horn, vividly displayed, also featuring the Dusky Demon of Texas. Manager Hulburd will leave nothing undone to make this show the best that will tour the country next season. Special paper for every act is on the press, and with the coming of spring and our early opening (which, by the way, is eagerly looked forward to by all around winter quarters), we predict a successful and prosperous season in 1904. The show will open in Texas early in April. Manager Hulburd and Everett S. Bulger will remain in the East until Feb. 15, then they will be found at winter quarters west of Waco, Tex., on the Santa Fe Railroad. Manager Hulburd has arranged to have all business transacted in Waco. He has leased one of the finest residences in the city of Waco, where he and his family, Everett S. Bulger and other members of the staff will be found until the opening of the Hulburd Shows.
Billboard, January 23, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, January 30, 1904, pp. 7, 8, 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Text was cut off on page 9 regarding competition in the circus field, and Walter L. Main's letter on opposition and the parade, and on "Circus Gossip" on page seven.
George Lockhart, the well known elephant trainer and circus proprietor, was accidently crushed to death by an elephant in London, Eng., Jan. 24
The follow letter explains itself: Kankakee, Ill., Jan. 19, 1904. Mr. B. E. Wallace. Dear Sir - At a meeting of the city council, held Monday, Jan. 18, 1904, and by the request of members of The Liquor Dealer's Protective Association and retail merchants, the license fee for circuses and menageries was reduced from $100 to $50 per day. Would be pleased to have you consider this city in your routing for season of 1904. Very respectfully, John J. Bott, Secretary.
J. D. Miller has signed with the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.
W. E. Sands is conducting a large, stylish restaurant in Hagerstown, Md.
The Nichols Trio have signed for the season of 1904 with the Robinson Show.
It is said that the Floto Shows will open early and make a bee-line for California.
Garsinette Brothers, of the Sells Show, are taking life easy at Hot Springs, Ark.
Jack Pfeiffenberger, assistant boss canvasman, is at home, 915 Main St., Cincinnati.
C. Francis Kane is spending his vacation among the West Virginia hills at Parkersburg.
Jack Kent, master of transportation with Wallace's Show, is in St. Louis, Mo., buying horses.
"Billy" Bachelor, an old-time circus tumbler, is seriously ill at St. Francis Hospital, Cincinnati.
Wm. Andrews has been re-engaged as legal adjuster with the Barnum & Bailey Show for the season of 1904.
W. W. Scott and wife go with the Main Show next season. They can be addressed at 201 W. 6th St., Cincinnati.
Edward Van Wyck, the Cincinnati sporting goods manufacturer, is making a special rolling globe for Ferari Bros., to be used in their Zoo at St. Louis, Mo.
The following are wintering at their homes in Hagerstown, Md.: Robert Sands, Billy C. Lane, W. E. Sands and Andrew Zinkands.
Dick A. Fulton will troop with his own show next season, The American Beauties, hence he will not go out with Ringling Bros.
It is rumored that Allen Sells will enter into partnership with William Sells, and that the two will put out a 28-car show, opening early in May.
Billy C. Lane goes as a ticket seller with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show the coming season. Billy is at Cooney Wagner's headquarters, Hagerstown, Md.
Julius Romney, manager of the Haag Park Summer Theatre in Woonsocket, R. I., has returned from Cleveland, O., where he was visiting some old circus friends.
A. L. Hill and Valecita sailed from New York with their performing lions, leopards and panters for Havana, Cuba, to join Pubillone's Circus. They sailed on Jan. 14.
Gus Ryan, trick cyclist and "rube," closed his second season with the Katherine Rober Company in Bath, Me., on Christmas Eve, and is now at the Hargreaves winter quarters, Chester, Pa. Last season he was doing the "rube" act in the parade with Hargreaves.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bert Clipman, Jan. 21, a ten-pound boy. Mr. and Mrs. Clipman were for four seasons with Temen Bros. Great Pan-American Shows, and last season with the John Robinson Ten Big Shows. Mr. Clipman is now established at Lincoln, Neb., as a contracting plumber.
The Benevolent Order of American Tigers, Jungle No. 1, held its regular meeting Sunday evening, Jan. 17, in Emett's Hall, Bridgeport, Conn., with President Stock presiding. Thirty-six members were present. The regular business was attended to. Two new members were initiated and several applications for membership were received.
Sam Wilson has contracted with B. E. Wallace for coming season as superintendent of wardrobe and storekeeper, which position he has held for nine years. He opened a cigar store and book exchange in St. Louis, and sells a good many "Billboards." He is a member of the Billposter's Union of St. Louis and of No. __ Stage Mechanics.
In the Iowa courts, T. A. Weems, who was formerly elephant man with Ringling Brothers Shows, has sued the management of that organization for $15,000. Weems claims that when leaving Tacoma, Wash., in August, 1902, he was thrown from a train and sustained an injury to one of his hips and serious injuries on the head. He claims he will be a cripple for life. The case will be heard in Polk county.
Howe's Great London Shows have shipped all their show property to Kansas City, Mo., from Macon, Ga. Alex. Glasscock, of Longview, Texas, bought all the animals, cages and two cars and shipped same to his winter quarters. Col. M. L. Clark, of Alexandria, La., purchased three cars, all the performing ponies, one elephant and a lot of other stock. Mr. Smith having retired from the show business, will make his home in Kansas City, Mo.
Notes and roster of performers with the John H. Sparks Shows: Kadell Sisters, double trapeze; Chas. Ellet, triple bars; Perreno, lion act; Andy Burch, ladder drops; Hines-Kimball Trio, brother act and carrying perch; Prof. Hoon, trained horses; Wm. La Rue, clown; Lizzie Ellet, aerial artist; Della Toyt, flying rings; D. H. Gillespie has the side show. We are now touring Florida to good business. Burt Cole, of the Wallace Shows, is putting in the winter with us. He has been re-engaged with the Wallace Shows, making his fourth season with them.
Notes from the winter quarters of C. _. Knight's Mammoth Twenty-five Cent Circus. Everything is looking fine for the opening of the show, which will be about May 1. This no doubt will be one of the largest and best wagon shows that will travel through Ohio, Michigan and Indiana the season of 1904. This show puts up a fine parade, as we carry about twenty-five head of fine horses and some fine parade wagons, good band and plenty of people. The work is going on, painting wagons, filling up horses, making banners, getting a nice lot of stakes, etc. We just added a new team of five-year-old grays to the list, which makes a nice improvement to the horse barn.
Billboard, February 6, 1904, pp. 9, 10. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related.
At the Hotel Brennan, 9th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, Pa., the troupers have been associated together for the past seven weeks, and the club is called the Real Troupers, and no one but a real trouper is acceptable for membership, not the boys who fail to hear the band play Home, Sweet Home, but real troupers are welcome. The rooms are very cosy and it is a real home. "The Billboard" is on file and the next week's copy is always waited for. The following can be addressed at the club rooms: President, Frank Morris; vice-president, Jim Jordan; treasurer, Geo. Bradenburg; general manager, Mark Monroe; John Young, Bill Campbell, Frank Zepp, Whity Oldknow, Phila Dutch, Chas. Bell, Bob Hill, Phil Turney, Walter Levan, Jack Rettenbock, Tim Delaney, Old Kennedy, Bob Mack, Billy Lane, Bob Lane, James Brennan, Pat McGlinchy, Chas. Bradenburg, Big Murphy, Joe Enochs, Fred Biddle, Frank Wolf, Kid Burke, Pat Castor, Ed Stone, Red Kelly, Jim Williams, Jim Keenan, Kid Foulknar, Jim Brown, Dr. Taggert and Dr. Ogden.
Hippodrome, Paris, Dec. 26, 1903. Editor Billboard: The gay French capitol is now decked in gala attire. The boulevards are lined with booths for the sale of holiday goods and at the intersection of principal thoroughfares numerous portable "show shops" are erected, giving it the appearance of a tremendous street fair. The best advertised and most talked-of amusement enterprise in Paris today is Bostock's Hippodrome, the L'Hippo-Palais, rechristened by mr. Bostock the Hippodrome, was erected in 1890,but until the advent of its present lessee it has been a failure financially, although it is one of the handsomest and best appointed temples of amusement in the world. The arena measurers 125x250 feet and the seating capacity is some 9,000. The steam heat and the electric lighting plants are the finest in Paris. The front is particularly attractive, facing Clichy Place, and is a perfect blaze of electric lights. Bostock's Animal Arena opened here to tremendous business at the beginning of November, and it has continued up to the top notch until the present time, thousands of people being turned away on Sunday and fete days. At the beginning Mr. Bostock had trouble about the heating arrangements as the proprietor refused to heat the building only during exhibition hours, but that problem was soon solved by the management deciding to give a Promenoir Concert at Soiree Zoologique in the Jardin des Nouveautes from 2 to 6 p.m., with a general admission of one franc (20 cents), at which time an interesting program is presented by the following artistes. Neapolitan Orchestra, Prof. Giovannis' Monkey Theatre, Mme. De Magnelone, mind reader, and Charles Eldredge Griffin, American illusionist, ventriloquist and mimic. In addition to this, the public have an opportunity of inspecting the animal actors that appear in the evening performance, riding the elephants and camels or sliding down the American toboggan. During the holidays Mr. Bostock had a gigantic Christmas tree erected in the Jardin, loaded with toys for the children to the value of 20,000 francs, the grand prix being a baby lion three months old. The evening program embraces: Mlle. Aurora's performing polar bears; Charles Miller's sensational group of Royal Bengal Tigers; Mlle. Octavia, snake charmer; Herman Weedon's lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, hyenas, and Great Dane dogs; Mlle. Morrell's well trained leopards and jaguars; C. A. Giovannis' twenty-five Australian cockatoos; Le Cholot's pigs, dogs and monkeys, and as a fitting climax, Captain Bonavita's sensational performance with twenty-seven trained lions, all in the huge steel arena at one time. Comic interludes by Tic Tac and Ping Pong, English clowns; Bostock's Band of thirty musicians discourse excellent music throughout the lengthy program. Geo. O. Starr, Harvey Watkins and John Ringling were recent visitors. On Christmas Day we exchanged greetings by cable with Bostock's Philadelphia contingent. Business staff: Frank C. Bostock, proprietor; Robt. J. Aginton, manager; Harr Souplis, supt. department of publicity; Joe Villemont, secretary; M. Johnson, arenic director, and Ralph Hicks, master mechanic.
Frank C. Bostock is a showman in the best and broadest sense of the word. I only wish the show world had more like him. Born in the business, at the age of 26 he found old England, his native country, too small for his progressive ideas. Accordingly, in the year 1892, he went to America for elbow room. Here he found space to expand, and after conquering the largest cities in the Western Hemisphere, it is but proper that he should tackle the effite East and have the fashion capitol of the world do him homage. Long live Bostock, the Animal King. Charles Eldridge Griffin, Hippodrome, Paris, France, Dec. 26, 1903.
George Lockhart, known all over the world as a trainer of elephants, was crushed so badly by one of his elephants near London, Eng., that he died soon after the injuries were received, Jan. 24. Lockhart was unloading the elephant at the __ Street Railroad Station, when one of the animals suddenly swerved and fell on him. Help came quickly, but Lockhart was almost dead when taken from beneath the elephant.
Lockhart, in addition to being a trainer of elephants, was also a proprietor of a circus. Of all the men known for their peculiar ability in the education of animals, Lockhart easily occupied the first place. It was he who introduced new methods in the training of elephants, and his successes were so pronounced that his system of teaching was adopted by every animal trainer of note who came after him. Lockhart grew up in the atmosphere of a circus. The life of the mat, the sawdust and the ring seemed instilled in his veins. He rose from an obscure tumbler to the position of circus proprietor, and in hisday owned animals whose aggreate worth figured in the hundreds of thousands.
Lockhart was a fine, handsome physical specimen and his courage was cast in the same mold. His father had owned a circus before him. As a boy Lockhart was turning flip-flaps, vaulting over horses, camels and elephants with the precision and the skill of old-time acrobats. After he grew up he made a hit as a circus clown, and on the Continent was one of the headliners in the then famous circuses. Monarchs who were amused by the antics of the young acrobat decorated him with medals and more substantial honors.
Lockhart's elephants were almost human in their intelligence. They seemed to act without a prompting from their trainer. They waltzed, ate at a table, gave a one-act comedy in which each played a sustained part. The old tricks of riding tricycles, see-sawing and picking up various articles called for were too simple performances for Lockhart's animals. They did tricks that were out of the ordinary.
In 1895 Lockhart came to America from Scotland, where he was born. His trained elephants were then the marvel of the town. Column after column was written about them and their trainer at the time. Lockhart then told of his system of training. He trusted more to kindness in handling elephants than to severity. He always gained the confidence of the beasts at first, sometimes spending months in gaining their good will. After he and the elephants were in accord the teaching process began. It was a noteworthy point that never in his long career did an animal turn upon him after he began to instruct them in trick performance. More than that, his elephants were always sure of themselvees and needed no coaxing to do what their master told them.
Troupers' Home, Cleveland, O. It is now five years since the Troupers' Home was started and is still in the able hands of Jas. Fleming. The following showmen stopping here at present are: Jack Barnum, John Weaver, an old time boss canvasman, Jake Popkey, Sherwood Hoyt, better known as Junior, the monkey expert, at present employed at Wade Park monkey house; Pete McKenna, waiter; Jos.Y. Crane, known as Erie, the chef; Lon Ross, a sledge hammer expert; Chas. McGinn, a candy butcher; Pete Wallace, a car porter; J. W. Enoch, known as Buffalo, a driver; Joe Roche, sledge hammer expert, and Joe Eberly, Fisheye Joe; Jas. Fleming, an old cook house flunkie, and Jack Doyle, side show boss canvasman. All of the above people can be engaged for next season, through the booking agency of the Troupers Home and the old reliable, "The Billboard."
Sells-Downs Circus will not be sold.
Allen England joined Floto's Shows Feb. 2 as car manager.
The Ringling Bros. will make the Pacific Coast again next season.
Sun Bros. are searching for railroad cars. They will soon be on rail.
Forepaugh-Sells Show is booking New England for the coming season.
J. D. Harrison is already working the press for the Walter L. Main Show.
Thomas During, 117 Washington avenue, Danville, Ill., wants to hear from Nobby Clark.
Del Fuego has signed with Campbell Bros. as clown and Lulu Del Fuego for side show.
George H. Wymans, German knockabout clown, has signed with the John Robinson Ten Big Shows.
McKason's Park on the lake shore front, will likely be the tenting grounds in Cleveland, O., this season.
The Luella Forepaugh-Fish claims came up for argument in the circuit court at Janesville, Wis., Jan. 21.
The Milletts have not signed as yet for the coming season. They were with the Harris Circus last season.
Charlie Shepp, the dog trainer, is at his home in Louisville, Ky., for a few days, spending his time with his parents.
Floyd Bernard goes with Campbell Bros.' Show next season. It will make Bernard's second season with that show.
J. Frank Longbotham, treasurer of Hargreaves' Big Railroad Shows, was a caller at "The Billboard" office Jan. 27.
The Floto Shows will have 12 cars with the show and one ahead. Mr. Tammen is evidently not afraid of the hoodoo thirteen.
Geo.J. Choffin, special agent with Ringling Bros., is acting as special advertising man for the Grand Opera House at Canton, O.
The 1903 route book of the Walter L. Main Show will be issued in March. The book is a little late owing to a delay in the printing.
Ed M. Burk and T. J. Foley have formed a partnership for the purpose of putting out a carnival company to tour the Pacific Coast.
Zazell & Vernon, the acrobats, are doing some very fine work this season with their show. Their act would make a fine circus feature.
Sig. Cannon, of dog and pony show fame, is spending the winter at Natchez, Miss., after a successful season with a carnival company.
Edna M. Gardner was married Dec. 18 at Germantown, Tenn., to Mr. J. W. Hopkins, a non-professional. She will retire to private life.
Joseph Berris has been re-engaged by the Sells-Downs Shows for the coming season. This makes his third consecutive season with the show.
The marriage of Miss Laura Durand and Burt Busby, of Busby Bros. Circus, took place Sunday, Jan. 24, at Pana, Ill., at the Catholic Church.
Murble Cullen, of Logansport, Ind., for two years with the Wallace Show, has joined the Dowling-Cullen Minstrel Troupe, to play trombone in the band.
Otte and Groul are adding some new and novel features to their roman ring act. They are at present practicing at the Valley City Athletic Club at Grand Rapids, Mich.
Roy M. Feltus, for the past several years connected with the advance of Gentry Brothers' Shows, has been engaged as 24-hour man with Ringling Brothers' Shows for season of 1904.
Mr. Scott, contracting agent for Pawnee Bill last season, will follow the white tents again the coming season. He is now ahead of the Si Plunkard Company.
Dentzel & Sons, the caroussel [sic] manufactureres, of Philadelphia, Pa., are just completing a magnificent street organ for the Pawnee Bill Wild West. Some of the finest carving ever placed on a parade wagon will be on this one when completed.
J. R. Wilson, the owner of Coco, the large orang outang, reports that Coco is enjoying good health and his California trip has been a prosperous one. Mr. Wilson has just added a large chimpanzee to his large and rare collection of little people.
Shipp's Indoor Circus was in a wreck near Cedar Rapids, Ia., 23. The company and equipment was en route to Cedar Rapids from Rock Island. The members of the company were badly shaken up, but escaped serious injuries. Several of the trainmen were badly injured.
Fred A. Morgan and wife are now at their home in Vicksburg, Mich., having just returned from an eight weeks' visit in Pueblo, Colo. Mr. Morgan will remain there and await the opening of the Wallace Shows, with which he is engaged for the coming season as local contractor. This is his fourth season under Mr. Franklin.
Notes from the winter quarters of the George W. Hall Jr. Circus. Everything at winter quarters are in good shape. The animals are wintering fine, with the exception of one camel, which we lost several weeks ago. Arrangements are being made to open early in May. It will be a railroad show the coming season. Several of the people from last season have re-signed for 1904.
Notes from McDonald Brothers New United Shows. Everything is progressing nicely at winter quarters. We have about all of our outift completed ready for the paint shop, and the McDonald Brothers will have the best show on the road the coming season. We will open at Huntington, W. Va., early in April. Our privileges are all sold and we will have an up-to-date show.
Notes from the headquarters of Floto's Greatest Shows at Denver, Colo. Our headquarters is the busiest corner in Denver. H. H. Tammen, manager of the quarters, is head over heels in work. Chas. Sanders left for the winter quarters and friend Bill will stay here until the middle of February. Joe Huston is expected daily. Season opens March 14 at Dallas, Texas. Full roster will be sent later.
Notes from Welsh Bros.' winter quarters. We are very busy getting ready for an early opening (weather conditions being favorable). We will have an almost entirely new outfit to replace the one burnt out last fall a few days after closing, and will add two more cars. We have signed almost all of the staff and performers, among the latte are quite a number of new people and acts (to be announced later) and will have the best circus in our experience.
It is reported that General Nelson A. Miles is the president of the huge $3,500,000 syndicate formed by Col. Cody for the purpose of promoting important industries and large enterprises in the State of Wyoming. Associated with General Miles and Col. Cody are several titled Englishmen, whose names are withheld. It is the intention of the syndicate to push the work to completion on the large canal, which it is said the Government has taken over. It is claimed that this will be one of the most immense enterprises in the West.
The extremely cold weather (35 below zero) interfered with the moving of the Hagenbeck Animal Show from St. Paul, Minn., to Minneapolis, and incidentally gave the press agent "good stuff." The elephant's cars and body were frost bitten and it gave him an ugly mood, requiring a couple of hours to get him on board the cars. During the loading he broke three of the ribs of his trainer, Conrad Kastens, who is now at St. Paul Hospital. One of the polar seals had a flipper frozen, and Miss Annie Gilki lost one of her most valuable birds, which was frozen to death.
At Samwell's Dog, Pony and Monkey Circus headquarters, ___ Harrisburg Road, Houston, Tex., a dinner was given on Jan. 21 by Tom, or "Pop" Samwell and Mrs. Samwell, at which the following were present: Major Tom Hurd and Mrs. Hurd and children, Bootsie and Hoadie, B. _. or "Red" McIntyre, Grace Baillager, Uncle Jim Harrington, Deacon Delmore and Mrs. Delmore and son. Mr. and Mrs. Samwell have a beautiful home, and a good time was had. Mr. Samwell has a grand winter quarters for his stock. He starts our the coming season with everything brand new.
Notes from the advance of Pawnee Bill's Wild West. The force of billposters will be enlarged this season by the addition of ten men, making a total of 50. Most of theman from last season and a number of new ones have signed with this show. The advance cars are now being painted and put through repair. Our big 70-foot silver car will, if anything, be handsomer than last year. Pawnee Bill says don't spare the expense to make it the talk of the country. Everything is moving along nicely, and when the season opens the department of publicity will be in fine shape, with a great crew of the best agents and men and the finest assortment of paper ever stuck to a window or put on the wall.
The executive staff of the Walter L. Main Shows is as follows: Hugh Harrison, manager, Geneva, Ohio; Ed. C. Knupp, general agent, Geneva; Dr. C. M. Stull, superintendent of labor, parade and forage, Geneva; John Gill, musical director, Circleville, Ohio; Wm. Elliott, superintendent of refreshments, Evansville, Ind.; Richard Jones, superintendent of menageries, Geneva; James Whalen, superintendent of canvas, Geneva; W. W. Scott, superintendent of stock, 201 W. 6th St., Cincinnati, Ohio, until April1, then Geneva; Peter Hirtz, master of transportation, Collinsdale, Pa.; Henry Pullman, leader of parade and superintendent of annex door, 50 Goodell St., Buffalo, N. Y.; Al. Pancost, in charge of winter quarters, Geneva; A. J. Trunkey, attorney, Geneva.
Notes from Buckskin Bill's Wild West Show. Prof. W. H. Jacobs will furnish the side show band, cake walkers and jubilee singers. He has engaged the following people: W. H. Jacobs, E-flat cornet; Joe Nelson, solo cornet; Charley Williams, first cornet; Charles Braton, alto; George Wilson, slide trombone; James Jackson, clarinet; Alex Toliver, snare drum; William Reed, bass drum; John Barr, bass tuba; Miss Ray Edwards, dong and dance artist; Mable Jacobs, tenor singer; Bessie Savoy, soprano; Della [Delia?] Turner, cakewalker. Prof. Jacobs will put on a very stong minstrel show. He is now with Nichol's Old Plantation with the U. S. Carnival Company, and will remain with them until the show opens in Fort Worth about April 1. James J. McNulty will do magic and Punch and also lecture in side show. This makes his third season with the Buckskin Bill Show.
Notes from the James Shelby Show. The show opens the season of 1904, Feb. 3, at White Plains, Ga., with the following people: Ogden & Hardy, proprietors; Mrs. L. Ogden, treasurer; Johnny Maurice, ticket seller; W. H. Ashdown, advance, with two assistants; Billy Miller, boss canvasman, with six assistants; Tom Lawson, boss hostler; Prof. Shelby's select band of eight soloists, with the follow list of performers: the Davine Family, aerialists and pantomimists; Geo. W. Powell, contortionist and grotesque dancer; Little Edna Ogden, the child wonder aerialist and contortionist; Hardy and Ogden, horizontal bar performers; Elbert Smith, comedy juggler and bamboo perch; Edgar Morgan, Chinese table and singing clown; Edna Ogden at Little Tottie Davine, double trapeze and Spanish rings; Smith, Davine and Davis, comedy acrobats. Concert people include Chas. T. Farris, vocalist; Edna and Annie Ogden sketch artists; Prof. Cherewski's Lilliputian Theatre; Maurice De Castro, monologist and humorist; La Petite DaVene, buck and wing dancer; Black Brothers, singers and dancers. Side show: Johnny Maurice, orator and magician; Eddy Hardy's Punch and Judy and marionettes; Mrs. Francis Powell, snake enchantress and mind reader and featuring a very large serpent.
Notes from Campbell Bros.' Shows. Everything around the commodious winter quarters of Campbell Bros.' Great Consolidated Shows is rapidly taking on the finishing touches for the coming season. The following people have been signed: Fred Barr, Tobe Beer, Edward T. Boyce, Dick Beemer, Dale Betz, J. D. Cline, John Davenport, G. L. French, W. G. Fink, Mamie Forepaugh, Del Fuego, Guy Fritts, C. A. Gerbach, Linda Julian and family, Ben Lucier, Nobe Mizune and wife, Roy Martino, Mizuno troupe of Japs, H. T. Mauzy, Chas. Morrison, Ed Morrin, Cecil Lowanda and wife, Marshall Nellis, The Ortons, Tora Ohama, Emory Proffit, C. A. Parks, Wm. H. Perry, Randall Bros., Ed Shreve, M. Samayoa, W. H. Sutton, Lewis Smith, G. M. Satterly, Ed Waldron, W. H. Wrest, Geo. Oukura, C. A. Clark, Lee Sherrill and contracts sent to several others, which have not yet returned, but undoubtedly will be. The show this year will consist of 22 cars at least. J. C. O'Brien will have the side show and A. W. Crockett the candy stand. A big acrobatic act and two big aerial acts will about complete the list of performers. Winter quarters are a scene of great activity, with a score of machinists and painters building new stuff and repairing last year's property.
Not transcribed: Notes from Carl Hagenbeck's Trained Animal Co. A few facts in reference to the Carl Hagenbeck's Trained Wild Animal Co.'s exhibit for the St. Louis World's Fair next summer. . . .
Billboard, February 13, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, February 20, 1904, pp. 7, 8. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related.
Edward Fagan, the well-known circus rider, died in Altoona, Pa., recently of typhoid fever. Fagan's parents live at 617 Elm street, Pittsburg, having one [sic] there from Altoona. Fagan was 19 years old and was connected with Sells Bros.' Circus last year. He went to Altoona last month to sell some property for his parents and was stricken with fever. His body was taken to Pittsburg for burial.
Community of Interest. Something Likely to Occur Among Circus Proprietors. Timely Topics Discussed by Louis E. Cooke.
That the circus proprietors are becoming more united in their relations and exercising a little good judgment in combating whatever is against their mutual interests, is manifested by the fact that certain measures have recently been adopted whereby much of the opposition that has heretofore existed will be largely eliminated.
The next radical move in this direction seems to be the abolition of the street parade, which, if agreed upon by a few of the leading circuses, would mean some big figures in the matter of economy, and at the same time create a feeling of harmony that must ultimately lead to something more definite as to routes, licenses, railway routes and other difficult problems which now confront the average circus proprietor. A general movement of this kind has been quietly working itself out for some time and bids fair to take definite shape before the road season begins.
Practical observation discloses the fact that street parades are more harmful than beneficial. There was a time when a circus procession was relied upon to attract the attention of the ruralites, and a very ordinary show would suffice to fill the tent, but recent experience has demonstrated that it is the excellence of the exhibition itself that induces the populace to lay down its ducats. It is also estimated that it costs the circuses of this country (and street parades are unknown elsewhere) something over $1,000,000 every year to maintain that free feature, while one-fourth of this amount properly invested in perfecting the performance and securing some extraordinary attractions for the program would double the receipts. Furthermore, there is always more or less risk attending a street display; besides it is a sort of anti-climax, and the public has come to realize that it is impossible to concentrate under canvas anything to compare in magnitude with the street parade. Again, the time occupied in giving a parade could be far better employed in getting ready for the performance and making the visitors more comfortable when they arrive. In fact, there are so many arguments against this useless expenditure for wagons, animals, trappings and additional transportation that there seems to be nothing left in the way of an excuse for it except tradition.
The matter of routes and other advantageous plans for conducting shows of today in a business-like, gentlemanly manner is perfectly easy and simple provided the various managers will meet each other half way on the platform of reciprocity. My suggestion is to divide the competing shows into three classes or groups, which is about the proportion of their present importance. Each of these three groups could then be routed to the best advantage irrespective of the other, and in the event of close proximity, by reason of necessary routing or time of season, let it be agreed that no direct opposition work or what is termed "fighting" shall be indulged in. This would put each show on its metal to excel in point of performance and attractive features, and in time earn the best confidence of the public. There is nothing in the world so good for business as public confidence, and I know of no animal so timid. You simply have to pat it on the back and stroke its hair the right way, yet it will stampede like a herd of elephants at the sight of a nest of rabbits. Take my tip for it, if you want to succeed, keep faith with the public. Bluff and bluster won't do, and this applies as well to circus proprietors, managers as it does to paying patrons. Let them deal fair with each other. Discourage all bickering and reward good results. Don't let personalities interfere with good sense and proper business interests. It is unnecessary to talk shop all the time in order to do a fine stroke of work, and if one will just listen to what the other fellow has to say, he may get some valuable ideas. Many minds make intellectual monuments, and I am looking forward to the time when the whole circus fraternity will be governed by a community of interests. As things now stand there is no concerted action, and the "rank outsider" benefits by his knowledge of this fact, and Jack Robinson's "wolf book" should be well edited, revised and kept up to day with valuable contributions each season for every circus in the land.
Wm. Ballinger left Denver, Feb. 12, to join Norris & Rowe's Shows.
Schepp's Dogs will be combined with Sipe's Shows this coming season.
Joe Hustin was in Denver last Sunday on business for the Floto Shows.
Nobby Clark and wife will be with the Sautelle Shows this coming season.
Ed Stair, formerly with Gollmar Bros., is visiting J. W. Hettler at Dixon, Ill.
Lash Bros., musicians, have signed with the Great Hobson Show for season of 1904.
Ab Johnson goes with the Wallace show this season as clown and rides comedy mule.
Billy Dutton Jr., and Willie Van Dee go with Forepaugh & Sells show this season.
Chas. Gordon has joined the Great Floto Shows at Dallas, Te., as car manager.
J. W. Hettler, of Dixon, Ill., is about to sign a contract with Gollmar Bros. for next season.
H. P. Hill, manager of Zazelle & Vernon, will go with Gentry Bros.' Show this season.
The Two Flying Zenos have signed for the coming season with the Great Hulburd Shows.
John G. Robinson bought the big box car from the General Amusement Company Feb. 12.
It is said that W. E. Ferguson has been re-engaged as general agent of Pawnee Bill's Shows.
Gentry Bros.' show cars are at the car shops in Jeffersonville, Ind., being put in good condition for next season.
James Swetnam and Mrs. Swetnam have signed for the privileges with the La Mont Bros. Circus for the coming season.
Although conditions do not argue well for a good circus season, there will be more shows than ever to take the road in April.
Vincent C. Harig, talking and pantomime clown, has signed with Hargreaves Railroad Shows. This makes his fifth season.
Allen Sells has purchased an interest in the Sells-Downs Shows. There are now four partners, all of whom are equal owners.
Tobe Broderick, an old-time horse trainer and circus man of Chicago, died Feb. 4, at Ryburn Hospital, Ottawa, Ill., after a week's illness.
The Great Beno, high wire equilibrist, has signed with the John Robinson Ten Big Shows for the coming season, this making his second season with the Ten Big.
Chas. K. Lane, of Danville, Ill., has again signed with the Colorado Grant R. R. Shows as general contracting agent, making his sixth season with the above show.
Mr. Haynes, who has been in advance of the David Harum Company this season, retires Feb. 23, to go to New York, where he goes out with the advance guard of Barnum & Bailey's shows.
If the Floto Shows really go to California this spring, there will be a most interesting scrap out there. Norris & Rowe have declined to divide country. This means an opposition fight.
The order for the monument to be erected over the grave of the unknown victims of the Wallace wreck at Durand, Mich., has been placed with the Barney Marble and Granite Works of Flint, Mich.
Charles Mack, ticket seller on the annex with the Wallace Show, and who was injured by falling into the railroad turntable at Dixon, Ill., last season, is again able to be about on crutches. He will go again with the Wallace Show next season.
The Barnum & Bailey Show has been made defendant in a damage suit for $5,000, brought by Florence Sugrue [sic?], of Ausonice, Conn., and widow of Michael Sugrne [sic?], who was run down by one of the pole wagons and instantly killed Oct. 17, last.
Lucky Bill writes that his shows open the season March 28, and that the workmen have commenced to get everything in readiness. Climate of Quenenio is delightful, and a better place could not be found for winter quarters, and the birds, monkeys and ponies have passed a very fine winter. Some of the performers have also made Quenenio their headquarters.
The Roberts family, acrobats, have closed their vaudeville company after a season of sixteen prosperous weeks in Wisconsin and Minnesota. They are now at home in Evansville, Wis., where they remain until the opening of the Forepaugh-Sells Bros. Shows, having signed with that show last August. After the coming circus season closes this fall Ed Roberts puts out a small minstrel show over his established route, with about seventeen people in the company.
Notes from the Great Barlow Show. Harry Wintermute, of Wintermute Bros. Show, paid our winter quarters a visit recently. This season trained animals will be featured, the show will travel over Ohio and Indiana. All our stock is in fine condition, and every day is busy with the dogs, goats and ponies. Our outfit will be all newly painted and our large, new top will be shipped in March by J. C. Goss, Detroit, Mich. Howe and Decker will have charge of the dressing room, making their third season. Harry Williams will be the principal clown; Frank Girard leader of orchestra; Mrs. Edna, organist; Guy Faller, musician; Frank Shidler and Frank Dunifan, hostlers. Edna and Emma Barlow are adding to their dance. The advance will be in charge of Walt A. Andrews.
Notes from Sells & Downs' winter quarters, Topeka, Kans. The ring barn is now open and the work is being pushed right along. C. P. Foregraves and J. L. Butler have signed as billposters on excursion car No. 2. The Santa Fe car shops at Topeka are remodeling and refinishing two excursion cars for Sells & Downs great shows and no doubt they will be two of the finest and most thoroughly equipped cars on the road when finished. Mr. McCurren, who has charge of the animals at winter quarters, is spending his entire time preparing some novel acts performed by his trained elephants. He has three young lion cubs hardly one year old and five lions cubs hardly two weeks old in his barn. The winter quarters are kept clean and neat and a most interesting place to visit. The entire crew is kept busy, as everything is to be greater, grander and more complete this season.
Some people engaged for season of 1904 with John Robinson's Ten Big Shows are: Olion Scott, George Aiken, J. Ellis, L. H. Hickman, Wm. Dale, Cuddy Service, in the advance; Fred Fisher, George Stupf, Buggy Stupf, Wm. Curtis, Red Carroll, Wm. Marshall, Chas. Davis are heads of departments. It will be absolutely necessary for all people engaged for 1904 with the John Robinson Shows to bring a doctor's certificate that they have been vaccinated during the year 1903 or later. This is done as a safeguard both for the people and the show in general, as there is no telling when one is liable to be thrown in contact with the disease. This would be a good rule for all shows to adopt, as it may save a lot of trouble, and by attending to it now it will save a lot of unnecessary talk later on.
W. S. Dunnington has been engaged to manager Avertising Car No. 1 of the Norris & Rowe Show. The car will leave winter quarters Feb. 17 with the following men: Harley Cunningham, boss billposter; Kid Raymond, boss lithographer; Tony Clark, banners; Vic Stout, Pete Collins, lithographers; Jack Siegrist, programmer; Harry Moshur, W. S. Simpson, Chas. Eblerey, Ernest Francis, Wm. Buffin, N. C. Webb, H. Jackman, W. F. Reid, Thos. ___, Louis Jackson, John Miller, Fred Robins, Wm. Scott and Tom Moore, billposters. Chris. O. Brown will have charge of the box brigade, with the following men: Louis Robinson, Dan Reiley, Harry Thompson, Jack Morgan, Frank Kelly and Harry Schubert. Norris & Rowe's Show will open at San Jose, Cal., Wednesday, March 2. The performance this year will be givn in two rings and an elevated stage and will include some of the strongest acts in the circus business. Ed. C. Warner will be with Norris & Rowe again next season as general agent. This will make Ed's fifth season with this show. He must be making good. Norris & Rowe have secured a new importation in the Oka Japanese Troupe. They landed at San Francisco recently, and will make their first American appearance with that progressive Western show. The Marvelous Belfords will put in a casting act in addition to their acrobatic act next season. They go with Norris & Rowe. The Flying LaVans will be with the Norris & Rowe Show the coming season. They are now practicing at the winter quarters at San Jose.
Billboard, February 27, March 5 and March 12, 1904 are online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, March 19, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items not transcribed, a number of the "Circus Gossip" items that were not accurately readable; the Minnelli Brothers two tent shows; and what appear to be carnival items.
Gus Fairbanks will close as general agent with the Miles Orton Shows April 1.
Sullivan & Eagle shipped four more fine new baggage wagons to the Floto Shows last week.
Barnum & Bailey received sixty-one horses from Hamburg March 6. They are to be used in a summer spectacle.
Barney Shea has joined the John Sparks Show for the season of 1904, having been with the Nickel Plate nine seasons.
King Cole left for Pasadena, Cal., March 2 to join the Norris & Rowe Circus, which will tour California this season.
Montgomery Brothers have closed their Tom show and are now busy fitting up Texas Bill's Wild West. It will be a six-car show. They sold most of their Tom stuff to Lincoln's U. T. C. Company at Clinton, Iowa.
C. S. Primrose closed his Uncle Si Haskins Company, Saturday, March 12, at Norfolk, Neb., all salaries being paid in full. Mr. Primrose has signed as railroad contractor with Gollmar Bros.' Shows, and will report in Baraboo about April 1.
Fred Mackintosh has signed as contracting agent with La Mont Bros.' Circus. Mr. Mackintosh is now at his homein Rensselaer, Ind., recovering from a very severe illness. The La Mont Bros.' Circus opens April 30, and Mr. Mackintosh will join it on April 1.
Campbell Brothers will have besides their two advertising cars a bugie brigade four days ahead to herald their coming. C. A. Clarke will manage No. 1 car. Al. Campbellis now in New York. Twenty-four cars will be required to transport the show this season.
Notes from the James Shelby Shows. We are now entering our fourth week of the season of 1904 and have had a remarkable spell of fine weather and playing to a phenomenal business for such an early opening. All are well with the show. We have just purchased a new ticket wagon and two more head of stock, and the show is looking neat and clean. We are anxiously awaiting the time for our shipment Northward.
Col. Pete Conklin writes: New York City is filled with circus people, all ready for the Barnum & Bailey opening. I will not be on the road this season, but will be located on Coney Island. I will be interested in several amusement enterprises. Everything here is lively. This season Coney Island will be greater than ever - new amusement parks are going to open and hundreds of new buildings are going up. Tom Peppers, the world-beather, is still alive. I met him on the Rialto, and he is as full of his old tricks as ever.
Lew Nichols leaves the U. S. Carnival Company at Beaumont, Texas, to make day stands. He has a car and will carry a company of __ people, a big strong colored show, brass band and orchestra. He has been with the U. S. Carnival Company since Dec. 7, 1903, and says he never put in a more pleasant winter and has made money, and that Manager Bob ___ is a prince of good fellows. He is booked with Buckskin Bill's Wild West Shows and will play his way there for the opening, April 7. He will have a strong side show and concert with the Buckskin Bill Show this season. There will be __ people working the side show alone.
Notes from McDonald Bros.' New United Shows. Everything is progressing nicely at the winter quarters. We have just received our new advance wagon and carryall from ___, the Cincinnati wagon manufacturer, also one canvas from Lushbaugh, the reliable tent makers. We have agout finished everything in the way of woodwork and will start painting in a few days. We have signed the Kilian Family, seven in number, for the big show and concert. James Brackman has rented all of the privileges and will put on a strong side show. The Rydon Troupe of aerialists are practicing hard on their big return and casting act and will be the feature of the big show. We are breaking a high diving dog for the concert and our outside attractions will be a 75 foot high dive by Prof. St. Elmo. We will arrive in Cincinnati about April 1 to buy our stock.
Notes from Texas Bill's Shows. W. N. Montgomery, manager of the Great Texas Bill Wild West has purchased from Augustus Jones the Indian Bill baggage wagons all parade vehicles, also part of the rolling stock. Some of the brightest stars in this branch of the amusement field have already been signed, and everything now indicates this being one of the best equipped and organized new shows of the current season. Augustus Jones will have charge of all the privileges; I. I. Lambert has signed as geneal agent; Baker and Lockwood have the contract for furnishing all new canvas. A carload of Western bronchos will arrive from the West April 1, while our baggage stock will be the finest dapple grays money can purchase. Mr. Montgomery is no new candidate for honors in the profession, he having for the past three seasons successfully managed Montgomery Bros.' Pavilion U. T. C. Co., and prior to that time had labored in an executive capacity for 12 years with the various circuses and tent shows.
Notes from Andrew Downie's New Big One-ring Circus. Just four weeks from date will find the new shows doing business. J. George Hudgins, general agent, with the following assistants: Wallace Show, G. C. Moyer, Louis Washburn, W. B. Russell, Robert Leister. The first day of April will find the show complete in every detail, and consists of 52 wagons, in all 125 head of stock. Everything is new throughout and will be the finest equipped wagons shows in America. Our new calliope was completed last week and is one of the finest ever turned out for circus work - 32 whistles with all the latest improvements attached. We will carry three bands and a calliope in parade and seven cages, and our novelty feature for the parade will compare with the biggest and best. All our new harness has arrived and the stock looks fine. Harry Reeves is busy night and day getting his ring stock into shape and has accomplished wonders in the short time he has been working them. The following have already signed: Bert Rutherford, assistant manager; Andrew L. Haley, in charge of big top; G. W. Christie, general superintendent in charge of stock; Edw. Corbette, in charge of side show, with the largest horse in the world as a feature, only three years old and stands 21 hands high; C. E. Chamberlain, in charge of privileges; Arthur Fordham, leader of big show band; Gibb Writt, equestrian director; Dave Ricardo, high diver; Jacobs and Wilson, Jack Hampton, J. D. Cramer, Guard Leon, with his singing and acting donkeys; George and Georgie Madden and Le May, C. S. Thorne, Marriott Brothers, Millie La Tena, Mrs. Edw. Corbette. Rhearsals will start at Medina April 25, and the show opens April 30, and will work direct East.
Billboard, March 26, 1904, pp. 8, 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Not transcribed: Barnum & Bailey opening details.
Miss Lotta, daughter of Edw. D. Barnum, known to the circus world, was married to B. Hanford, an officer on the torpedo boat Worden at Pensacola, Fla., March 14.
Flossie Barnell, wife of Edward Barnell, known in private life as Mrs. Lillie Pach, died March 17 of Bright's disease at New York City. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. She entered the profession in 1892, appearing with the leading circuses show in the large cities of the United States and Europe. Her specialties were juggling acts and living statuary.
Major E. H. Gosney goes with the Campbell Bros. this season.
Prince Mungo is with Norris & Rowe's side show this season.
Attina, the strong man, has signed with Ringling Brothers.
Wm. Voss is pantomime and juggling clown with Bonheur Bros. Show.
King Cole joined Norris & Rowe's side show at Pasadena, Cal., March 7.
Buffalo Bill's Show opens the season on April 25 for another tour of England.
J. St. Belmo will have charge of tents with Bonheur Bros. shows this season. A flock of trained geese will be a side show feature with the Bonheur Bros. show.
The Sells & Downs Show lost a brood of cub lions which were killed by their mother.
D. H. Lano has been engaged to manager Augustus Jones New Empire Railroad Show.
Clyde Riando has signed with Bonheur Bros. as singing, talking and acting principal clown.
E. H. Jones will manage Augustus Jones' New Model Plate Railroad Show this coming season.
Floyd Trover, general agent of the Colorado Grant Wild West Show, was in Cincinnati March 21.
Augustus Jones has sold the Indian Bill Wild West outfit to W. U. Montgomery, of Boone, Ia. Augustus Jones has the side show and all the privileges with the Great Texas Bill Wild West, which opens at Boone, Ia.
The Wilmarth Family, musicians and comedians, will be with the Bonheur Bros. show season 1904.
Col. Ed Burk, who has been wintering in Oakland, Cal., has come east to join Walter L. Main's advance.
Schiller Bros., of Kansas City, Mo., have abandoned their intention of taking out a show this summer.
F. C. Archer has left Leipsic, Ohio, to take up his work as advance agent of Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Shows.
Karl E. Johnson, saxophonist, now with the Wagner Duo, is engaged for the coming season with the Robinson's Ten Big Shows.
San Kichi, one of the eight Oka Troupe with the Norris & Rowe Shows, broke his wrist at the opening performance in San Jose.
W. H. McFarland, manager No. 2 side show, Forepaugh-Sells, was a caller on "The Billboard" on his way to join the big show.
The Wintermute Brothers recently purchased 189 acres of land adjoining their present winter quarters at Hebron, Wis., the consideration being $10,000.
Prof. P. J. German, season 1901 with Bonheur Bros.' 1902 with Buffalo Bill; 1903 with Barnum & Bailey, will again go on with Bonheur Bros. this year.
Jessie Stuman, of the Stuman Family Band and Orchestra, has been working on a new musical act. She has signed with the vaudeville department of the Sun Bros. big show.
The Stumon family band and orchestra of ten will not be with the Thos. Hargreaves Big Railroad Show the coming season. They have been engaged with Sun Bros. Big Railorad Show.
K. Sugimoto Jr., a Japanese performer, was attacked in the hold of a steamship traveling from Havana to New Orleans by an infuriated panther. His cries for help were quickly answered, but not before he was terribly torn.
M. L. Clark's combined shows opened March 7 at Alexandria, La., and are now playing Northern Louisiana and Mississippi. The show goes out with two elephants, two camels, ten cages, thirty-five baggage wagons and 145 head of stock.
The popularity and strength of the Norris & Rowe Shows is demonstrated by the fact of their playing a number of towns three times in a year. A notable example of this is the Los Angeles engagement, where they opened to turn away business March 8.
The Ringling Brothers have commenced to remove their animals from their winter dens at Baraboo to regular traveling cages, and will make the first shipment to Chicago on March 20. They will open the season in that city on March 30 at the Coliseum.
J. S. Kritchfield, bandmaster, and C. H. Cooper, musician of the John H. Sparks Show, were initiated March 5 into the B. P. O. Elks by Lake City (Fla.) Lodge No. 893. As a favor to Tampa Lodge No. 708 Lake City Lodge attended the night performance in a body.
Alfred J. F. Perino, the lion tamer, went insane at Jacksonville, Fla., on March 16. He is the owner of three lions and had just separated from the Sparks Show, with which he was connected for a short time, and had opened a side show in Jacksonville. He hails from London and has been in the circus business for thirty years.
While Hannibal, the untamable lion, was being shipped from San Francisco to the winter quarters of the Norris & Rowe Shows at San Jose, he escaped from the shifting den in which he was being transported and killed a horse which was being shipped in the same car. The horse was the private property of Frank Hall, the lion tamer, who is now giving exhibitions with Hannibal with Norris & Rowe's side show.
The Norris & Rowe Shows opening the season March 2 at San Jose, Cal. As it is the winter quarters of the show, the citizens turned out enmasse and testified their appreciation by packing the tents to the capacity at both the afternoon and evening performances. The Board of Trade, the members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Eagles and the Elks attended in a body at the evening exhibition and showed generous appreciation by liberal applause. The performance is given in two rings and upon an elevated stage, and is billed as the Norris & Rowe New and Greater Circus. The canvas is new throughout. They carry 65 head of baggage horses, 16 head of ring and hippodrome horses and 76 Shetland ponies. There are about 225 people with the show. The train consists of 15 cars. George Wormald is boss canvasman and Frank Ervin is master of transportation. Among the principal acts of the program are the marvelous Belfords, the Flying LeVans, Melnotte, LaNole and Melnotte, the Gardner Family, the Groh Family, Oka Japanese Troupe and the Fairmount Sisters. The best features of the trained animal acts have been retained and many new ones added. The show is moving south through California over the Southern Pacific Coast line, and after showing the orange growing route will return north by the Valley route to San Francisco where they will exhibit for a nine day at the Mechanics Pavilion. After the Frisco engagement the route will be up the coast to Oregon and Washington.
Billboard, April 2 and April 9, 1904 are online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, April 16, 1904, pp. 7, 10. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Not transcribed: some "Circus Gossip" items.
"This country should have a subsidized circus," said Colonel Brady, publicity promoter of the Ringling Brothers Show, in discussin the evolution of the great American circus from the one horse affairs of past days to the modern spectacles of three rings and several side platforms. "While statesmen are debating the subsidizing of a merchant marine or this or that industry and with Andrew Carnegie calling for a national theatre, it might be well for them to consider the subsidizing of this institution, which keeps the boy and girl spirit alive in every man and woman, no matter how old they may be. The circus is the only brand of amusement which is meant for the whole family. You can see the whole breakfast table there and they will be enjoying themselves. Can you say as much for grand opera, sentimental drama, farce or tragedy? The men who do 'to take the children,'" said Colonel Brady, "are plentiful at the circus during the present engagement, and they laugh louder than the little ones."
A wreck occurred on the Northwestern Railroad April 7, in which a party of about forty Indians en route to New York from the reservation in Nebraska under Major McCune, and who were to sail for England on the ninth to join the Buffalo Bill Show, suffered fatalities to the extent of two killed and twenty-five wounded. The wreck occurred at Austin, a suburb of Chicago. The Indians were in the rear car of the train which was struck by the locomotive of a fast train traveling in the same direction. Major McCune proceeded to New York with the uninjured.
Rawson's Trained Animal Show goes out from Seattle, Wash., May 1.
Frank Crowe, of the Barnum & Bailey show, is home in Richmond, Ind.
Lou [Lon?] Taylor, formerly a stage manager, will go out with Ringling Bros.' Circus.
E. L. Brannan and Jerry Mugwan [sic], of the Van Amburg Shows, were visitors in St. Louis last week.
Fred Green is one of the advance corps of the Hargreaves Circus and has already started to work.
Robert Courtney and Watson Vance, of Crawfordsville, Ind., have signed with Ringling Bros.' side show.
The Forepaugh-Sells Circus will give a night parade in Philadelphia on April 10 of the weather permits.
E. M. Burk, railroad contractor for the Walter L. Main Shows, saw the opening of Ringling Bros.' Shows.
Cars number one, two and three of Barnum & Bailey's Show left Bridgeport, Conn., April 3 for Jersey City.
Long Brothers, of Circleville, Ohio, want a first-class concert team who can also do a good turn in the big show if required.
Messrs. Fay and Burke, with fifty canvasmen, are waterproofing new canvas for Barnum & Bailey's Shows at Bridgeport, Conn.
Chas. T. Ogden, of the Shelby Show, writes that they had a blow down, but have avoided losing a week. He reports business good.
Barnum & Bailey are seeking to enjoin the Ringling Brothers from exhibiting the big bicycle act, Leaping the Gulf, in the courts at Chicago.
A grand stand for reserved seats has been erected for the Forepaugh-Sells Circus in Philadelphis, where the show opens on April 18 for two weeks.
Pawnee Bill will play a number of the large cities this year, and it is said he will make more one week stands this year than he has ever done before.
The vetertan John Lowlow will have charge of the magnificent exhibit that the United States Playing Card Co. is preparing for the World's Fair at St. Louis.
Two European artists joined the Ringling Circus, having just arrived from the other side. The team, Genaro and Theol, execute some remarkable contortionist novelties.
Frank A. Gardner, Spartanburg, S. C., will be equestrian director for Van Amburg Circus the coming season, would like to hear from all friends. Will be in Kansas City about April 4, and then made a trip through Northern Texas.
Charles Ellis has joined the Buckskin Bill Wild West as contracting agent. The show will open at Ft. Worth, Tex., April 7, and then make a trip through Northern Texas.
Frank Morris will have a number of novel features with the side show with Hargreaves Circus. It will be his re-entrance into the show business after a rest of five years.
Most of the performers for Hargreaves Circus are now at the winter quarters in Chester, Pa. Rehearsals will be held week of April 11, and the show will open in Chester, Pa., April 22.
Roy Martino has closed with the Brinton Entertainment Company and will open with Gollmar Bros.' New R. R. Shows the latter part of April to do his slack wire and trapeze act.
Little Jim, a valuable baby elephant of Gentry Bros. Dog and Pony Show, died at their winter quarters at Bloomington, Ind. He was considered one of the best of their fourteen elephants.
Art Hoffman, at present manager and announcer of the Swanson-Carter Carnival Co., will use his oratorical powers with Col. Hugh Harrison's staff of the Walter L. Main Fashion Plate this season.
The Van Amburg shows purchased three lions and a pair of performing bears from Ferari's Zoo in St. Louis last week. All canvas, baggage, harness and wagons are new this year. S. P. Mattot has charge of Car No. 1.
Lou Mincer, talking, singing and knockabout clown of the Nickel Plate Show, went through Cincinnati on April 5. Mr. Mincer left the show at Petersburg, Va., on account of sickness and will rejoin the show after recovery.
Norris & Rowe got out a special pictorial courier for distribution in Chinatown, San Francisco. It is printed entirelly in Chinese and looks very odd. It is believed to be the first Chinese circus bill printed in America.
Dentzel and Sons, the builders of carousels in Philadelphia, have just completed three new wagons for the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show. They are magnificently carved. One will contain a magnificent organ built by the same firm.
Doc Campbell writes from Cleveland, O., where he is visiting his brother, that he will be identified this season with B. E. Wallace Show, making concert announcements and being generally useful. Campbell comes from Dowagiac, Mich.
Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Bros. are having trouble over the lot at Pittsburg. W. E. Fuller for the former and Sam McCracken for Ringling Bros. are both on the ground watching each other like hawks.
The Wallace Shows made their debut at Los Angeles, Cal., last week, opening in San Bernardino to big business. Mr. Wallace puts up a nice clean show and is looking for a good season. Carl Davis, of Jabour fame, is on the advance staff. The James Ladies' Military Band furnishes the music.
George W. O'Dole has closed a successful season with the Southern All-Star Vaudeville Shows at Miami, Fla. He opened the season with H. C. Long's Refined Palace Show at ___, Miss., March 5, to do his acrobatic novelty and an original comedy act with George W. Kline, the old-time clown and mule hurdle rider.
The Great Barlow Show will be ready to open April 30, with a larger and better show than ever before. Harry Williams, Howe and Decker will be with the show this season. Fahler and Girard as the leading musicians; Walt. Anders will be in the advance. Special paper has been printed, and the season promises to be a good one. It will travel through Indiana and Ohio.
John H. Rice, the general agent of the Hargreaves Circus, has arranged quite a novelty for his show. A man will be one day ahead of the show and will get weather indications from Washington. He will post these in each city the show will play, so that every one can tell what kind of weather there will be the day the circus will arrive.
Barnum & Bailey's advertising car No. 4, better known as the crackerjack opposition car, arrived in Jersey City on April _, and was wrecked. The boys were all in bed at thetime of the accident and were pretty well tossed about, but came around with only a few slight scratches. The car was sent to the railroad shops where repairs were made and then it departed for Pittsburg. [Remainder of text is mostly unreadable, lists roster of the advance car.]
The following people have signed with Capt. Stewart's Big 10 and 20 cent show: the Aerial Browns, James O'Neill, Joe Hooner, Billy Weber, May Weber, Ed Hollis, Fannie Day, Ed Wagner, Sam McCarty, Al Decker, Cora Decker, Harry Decker, George McNut, Clarence Springer. Chas. Watterman will have charge of the canvas, H. I. Shepard will have charge of the advance. We expect to open in Ft. Wayne, Ind., April 30, and travel by rail, using two 74-foot cars and play all 3-day stands in Indiana.
The following is the roster of the performers with John H. Sparks' shows: Millette Troupe, acrobats and hand balancers; Kadel Sisters, double trapeze and perch; Andy Burch, ladder drops and contortionist; Ellet Bros., triple bars and high wire; Lizzie Ellet, flying rings; Barney Shea, Wm. La Rue, John Myers, clowns; Prof. Hoon's trained horses; Mlle. Viola, balancing trapeze; Eddie Sidpave, foot juggling; and Mary, our trained elephant. Concert people are: Bert Cole, Barney Shea, Bill La Rue, Mrs. Kadel, Effie Myers and La Rue's trick house.
Application has been made in the United States Circuit Court for an injunction restraining Walter Lowe, also known as Crazo, and Ringling Bros. from producing the bicycle "air leap" trick. Arthur T. Precott, of Englewood, N. J., the plaintiff, alleges that he owns the letter patent on the mechanism being used at the circus, having purchased the rights from the inventor, Calvin C. Eggers, of New York, in 1903. United States Deputy Marshal Wade, April 3, served the members of the Ringling Bros. Co. and Lowe with subpoenas to appear before Master in Chancery Bishop and answer the allegations.
Notes from the Floto Shows. The show opened at Dallas, Tex., Friday, March 15, and left for Galveston on Thursday, 17. Business has been phenomenal, playing to packed houses at both matinee and evening. The show is routed through California. John Ruhl has been booked as the principal feature for the season, and his new apparatus goes up at Demming for his first ride of the season. The St. Leon family of acrobats are fast proving themselves as favorites and their work as performers is great. Alixius, of bicycle fame, is making a big hit with his act. Billy Delavan and Jules Wiggins have the side show boxes working under Ike Shipley. The new ring stock broken in by John Carroll, the equestrian, are beauties.
Notes from the Lowery Bros. No. 1 New Olympia Shows. Everything is as bright as a silver dollar and will open in Shenandoah, Pa., April 18, Geo. B. Lowey [sic?], sole manager. Performers: Prof. Atkins, ring master and equestrian director; double traps, Mr. and Mrs. L. Henreux; horizontal bars, Schneider & Powell; high wire and Spanish web, Levolo; clowns, Chas. O'Brien, John Frey, J. Seymore; Marvelous Turner, contortionist and rings; Viola Raymond and her troupe of canine wonders and trick ponies; Mlle. La Tuna's daring slide for life. Concert people: John Frey, John Seymore, Turner and Raymond, Jas. Miller, Anna Carleton and Chas. O'Brien; big double balloon ascension and double parachute jump by Prof. Baker and wife; Will C. Sites, advance, with five men. This will be a swell looking show. Our cars are all newly painted as is everything else.
Notes from McDonald's Bros. Shows, Huntington, W. Va. Everything is in readiness for the opening, April 21, and the indications are that it will be a grand event. The Knights of Pythias Uniform Rank and the Fraternal Order of Eagles will turn out in a body in honor of the McDonald Brothers, who are members of the above orders. The roster is as follows: McDonald Brothers (William R., Harry and Will S.), sole owners; J. W. Brackman, side show manager; S. W. Hopkins, advance agent; Caslor Jobe, billposter. Performers: the Rydon Troupe (5 in number), aerialists; the Kilian Family (7 in number), acrobats and aerialists; William Smith, barrel jumper and contortionist; Walter Fletcher, horizontal bars and clown; Frank Melrose, principal clown and concert director; Chas. Blatz, tramp acrobat; Miss Julia Rickey, concert; Miss Maggie Brackman, bag puncher and second light; Prof. C. J. Hicks, magician and announcer; Miss May, crayon artists; Little Florence, fancy dancing and paper tearing; Miss Louise, snake charmer and trained alligators; Prof. Chas. W. Edwards, band leader with 12 soloists; 15 canvasmen under Frank Stokes; James Hurley, boss hostler with 8 men; Thomas Jones, boss props with 5 men; cookhouse under the charge of Kid Fletcher, with _ assistants; 30 head of stock, 14 wagons, 70-foot round top, 40-foot middle, 40x60 side show, 30x50 horse tent, 20x40 cook tent, 30-foot dressing room, all new from front door to dressing room, making one of the best equipped wagon shows on the road.
Mrs. Chauncey Morian (nee Annie Bell), wife of Chauncey Morian, died at New York Wednesday, March 30, after an illness of fourteen days, of diabetes. She was well known in the museum and circus world. She made her first appearance at Gregory's Museum in St. Louis, Mo., twenty years ago. Since that time she has been on exhibition in all the museums in the country and traveled with the Adam Forepaugh Circus from 1888 until 1891. She went to London in 1899 with the Barnum & Bailey Circus on their first trip to England. She was married to Chauncey Morian Nov. 30, 1892, in New York, and for seven years toured Europe with her husband as the heaviest married couple in the world. Since their return from Europe in 1900 they have resided in Indianapolis, Ind., traveling only a few weeks every fall and every spring coming to New York for a short season. She was filling a four weeks' engagement at Huber's Museum when taken sick. At the time of her death she weighed __ pounds and was six feet one inch in height. A father, mother, sister, two brothers and husband mourn her loss. The remains were taken to St. Louis, Mo. for interment.
[Not transcribed, unreadable: Roster of C. F. Brown's Concert Band with M. L. Clark's Combined Show; La Mont Bros. Shows notes.]
Billboard, April 23, 1904, p. 7. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Not transcribed: some unreadable items; Frank C. Bostock's animal show, zoo.
Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Opening. Full Account of the Opening of the Tenting Season of One of the Largest of American Circuses. (Special dispatch to the Billboard. Philadelphia, April 18, 1904.
The three sections of cars which transport the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus through the country left winter quarters in Columbus, O., on Saturday, April 9th, at noon, and made one of the quickest and best railroad runs in the history of the circus business. The route was ovre the Pennsylvania Railroad, and although the three trains remained in Altoona, Pa., all day Sunday to feed and water the animals, the first section reached Philadelphia at 4 a.m. on Monday, April 11th, and the other two sections followed a few hours after. These three trains have a record as the first train, outside of passenger trains, that have ever gone over the Allegheny Mountains without using hand ___. All the cars are equipped with ___. attachments an in consequence the trains made a rapid progress as any of the flyers for which the Pennsy is noted. Immediately upon arrival in Philadelphia the tents were erected and the preliminary work of the show was started. The lot in that city, while a very large one, cramps the show, and, in fact, the horse tents had to be erected five blocks away from the show grounds.
The show has been placed in first class condition this winter and is now as big as the biggest show on the road and presents an exceedingly attractive appearance on the lot. Every stitch of canvas used is new and all of the decoratoins are bright and pretty. Rehearsals were started on Wednesday, April __, and continued until the opening of the show. The vim and snap with which the rehearsals were pulled off showed that the preliminary preparadtions had all been attended to and that the show this year would be the best that this aggregaton has ever given.
Among the features of the Menagerie, this year, is an interesting Arctic exhibit. This includes every animal known to exist in the regions of snow and ice, and the special feature of the exhibit is fourteen Polar bears. In the menagerie are twenty-one elephants, twenty-six camels, including two baby elephants, fourteen lions, six tigers, the large hippopotamus that has been the feature of this show for years and numerous other animals.
There are 740 people back with the show and 80 in advance. There are __ horses and 28 ponies. The show has a number of exclusive European features this year, including the Lucassons, who do a novel acrobatic act using a Tally-ho coach and four horses and performing many of their feats on the horses' backs and on top of the coach. A troupe of Hungarian Magyars are a novel features, and they do a strong acrobatic act. The La Carmena have a novelty in the way of a tight wire act that is done at an elevation of __ feet. Looping the Loop and Jumping the Gap are also novel features.
The night parade in Philadelpha Saturday evening, April 16, was one of the grandest events that has been seen in that city for many years. Although the night was cool and blustery the streets were lined with people. The theatres all suffered as the people preferred to see the glittering procession to witnessing a performance. It was claimed by police officials that there was as many people along the route of the procession as were out on the day of the Peace Jubilee parade some years ago. The parade took over an hour to pass a given point. Tons of red and green fire were used and the heavens were ablaze with the lights. On every tableaux was a calcium light, whihc lit up the gilded cages in a glorious manner. All the uniforms, trappings and harness used in the parade were new, and they loomed up great under the many lights. All of the horses were decorated with parti-colored plumes and the elephants and camels were embroidered plush banners, which were extremely rich in appearance.
The following list of the different features of the parade give but little idea of its grandeur.
Mounted police
Fife and drum band on feet
Open barouches containing local newspaper men and managers of the circus
Troop of mounted men in uniform showing the different uniforms used by U. S. Army since 1776, each man carried a flage containing the date of his uniform
Ten-horse band chariot
Two four-horse tableaux
One six-horse tableaux
One eight-horse tableaux wagon with band of Hungarian Magyars in native costume
Three four-horse tableaux
One six-horse tableaux
One eight-horse band chariot
Mounted troop of international cavalry, containing representatives of every nation on earth with flags
Three four-horse tableaux
Fast Indian procession
Eight-horse tableaux containing queen and her retinue
Nineteen elephants, with East Indian trappings, bearing men and women in rich eastern robes
Twenty camels with riders
Ten ponies drawing tableaux
Six-horse tableaux with Goddes of Liberty
Two four-horse tableaux
Ten-horse band chariot
Troop of female cavalry in gorgeous costumes
Two four-horse Roman chariots with female drivers
Four pony tableaux
Tandem team of cake walking horses drawing a dog cart, driven by a lady
Two tandem teams driven by ladies
One eight-horse tableaux
Five four-horse tableaux
Two clown carts drawn by ponies
Eight-horse tableaux containing clown band
One open den containing lions with trainer
One four-horse open den containing lions with trainer
One six-horse open den containing lions
Three six-horse open den containing the exhibit of fourteen polar bears
One six-horse tableaux
One ten-horse den containg hippopotamus
One six-horse calliope
Hay wagon with clown acrobats
Troop of mounted police
The opening of the show occurred on Monday afternoon, April 18, and the tents were fairly well filled. The performance went off smoothly and applause was hearty for every act on the lengthy program. Old-timers say that it is one of the best and brightest of circus programs ever given. This evening the tents are jammed and the performance is giving the same satisfaction that it gave in the afternoon. On account of the lateness of the hour and the limited time no particulars can be wired now, but fuller accounts will be sent later. The show is in Philadelphia for two weeks, and from the enormous advance sale and the favor with which the show was received at the two performances today, it will be the biggest success ever known in this city.
Pointed Pencilings by Pyramus. London, April 1, 1904. . . . The advance of Buffalo Bill's Wild West, under the able direction of Clarence L. Dean, begin operations at Stoke-on-Trent April 4. Col. Cody, with the largest and most varied collection of Western burros, cow-punchers and Indians, will arrive the 9th. Rehersals begin the 18th, and the Wild West opens in all its Occidental splendor April 25th. Principal items on the program will be Col. Cody's shooting on horseback; the cowboy cyclist; leaping through space; Johnnie Baker's sensational sharp-shooting act and Custer's Last Charge. Prof. Sweeny's Cowboy Band will furnish the music, which is assurance enough of its excellence.
C. E. Griffin, of the Annex, reports the following recent engagements for his department: Princess Chiquita II, smallest living lilliputian; Aaron Moore, Afro-American giant; Leonine, lion-faced lady, and The Diamonds, Western bowie-knife and tomahawk throwers. Alfred Smith Jr., the well-known English artist, is painting the immense landscape scene required for the Wild West. This is different from ordinary scenery, inasmuch as it has to be done in oil and flexible, so it can be folded. He is getting along nicely with it and when completed it will reflect great credit on the artist. Fred Walters, the blue man, is creating a sensation at the Lower March Hippodrome. Mr. Walters was born in London, but shortly after the accident which turned his epidermis from white to blue, he emigrated to America and was never exhibited here until last year with Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
The Buckskin Bill Wild West and Consolidated Congress of Wonders opened at Fort Worth, Texas, April 7. It is reported that the show is splendidly organized, with Manager H. E. Allott personally directing the executive staff. Harry W. Semon is again general agent with the following subordinates: W. E. Sands, manger Car No. 2, in advance; P. W. Stinson, manager Car No. 4; Harry Combs, route rider; A. A. Wiles, 24-hour man; Chas. Ellis, special agent and master of transportation; Joe Gorman, boss canvasman; George Brown, property manager; D. V. Tantlinger, orator; Col. Harry Hamilton, main door ticket taker; Lew Nichols, manager side show; Gene Keller, treasurer.
Ringling Brothers' Circus. Special to "The Billboard." Chicago, Ill., April 16. This popular circus, Chicago's favorite, has been packing the Coliseum at every performance and will continue to do so until the end of the engagement, April 20, judging from the immense advance sale. Every act on the program is applauded. The most wonderful riding act ever seen in Chicago is done by the Three Eldreds, who finish their performance by a simultaneous jump up from the ground to the back of a swiftly moving horse. The Three Bedinis, two ladies and a gentleman, and the champion collie dog, ___, in wonderful quadruple vaulting act; the Six Kaufmans, the greatest bicycle riders ever seen in this city; Genaro and Theol contortionists, seemingly boneless beings. Other excellent acts include Miss May Davenport and Mr. Reno McCree, double vaulting equestrian exhibition; the Hobsons, mounting and dismounting riding simultaneously upon a single horse; the Three Tasmanians and the Dallard Troupe, acrobatic feats; Fred Welcome and Miss Dell Wilton, hand blancing; the Flying Fishers, the DaComas, aerialists; the Cossack riding of Miss V. Bedini, Mr. Victor Bedini and Miss F. Bedini.
A suit for a permanent injunction to restrain Ringling Brothers from using the feature at their circus was recently insituted by R. G. Prescott, who claimed precedence in the use of the mechanism. Judge Kohls, at the United States District Court, decided Tuesday that Walter Lowe many continue his daring "Leap the Gap," which he is now performing at the Ringling Circus. This decision gives the nervy bicyclist the right to continue risking his neck in the accomplishment of a feat which nightly thrills the large audiences. The title Ringling Brothers' World's Greatest Shows has been fully prove to be the case this season. Never has an entertainment like that given by this circus been seen in Chicago.
The date of the opening of the Pawnee Bill Show has been changed from April 30 to April 23, at Carnegie, Pa.
Harry Howard says he'll have another dog and pony show on the road in 1905.
Earl Kedell left Anderson, Ind., last week to join the Forepaugh-Sells' Circus.
Augustus Jones' New Empire R. R. Show opened at ___, Va., April 6.
M. C. Cookston has signed with the Seibel Bros.' R. R. Show for the season.
The Seven Eddys are one of the features of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus.
Thomas Serin, of Anderson, Ind., has signed again in advance with the Wallace Show.
Augustus Jones' Model Plate R. R. Shows will open at Clifton Forge, Va., April 18.
The Forepaugh-Sells Circus has twenty-four clowns this years, including six French clowns.
The Aurora Zouaves are one of the numerous features with the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus.
Johnny Gleason left Philadelphia, Pa., April __, to join the Forepaugh-Sells Show as candy butcher.
Harry Semon is reported to have left the Buckskin Bill Show and signed with Campbell Brothers.
Dr. Sam L. Bayless will open his show season at his home town, Crawfordsville, Ind., on April 30.
Frank A. Rockfellow, of Local No. 22, Syracuse, N. Y., has signed with Buffalo Bill's Wild West.
Welsh Brothers Circus opened the season successfully in Gordonville, Pa., Thursday, April 14th.
Ed. Brennan is doing the railroads and acting as general agent both ahead of the Van Amburg Shows.
J. S. McBride passed through Cincinnati April 16, enroute to join the Sells-Downs Circus at Topeka, Kan.
The Rolla Fox R. R. Show announces that it has everything ready to open the season May 9, at Clinton, Ind.
The injunction applied for by the Barnum & Bailey Shows against Ringling Brothers was dissolved last week.
Newman's Great American Water Circus opens at Ironton, Ohio, April 27-28. They go up the Allegheny river.
The Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus uses three rings, two elevated stages and a huge hippodrome track this season.
Tony Connelly and George Robbs have joined hands and will do a comedy turn with the Forepaugh-Sells' Show this season.
Messrs. Robson and Conley of Youngstown, Ohio, have signed with the Forepaugh-Sells Show to do vaudeville and clown work.
Warren Patrick has left the show business forever, so he says, and is a "manufacturer's agent," with offices in the Rialto Building, Chicago.
Chas. Prevulsky, advance agent for the Western Uncle Josh Spruceby Company, will go in advance of the Forepaugh-Sells Show this season.
Thomas Hoargreaves has arranged for a very lengthy parade, and states that no matter what the other shows do he will not cut out that feature.
Dr. C. L. Davis, formerly with Sells Bros.' and John Robinson's shows, is at the head of a new billposting and distributing company at Richmond, Ind.
Harry Hunt, the well-known circus man, who has been with nearly every circus of any note in this country, goes with the Van Amburg Shows this season.
E. L. Brannan, general agent of the Van Amburg Shows, has nearly completed his roster, which now includes some of the best circus acts in the business.
Maurice Decastro, known in private life as John A. Maurice, and Miss Annie L. M. Ogden, both of the James Shelby Shows, were married April 8 at McCormick, S. C.
Lew Graham's announcements at the Ringling Circus are really one of its features. He is the most convincing announcer in circusdom. Porbably the reason is that Lew is notoriously honest.
Hargreaves Circus is all ready for the opening, which takes place in Chester, Pa., April 22d. It will be the best circus that Hargreaves has ever had on the road, from all reports.
Walter L. Main, Jack Youngs, George Florida and I. S. Potts occupied a box at the Coliseum, Chicago, one afternoon last week and pronounced the Ringling Show the best circus they ever saw.
Newton Marks, a veteran circus and theatrical man, who went to El Paso, Texas, for his health, was found dead and badly mangled on the Rock Island railroad tracks near that city April 12.
Gerald Fitzgerald, assistant manager and treasurer of the Uncle Tom's Cabin Company, closed with Mr. Martin in Chicago to resume his third season as press agent of the Great Wallace Shows.
Charley Boyd, who was engaged by Manager Wm. Sells to do the press work for the Sells & Downs Show, cancelled his contract, and put a theatrical company of his own out for a tour of the summer parks.
Harry R. Spurling, an acrobat who will travel with Robinson's Ten Big Shows this season, was recently married to Miss Pearl White at Marysville, Ohio. Mrs. Spurling will travel with her husband this summer.
Campbell Bros.' Shows leave the winter quarters at Fairbury, Neb., April 30 for the annual tour of the west. The show has been greatly englarged and improved since last season and is the best the boys have ever put out.
The managers of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus are loud in their praise of the police arrangements in Philadelphia. They claim that they are the best they ever had. The police were under the control of Captain Taylor.
J. Henry Rice paid a flying visit to the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Shows in Philadelphia and then went skimming away to see that the advance work for the Hargreaves Circus, of which he is the general agent, was attended to.
Frank Miller, press representative of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, was in Chicago last week in the interest of The Runaways at the Garrick Theatre. It is said that Frank and his associates have cleaned up over $25,000 out of this play the past winter. Mr. Miller left the company at Chicago to join the Forepaugh-Sells Show at Philadelphia.
R. C. Carlisle, assistant manager of John Robinson's Ten Big Shows last season, is at present manager of the Laclede Hotel, Independence, Mo., having been located there since the holidays. He will make that place his headquarters the coming season, and will also manage a Wild West Show, playing parks, agricultural, State and county fairs.
Lewie Barrett, for several years in charge of the excursion department of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus and Buffalo Bill's Wild West and who has been starring Harry La Ulass in New England Folks the past winter, is now promoting a scheme in Chicago whereby the small circuses exhibiting on the Chicago lots during the coming summer will be syndicated and their movements, etc., will be controlled from one office.
Frank J. O'Donnell and James De Wolf looked after the press representatives who attended the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Shows in Philadelphia just the same as if they had been laden with good notices in advance. Notwithstanding the fact that a newspaper combination in that city had declared that no advance notices should be given, those energetic people managed to get in a number of good notices.
The advertising car No. 1 of the Great Wallace Shows carries the following: Al. Osborn, manager; C. C. Chevorout, boss billposter; C. B. Bowers and H. A. Johnson, lithographer; C. A. Morrow and W. Graves, programmers; H. E. Shaffer, pastemaker and the following bill posters: C. Barr, H. Johnson, E. Baker, H. Graham, R. W. Ball, T. H. Hubert, J. F. Cavanaugh, H. Danaker, Ben Hasselman, F. Shick, H. Getz, J. May, L. R. Patchin, J. Aubron, C. Hammel and F. Sherman.
John A. Maurice, known in the circus world as Maurice Decastro, and Miss Annie L. M. Ogden were married April 8 at McCormick, S. C. Both parties are members of the James Shelby Shows and will travel with the same this season.
Harry r. Spurling, acrobat, and Miss Pearl White of Marysville, Ohio, were recently married at that place. Mr. Spurling has signed with the Robinson Show this season and his newly gotten wife will accompany him.
Newton Marks, a veteran circus and theatrical man, was found dead on the tracks of the Rock Island Railroad Company about four miles from El Paso, Texas, April 12, whither he had gone for his health. The body was badly mangled and evidently death was due to one of the railroad's trains. Marks had been in the show business all his life, and for a long time traveled for Mayer Bros.' Lithographing Company. The body was buried at the expense of a wealthy sister in New York City.
Billboard, April 30, 1904, pp. 6, 7. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Auspicious Opening of the Robinson Show. The Parade. From the immense gatherings along the line of march of the Robinson parade, it was evident that the people of Cincinnati were eager once more to see the circus parade and to laugh at the circus clown. They were not disappointed. Saturday, April 23, was the first real spring day of the season and an ideal parade day it was! Thus, so ably aided by nature, the Robinson Circus, in itself a moving caravan of magnificence and spendor, received the highest praise from the many thousand people who witnessed the brilliant spectacle. The beauty of the gold and silver tinted and artistically designed array of decorated horses and ponies, aided by the glittering rays of the spring day sun and the music of the bands, was an inspiration well worth the price of admission to any circus. The approach of the motley array was heralded by the man upon whose shoulders rests the management of the enormous enterprise - John Robinson the Third, who heads the third generation which has fostered and cared for this circus marvel. Following were eight lady buglers and a chariot containing a band of real musicians. Lady performers were drawn in traps by beautiful Shetland ponies, as was the children's menagerie which followed. Guilded caged wagons of pelicans, wild bears and seals followed and led up the drum corps of 14 pieces which was drawn by eight beautiful white horses. More exhibits from the menagerie followed. They were buffaloes, bears and birds, all of which were highly enjoyed by the sightseers. The clown wagon was certainly quaint. There were clowns of every kind, shape and size piled on the chariot till one would think that all the clowns in circusdom were with the Robinson Show. Next came wart hogs, the elephant, Tillie, and the sacred cattle from India. Bengal tigers, leopards and antelopes were in evidence. The feature was the big band drawn by 12 beautiful matched horses all beautifully decorated in yellow. The German calliope followed and was a big feature of the parade. However, the biggest sensation was the last band, drawn by 18 beautiful Shetland ponies. Thus ended the parade. The parade made a distinct impression and gave evidence that the circus parade was yet a live thing. The new and attractive wagons, the high class selections of animals and the general appearance of the entire brigade showed that the management of the Robinson Ten Big Shows was fully capable and able to intended to give the best of satisfaction to those who visited the show during the season.
The Performance. The morning of Monday, April 25, the opening date of the Robinson Ten Big Shows at Cincinnati, Ohio, was ushered in with a heavy rain, which foretold anything but a fair day for the initial performance of the season of 1904. As the noon hour no evidence for its clearing was exhibited; nevertheless, the cars leading to South Norwood carried crowds to the show grounds. Umbrellas were no good, so heavy was the rain, but each car that passed the ticket office was taxed to its capacity and crowds after crowds were unloaded at the entrance door. Three door-men were kept busy at the main entrance of the show. People came in cars, wagons, vehicles of all kinds and on foot. As one entered the menagerie he was struck with the newness which characterized the entire scene before him. Everything from the poles to the stakes was new. Many new exhibits had bbeen added to this part of the show, the wagons glistened with new paint and highly polished mirrors and the animals themselves appeared fresh and active. The brand new tent is an enormous one and is in strict keeping with the spirit and enthusiasm exhibited from all sides. The menagerie was pronounced the best ever seen in the Queen City. It is great. It is a complete show in itself. It shows skill and good judgement upon the part of those who had the matter in charge. It is the embodiment of years of experience and the skill of men who have given animal life a thorough and careful study.
As one enters the main tent he feels that he has struck the real thing. The snow-white tent, mammoth in its proportions, is a masterpiece in itself, and shows that there is nothing new in the circus world. The great Robinson Show, which is now in its eightieth successive year, is about to begin. As one was pushed onward by the incoming crowds he heard nothing but praise and words of pleasure and astonishment from those who had the honor of witnessing the initial performance. At one o'clock all the reserved seat space was taken up and a goodly portion of the balance of the seats contained those eager to see or hear the first move or sound of the great performance. The grand and sublime spectacle, King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, opened the performance. This spectacle, to say the least, although by no means an entirely new one, contained features formerly unknown to the amusement world and elicited the praise of everyone in the audience. The entrance of King Solomon upon the scene was hearlded by the clash of the cymbal and the soft strains of music from the orchestra. The grand parade included chariots, buglers, courtiers, retainers, servants and all the paraphernalia of the Biblical spectacle. The bright new garments worn by the entire procession were artistically made and gave a realistic impression of the Oriental court. The spectacle moved along with perfect symmetry and was much admired by and received the applause of the entire audience. The dance by eight damsels before the court was good, as was that given by about forty pretty girls attired in yellow, blue and white. The whole spectacle moved with a quick and decisive snap and was a big feature.
The peformance proper now opens. The educated elephants gave a unique exhibition and performed intelligently. Excellent exhibition of skill followed upon revolving, suspended ladders, and before one knew himself the show was fairly alive. The crowds laughed at and applauded heartily the quaint antics of the clowns and the skill exhibited bythose in the rings. They expressed their admiration or their pleasure freely and were willing to assist in applause. New and sensational acts too numerous to mention were now being given. The air and the ground was fairly alive. It was a real circus and Cincinnati was fairly alert to the occasion. Acrobatic exhibition next claimed the attention. Difficult physical feats, astonishing displays of strength and ludicrous positions made up a complete vaudeville entertainment which was well received. Comedy was abundant and kept the crowds in roars or laughter. The trained animals and feats of daring upon horses at full speed all came in turn, and nothing was left unapplauded. High wire artists, contortionists and specialties of all kinds made their impression. Owing to the drenching which the cycle whirl paraphernalia had received from the heavy rain, that feature was necessarily omitted, much to the displeasure of the audience. Nevertheless, as the show is booked for a week, the audience was pleased, because they were assured that the act would be given later. A new and novel act is that of Miss Edna, who came in for her share of appreciation. With grace and ease she turns a backward somersault upon the back of her pet horse, Frank, who seemed to take much delight in his little rider. The loop-the-loop, races and various equestrian exhbitions were sensational and something new. The entire two hours went by in a very short ime, indeed, so symmetrical and evenly balanced were all the acts and features. Much praise is due to the management for the decisiveness which characterized the entire performance. Although this was the first performance, the usual drag on such occasions was very noticeably absent. The show made a distinct hit. It is a big one, a new one, and a live one, and thoroughly capable. The management is perfect and showed that neither bad weather nor great distance cut any figure in the execution of a clean and down to date show. A successful season is certainly in store ofr them if energy, brains and push count for anything. The circus exhibits at Norwood two days, at Cumminsville two days and at Covington the same lenght of time. The circus will be wll attended during its week near Cincinnati, and it certainly has the best wishes of the people of the Queen City.
Walter L. Main's Enormous Shows opened the season at Geneva, Ohio, April 23. The weather was not all that it might have been, but in spite of this the city was crowded with visitors and the tents were filled at both performances. The show is put on much better than it was last season. Col. Hugh Harrison has worked wonders in this respect. The performance is well balanced and there were very few hitches, which is remarkable for an opening performance. The features of the show this season are the Nelson Family and the Marvelous Boise Family, in a series of difficult aerial feats. The performance opens with a grand entree and tournament, introducing as, to follow the phraseology of the program, "stars of the world's brightest galaxy of talent in the equestrian class; blue-blooded horses, trained animals, spectacular features, and gorgeous costuming, whre color blends in rythmic beauty."
In Ring No. 1 is an equestrian act designated as the garland entree, and in Ring No. 2 a similar act by equestriennes. Display No. 2 consists of a number of contortion and gyration feats, by Sig. Rignola, the Nelson Sisters and Master Allep Durant. Display No. 3 is called the ladies' and children's special number, and introduces six performing Shetlands under R. H. Dockrill, Mlle. Fogardus and her dogs and doves, and Susie, the pony clown. Display No. 4 witnesses aerial feats of strength by Inez Scott, culminating with a slide for life. The Judge Brothers, pole balancers, and the Martines, who give a wonderfully clever performance on the double trapeze.
The performance proceeds from disply to display with a balance that admits only of a sense of surprise that the management has succeeded in collecting such a number of meritorious acts with such rare good judgment Miss Davenport's riding evokes loud and prolonged applause from her followers, while at the same time Miss Hocum in Ring No. 2 does a most skillfully beautiful riding act in long skirts. The Three ___ clowning act on suspended bars is appreciated, as is that of the Martines on the revolving ladder. One of the most pleasing features of the program is constituted in the excellent riding of Martino Lowande, known as Brazil's champion bareback somersault rider. He executes the neatest of forward and backward somersaults with an ease and grace worthy of the most favorable criticism and comparison. Nor are Albert Davenport's equestrian feats less skillful or difficult. Both are riders of the highest class. The Maysmith Duo introduces a dancing ladder act with club juggling and musical features that places them easily among the good things in the performance. The picturesque menage numbers and equestrian cake walks by Mr. Dockrill and Miss Hocum stant out prominently. The carrying acts by the Davenports and Mr. Hocum and daugher in Rings No. 1 and 2, respectively, show a finish and skill that does credit to the principals and amply sustains the high quality of the entire performance.
The Marvelous Boise Family of aerialists command the breathless attention of the entire audience and is justly classed as one of the most sensational and novel acts in the category of aerial work. The Nelson Family, another feature, have enlarged and elaborated their acrobatic act beyond what even this, acknowledged as one of the best acts of its kind before the public, has ever attained to in the past. Mlle. Mayme Lemm's bareback riding and hurdle leaping calls forth round after round of applause, which would continue indefinitely if the little equestrienne were allowed to monopolize a much longer time than is given to her performance. Mlle. Tournour is well known throughout the circus world (and to two generations of spectators in all parts of the country) as one of the cleverest and most gracefully finished aerial artistes. Her act with the Main Show is just what even the press agents have claimed for it, one of the "most daring, gracefil and artistic balancing trapeze performance the world has ever seen." The other numbers following the introductory pageant and preceding the spectacle are of a quality that makes the performance pre-eminently the best that Mr. Main has ever offered to the public. Indeed, that experienced and respected showman has outdone all his past efforts and has associated with him a corps of assistants that have zeal, experience and fidelity to their chief to aid them in their endeavors to please him through the public's appreciation of their success.
The spectacle, in which are retained all the more pleasing features of "Savage South Africa" and to which touches of improvement even to these have been added here and there, goes with a dash and thrilling execution that is as a fitting desert to a banquet of the best dishes in the knowledge of the showman's chef, served with a skill that only years of experience can contribute. In this spectacle is used all the artillery and martial paraphernalia which Mr. Main has so the whole spectacle is appreciated beyond measure. As to the equipment of the show, it has been materially added to and improved. Four new cars have been added and the entire spread of canvas is spotlessly new and bright. The show moves in two sections and presents a handsome appearance, both on road and lot. Mr. Louis E. Cooke, of the Barnum & Bailey Show, was a visitor at the opening in Geneva, as was also Mr. Arch M. Donaldson, of the Donaldson Lithographing Company. Both are warm in the praises of what is sure to be known as the best show Mr. Walter L. Main has put out up to this time.
Hargreaves' Big Railroad Circus opened it season on Friday, April 22nd at Chester, Pa. Since last season this show has been materially enlarged and improved until now it is one of the big shows of the country. The train consists of twenty cars, all with standard equipments. The sleepers are all Pullmans and two of the flat cars are new. The whole train has been decorated by Fred. Locke and looks handsome. All of the cars have a background of white and are full of pictures of animals and circus acts. It is one of the neatest, yet flashiest trains that has ever gone out with a circus. The parade is a pretty one, nearly all of the trappings, flags and banners being new and bright. The stock is all new and while showing a little evidence of greeness, show that the party who purchased them knew how to pick out good horses and succeeded in getting a good lot together. The following is a list of the principal features in the procession.
Mounted couriers with bugles
Eight-horse band chariot with band of __ pieces
Fourteen mounted riders, male and female, in handsome costumes
Three two-pony tableaux
One six-horse tableaux
Two two-pony tableaux
One two-horse tableaux
Ten led ponies
Manage rider with Cake Walking horses
Mexican Rough Riders, mounted
Clown cart with donkey
Two two-horse tableaux
Two two-horse Roman chariots
One four-horse Roman chariot
Three two-horse tableaux
One four-horse tableaux
One four-horse tableaux containing Oriental Band and troupe of Oriental dancers
Two clown carts drawn by ponies
One four-horse open den, containing tigers
One four-horse tableaux
One clown cart drawn by donkey
One four-horse open den containing lions with trainer
Two four-horse tableaux
Cake walking horse, King Fire, ridden by Miss Hall
Six-horse band tableaux with 12 pieces
One clown cart
Led stock consisting of Inda bull, camels, etc.
Jumbo Second, the largest elephant in the world
The parade made a hit on account of its originality, the pretty decorations on the cages and tableaux and the brighness of the plumes, banners, etc. All of the harness is new. The afternoon performance of the circus on Friday, April 22d was fairly well attended and at night the huge tents were crowded. The menagerie top is a very large one with three centre poles. There are a number of cages in it and the display of animals is very creditable. The circus top is 150 feet round top with two 50-foot middle pieces. There are two rings, a large elevated stage and a big hippodrome track. Robert Stickney Jr. put the show together and will direct the performances for a few weeks until is gets running in apple pie order. The programme of the circus which pleased is as follows:
Grand spectacular tournament
Prof. Barnes, with riding dog, Joe
Millie Barnes, with riding monkey, concluding with monkey on a bicycle
Jumbo Second, largest elephant in the world, trained and introduced by Miss Mabel Hall
Swinging perch, Julia Orton
Double trapeze, Lazelle brothersNero the riding lion, introduced by Millie Barnes
Mary Lowanda, female principal act
Prof. Barnes, dogs, goats and monkeys
Lew Whittaker and herd of performing donkeys
Bernard Orton, bounding rope
Will Hartwell, bounding wire
The Four Campbells, aerial return and casting act
Prof. Barnes, educated ponies
Prof. Locke, educated stallions
Johnny Corela, America's boy somersault principal rider
Single trapeze, Nellie Leonard
The Great Florence Troup of 7 acrobats
Comic mule act, Prof. Barnes and William Felton
Educated horse, King Fire, introduced by Miss Mabel Hall
John Coreia and son in a carrying act
The Hippodrome events consists of:
Gents flat race with three horses
Clowns sulky race with three ponies
The high jumping horses, High Art and Old Brook
Ladies flat race with four entries
Roman standing race
Horse against man
Chariot race
Clowns with the show are, Happy Bill Carroll, John De Vay, Jack Elmo, Lew Whittaker, Vierce Harrick, Rube Ryan, Harry Latell, Fred. Besso and M. Davis. The big show band is under the direction of Phillip Carrescia. The concert is made up of a dozen good acts with Wallace, the lion, as the principal feature.
The executive staff of the circus is as follows: Thomas Hargreaves, manager; John Henry Rice, general agent; William Powley, legal adjuster; Ed. Cullen, superintendent; Harry Strauss, press representative; Fred. Locke, equestrian director; Frank Longbottom, treasurer; R. B. (Diamond) Smith in charge of refrestment privileges; Ed. Lykens, in charge of stock and Chet Baldwin, in charge of canvas.
The side show is under the managerial direction of the good old timer Frank Morris. He has hooked up a neat and clean show that will surely win a lot of money. The tent is a fifty-foot round top with two thirty-foot middle pieces. All of the stands and platforms are new and an elevated stage occupies one end of the tent. Frank Morris makes all the openings and is assisted on the front by McClellan Wells, Joe Harman and George Weyman. The attractions in the side show are Mlle. Hall, with a den of trained leopards; Anita, mind reader; The Bachelors musical artists; Lillian Holt, with a den of snakes; Keely, ventriloquist and magician; Mlle. Cowden, sword walker; Harry Harrison, human ostrich and Mlle. May Ostrega; the Levy children; Hait & Warden, boxing act; a troupe of Oriental dancers and musicians and a chorus of girls. The side show band is under the direction of Charles Kaercher. All of the horse tents with the show are new and the cook tent is in good shape. George Forepaugh is in charge of the culinary department. Thomas Hargreaves has made rapid strides this year, and his show is fully up to the standard and will no doubt have a successful season.
Although the weather has been very unseasonable in Philadelphia this week, the Adam Forepaugh and Sells Brothers' Circus has been drawing enormous crowds at every performance in that city. If the weather moderates next week there is not doubt but that the high-water mark for circus attendance will be broken. Every one who has seen the show is an advertiser for it, as they are simply wildly enthusiastic over the many features of the shows. There nver has been a circus on the road that has had more feature acts than this show has this season. To enumerate the most successful on the lengthy program would be exceedingly difficult. All the acts are strong and the American acts vie with the European inportations. Sells Brothers have never had as many European acts with their shows as they have this year, and the man who picked them out did not draw one wrong card. The crowning feature of the show and the biggest novelty of all is the Chasm Vaulting Cyclist. Prodigious Porthos is the name of the feat. He makes a dash down the incline used for the Loop-the Loop, and then at the finish of the decline soars through the air for a distance of fifty-two feet, alighting on another run on which he descends to the ground. The impetus gained by this descent makes him make a complete circle of the hippodrome track. So far he has not made one miscalculation, and the act sends a thrill through the audiences which is relieved by a might cheer when he successfully accomplishes the feat. Diavolo is also successfully looping the loop, and the act commands attention. Another daring bicycle act is that of Cyclone, who rides up the sides of a perpendicular slatted wall, 12 feet in diameter and 18 feet high. The act is billed as the Devil's Chimney and commands attention from all.
Among the foreign acts that made big hits was that of the Seven Lecussons. They use a tallho coach with four horses. While this is being driven around the ring, acrobatic feats are performed by the different members of the family on the horses' backs and on top of the coach. Somersaults are turned from the coach to the backs of the horses and many other difficult feats. For the finish of their act five of the family ride on one horse, leaping to it from the ground. Another foreign act that made a big hit was that of the Nine Hungarian Magyars, in a series of acrobatic acts that were not only clean and clever in execution, but also decidedly novel. Mons. Hubert is another importation who made a hit. He does a daring riding act, and for the finish of his act ___ bare back of a horse while holding a pneumatic tired sulky in his hands. The Five La Carmens did a wire act at a height of twenty-five feet in the air, and as the act was performed by four people at one time it made a hit. The Martineks, French clowns and pantomimists, also pleased greatly and introduced many new novelties. The Aurora Zouaves as usual made a phenomenal hit in their military exercises. The Eddys did a series of acrobatic stunts that gain for them applause. In riding acts the show has many novelties. Foremost in this particular line is the act of Oscar Lowande. After a clever bareback act, Mr. Lowande accomplishes a feat that looks as if it was impossible. He turns a somersault from the back of one horse to the back of another running behind it in the same ring and from this horse to another, using the three horses in the one ring. Other make riders were Harry Lamkin, M. Leensson, Raymond Thompson, Robert Stickney. The female riders include Miss Julia Lowande, Ouika Meers, Emma Stickney, Lillian Lowe, Maude Hayward, Mamie Klino, Miss Milton, Adie Lovenberg and Miss Lecusson.
Three groups of trained elephants are introduced by John H. Patterson, C. E. Smith and Bert St. John. Signor Ponsel introduces a wonderfully intelligent trained bear. Other features include leaps by the company; the Two Kellys, in revolving break-a-way ladder; the Roberts, balancing ladder; the Forest's Dog Circus; Bertha Dorian on the trapeze; Miaco and Vanderbilt, double trapeze; the Two Kings, aerial ladder; Mlle. Alnena on the revolving globe; Ryan and Zorella, automobile grotesques; the Lamonte Family, acrobats; the Roberts Family, acrobats; Miss Lovenberg, high wire; Miss Kline, high wire; Raymond Thompson's hurdling horses, and a score of clowns. The Flying Jordans, who have just arrived in this country, are doing one of the strongest acts that they have ever attempted. Every number of the program gave satisfaction.
The side show is under the management of George Connors. The arrangement of the interior of the canvas is decidedly unique. At the extreme end is a stage with curtains and draperies. On this the leading feature of the side show, Chiquita, gives her songs and ances. Over the smaller stages, on which the people on exhibition sit, is stretched a beautiful painted proscenium arch. This brightens up the interior of the tent and impresses the visitors as soon as they get inside. All of the paintings and banners are new, the tent is fresh from the makers hands and the whole outfit very attractive. Business was very large in Philadelphia.
The Welsh Brothers' Newest Great Railroad Shows opened their seventeenth successive season at Gordonville, Pa., April 14. A light snow in the morning of the opening date made things look dark for the opening performance, but Old Sol made his appearance and soon drove away all signs of bad weather and put the lot in excellent condition. Both performances were largely attended, as were the engagements played at Coatesville, the 15th, and Columbia, the 16th, inst. The grand opening was held at Lancaster, where the show opened for a four days' stand on the 18th, and was a decided success, the show playing to capacity business during the entire engagement, excepting the 20th, when extremely high winds prevented the erecting of the tents, the show changing lots. While the weather was not what would be desired to draw patronage to the show, it was exceptionally cool, the show played to big business and turned the audiences away delighted. The show this season is bigger, better and grander than ever. The paraphernalia with few exceptions is all new, and gives the show an attractive appearance throughout. The street parade is one of the features this season. New harness, new wardrobe, and newly painted wagons make it one of the largest and most elaborate ever offered by a popular priced show. The freshly painted wagons cause much favorable comment. They were all decorated under the personal supervision of Col. M. H. Welsh and show excellent taste in the blending of bright colors and gold leaf. The harness is all new and was made especially for the Welsh Brothers.
The roster of the show is as follows: Col. M. H. and John T. Welsh, sole owners and proprietors; Clinton Newton, general manager; Jack Cousins, equestrian director; the Miles Orton Family, general circus specialists; Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cousins, bareback riders; the Flying Valenteens, aerialists; the Brothers Melvin, acrobats; Mons. and Mlle. Demacos, Roman rings; George Colby, hurdle mule rider; Prof. Alex Rixton, trained dogs and goats; Miss Lottie Aymar, equestrienne; Madame Collette, menage act; Sisters Anderson, aerialists; "That and It," Mackey and Clark; Comical Brown; Joe Kennedy; William Fables; Joe Wilson and Prof. Gregory's Royal Marine Band; Charles Mitchell, master of transportation; Jack O'Brien, boss canvasman; Shirty Harris, 24-hour man; V. O. Woodward, in charge of the bill car, with a crew of 20 billposters, and Herbert Whittier, special agent.
The following is the official announce roster of the Walter L. Main Show, which opened in Geneva, Ohio, Saturday, April 23: Hugh Harrison, manager; Doc. C. S. Stull, superintendent of workingmen and director of parade and feed; W. W. Power, auditor and adjuster; J. D. Harrison, press agent with show; Owen Doud, secretary; Wm. E. Vogt, treasurer; Mrs. W. E. Vogt, assistant treasurer; Harry Hodge, assistant manager of privileges; A. J. Gilligham, adjuster; Vick Hugo, manager of side show; R. H. Dockrill, equestrian director; M. Mibills [Mihills?], superintendent candy stands; Howard Damon, superintendent sleeping cars; James Whalen, boss canvasman; Chas. Kelly, assistant boss canvasman; Frank Reaves, assistant boss canvasmen; W. W. Scott, boss hostler; Peter Hirtz, master of transportation; Rich'd Jones, superintendent and trainer of elephants; Theodore Ferris, superintendent of menagerie; John Gill, leader of band; Henry Pullman, leader of parade and side show door-tender; John Horgan, boss of ring stock; R. G. Meers, superintendent of lights; Frank Daily, boss propertyman; Wm. D. Kirsch, in charge of dining car; "Music" John Abner, boss carpenter; Sam Harper, boss blacksmith; Al. Pancost, superintendent of winter quarters; Frank McCormack, special agent; Mrs. P. McCormick, superintendent of wardrobe; A. D. Moreland, manager of camp; Tom Brown, superintendent of camp; Capt. F. E. Bennett, Harry Green, superintendents of spectacle; Harry Clark, chief clown; Dr. Theodore S. Crosby, physician and surgeon.
Advance: Ed. C. Knupp, general agent; E. M. Burk, traffic manager; A. H. Westfall, contracting press agent; John D. Carey, general press agent; Walter Murphy, in charge opposition brigade No. 1; J. W. Logan, in charge opposition brigade No. 2; Wm. K. Peck, superintendent advertising car No. 1; Fred J. Bates, superintendent advertising car No. 2; E. N. Waters, manager box brigade No. 3; George Corcoran, 24-hour agent; Joseph Gregg, excursion agent.
Mackey's European Circus will hold forth at Handlan's Park, St. Louis, Mo., during the World's Fair. This circus is said to have for its stellar attraction, Mlle. Charmion and the Riccobono horses. Two performances will be given daily by a Military band and the Berlin Winter Water Spectacle of The Ice Witch.
Edwin C. Cullen, formerly manager of the Robinson Circus, will be assistant manager and superintendent for the Hargreaves Big Railroad Shows this season.
A new circus lot has been established in Cleveland, Ohio, at the corner of Woodland Hills avenue and Quincy street. The Cleveland Electric Railway will immediately extend their lines to the lot, the board of public service having already granted them this permission.
Joe Gorman, well known to the circus world for many years, was shot in the back three ___ at Oklahoma City, O. T., April 21, by a train laborer and died instantly. His assailant, W. L. Durant, was said to be drinking at the time of the shooting, and he is now incarcerated at the jail at Oklahoma. Mr. Godman [sic?] was this season with the Buckskin Bill Wild West and was serving in the capacity of master of transportation. The cause of the deed has not been learned, but it is supposed that the victim was taken for another person.
The Board of General Appraisers for the United States, has recently decided that performing bears imported to this country for exhibiton purposes, are subject to a duty of 20 per cent ad valorem. The case in mention is that of W. S. Wichermann, who recently imported four educated bears. Free entry was claimed on the theory that the bears were "instruments of trade, occupation or employment." The court held that the definition may apply, but that the act confines its benefit to persons "emigrating to" the United States, which implies a purpose to establish a permanent residence in this country.
A dispatch to "The Billboard" from Brooklyn, N. Y., states that the Barnum & Bailey Show opened on the lot at Halsey and Saratoga avenue to the largest business ever done by a circus in Brooklyn. The grounds used by the show in Brooklyn last season were entirely too small for the outfit, it being necessary to arrange the horse and cook tents on separate, nearby lots. The immense spread of canvas makes a great flash on the lot this season.
The Wallace Show opens at Peru, Ind., April 30.
Harry Huth is with the culinary force of the Ringling Show.
Ernest Cooke is now the manager of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus.
Jack Pfeiffenberger will have the canvas with the Wallace Show this season.
Hargreaves Circus played at Camden, N. J., opposite Philadelphia on April 25.
Merle Trousdale has joined the Feibel Bros. Dog and Pony Show as ringmaster.
Harry Parivsh has been promoted to assistant property man with the Ringling Show.
Seibel Brothers go out on rail this season. They open at Watertown, Wis., May 5.
Fred. Bowers, of Havre de Grace,Md., has joined the advance car of Welsh Bros. Circus.
Col. French arrived in St. Louis last week with a large consignment of horses for his Wild West Show.
Percy Weatherhill, who was treasurer of the Gaskill Mundy Co. last season, has joined the Walter Main Show.
Will C. Sites has been engaged as general manager for Lowery Brothers' One-ring Circus, carrying fifty people.
D. V. Tantlinger and his wife, the famous trap shooters, are one of the leading attractions with Buckskin Bill's Wild West this season.
Louis E. Cooke, of the Barnum & Bailey Show, was a visitor at the opening of the Walter L. Main Show in Geneva, Ohio, April 23.
Gentry Bros. No. 1 Show opened the season at Vincennes, Ind., April 20. The weather was bleak and cold, but both performances were well attended.
T. Hope, the Philadelphia animal importer, was a visitor at the opening of the Hargreaves Circus and secured a large order for monkeys and snakes.
Fred. Wagner and Gerald Fitzgerald, who have been connected with Al. W. Martin's enterprises this season, have joined the Wallace Shows at Peru, Ind.
Joe H. Hewitt, who had the opposition car of the Pan American Shows the season of '98, at present general agent for Stater's attractions, will be with the white tops again this season.
Barnum & Bailey's entire tenting paraphernalia and draft horses left winter quarters at Bridgeport, Conn., April 17, in two big sections enroute to Brooklyn. The newly-covered wagons were resplendent in red and gold.
Our correspondent at Jersey City, N. J. writes: Seventy-five cars belonging to the Barnum & Bailey shows are being inspected and minor repairs are being made at the Pennsylvania railroad shops at this place.
Notes from Frisbee Bros. R. R. Shows. Everybody is busy getting ready for our opening, Thursday, April 21 at Flint, Mich. We now carry eighty people. The side show is under the direction of "Blondie" Davison. The first car leaves here April 21.
Chas. Bolus, of Canton, Ohio, has joined the Gollmar Shows as boss canvasman. This is Mr. Bolus' fiftieth year under canvas. Henry Hamptfuer will act as first assistant, Jacob Speilman second, David Holdinger, boss stake and chain and Frank Hall, sailmaker.
Robert Stickney Jr. will remain with the Hargreaves Circus for two weeks and then goes to Luna Park for the summer. Many of the performers from the Forepaugh-Sells Circus went to Chester, Pa., on the opening day of the Hargreaves Circus to see the parade.
Jack Cousins fell while doing his bounding jockey act at the opening performance of the Welsh Brothers' Shows at Gordonville, Pa., on the 14th inst., and broke the middle finger of his right hand. While the broken member causes considerable pain, it does not prevent him from doing his act.
The night parade of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus was such a success in Philadelphia, that arrangements were made for the giving of a day parade on April 25. This was in response to requests from the people of the city who desired to see the wonders of this parade in daylight.
Troopers of the Golden Mascot is the name of the new route book which Louis Wood, the press agent for the Bonheur Bros.' Shows, is getting out. It will be off the press in May. The book will be issued by the Kenyons, Des Moines, Iowa, for $1.00 per volume; paper, 50 cents. Both volumes are said to be lavishly illustrated.
William McFarland, who is the owner of the building occupied by Bostock's Animal Arena in Philadelphia, is one of the proprietors of McFarland & Holders New United Shows which will open in Woodbury, N. J., early in May. Mr. McFarland is one of the largest horse dealers in Philadelphia and also owns a large stock farm in New Jersey.
A correspondent with the Norris & Rowe Shows writes as follows, viz.: "We opened in Frisco Saturday, April 2, with a big matinee and played to capacity at night in a rain storm. Sunday it cleared up and we turned them away at both performances. Of course, it dropped down Monday, still we did a paying business, and the advance sale indicates that we will have a big day. We have over 8,000 sheets on the boards, nearly 5,000 lithos, and 70,000 heralds have been used and newspapers are treating us great."
___ testimonial has been erected in Philadelphia to the memory of a woman who was well known to all circus people. Elizabeth Keenan, the deceased wife of John Keenan of the Sautelle Circus, was beloved by all that knew her. Her husband has just had placed in St. Monicas Catholic Church in Philadelphia, a beautiful statue of St. Anthony. It was made in Germany at a cost of over $555, and is considered one of the finest pieces of sculpture that has been erected in Philadelphia for years. It has been much admired by all visitors to the church, and as Mr. Keenan was a regular attendant at that church, every one agrees that it is a worthy tribute to a good man.
Roster of Advertising Department, Norris & Rowe's Two-ring Circus and Double Menagerie: Ed. C. Warner, general agent and railroad contractor; T. J. Myers, general press agent; J. C. Stuart and Tony Crandell, local contractors; W. S. Dunnington, manager advertising car No. 1, with the following assistants: H. Cunningham, boss billposter; E. N. Clarke and Joe Hyde, lithographers; Jack Law and James Moore, lithograph boards; E. B. Reilly and Fred Williams, programmers; Victor Stout, Joe Eble, S. E. Francis, Peter Collins, Joe Lillis, Nick Carter, Phil. Koster, Abe Symonds, George Gleason adn Pete Hawkins, bill posters, and Jack Berry, paste maker. C. O. Brown, manager advance car No. 2, with the following assistants: Ed. Billings, boss billposter; George Lacey, banners; Harry Mosier, lithographers; Will Lent, programmer; Ed. Ramon, Carl Schuller, Chris Reed, Oscar King, Otto Pfiefer and George Gale, billposters. Max Schuettler, manager box brigade, with Lemuel King and David Lyhan as assistants; Harry Little and Louis Simms, route riders and 24-hour men.
Billboard, May 7, 1904, pp. 8, 9, 10, 14. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some text was cut off in the copy transcribed, not all items were transcribed.
Fred P. Sargent, who will manage the big Hagenbeck attractions along the Pike this summer at the World's Fair, began his career as a showman in 1880 when, in the month of September of that year, he walked into Austin & Stone's Museum on Tremont Row, Boston, Mass., and asked for a job. He was running away from home, and green country lad, but his personality so appealed to Col. Stone that he was given a chance to show what he could do as janitor's assistant in the musuem. In a short time he was promoted to ticket taker at one of the doors. After five or six months of service, he approached Mr. Stone one day with a new proposition. His remarkable originality had put a new idea into this head and his proposition was this: that he be allowed to place a pair of Fairbank scales in the curio hall and guess weights. If he guessed within five pounds of a person's weight he was to be paid five cents for weighing the person; otherwise the avoirdupoise of the person would be ascertained free of charge. His idea was put into application and he won the title of "Yankee Weight Guesser." Since these days of early experience, Mr. Sargent has held every position that at circus can offer, from candy butcher to a member of Mr. Bailey's personal staff. He has been connected with nearly all the large circuses of the country and has at all times displayed much business ability, connected with sound judgment and much originality. . . .
Already skirmish forces of opposition shows have met and some lively times on the firing line well defined; but to their credit be it said everything has been clean and wholesome. R. M. Harvey, of the Barnum & Bailey Shows, first met the Ringling men at Newark, Ohio. At Wheeling, W. Va., Charles Hays and his bunch of banner busters lit in town to reinformce Captain Harvey and his men, while W. H. Horton, of the Ringling Show, followed close on the heels of their contracting agent, and thus the merry war began. Banners, boards and brushes have filled the air ever since. Louis E. Cooke, the cool and calculating veteran, loomed up on the scene at Wheeling, Newark and Cleveland, and quitely planted some full-page ads in the local dailies which looked like the broad side of a Sunday supplement, the head line of which quoted the noted divine, Bishop Potter, who declared the Barnum & Bailey Show is "the best circus I ever saw."
The next tilt at arms came about at Cleveland, Ohio, when Ed Knupp and his yeomen of the Main Show took the initiative and led off with a fine showing of lithographs and banners; but when husky Fred Beckman, of the Barnum & Bailey forces, rolled into town with his advertising car, things began to look different, to put it mildly, and then to cap the climax, Gus Ringling entered the field by a flank movement from Youngstown, Ohio, with his No. 1 car and about thirty trusty braves, who often eat up a town before breakfast. And thus they did smite each other hip and thigh. If there is a window wall or housetop anywhere within thirty miles of the centre of Cleveland that has not got a show bill therein, or on, it is because mild persuasion, artful inducements and crafty wiles are abject failures. The Bryan billboards, which cover the greater portion of Northern Ohio, were soon exhausted. Vacant lots were fenced in, but finally Charley Bryan ran out of sheet steel with which to cover the fince posts and then the gang took to the ladders and high walls. At last accounts the city looked something like a cross between a continuous billboard and Rag Alley, with figures reaching all the way from May 9 to 23 - Main, May 9; Ringling May 12 and Barnum & Bailey, May 23.
Col J. H. Hays and family have signed with the Monarch Carnival Company for the present season. They have been with the Reid Circus for the past three seasons, but have decided to quit the circus for the street fair business.
The Great Wallace Show had a very auspicious opening at Peru, Indiana, Saturday, April 30. The weather was pleasant and the beautiful new canvas was packed to the doors at both the afternoon and evening performances. The parade, which preceded the inaugural performance, was given under the most favorable circumstances and was viewed by thousands of people along the line of march. It is a most pleasing spectacle and from the big band wagon down to the calliope, representative of this progressive and successful show. The performance opens with a briliant introductory pageant - a keleidoscopic [sic] panorama of regal magnificence completely filling the rings, stages and hippodrome course.
Display No. 2 is given over to the Dellameads, presenting a huge revolving pedestal of history and art. Display No. 3, a topical song of the times by Leon Moore and his associates. Display No. 4, the Delno Garnell Trio, aerial bar experts; Okabe Sacha, slide for life; Si Kechi, Japanese slide rope. Display No. 5, three excellent trained animal acts. Display No. 6, Hotura Kawara, high wire equilibrism; La Mars Sisters in a wonderful tight wire act, which constitutes one of the features of the performance; Rose Royer in a finished act on a slender wire. Display No. 7, riding acts of the highest merit by Miss Winnie Sweeney and Miss Adele Penrose in the rings and funny doings by the clowns on the stage. Display No. 8, another feature, which is exactly what it is billed, one of "the greatest novelty acrobatic acts, direct from the Olympia, London, England." Display No. 9, posturing act by letsuwari Jap; Z. Singarilla, spiral and globe; Tora and Massi, tub juggling act. Display No. 10, Four Nelsons, comedy acrobats.
Display No. 11, letsuwari Japs contortion act; the Allen Sisters, double contortion act; letsuwari Jap, double perch. Display No. 12, principal riding acts of merit and skill by Orrin Hollis and William Melrose in the rings, and again the clowns on the platform. Display No. 13, the Melasso Troupe of whirlwind dancers, an act imported especially for the Great Wallace Show. Display No. 14, trained animal acts under the direction of Miss Allie Jackson and Miss May Stewart, respectively. Display No. 15, Emma Donovan, flying rings; Hazel Earl, graceful and difficult feats on a swinging ladder; Minnie Pierce, single trapeze. Display No. 16, the Heras Family in a series of wonderful acrobatic feats, another feature. Display No. 17, Tom Nelson and twenty funny fellows in a South African Ostrich Hutn. Display No. 18, a feature act by the Great Polos, who execute a new and original aerial display, dazzling long distance leaps and wonderful daring somersaults and twisters across the arena. Display No. 19, William Henchey, comical mule hurdle; Archie Royer and Company, comedy skating act; Ab. Johnson, comical Dutch hurdle act on a mule. Then follow the hippodrome events, which constitute a dashing and pleasing conclusion to an excellent performance. There is really not a poor act in the entire performance. Those that are remembered as being especially good are the Heras Family, the Three Navaros, the Great Polos, the Melasso Troupe and Zingarella. The riding is good and the clowns are funny, and the entire performance moves along with a snap that reflects great credit on the equestrian director, C. H. Sweeney.
Tom Herbert writes from Antwerp, Belgium, to the effect that he is now engaged with the Palace de Hippodrome, a new circus building with a seating capacity of 5,000 people. Using the words of the writer, he says: "The program is one of the strongest I have ever witnessed in Europe. Every act is a feature. The James A. Powells Double Jockey Numbers are superior class performances. They have had two offers from America, but their salary is too high and no satisfactory arrangement has been made. Stock & Milton, the American horizontal bar performers are doing well. All classes of gymnastic acts get big money provided they are up to date. We close our engagement April 26 and leave immediately for New York, arriving there May 6. We open at Luna Park, Coney Island, May 14 with our big aerial flying act, and will remain there all summer."
The final settlement in the bankruptcy proceedings of the Luella Forepaugh-Fish Wild West Show was reached April 19 at Janesville, Wis. Mrs. Fish and her husband received but $1,300 out of an investment of about $40,000. Mr. Barton, the other interested partner, received practically nothing as he had only a working interest in the show. A private settlement was made by Attorney W. G. Wheeler and the law firm of Fethers, Jeffers & Mouat, who represented the parties interested. It will be remembered that this show went into bankruptcy at Janesville last July.
A summer snow storm overtook the Harris Nickel Plate Show at Jelico, Va. The snow fell to such a depth, writes Charles Wilson, that the weight caused the canvas to collapse, breaking four center poles, ten quarter poles and damaging the canvas materially. The canvas was repaired and put up again the next day. Just subsequent to the matinee performance at Lexington, Ky., April 25, a terrific windstorm laid low the canvas of the Harris Nickel Plate Show, damaging it to the amount of about $400. The night performance was abandonded.
The business of the Hargreaves Circus thorough New Jersey has been remarkably good.
The Wallace Show received a large consignment of animals from Hagenbeck in Germany recently.
Barney's Bonnie Band of Bag Pipes and Dancers, joined Ringling Bros. Show at Champaign, Ill., April 23.
The Ringling Bros. Show gave forty-three performances during its stay in Chicago and the total admissions were 257,143.
James Kelly, 58, with Robinson's Circus for many years as an acrobatic clown, was recently demoved [sic] from his room in East Sixth street, Cincinnati, Ohio, to the City Hospital, suffering from heart trouble.
Cycling the Chasm has made a big hit with the Forepaugh-Sells Circus. The act of the Devil's Chimney in which a rider rides a bicycle up a perpendicular circle, was cut out of the program with this show.
The father of Wm. Laspa, boss billposter on Car No. 1 of the Harris Nickel Plate Show, is dead in Cincinnati. The funeral will take place Tuesday, May 3.
The Buckskin Bill Wild West closed the season at Witchitaw, Kan., April 24, and shipped to Chicago. Constant rain and consequential bad business were, no doubt, the causes for the closing of the show.
William Charles, Hal Wright and Joseph Casey, left Janesville, Wis., last week to join the Ringling Bros. Circus for the summer months. The boys will be employed on the cook car that is attached to No. 1.
John H. Rice, general agent for the Hargreaves Shows, is now completing the new sensational drama, The Queen of the Outlaws, in which he will star Miss Mabel Hall next season. The play will contain many novel effects.
The menagerie top of the Wallace Show was destroyed by fire while under process of construction in the shops of Murray & Company at Chicago. The loss necessitated Messrs. Murray & Company building a new top. The loss was, however, covered by insurance.
Thomas Hargreaves, of the Hargreaves Circus, was taken down with a severe case of rheumatism April 23 and was unable to leave with the show when it left Chester, Pa. He is now convalescing at his hotel in Chester, Pa., and will join the show in a few days.
W. Campbell, one of the four brothers with the Hargreaves Circus, was slightly hurt during the engagement at Chester, Pa., April 23. While doing their trapeze act, the trapeze bent double and the performer was sent to the ground. The fall created quite a sensation.
The roster of Lucky Bill's Show is as follows: Wm. Newton & Hibner, revolving ladder act; McCoy family, wire, juggling and bounding rope; Willard & Willard, wire and contortionists; Musical Grangers; Little Blonde Dunlap, song and dance artist; May Dunlap, pianist and musical director; Wm. Newton, advance man and Lucky Bill, owner and manager.
The roster of Gentry Bros. Adv. Car No. 1 with the No. 1 show, is as follows: H. P. Hill, general agent; Eddie Jackson, contracting agent; Ralph Superior, boss bill poster in charge of paper; Harry Beltz, banners; Frank Hobbs, program; John R. Feltus, Dave Berkeley and J. E. Simpson, bill posters; John Kennedy, paste maker and porter and Thos. Moody, chef.
Notes from Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows. Our first advance brigade, in charge of Geo. E. Pickering, will start the ball rolling April 26 and will be followed four days later by the second brigade, in charge of Chas. E. Shepherd. Our opening date will be Wednesday, May 4. We have booked some good people and our ring performance will be second to none.
The side show of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus is under the management of George ___. The outside orators are Clyde Ingals, T. B. McIntyre and E. Maxwell. The roster of the features is as follows: Chiquita, the original Doll Queen; John McNulty, lecturer and Punch and Judy; Princess Ani, mind reader; Yukwa, Japanese juggler and magician; George Hussey, ventriliquist; Rosanna, snake enchantress; the Musical Reeds in high-grade musical act; Sibo the Wild man; J. H. Davis, Mutoscope and Photoscopes; P. G. Lowery, leader of Lowery's Band. A minstrel company of 20 people and other features. Business has been excellent since the opening and the attractiveness of the interior of the tent makes many friends for this "Kid" show.
Notes from Seibel Bros.' New R. R. Dog and Pony Show. This show was framed up last season for a wagon show, but on account of the bad roads, the size of the show and the large amount of business done last season, Col. Seibel finds it necessary to put the show out on rail this season. The cars have all been built of uniform size with all the convenience necessary. Everything with the show will be new and painted accordingly. All the harnesses and trappins have just arrived from Chicago. We also received a car load of miniature cages and an up-to-date band chariot. Our ring barns contain 40 head of educated ponies and horses, which are getting their regular routine of work every day; also two troupes of dogs and monkeys. Each department of the show will be handled by experienced people. The Seibel Brothers have spared neither pains or money to make this show rank among the best. We open the season of 1904 at Watertown, Wis., May 5.
Col. Frank Coleman, for many years announcer and general circus man, recently died at the Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, of pneumonia. Frank Coleman was known abroad as "Sir Roger Moore." He was a unique and versatile character. He began his career in San Francisco more than thirty years ago, when he engineered the first outdoor sword contest - between Duncan D. Ross and Capt. E. N. Jennings - ever attempted in this country. He was of impressive appearance, dressed well and was a good conversationalist. When he went East he joined the Barnum & Bailey's circus as chief announcer. After several seasons here "The Colonel" went abroad, where he assumed the name and title "Sir Roger Moore." He prospered, and on returning to New York three years ago, it was his boast that he had been presented to all the crowned heads of Europe. He was also at times connected with the Forepaugh, W. W. Cole's and other circuses as the announcer, and was well known as the "Silver tongue orator," on account of his clear deep voice. He was 55 years of age. The burial took place at Calvary, where a large party of his friends paid their last respects and covered his grave with his favorite flowers.
Billboard, May 14, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, May 21, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were cut off on the copy transcribed.
Doctor Edmund Baehr, a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Physicians and Surgeions, is now in his second season with the John Robinson shows, this old show was the first to realize the fact that a skilled doctor was an invaluable addition. Likewise it was the first circus to engaged and carry a regularly ordained minster of the gospel and was where the famous Prof. Sheak, the eminent zoologist gained his training. The old show has introduced more up-to-date novelties this season, the latest being a long distance telephone, of the Bell system, placed in the large new ticket wagon where "John the Third" can call up the "Governor" or any of the agents in advance, at a minutes notice. All these items are a matter of record, it is desired all showmen to remember.
James Tracy has begun suit at Auralia, Neb., against Campbell Brothers' Great Consolidated Shows, for $10,200. The plaintiff alleges that the was employed as a pony hostler at the circus, and that when the show was at Ellensburg, Wash., on August 13, 1903, he was attacked by Venus, and elephant, and seriously injured. He was thrown down and the big brute placed a foot on him and deliberately squeezed him so that his intestines were forced out of his body. He was taken to the hospital at Tacoma and operated upon, and in December was brought to St. Joseph's hospital in Auralia, where another operation was performed. He alleges that he will be practically helpless the remainder of his days. The petition recites that the employe who had charge of the elephant was neglecting his duties. Venus was in the car on the circus train that was destroyed by fire at Falls City, recently, and she was burned to death with a number of other animals.
A baby camel belonging to the Main Shows was christened at Cleveland, Ohio, May 12.
Gentry Brothers packed the canvas at Kansas City, Mo., May 12-14.
Queen, one of the lionesses with Haag's Mighty Shows, gave birth to four cubs at Monticello, Ark., May 8.
The Flying Squadron is with the Wallace Show this season. W. C. St. Clair is managing the brigade, and the roster is as follows: Al. Foreaker, James Tucker, Foss Burns, A. G. Dow, W. W. Beams, D. T. Hammil and "Stump" Jones.
Suit was instituted against the Lowery Brothers Show at Wilkesbarre, Pa., to the amount of $1,250 as damages by John Delaney whose son's leg was broken by the falling of some of the circus seats during the performance.
Fred McCelellan, Thompson and Dundy's general stage manager and booking agent, has some very strong circus acts booked for the three ring open air circus at Luna Park, Coney Island, New York.
In a letter from Toronto, Ohio, under date of May 11, Punch Wheeler writes of the Robinson Show: "Business has been good all along the line, and at several places all that the tents would accommodate."
Notes from Lucky Bill's Show. We are meeting with grand success out here in the new oil territory. Every one has money to burn. When Lucky came into Peru, Kan., the oil company gave him the use of land leased for an oil well previous to his arrival, therefore, we struck it rich. Standing room only. Three matinees and nights. We have received great inducements for a return engagement.
Harry Earl, who has been officiating as press representative of the Great Wallace shows, will again resume his duties as business manager with Pain's Fireworks Spectacles: Ancient Rome, and Last Days of Pompeii. Arrangements were made with W. E. Frankling, general agent, Wallace shows for Mr. Earll's release and the matter was arranged in the most amicable manner with all concerned.
Last season Walter L. Main contracted for all the boards in New Castle, Pa., but cancelled the town and turned his contracts for billposting over to the Wallace Show which filled them and paid the price agreed upon by Mr. Main. While the Main Shows were in New Castle, recently, an attachment was sued out by the non-association billposter, J. D. Loving, for the amount already paid him by Wallace. Mr. Gensinger the associated billposter, went upon the bond of Mr. Main for $175 and hired legal counsel for the trial. Mr. Main then settled with Mr. Gensinger.
The Royal Bengal Tiger (Baby) that made things lively around the Norris and Rowe shwo at Summit, Cal., was imported by F. A. Stuhr, of the Portland Bird Co., Portland, Oregon, when she was a kitten of three months. Mr. Stuhr sold her to J. R. Wilson who had her one year, and she was sold to Oregon Pacific & Oriental Carnival Co., and then passed into the hands of her present owners. Baby is two years and two months ole and is considered by animal experts to be one of the finest Bengal Tigers in captivity. She is spoken of as the pride of the Norris and Rowe Show.
Week before last was the first week of the Barnum & Bailey greatest show on earth, on one day stands. After a week of phenomenal business in Brooklyn, weather considered, we moved on Saturday night, from Brooklyn, leaving the grounds at Broadway and Halsey Streets, going three miles to the new bridge and one and a half miles across the bridge, two miles across New York City, mile and a half across the Hudson River by the Desbrosses Street ferry and about two miles to the Jersey Heights. The Jersey haul was particularly hard on account of very long and steep hills. The lot was very soft and all the wagons were up to the hubs in the mushy earth. It was determined to give no parade as the weather was very threatening and the horses very weary. Everybody was surprised at the turn away business in the afternoon and the business at night was simply heart breaking, more people were turned away than got inside the enormous big top, with its seating capacity of 15,000. Paterson, next day, despite the fact that we had a three and a half mile haul to the Clifton race track, a parade was given; parade back to the lot after one o'clock when the show was opened to big business, which was repeated at night. Wednesday, at Newark, another three mile haul wearied the horses so much that they refused to eat, and the parade was abandoned. It seemed to make no difference, however, as we had to turn away people both afternoon and evening. Thursday at New Brunswick, another heavy lot and no parade, but enormous business, full in the afternoon, packed at night, very nearly a turn away. Trenton, Friday, beautiful weather, parade and big business, biggest ever done by a circus in Trenton. Saturday at Wilmington, very long haul, but gave parade and enormous turn away both afternoon and evening. Here, in Washington, Sunday at noon, we are ready to give a show and every indication that we will have a turnaway at all four performances. Thus far, there has been no sickness to speak of with the show, and very few accidents, none of them serious. Carrie Rooney had a fall while riding in the great twelve champion riding acts which laid her off two or three performances, then she went home to remain until another generation of the riders in the Rooney family had been started.
At afternoon performance in Wilmington, Aga Mopo, a Japanese performer, fell about fifteen feet while doing the slide for life, and broke his jaw. We are giving two slides simultaneously, and another Jap will replace him in the act. The working contingent of the show has been most harmonious and the number of people who have left the circus since the season began, can be counted upon the fingers of one hand. We are using fifteen splendid Pullman sleepers and it is safe to say that circus people never traveled with as many conveniences and as much comfort as there is with the Barnum & Bailey Show this year. Among the performers, with the exception of Mrs. Rooney and the Jap, no one has been hurt since we left the Garden. Ancillotti, who loops the gap, had two or three falls early in the Garden, but has had none whatever, since we left. Although he follows Volo and begins his ride before the applause for Volo has subsided, his act is so startling that he simply redoubles the applause and the result of the act is about ten minutes of clapping and cheering. Nothing like it has ever been seen before in any show in the world. The hippodrome, this year, is the most expensive that Mr. Bailey has ever given; they have six, seven and eight riders in each of the flat races, and a total of fifteen different races run off in the hippodrome with such celerity, that the races fairly overlap one another and the audience is kept in a perfect furor with excitement and applause from the time they begin, until the finish, and in more than a quarter of a century of experience, the writer has never seen such uniform great notices given any kind of show as this show is getting this year. Thus far, we haven't had one adverse word of criticism from any paper that has come under his observation, and he has seen them all. Press agents have frequently been asked by newspaper writers what we would like to have said about the show and their reply is invariably, "Say about it whatever you think it deserves," and given, this year, the best show they have ever seen and is in a class by itself, making it impossible to compare it with any of the others. The altogether phenomenal character of the patronage of the show indicates very clearly that the public agrees with the press on that point.
Director George O. Starr, who has been in England attending the opening of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, has been on the continent looking after new features for next season, and will be back with the show next Sunday. The Rev. W. Sheak, of Peru, Ind., chaplain of the show, is in very delicate health, and is now suffering from malaria; everybody is sympathizing with him very greatly. Should he be compelled to return home, as now seems probable, he will take with him the best wishes of the entire establishment. In addition to the two vets always carried with the show, we also have this year a doctor Ivers, of Bridgeport, Conn. He is one of the leading physicians of that city and has never had any sort of a vacation since he began to practice years ago and is beginning his first month as physician with this show for the season. He gives his attention to the audience as well as to the twelve hundred members of the company. He is indefatigable in his services and will not accept a fee from anyone. One of the most popular features of the show with the public, are the retiring rooms for both sexes and are very completely equipped and the show is complimented every day by the public and by the health authorities for this provision . . . [remainder of text cut off]
Billboard, May 28, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related.
Sam W. Hopkins and Walter Maynes, advance agents of the MacDonald Bros. Circus, were killed at Williams, W. Va., May 18. The two men were driving along a gigantic cliff on Tug River when the team became frightened and ran away, throwing the occupants and wagon into the river 80 feet below. Hopkins was taken from the stream alive, but lived only an hour or so. Mayne's body was recovered. Hopkins was married and lived at Chesire, O., and had been employed by the circus but a couple of days. Maynes was 28 years old and single. His home is at Logan, Ohio.
The Pan American Shows opened their season at Clinton, Mo., Saturday, May 14, to two big audiences. The company carries 19 cars and two advance cars. The show is reported to be a worthy one. The side show is under the management of Bert Chipman, and Ed. Baldwin is the equestrian director.
Buckskin Bill's Show will probably try the eastern country.
Herman Morrison has closed with the Sparks Show.
Gentry Bros. lost Carrollton, Mo., May __, on account of heavy rain.
L. H. Lemon reports reports business immense with Forepaughs, everywhere, despite opposition.
The Stickneys, the bareback riders are one of the feature acts at Luna Park in the Three Ring Mid-air Circus.
Elroy & Drake, of Elizabeth, N. J., are putting out a two car circus, and they opened in Elizabeth, N. J., May 25.
E. L. Phillips is with the Wallace Shows.
Andrew Downie's one ring circus is doing a successful business.
Phil. Harris, who for the past two years has been connected with the Miles Orton show, is now special agent for Welsh Brothers.
A large flat car, belonging to the Campbell Bros. Show, was wrecked at Schuyler, Neb., May 10, one of the largest canvas wagons was wrecked.
Sig. Sautelle Shows are reported to be doing fine business, and big business is awaiting them in the New Jersey towns where the show is very popular.
J. W. Lee, who has the side show with Welsh Bros., reports business good. Mr. Lee has a very strong show, and his outfit makes a great flash on the lot.
The Miles Orton family is making good with the Welsh Brothers. The two children do an excellent trapeze act, which is one of the features of the show.
The Financial Committee of the city council of Nashville, Tenn., recently fixed a $10 license on parades given by ten cent shows exhibiting out of the city limits.
Prof. Perrino, animal trainer, is confined at the Long Island State Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Notes from the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows. Since our opening, business has been fine, the only trouble that the roads are a little heavy, but our teams are fast, and never let us miss a show. There are two wagons ahead of the show, one in charge of J. C. Picken and the other, eight days ahead, in charge of Frank Murphy. All with the outfit are well. Our free show is a concert by the band, slide for life by Curvin Zeck, and high diver dog, Daisy.
___ Brothers and their trained bears, also Frank Hobart, calliope player, recently joined Welsh Brothers Circus. Welsh Bros. expect to add an elephant and several animals this week.
Geo. H. Hakes, "The Billboard's" Brooklyn, N. Y. representative, recently visited the Welsh Brothers Circus at Elizabeth, N. J. He repoarts that the show is doing very large business. People were turned away at Somerville, and Plainfield,N. J., and at Elizabeth they packed them to the ring. The show is the best the Welsh Brothers ever put out. Col. M. H. Welsh and Clinton Newton, business manager and press representative, deserve much credit for the hard work they have done in framing up this show this season.
John Richardson, of the Gentry Dog and Pony Show, was assaulted by two men presumably foot-pads at Anderson, Ind., last week. Richardson was badly injured about the head.
It is alleged that having been deserted by their leader, members of the band of the John Robinson Shows, left that allegation at Middletown, O. The show employed local musicians until the band could be replaced.
John Moore, the globe-trotting poster salesman, visited the Buffalo Bill's Wild West opening at Stoke-on-Trent, Eng. Mr. Moore writes of the show: "The show was great, and opened to a packed house, giving splendid satisfaction. The company is nearly the same as last year with the addition of a troupe of Japanese Calvary which is having an ovation at every performance, showing the sentiment of the British people toward the Japanese. It is a stroke of policy on the part of the management to have engaged this feature. The official force for this season is as follows: Col. W. F. Cody, director general; John M. Burke, general manager; Johnnie Baker, arenic director; Joe Esquivel, chief of cowboys; Jule Green, business manager and treasurer; Wm. McCune, officer of the day; Wm. Sweeney, leader of the cowboy band. Press Bureau, Major John M. Burke, Charles S. Wells, Frank Small.
Another instance of the generous consideration with which one showman views the misfortunes of another, and of the never-failing proffer of aid in untoward circumstances, goes on record in Walter L. Main's offer by telegraph, upon hearing of Campbell Brothers' loss by fire, to ship them a lot of duplicate animals, some of which were at Geneva, Ohio, and which they could pay for at their convenience. Campbell Brothers replied in a polite letter stating that substitute animals were already enroute to the show and thanking Mr. Main for his substanted interest.
Notes from Frank Leopold's Great South American R. R. Shows. We opened the season at Norristown, Pa., May 6, giving four performances and packed them in. Everything about the show is new and bright. The roster is as follows: Lark and Burns, acrobats and barrel jumpers; Mlle. Lazell, cloud swing and flying rings; Chas. La Bird, hand balancer and juggler; Geo. Tattersley, boneless wonder; Henry Hall, baton manipulator; Madge La Retta, with her troupe of dogs and ponies; Al. Gaston, singing and talking clown; Sackey, wire and traps, featuring the Flying Zenoa's,America's foremost one-legged aerialists. Concert: Haines and Elesmere, German comedy act; Billy Harris, black face; Mrs. Rote, solo slide trombone and "Brick" Gibbons, Irish comedian. Pro. Rote's [Bote's?] Australian Band of twelve pieces. We carry a 100 foot round top, with two fiftys. Curley Wilbon, canvas man, with ten assistants. Monk Boyer, master of properties; Jimmy Faust, on the front; Jesse Wort [Wert?], reserve seats.
Hazel Earl, the clever aerialist supreme. The former prominent arenic duo, the Earl Sisters (Maud and Hazel) at one time were among the foremost performers on the lofty trapeze and in their peculiar way, exceeded in brilliancy of execution, originality and fearlessness, numerous astonishing aerial stunts. During recent seasons, Hazel Earl, has been appearing in a single act, owing to the fact that her sister Maude resigned the circus field for the matrimonial, never to appear in the part of performer beneath the canopy of the white tops again. Hazel Earl is a talented youg woman of ability and much admired for her physical grace and beauty, as well as her athletic skill. This season she is duplicating the success of former seasons with the Great Wallace Circus, with which she has been one of the leading stars for the past seven years. Miss Earl is presenting a new seris of feats this year, and her newly constructed paraphernalia and fetching costumes are scoring another big hit for her.
Matt D. Leslie writes: Gabriel Bros. opened their Wild West Show at Delmar Garden, St. Louis, Mo., Sunday, May 15, and gave three performances to an average attendance of 800 people. Gabriel Bros. have one of the finest Wild West shows in the business. They have 65 head of stock, including 20 bucking horses. We have two tribes of Indians, a band of Sioux and a band of Oraphoes, under Chief Running Bear. Matt D. Lesie, "Doc," makes the outside openings, and is the announcer in the arena. Barney Gabriel is in the ticket office. The prospects are for a very bright for a good season.
The Fisbee R. R. Show is meeting with good business in Northern Michigan.
Willard McGuire has charge of all the privileges with MacFarland & Holders United Shows.
The Buckskin Bill's Wild West advance is moving along smoothly. It consists of two advance cars, carrying eighteen men apiece and three contracting agents. The roster of the staff is as folows: R. J. Mercer, general agent; Sed Deschane, mnager car No. 1; W. W. Potts, manager car No. 2; J. Andrews, local contracting agent; Harry Beucas, special agent.
Fetzer Brothers' Show opened their summer season at Lee, Ill., with two big performances. The marked feature of this exhibition was the high dive made by one of the dogs from the top of a thirty-foot ladder. Big crowds attened both performances, and everybody was well pleased with the show. The animals were all well trained and their clever tricks brought forth much applause. The tricks performed by Professor Fetzer's dogs and ponies were perhaps the most enjoyed; there were many other attractive featrues.
W. M. Mincer, died at Montpelier, Ind., May 15, of ulcer of the lungs after a short illness. He was well known to the profession. Fifteen years ago he started out with the Charles Bartine shows and since that time has been actively engaged in the show business. Last fall when he returned from a season with the Nickel Plate show he was taken ill with throat trouble, since which time he had been confined to his home in Montpelier. During his career he was with the Barine, Morariety and Nickel Plate shows, and will be remembered as a hale fellow-well-met. He was a member of the Anderson Aerie Lodge No. 175. The funeral occurs May 17, under the auspices of the local order of Eagles, No. 441. The several business houses of the city were closed in honor of his memory. He was born in Montpelier and had a host of friends.
Billboard, June 4, 1904, p. 6. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some other items were not transcribed.
The monument which marks the resting place of the nine unidentified victims of the wreck of the Wallace Show train, at Durand, Michigan, August 6, 1903, was unveiled with impressive ceremonies in Lovejoy Cemetery, near Durand, May 30, Decoration Day. The stone was bought with a subscription fund contributed by show people, "The Billboard" acting as custodian and attending to the purchasing of the monument and subsequent details. The stone cost $450, $377 of which constitutes the contributed fund, the balance being made up by "The Billboard." A handsome cut and description of the monument was printed in our special Fair and Street Fair number of March 19, last. The entire monument is of gray American granite. The botton, base and second base are finely hammered; the third base, die and shaft are finely polished on four sides, the washes and mouldings being finely hammered. The stone is thirteen feet high. The bottom base is four feet square.
The Hargreaves Show was struck by a miniature cyclone at Fort Plain, N. Y., May 25, during the matinee performance, and the canvas was blown down, carrying poles, seats and rigging with it. A panic ensued in which many people were more or less seriously injured.
MacFarland and Holder's United Shows opened for the season at Woodbury, N. J., May 21, to two big houses. The show gave immense satisfaction. Ed Holder's steers and educated pigs were two of the striking features. A number of other trained animal acts were shown, and in addition, a first-class circus performance. The outfit is an extremely large one for a wagon show. It will play through New Jersey for the next few weeks.
Norris & Rowe will add some riding acts to their program.
A receiver has been appointed for the Buckskin Bill Wild West.
Endgar L. Phipps, of Anderson, Ind., has joined the Wallace Shows for this season.
Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show had a very successful week in Philadelphia, Pa.
Norris and Rowe recently received a consignment of animals at Portland, Oregon, direct from India.
A letter from Norton Brothers New State Shows says they did excellent business all through Oklahoma. They are now touring Kansas.
Ward Kelly, treasurer of Norris and Rowe's Circus, was compelled to resign his position on account of bad health. Tom Meyers of the Orpheum Circuit has taken his place.
Kid Fleming and Bill Nelson, in front of the side show with Pawnee Bill, were entertained at Willaimsport, Pa., by Chas. A. Reed and his band.
Barnum & Bailey did such excellent business at Cleveland, Ohio, 23, that the managers intend to extend their stay next season to 4 days.
The cages which were damaged in the wreck of Norris and Rowe's Circus at Summit, Cal., are being rebuilt at Portland, Ore. Two new dens are also being built.
Roy Fortune, the famous one-legged slack wire artist, is now with Woods Bros.' Shows, having resigned from the Royal Amusement Company recently.
Harry W. Semon has closed with the Campbell Bros., owing to the heavy loss incurred by them by the burning of their animal car in a recent wreck, and the continuous inclement weather. Rain, mud and wind has been a daily occurence, with but few exceptions. Campbell Bros. and Mr. Semon part on the most friendly terms.
Welsh Brothers' Show gave a splendid performance at South Norwalk, Conn. The tents were packed to capacity at both performances in spite of the fact that Forepaugh and Sells Brothers' Show is heavily billed for June 16. This is the first time the show has been East in 17 years, and it is certainly meeting with success.
The grand stand, erected for the Forepaugh-Sells Circus in Philadelphia, was retained for use by Pawnee Bill, and it was crowded every night. It is one of the biggest ever put up for a circus and was put ___ in a substantial manner. If it were not for the fact that this is the last season that lot can be used for tented exhibitions the stand could remain for years.
Manager Oscar Krause of the Pawnee Bill Show is an enthusiastic shriner, and therefore, when a baby camel was born early in April he made up his mind that it would be called after the temple that he belongs to, Lulu of Philadelphia. On Thursday, May 26, nearly one thousand members of the Mystic Shrine visited the show in a body, and after novel ceremonies the baby camel was christened Lulu.
W. E. Sands and C. A. Clarke, car managers with the Campbell Brothers' Shows, have exchanged positions. Mr. Sands is now manager of No. 1 car, while Mr. Clarke has charge of the excursions and opposition cars, with the following artists: Chas. Pailing, boss billposer; E. D. Proffitt, chief lithographer; W. H. Covert, programmer; Chas. Proffitt and Elmer Fawsett, bannermen; Toby Beers, Lewis Smith, Will Lee, Will Lake, Chas. Larkins, D. T. Morgan, Harry Small, F. H. Courtney, Robert Sampson, billposters. Dick Beemer, inspector.
General agent W. E. Ferguson of the Pawnee Bill Show can be credited with one novelty at least. During the week that show played Philadelphia he had telephonic connection made direct with the ticket wagon and announced that seats could be ordered by telephone from any part of the city. The public took kindly to this radical novelty and the result was that the reserved seat sale of that show was very large. The telephone was also extensively used to carriage calls after the show. This is believed to be the first time that a telephone was ever used in a ticket wagon.
In a drenching all-day rain, the John Robinson Shows gave two exhibitions at Connellsville, Pa., May 18, to the largest business the show has ever done there. It would have been three shows that day had the weather been at all favorable. The tents were pitched over the Youghoming River in New Haven and created a good deal of excitement among the rival localities. So much so that the Marietta Park Company of Connellsville, with whome the show had an optional lot contract sued out writs of attachment and tried by all manner of means to cause much trouble. John G. Robinson at once offered a cash bond when the citizens of both places, headed by Mr. John Dugan, a wealthy man took the entire matter in their own hands, offered a million dollars bond, and told Mr. Robinson he should not be imposed upon by any land corporation or single individual in the country and they would fight it for him. At last accounts the land officials were not only anxious to withdraw the suit, but the case has later developed into a regular political mix up, which can only be settled at the coming election. Mr. Robinson has only words of praise for all the officials of the river.
Billboard, June 11, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items not transcribed.
Washington Smith, supt. of Barnum & Bailey winter quarters, near London, Eng., and who has been connected with the Barnum & Bailey Shows in various capacities since 1872, died last week at Bridgeport, Conn., from the effect of kidney trouble. Mrs. Smith took passage for America several weeks ago and during the voyage was stricken with brights disease, it being necessary to removed him from the steamer to the train in a cab, and to prepare special accommodations for his transportation to Bridgeport. Mr. Smith's acquaintances among show people was very extensive and he was held in high esteem by all his friends. He joined the Barnum & Bailey Shows in 1872 as a four horse driver, advancing gradually, until he became driver of the ten horse band wagon. Being subject of periodical attacks of inflamatory rheumatism, Mr. Smith finally concluded to leave the show business, and in 1880 he accepted the place of night watchman in a Chicago bank. He finally tired of this uneventful life, and when the Barnum & Bailey Show went to Europe he went with it and was given charge of the new buildings erected near London. He remained in this capacity until a few weeks ago, when he left for a prospective voyage to America which culminated in his death. Mr. Smith was never married, and leaves two sisters, one in Bridgeport, Conn., the other in Milwaukee, Wis., to mourn his loss. He was buried in the cemetery at Bridgeport. Washington Smith was a 32d degree Mason, and at the time of his death was 56 years of age.
The Frisbee Bros.' Show was re-organized at West Bay City, Mich., and will be known hereafter as the Frisbee and Parks R. R. Dog and Pony Shows, A. J. Parks having purchased a half interest in the same. With Alden's Vaudeville Circus, this show has taken on new life and is fully prepared to give its patrons a good show. All are reported well with the show.
The Great Van Amburg Shows were struck by a windstorm at Lindboro, Kan., May 25, about 4:30 p.m. It is reported that the canvas was badly torn and the main top completely carried away. Poles went down, the animals were frightened, but, strange indeed, no one was hurt in the least. Several buildings about town were completely demolished and water and debris filled the streets. The evening performance was necessarily omitted and the shows packed for their next stand at Connell Grove, where they showed with only side walls. Mr. Bowers ordered a new top from Kansas City, and the show is again in running order.
Gentry Brothers had good crowds at Milwaukee, Wis.
The Wallace Show did good business at Leavenworth, Kansas.
A received has been appointed for the Buckskin Bill Wild West Show.
Fisher Bros.' Circus, which has been showing in Michigan for several weeks, disbanded at Midlan, May 22.
Roster for the Flying Squadron of the Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Shows, manager Claude H. Long, Wm. Gillman, Leon Reever, Dan Moran, Robt. Simons, Wm. Merchant, and Andy Gogg.
A. C. Abbott closed May 19 with the Isle of Spice Company to accept a position as contracting agent ahead of Gollmar Bros. Big new railroad shows, now playing through Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.
Robert Sands, who has been out with John Robinson's Shows, Walter L. Main's Shows and the Luella Forepaugh-Fish Wild West, is now filling an important position with the Hagerstown (Md.) Traction Co. Mr. Sands will be back in the arena next season.
The London circus was forced to close at Chicago last week because Michael, the "missing link," who loops the loop in an automobile and the main feature of the show, was stolen. A keeper is also reported misssing and the police of Chicago are on the lookout for both man and monkey.
A horse belonging to the boss hostler, escaped from the Wallace Shows at Emporia, Kan., and though a man was left there for a week no trace of it could be found. Joe Litchell was sent back to help in the search, and located it in a farmer's barn the next day. After a wordy discussion they took it to join the show at Atchinson.
Gentry Brothers advance car No. 1 consists of: Eddie M. Jackson, local contractor; Ralph Superior, boss billposter; Ralph Root, bannerman; Harry Beltz, John Feltus, J. E. Simpson and Dave Barkley, billposters; Thomas Moody and Frank E. Stair, programmers; Harry Johnson, car porter, and H. P. Hill, general agent and railroad contractor.
Will C. Sites, general agent and contractor of the Lowery Bros. Circus, writes from Penobscot, Pa., under the date of May 30: Business with this show could not be better. Dan McGrofth, formerly of Welsh Bros. Circus, gets them in all right with the big monkey dance, our leading concert feature. We carry __ people and one of the leading outside free attractions is Prof. Chas. Baker's wonderful balloon ascension. Prof. Baker went up 2,800 feet in Evardsville the other night, and the 2,000 people who saw the ascension, claimed it was the best ever seen in that city.
The weather last week settled somewhat and an occasional glimpse of the sun was had by a few shows here and there. As a consequence an improvement in business was manifested. The improvement was very slight though, which proves conclusively that industrial conditions are bad. Hard times are on us right now. They may not get as bad as they did in 1893. It is hardly likely that they ever will reach quite as low an ebb. The fact remains though, that we have entered upon a period of depression with every indication that things will be worse before they are better. Retrenchments should be the order of the day.
Punch Wheeler writes as follows: "It has rained so much on this show that we have all developed web feet. We discharged our weather agent long ago but it has not yet had any effect. Tournal protests to the weather bureau at Washington have only served to make matters worse. Ticket sellers are now shouting 'dry seats' and getting two bits extra on the strength of it. Please insert the following ad wanted. Two Hundred professional ___ to work on canvas. Can also use a few coast guards who can drive four and six horses, and three or four steamboat mates to make themselves generally useful. Business continues good in spite of it all."
The following is the roster of Gollmar Bros. Show: Gollmar Bros., props.; Chas. A. Gollmar, mgr.; B. F. Gollmar, treas.; Fred C. Gollmar, advance mgr.; Walt Gollmar, train mgr.; Dr. J. E. Fitzgerald, press agt. and orator; Frank McCarthy, license adjuster; C. G. Primrose, railroad contractor; W. H. Dilly, mgr. of annex; J. Fitzgerald, mgr. of concert; Ed. Jamison, steward; Wm. Adair, mail man; Jim Nord, boss of annex top; Fred Krupper, boss of menagerie top; Geo. Holland, boss hostler; Chas. Benson, asst. boss hostler; Geo. N. Aprien and M. A. Henstan, knife stand; Chas. Henbiler, calliope player; N. H. Knight, advertising agent; John Conroy, master of transportation; Al James, chandlier man, and Emery Stiles, boss animal man. The band consists of Ben Horner, director, with the following men: Dell Smith, J. L. Barney, C. B. Roberts, Ed. Wall, Geo. Espey, Allie McIntosh, Chas. Newerf, Chas. Hertle, P. B. Harper, Bert. Cohman, Russell Hartman, J. S. Eickson, Otto Deming, Claude Halcomb, J. D. Whitney, Frank Munger, Ralph Heniershkop, C. L. Tomas, E. B. Eskert, Karl Wantosh, Geo. Harvard, Max Sloville, Benj. Jackson, and Steve Parsons.
Harry Meister, of Dillsboro, Ind., who was connected with Reed's Circus, was killed by a B. & O. train near Cochran, Ind., last week.
Billboard, June 18, 1904, p. 6. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
A Washington, D. C. correspondent writes as follows under date of June 4: "Pawnee Bill's Wild West and Great Far East Show, has just closed its engagement in this city, of two days, four performances. Maj. Lillie (Pawnee Bill) has many admirers in this city who have noted his steady rise in the show world, but, however, few were anticipating the very large aggregations which was offered them on this visit. The street parade fully equals, if not surpasses, any of its kind seen here, nor did the performance fail to compare most favorable with the parade. It would be difficult to suggest an improvement. One thing that was particularly noticeable and which deserves comment was the deference and courtesy shown the patrons by the attendants, ushers, etc."
Flood and Hayes, novelty jumpers, have joined the Floto Shows.
Barnum & Bailey's business in Michigan continues big. Barnum and Bailey got big business at Wheeling.
Norris and Rowe report that business continues big.
The Barnum and Bailey Show does not sell reserved seats under the lacings on rainy days.
Gordon Orton has joined the "Force Society" with the John Robinson Ten Big Shows.
The Five Flying Herberts are one of the features at Luna Park, Coney Island, N. Y.
Walter L. Main did very big business at Yonkers, N. Y.
Lil Kerslake writes that his animal actors consisting of six pigs are bringing down the houses at St. Louis. He is with Hagenbeck's on the Pike.
Lamont Circus had a blow down at Moweaqua, Ill., June 3. The company found it necessary to stay over one day to make repairs.
Gil Robinson was one of the visitors at the Walter L. Main Shows at Paterson, N. J., June 4.
After an absence of three years, the Sells and Downs Shows are revisiting Kentucky. The natives will be surprised at the growth of the organization.
Norris & Rowe got the largest day's business in the history of the show at Seattle, Wash., on Decoration Day and then promptly smashed the record at Vancouver, June 4.
Edward Sieble, Doc McAdams, Albert ___ and Jess Goforth, members of Siebel Bros.' New R. R. Shows United, joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Fond du Lac, Wis.
T. H. Guba, who had charge of Hulburd's Wild West during Mr. Hulburd's recent illness, is no longer with the show. Mr. Hulburd has fully recoverd and resumed management.
Wm. O. Tartington, general agent for Gentry Brothers' Show, has his hands full in Chicago where the show is exhibiting for four weeks. Mr. Tratington reports excellent business in spite of inclement weather.
Frank H. Gentry, of the Gentry Brothers' Shows, is quite sick at the Palmer House, Chicago. He is now on the road to recovery and will soon be seen on the lot looking after the details of his business.
For an assault with a knife and stabbing B. Frank Gollmar, of the Gollmar Brothers' Shows, Edward Wilson, of Rock Island, Ill., has been sentenced to fifteen months in the Wisconsin State prison.
The MacFarland and Holder United Shows was the first circus to visit Gloucester for ten years as that town has been considered a bad one. The tents were packed on the occasion of their visit there and the people were delighted with the show.
W. G. Baker writes as follows from Canandaigua, N. Y.: "Hargreaves big show played here, June 1, to an immense crowd and gave satisfaction. Harry Strauss, press agent for the show, shook hands with his many friends in the city."
Peter S. McNally, who was press agent of the Forepaugh and Sells Bros. Circus in 1902, and with the Barnum and Bailey Circus last season, has been working with the former show through New England territory for several weeks.
The Nickel Plate Show made a five hundred mile run out of Pennsylvania last Saturday night. When the people woke up Sunday morning they were well out of the rain among the hills of Virginia. Before night they were in North Carolina.
Ringling Bros. got their share of rain in Canada, but business held up wonderfully well. Ottawa, Kingston and belleville were all very big in the rain. At Toronto they got two pleasant days and business was immense, greatly exceeding last year's totals. Hamilton was a corker.
Burns Show notes. We opened four weeks ago in Antigo, Wis., and have done a banner business since. Performers include the Great Helms, Robbins and Childers, Billy Barretta, John Kohl, Fred. Burns, Millie Burton, Lew Hershel, the motoline man and others. We have two cars, a troupe of ponies and dogs. Philo Meade is our business manager.
Geo. W. Monell writes from Harrisburg, Pa.: I just dropped off here to see the Pawnee Bill Great Wild West. Every one was glad to see me in the midst of two big shows, in fact, packed houses. The show is more than twice its former size. I was connected with the show for several seasons as special ticket seller and date manager. Oscar Krause is an up-to-date manager, in fact, everyone of Major Gordon W. Lillie's staff is a gentleman. I have been in the business all my life, and the Pawnee Bill Show has a warm heart and a welcome to all.
"Pennsylvania Grit," published at Williamsport, Pa., printed the following, May 29: "A circus is a circus," but it can be said for the Walter L. Main Shows, which exhibited in Williamsport last Tuesday, "there are new things under the sun." Main has been traveling through Pennsylvania for years and his show is regarded almost as a home production. When a thing is bad it is bad, and when it is good it is good. Main's circus was good. The thousands who attended the Main performances Tuesday afternoon and night enthusiastically declared the Main Show "the best circus ever here." While all circus performances are given on similar lines, Main seems to have mastered the faculty of introducing innovations in a manner that catches. The show is not only big and clean throughout, but all the Main attaches seem to exert every effort to insure the comfort and pleasure of the patrons. The riders were good, the acrobats decidedly clever and the menagerie of wild animals rare and choice. All in all, the Main circus takes front rant in the field of tented amusements and can count always on tremendous patronage in Williamsport. Twenty thousand people who saw the Main Shows in Williamsport are references for these statements.
The veteran showman, J. H. McIntyre, who has served forty years with various tented organizations, has decided to return to private life in Columbus, O., and with this object in view bade goodbye to the management and his fellow employees with the Adam Forepaugh-Sells Show, at Fitchburg, Mass., June 4. Mr. McIntyre had few equals as orator and his excellent gentlemanly ways endeared him to all with whom he came in touch. "Mac," as he was familiarly known, enjoys the distinction of being a charter member of the first Lodge of Elks. He had been in the employ of Sells Bros. over fifteen years, and of him Mr. Sells said, "There never was a more loyal man than 'Mac" and none ever served me better." The whole circus fraternity wishes "Mac" a long and peaceful retirement.
The Iowa State Record recently published the following from Eldora, Iowa: Campbell Bros., the popular farmer boys of Fairbury, Neb., all of whom are well known in Iowa, and who met with a heavy loss in the burning of their menagerie at Pawnee City, Neb., last week, have written to friends in this city that they did not miss a single performance as the result of the fire, although all of their camels, elephants, tigers, lions and bears were consumed and not a cent of insurance was realized; they quickly wired to Hagenbeck's in New York for several carloads of animals by express to supply their loss, and the order was immediately filled and the animals are now being exhibited by the circus people in Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin over the regular route traversed by the show, as already planned in advance. These six boys were farmers, living near Fairbury, Neb., a dozen years ago, and conceiving the started of a circus, the commenced in a small way until today they own one of the big shows of the country. Their aged father usually travels with his sons, and although nearly 80 years of age, he takes a great interest in his sons and their show business. They have toured to the coast a number of times, and are well known in Iowa, where they lived a part of the time a few years ago.
Notes from the Barnum and Bailey Shows. We are starting in on our second week in Michigan at Lansing with threatening skies and low temperature and the lot two miles out of town. We had to close the ticket office this afternoon for lack of room in spite of the fact that each set of tickets printed especially for one performance includes no less than fourteen thousand two hundred or at least 40 percent more than has ever before been under a tent. What is said of Lansing may be said of all other towns so far along the route with scarcely any exception to the rule. Thus far the business this season has been almost, if not quite two hundred per cent greater than it was for the corresponding period of last year. The increase of business is particularly noticeable at the night performances. This seems to prove conclusively that the show is advertising itself and that the country is in a much more prosperous condition than the usual estimates made in presidential campaign years. The weather has been uniformly bad ever since we left the Madison Square Garden, N. Y. We found the lot at East Liverpool, Ohio, under water and did not unload there but proceeded to Wheeling where we turned away people both afternoon and night. In the pouring rain we had four turn aways at Pittsburg, Pa. We had two enormous turn aways at Cleveland, Ohio in the rain and in the smaller towns such as Akron, Canton, Newark and Mansfield, we played to the utmost capacity at least one performance and sometimes at both. Toledo gave us two splendid turn aways but the record in the number of people turned away was probably reached at Detroit, Mich. on Memorial Day, when we had a downpour of rain all day which necessitated the abandonment of the parade and it likewise stopped all the outdoor games, sports and races. Most of the theatres were closed and the whole town and surrounding country apparently flocked to the circus. Some estimated the number turned away in the afternoon as high as ten to fifteen thousand. Jefferson Street was packed with people for several blocks who came with the hope of seeing the show but could not get in; even Mr. Bailey himself, who seldom speaks of such things but takes them as a matter of course, was astounded at the magnitude of this turning away. Business for the first week in Michigan was enormous throughout the week. The Michigan press is devoting an immense amouth of personal attention to Mr. Bailey; it is his first visit to this state in nine years and the papers seem to indicate a very strong state of pride in their native son, who won so much honor and glory abroad. There are six baseball nines with the show now and whenever the weather permits, one or more games are played every afternoon between the contending nines. Within a short time the Barnum and Bailey nine will be made up from the best players of the six nines, and local clubs along the route will be challenged to play ball. The clowns have a nine, the musicians another, the ticket sellers and ushers another, the property men a nine and the bareback riders and general performers also have a nine. Some great baseball talent has been discovered and when the Barnum and Bailey nine is organized it looks as if they will be able to give a pretty good argument to almost any other nine they may come across. One of the great surprises of the season thus far has been the remarkable good health of the company. The pay roll showed ten hundred and fifty-three persons with the show last week and out of this great number there were not a half dozen cases of illness, no matter how trivial. Netty Carroll, who was left at a hospital in Washington suffering from appendicitis, returned to the show, completely restored to good health. Thus far we have not lost a horse or an animal of any kind with the exception of one llama that died in Trenton. The four giraffes are turned out of their cages every day and exhibited in a high wire enclosure and thus far there has been no occasion to send in for the reserve herd at the winter quarters at Bridgport. The last wedding with the show was that of Carlino Florenz and Hedwig Grunatho at Washington, although it looks as if there might be one or two more couples make up their minds to take the vows very soon. Our working forces remain intact just as they left New York and their loyalty and hard work in the uniformly inclement weather has aroused the pride of everyone around the establishment. The show was recently visited by one of its old time agents, Joel Warner, who became famous through bringing Jumbo to this country for Mr. Bailey. Fred Busey, for many years one of the car managers of the Forepaugh-Sells Show, was a visitor to the show with his wife recently. He is buying a large farm near Lansing, Mich., with a view of making it his home, having disposed of his farm and hotel at Champaign, Ill.
Billboard, June 25, 1904, p. 9. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed and a number were unreadable.
Lawrence Anchor, the well-known contortinist, fell from his rigging during the performace of the Sun Brothers' Show at East Bradford, Va., and was fatally injured. He was left at a hotel and provision made for his comfort. After several days of rest Mr. Anchor boarded the train intending to join the show, but died on the train at St. Paul, Va. This was his second season with the show.
William Karl Flemming, of the business staff of Pawnee Bill's Wild West, was married, June 6, at York, Pa., by Alderman Jacob Stager, to Miss Emma Martha Bowman, of Baltimore. The engagement was very short as acquaintances were made while the show was in Baltimore.
Jack Sullivan has joined the Main Show.
Gabriel Bros. may take out a wild west show next season.
Wm. Duttan, Jean and Ella Renjo and _. R. Bacon joined the Pan-American Shows at Louisana, Mo.
Jack Magee, formerly with Walter L. Main's Circus, joined the B. P. O. E., at Mankato, Minn., June 10.
Gov. Backman, of Kentucky, was a distinguished visitor at Cummins' Indian Congress on the Pike at the World's Fair.
The Hargreaves Shows blew down at Fort Plain, N. Y. Many persons were injured, but non fatally.
Charley Ransom, night watch for Ringling Bros.' Show last summer, visited the Gollmar Bros.' Show at Groton, S. D., June 9. He reports it a fine little show.
The Wallace Show reports rain almost daily through Nebraska and Western Iowa. They had to forego both performances at Falls City, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
Mat. D. Leslie writes that Gabriel Bros.' Wild West at Delmar Garden, St. Louis, Mo., is having business beyond expectations. Slim Higby, bucker rider, sustained severe injuries recently and is laid up. An Indian fell and broke his ankle last week. Miss Georgia Williams recently joined the show.
Haag's Mighty Show gave two performances at Bald Knob, Ark., to good business. It seems that all shows visit that place and the showmen never forget to show their kindness to Mrs. W. C. Clark, widow of the showman, and who traveled with her husband's show for twenty-five years.
Bert Thornton, a clown with Sells & Downs' Circus, sustained a broken leg, June 13, at Louisville, Ky., while doing his acrobatic turn. He was taken to the City Hospital, where he will be forced to remain for several weeks. His home is at Zanesville, Wis. The audience failed to realize that an accident had happened to the painted harlequin, and cheered as he was carried from the tent by his fellow performers.
"Punch" Wheeler writes from Bradford, Pa.: John Robinson's toure in New York State was an ovation at every point. The tents had all they could hold at Waverly, Corning and Hornellsville, while at Olean extra seats were used at both exhibitions, something unprecedented in that town. The street parade is regarded as the finest and most complete that has ever been seen, and the newspapers said, no wonder some showmen wanted to do away with this pleasing outdoor feature, for after seeing John Robinson's parade it would take other shows five years to construct the handsome cages, all architectural beauties.
H. E. Mitchell, formerly advance agent of Texas Bill's Wild West, is now back with the show, playing basso in the cowboy band.
Kennedy Bros.' Indian Congress closes its sixteenth annual season as special spring attraction at Sea Breeze Park, Rochester, N. Y., June 25. Fully 16,000 people witnessed the performance June 12. The roster is as follows: W. H. Kennedy, manager; James Kennedy, superintendent; Miss Bessie Kennedly, rifle and pistol shot; Eva Stickel, rough rider; May Holmes, race rider and lady roper; Geo. Steckel, Bob Holland, Walter Cooke, Wild Bill, W. B. Reed, Rube Whitney, Ben Holmes and a band of Indians. This show is playing parks till August, when it opens with fairs.
A rumor obtained wide credence last week that the Erie Litho. Co. had attached the Buckskin Bill Shows at Bradford, Pa., and run the show into Erie. Jas. L. Mogford pointedly denies it in the following letter, viz.: Erie, Pa., June 17, 1904. The Billboard Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Gentlemen: We have your favor of the 14th in reference to the Buckskin Bill Wild West Show. We did not attach or bring this organization into Erie. They have had a little misunderstanding among themselves, the band caused them some trouble, then jumped. So they came in here to reorganize. Expect them to pick up their route Monday. Will advise you as soon as definite arrangements have been made. We reman, Yours respectfully, The Erie Litho. & Pringing Co. Jas. L. Mogford.
The boys with Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows have formed an organization called "The Billboard Club," June 5, as the show was pulling up stakes at DeKalb, N. Y., the showmen congregated and indulged in a bit of shoptalk. A proposal to organize "The Billboard Club" met with approval. The meetings are held every Thursday, which has been named "Billboard Day" owing to the fact that "The Billboard" invariably reaches the show at that time. The officers of the organization, which is growing rapidly, are: Al. F. Wheeler, Pres.; John L. Reh, Secy.' C. Zech, Treas.' Miss Blanche Ray, Red. Secy. The members inclue Paul B. Jones, Milt. Ashley, R. Diken, Sol. S. Elederigh, Al. F. Wheeler Jr., Milt. Mack, Charles Spicer, "Pinky" Rollin, Marie McGiff and Frankie Smith.
Notes from Ringling Brothers' World's Greatest Shows. Since the twenty-two days engagement at the Coliseum at Chicago, Ill., the eight and one half weeks of road tour have been both pleasant and profitable. The business done by this attractions having been unparallelled in the history of tented amusements which in itself is sufficient to ___ the general prosperity of the country. The first stand out was Champaign, Ill., on Friday, April 22, which opened the road tour most auspiciously. The following day at Decatur was a big one from the ticket wagon standpoint and the St. Louis engagement the week of April 25, was the largest ever played by the Ringlings in that city. Everybody in the World's Fair City appeared to fully appreciate the many additions in quality and quantity to the big circus. On Saturday, April 30, when the doors of the Exposition opened for the first time, we looked for a falling off of attendance, in this, however, an agreeable disappointment was experienced as it was a turnaway in the afternoon and a capacity night house. The next week opened at Indianapolis, Ind., Monday, May 2, with Hamilton, Dayton, Springfield, Columbus and Newark, Ohio, following. Indianapolis, which is at heart, a Ringling town, turned out gloriously, Hamilton and Springfield were as big as usual, and at Dayton and Columbus new records were established owing to the turnaway. The pretty little town of Newark closed the week with two over-flowing houses, something unusual for Newark, but the public evidently contracted the Ringling habit, although it was the first visit of the World's Greates in twelve years. The week of May 9, opened at Wheeling, W. Va. Dear old Wheeling with its island lot and its long toll bridge over which the amusement seekers and the show employes are charged at so much per head to even get a 'look in' on the show grounds. The business, however, was tremendous, both performances being turnaways. The balance of the week was filled at Steubenville, Youngstown and Cleveland, Ohio, Erie, Pa., and Buffalo, N. Y., with the same old story to tell of great big happy-go-lucky crowds who realized after the new and magnificent street parade that there was 'something doing' under the Ringling tents. At Buffalo a heavy rain storm did not appear to interfere with the attendance. Monday, May 16, Rochester, N. Y. and mud - such a mud as it was. The old driving park was the lot and on Sunday every wagon was buried to the hub. It poured incessantly all Sunday, showered Monday morning, the parade was given in rainy day costumes, and then it poured again. Every person who attended the big show was ankles deep in mud but the Ringling reputation of the year before had been planted firmly in the heart of every Rochesterite and nothing short of a cyclone could have kept them away. The remaining towns of the week were Syracuse, Utica, and Albany, N. Y., Springfield and Forcester, Mass., and we established the enviable record of the largest business ever done by a show in a week of one day stands. Syracuse and Utica were big, but at Albany, Springfield and Worcester, with the extras in at every performance, daily turnaways were experienced. Boston, the week of May 23, and such a business. After the first night it was a continual chase of turnaway and another record made, the receipts being the largest ever taken by the Ringlings in a week stand, and out of the twelve performances, nine turnaways were entered upon the books. A special grand stand was built with folding opera chairs accommodating 3,200, nearly all of which were sold daily at the downtown ticket office house before the doors opened. A long Sunday run to Plattsburg, N. Y., made via the Boston & Albany Railroad to Albany and thence over the Delaware & Hudson to Plattsburg, where we gave one performance only on Decoration Day, Monday, May 30, to a capacity testing audience, after which the show was loaded and transported to Montreal, where the Canadian tour opened on Tuesday, May 31. Two days were spent there and the business was terrific. At Ottawa on Thursday, a heavy rain storm could not keep them away and Kingston and Bellville finished the week to the regulation Ringling attendance. The week of June 6 was opened at Toronto after a delightful Sunday on a beautiful lot. Two days were allotted to Toronto, we should have stayed longer as the business has never been equaled in that city. Thousands were turned away on Monday, the entire seating capacity for 15,800 being exhausted at each show, but they all came back Tuesday to try and enter the doors of the big show and see all the wonderful things the lucky ones of Monday were talking about. Hamilton was the Wednesday stand and the weather man let loose again for the benefit of the rubber merchants, but even with the terrific downpour of rain the tents were not large enough to accommodate those who desired to witness the biggest show the world has ever seen. Berlin, London and Chatham, filled the week and concluded the Canadian tour all to bumper business. The run from Chatham to Fort Wayne, Ind., was made over the Wabaxh. The first of the five sections, the Flying Squadron, left at 10 o'clock, was ferried across the river to Detroit, inspected by the U. S. Custom Officials, made a total run of 192 miles and arrived at Fort Wayne at 6:30 on Sunday morning, which is the latest arrival this remarkable circus train has ever made. The last or sleeper section arrived at 10:30. Last week the cities visited were Fort Wayne, on Monday with South Bend, Ind., Joliet, Rockford, Kewanee, Ill., and Davenport, Iowa, following. The business was terrific, had it been better the axles of the ticket wagons would have broken while standing still from carrying the weight of lucre. Joliet, Rockford, Kewanee and Davenport were especially big. At the latter three towns afternoon turnaways and corking night houses were daily experiences. A long run was made from Rockford to Kewanne, a total of 167 miles over the C. B. & Q. It is undoubtedly the longest mid-week run ever made successfully by any a.m., and the doors opening at the time advertised, the parade leaving the lot on time at 10 . . . There are lots of new faces in Ringlingville this year and the constant harmony in which all employes work is always commented upon. Not a performance has been missed and the parades have been given daily as advertised. Much interest is taken in the electric light plant, consisting of three heavy motor wagons which furnish the night illumination. It is the only practical, movable, electric lighting outfit ever used by a circus company. The route the present week will be filled in Wisconin, in good old Ringling towns where the folks know fully what the show has been in the past, how it has grown to its present size and that it really deserves the title of the World's Greatest Shows.
Billboard, July 4, 1904, pp. 9, 15. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed and some items were unreadable.
During a performance of London's Circus in Chicago, last week, a section of seats collapsed. About ___ people were gathered under the tent, and a panic followed, which was intensified by two performing horses plunging into the struggling crowd. It is supposed that the accident was due to the removal of the back props outside the tent by mischevious boys. The injuries consisted mainly in broken arms and legs. Six women and one man were reported seriously injured and many others are supposed to have received minor injuries.
Three men were shot in a quarrel by Zach Mulhall, the stock agent of the St. Louis & San Franciso, at the World's Fair grounds June 18. Frank Reed, 50, boss hostler of Cummins' Wild West was shot in the arm and right side. Johnny Murrah, 35, cowboy, shot in the abdomen. Ernest Morgan, 18, a bystander, was also shot in the abdomen. They were cared for at the Emergency Hospital on the grounds, and doctors say Morgan will die. This is the culmination of trouble between Mulhall and Reed over a question of authority. After a bitter quarrel the day before, in which Mulhall threatened to shoot Reed, he met him at the conclusion of the Wild West performance as Reed was emerging from the tent, and while the Pike was thronged with people. Mulhall pulled his gun, and Murrah attempted to take it away. In the scuffle which followed, the weapon was discharged, wounding Murrah. Mulhall then emptied the revolver, firing point blank at Reed. Two of the shots struck Reed, the others going wild. Mulhall was locked up, and bail was refused.
The Harris Nickel Plate Show was in a wreck at Alexandria, Va., June 20. No one was injured and the damage to the show property was slight. The outfit was delayed twelve hours in getting into Fredericksburg, opening with a night show instead of matinee.
Frank Rose, familiarly known among the members of the profession throughout the country as "Kid" Rose, died, June 21, at the residence of his brother, Leroy H. Rose, assistant city clerk, 729 Oakwood Ave., Columbus,O., after a few weeks' illness of quick consumption. The deceased was a single man, aged about 38 years. During a period of 15 years he was employed with the Barnum and Bailey, Sells Bros., Robinson and Forepaugh shows as advance agent. During the past year and a half he had charge of the circulation of the Eagle Messenger for the states of Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia. He was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 297 of Columbus, and the funeral was held under the auspices of the Eagles.
Geo. Stumpf, trainmaster of the John Robinson Circus, was married to Miss Mertie Karnes, also a member of the circus, June 20, at Limestone, N. Y.
Lucky Bill's show was unable to exhibit at Parsons, Kan., June 20, on account of rain.
The Van Woellmer circus is reported to have disbanded at Fort Recovery, Ind.
Letters from members of the Van Amburg Show report excellent business.
Lola (Topsy) Mitchell, and her partner, Flora Stephens, are with the Van Amburg and not the Pan-American Show as previously reported.
Ringling Bros. played to 17,000 people at two performances at Janesville, Wis., June 21. The population of Janesville is 16,000.
Warren A. Patrick is Chicago representative of "The Billboard" now and Clay Lambert represents us in New York.
May Stewart, recently with the Wallace Shows, has been engaged at the World's Fair with Tompkin's Exhibition of American Riders at old St. Louis Arena on the Pike.
Ed. Cullen is in bad health and has been compelled to give up his position with the Hargreaves Shows and return to his home. He was very popular with the show and regret was general when he left.
The week of the thirteenth, instead of a hoodoo as customary, proved the banner week thus far with Forepaugh and Sells Bros.' Show throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island, in matter of attendance, weather and opposition.
E. L. Brannan writes from the Van Amburg Shows: "Business in Nebraska has been big. We are making some big jumps into South Dakota."
The Knight and Smith Circus has a swell reception at Cardington, Ohio. New seats had to be placed in position after the crowd had gathered to accommodate them.
Otome, a female Japanese rope walker, with the Gentry Bros. Show, fell from her rope to the ground, a distance of thirty-five feet, at Peoria, Ill., recently, and sustained severe bruises.
Fred Busey, for many years a prominent agent for Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Circus, is enjoying a visit in New York. He has disposed of his hotel interests in Champaign, Ill. It is whispered that Fred will have charge of a "picture car" with one of the big shows next season.
Some fool students threw firecrackers among the elephant herd during the Barnum and Bailey's parade at Ann Arbor, Mich., June 16. The keepers and attendants did heroic service in protecting the public, and the animals were recaptured after little damage had been done.
A letter received from a member of The Snyder Brothers and Koker Wild West Show, reports good business in Illinois. While giving a parade at Eureka, a Canadian wolf escaped from her cage, and was about to attack an old man, when she was recaptured by the trainer, Prof. Hank Snyder.
Robert E. Lively, the contortionist and hand balancer, known to the profession as one of the closest front and back benders, is with French's New Sensation Boat Show. Mr. Lively has been a leading feature with the Price Shows for the past six seasons.
Harry Friedendall, a teamster with the Wallace Circus, was badly injured at Red Wing, Minn., by a runaway team. He was taken to St. John's Hospital in an unconscious condition. His condition is not serious as was at first thought.
Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Circus gave performances at several towns near New York last week. The weather was fine and business big. Many visitors from New York saw performances at Newburgh, Middletown and Poughkeepsie.
Clem Kerr, agent last season with the Harris Nickel Plate Show, has retired from the show business and now holds the position of city editor and business manager of the "Daily Capitol," published at Tallahassee, Florida, and of the State printing office in the same city. Mr. Kerr writes "The Billboard" as follows, "An any time I can be of service to a show by fixing the state license I will readily do so."
Notes from Hibbard's Trans-Atlantic Shows. This is our eighth week out. The show has been doing good business considering the weather. The show consists of the following people: Prof. Seaton's band with eight people; Riese and Dunca, triple bars; Miss Flo Bennet, rings and contortion; Chas. Francis and Ed. Reynolds, double trap closed swing and sailor perch; Harry De Barr, singing and talking clown, and Bert Borks and Will Reill, casting act. We have an 80 foot top with t 30 foot middle piece and 45 head of stock.
MacFarland and Holder's United Shows closed temporarily at Hightstown, N. J., June 21. It was found that the show was entirely too heavy to take through the country as a wagon show. Business was excellent during the time the show was out, but bad roads made the hauling of the show almost an impossibility. All the people were paid off in full and the show was shipped to winter quarters. Arrangements are now being made to send the show out as a railroad show, but in the meantime the show will play a few weeks at parks.
Notes from Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows. This little show opened the season May 14, and while we have encountered plent of disagreeable weather and bad roads, have played to big business from the start, which is conclusive evidence that the wagon show is not a thing of the past. All of the big show acts are making good, while Jno. L. Reh's side show sends them into the big top howling. Prof. M. R. Ashley's cornet band is furnishing excellent music.
Vola, the volitant, who does the leap through space on a bicycle with the Barnum and Bailey Show, was badly injured while attempting to give his act at Alma, Mich., on the afternoon of June 15. In striking the platform after his leap he went too far and landed at the foot. His wheel was smashed under him, throwing him headlong to the ground. No bones were broken and if he is not injured internally no serious results will follow. The injured man was taken to the Alma sanitarium, where he is still confined.
Notes from M. L. Clark's Circus. This show is in its tenth week in Mississippi, to good business. Complete roster of this show is as follows: M. L. Clark, sole owner and proprietor; G. V. Parsons, Treas.; Theo. Rees Barretts, equestrian director; Harry Earl, ring master; Harry Edwards, charge of canvas, with 10 assistants; Albert Afton, head balancing trapeze; Jerome Abby, equilibrist; troupe of Hatsu and Shimyva; Geo. Richards, bar and single trapeze; Mrs. Hattie Richards, concert turns; Josephine, rings and ladder; Pearl Clark, equestrienne; Lee Clark, big six horse act; Charles Hess, troupe of performing elephants; Wilcot Bros., double traps; C. F. Brown, band master; Wylie Ellis, alto; James Richards, alto; R. Engress, clarinet; Frank White, picola; Dell Button, trombone; Lyman Cassell, trombone [unreadable text] Shorty Willard, trap drummer; C. E. Forrest, ahead with six billposters.
H. Stanley Lewis and W. W. Brown, advertising manager and director of privileges, respectively, of the Norris and Rowe Shows, will inaugurate the tour of Lewis and Browns' Megatherian Ten Nights in a Bar Room, at San Jose, Cal., in December, and have three months of choice coast time booked solid. Mr. Lewis' original modernized version will be used. Prof. D. C. Smiith, for four seasons band master for Norris and Rowe, will have charge of the musical contingent of 24 pieces. The Pullman sleeper "Carrie" and the combination diner "Angelica" will be occupied by the company.
"Punch" Wheeler writes as follows from Meadville, Pa.: "John Robinson is the first and only circus owner to secure and add to his institution an entire wild west outfit. On June 20 at Bradford, Pa., Chief Little Cloud and his band of Sioux warriors, and Chief One Feather, with fourteen Cheyenne braves, squaws and papooses, with two interpreters, create much enthusiasm, and they all think circus life is the most wonderfual proposition ever invented. Big Tree, the only Apache in the contingent, has over 200 elks' teeth sewed on a vest he wears and makes him look like be belonged to all the lodges in South Dakota. Chief Little Cloud and several of his party were actual participants in the last Indian battle at Wounded Knee. They say of old Chief Seasick, that when the Government took charge and gave the Indians clothes, insisting on their being worn, he strenuously objected until they threw him down and dressed him, after which he weakened and said he would wear them, which he did after cutting the seat out of his trousers, which made quite a hit in wigwam society."
Notes from Ringling Bros. World's Greatest Shows. The past week has been delightfully spent in Wisconsin towns where the show first became famous, and where every man, woman and child is positive that the glorious anticipations of the show bills will be fully realized under the mighty tents. After a delightful Sunday on the old baseball park at Milwaukee, the show enjoyed two turnaway houses on Monday. At night the disappointed ones completely blocked the street car tracks and it was with difficulty that the trolley traffice was resumed. The lot was the easiest reached and nearest to the central portion of the city ever used by a big show in Milwaukee, being on North Avenue, at 16th St. A short run brought us to Janesville for Tuesday's exhibition, with the usual afternoon turnaway, and a capacity night house, and Oshkosh did fully as well on Wednesday. Appleton on Thursday repeated the story of an afternoon turnaway, and a big night attendance, and at Fond du Lac Friday in the rain, the crowds compelled us to stop selling tickets. At Madison on Saturday every seat was occupied, thousands seated on the hippodrome track and a big turnaway. The night house was also capacity. Over 1,000 excursionists were brought in over the Northwestern from Baraboo, the winter quarters of the show, and quite a reunion was held among our people and their wintertime friends. We have a long Sunday run over the Northwestern to Minneapolis, which will doubtless be made easily, and the two hundred and eighty-two miles jump completed by noon Sunday. One of the most interesting sights around the big show this season is the mechanical stake driving apparatus fashioned something on the order of a baby pile driver. It is operated by a four horse power engine, and both the machine and the stakes are caried upon one large wagon. Two horses, a driver, and an engineer complete the outfit, which does the work of two sledge ganag, as it strikes 65 blows to the minute, and but fifteen blows are necessary to drive a stake in the hardest ground. All of the stakes necessary for the restaurants, bake shops, and cook tents, the four horse tents, the menagerie, dressing rooms, and all of the smaller tents are driven by this machine, and it also usually drives fully one-half the stakes for the big top. At present it is operated by an old timer, who had the misfortune several years ago to lose his right arm, so one can fully appreciate that the mechanism is quite simple, when it is operated by a one armed man. The stake driver is not intended to cut down the working force of the show in the least, as it is necessary to have the full complement of men to handle the canvas; it is simply one of those labor saving inventions that have been introduced by the Ringling Brothers during their circus career. In the old days the life of a canvas man with a circus was an occupatin that few cared to follow, but now with clean, and well ventilated Pullman cars to sleep in, plenty of good food to eat, and that food always ready at the proper time, breakfast being never served later than seven o'clock, and the other two meals at the proper intervals, the life of a canvasman or other laborer around the World's Greatest, has lost all its hardships, and the men actually have considerable time to themselves, which makes the working force at all times full handed and contented. Next week will be spent for the most part in Minnesota, in Ringling territory, that has never failed to give goodly greeting to the show that is first in merit, first in size, and first in the heart of everyone.
Billboard, July 9, 1904, p. 14. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
William Delaven, known to the circus people as "Delaware," died at Wabash, Ind., June 23. Delaven had been an attachee of the Barnum and Bailey Shows for fourteen years. At the time of his death he was ring master with that organization. The man was suddenly taken ill while the show was at Wabash and the show's physician pronounced the disease to be Bright's disease and necessarily fatal. Mr. Delaven was then taken to the country informary, where he died the next day. The deceased was forty-five years old and a single man. He has a married sister living at Wilmington, Del.
Rev. Walter Baer has resigned a good pulpit in Bluffton, Ind., to lecture on the animals in the John Robinson menagerie.
Rev. William Sheak, for several years lecturing for Zoological exhibitions, joined the Barnum and Bailey Show at Wabash, Ind., recently.
Thompson and Dundy's Fred Mid-Air Circus at Luna Park, New York, has made a great hit. Fred McClellan deserves much credit for the success of this open air circus.
Alice, one of the handsome leopards in the Ringling Brothers' menagerie, died of consumption of the throat during the stay of that organization in Minneapolis, Minn. Alice was buried on the show grounds.
France Reed, equestrian director with Sig. Sautelle's nine consolidated railroad show, has proved himself one of the most efficient managers ever placed in charge of a big show dressing room.
Roster of the Great Sells and Downs' advertising car No. 2, is as follows: Fred McMann, car manager; Edward Norris, boss billposter; F. J. Powers, Al. Johnson, Fred Redfield, J. W. Culver, J. E. Burdick, Dusty Rhoads, C. W. Anderson and Will Davis, billposters; C. W. Parker, lithographer and J. P. Miller, banner man.
Pete Bell, of Bell and Henry, who are with the Forepaugh and Sells Bros.' Show this season, reports that he won a $50.00 wager, by accomplishing 36 double somersaults, without a catcher, over elephants. Bell and Henry will shortly sail for England, where they open for one year on the Moss and Stall tour.
Recently in Marion and Portland, Ind., when the Barnum & Bailey Show exhibited there, Edward Sibbon, of the world famous Siegrist and Sibbon [sic?] Troupe of aerialists, accomplished at each performance the extraordinary and marvelous feat of turning four complete somersaults into the net. He claims to be the first person to do this feat.
No passes were issued city officials by the Ringling Brothers' management at Minneapolis, Minn., June 17, the city council having refused to reduce the daily license from $600 to $300. Heretofore the show has usually distributed about 300 passes among the municipal authorities. It is claimed the big circuses are discriminated against since they are charged $600 per day for a license and wild west shows are permitted to exhibit at $50 per day.
A report from the Wallace Shows states that they have organized a baseball team for the season and have not lost a game so far. They are open to play all teams along the road. The line up is as follows: R. D. Launder, Capt.; C. Lumpkin, C.; R. Launder, P.; C. Hite, SS; A. Berry, 1B; C. Cohn, 2B; C. Troop, 3B; A. Dobbins, LF; E. Kelley, CF; C. Hanlon, RF. Business is good, and turned-away crowd at Racine, Wis.
The following is the roster of Van Amburg's advance brigade No. 1: E. L. Branna, genl. agent and railroad contractor; Robert McDaniel, contracting agent; Don McKenzie, car manager; Frank Thompson, boss billposter; J. A. Jones, lithographer. Billposters: J. M. Smithe, _. M. Dent, D. Miller, Fred Worth, W. L. Lewis, W. R. Perry, E. C. Stule, Frank Rogers, L. M. Peters. Brigade No. 2: J. M. Wynns, manager; J. R. Davis, Henry Moore, H. B. Lowe, billposters; Frank Norris, banner and programes; L. A. Cardington, route rider.
Notes from the Sig Sautelle Show. "The Billboard's" readers may be interested to learn that since the opening of the present tent season, Sig Sautelle's nine consolidated railroad shows have played but two losing stands. All others have been big winners. The menagerie exhibits have been greatly augmented the last month, there now being a herd of seven elephants, ten lions and several smaller animals. Recent births in this department include three lion cubs, a peccary and two Shetland colts. Large as it is today, Mr. Sautelle has recently signed contracts for further increasing the size of his show. Three extra large tableau wagons and a 60 foot flat car are building and will be delivered early in July. Additions are to be made to the menagerie, big top and side show, canvas and other improvements will be made.
Billboard, July 16, 1904, pp. 12, 13. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
From the Buffalo Bill Show. Pointed Pencilings by Pyramus. This show is, I believe, the first to install the Marconi system of wireless telegraphy and Manager Hutchinson can now sit in his spacious office and dictate messages to any member of the general staff in Europe or America. Ben. Powell is the chief operator at the Wild West Station. At Wells-Somersett, May 25, a man stepping in a snake hole in the entrance and broke his leg in two places. Mr. Coyle came to his assistance and at once summoned Mr. Halstead, our master mechanic, who said it was a case for a blacksmith; two iron bands were accordingly placed around the injured limb by Jack Norberry and the man went on his way rejoicing. Asst. Supt. C. C. Murphy, of Pinkerton's New York agency, has charge of the police arrangements. This is Mr. Murphy's favorite tour through Great Britain, and he has an extensive acquaintance among the police officials of England, Scotland and Wales. The "finger smiths," as pick pockets are termed over here, are giving the show a wide berth.
At Bridgewater, May 26, The Lord John Sanger Show was with us day and date. Their outfit and methods are antiquated. In size it compares with a ten-center in the States; the performance, however, is not so good. At Neatte, Wales, May 17, we showed in a beautiful green field under the shadows of two ancient castles. This is the birth-place of Sir Henry M. Stanley, and as the great man's funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on this date our flags were at half-mast, and Col. Cody made a very feeling speech to his memory. Madam Patti and husband were interested spectators of the Wild West performance. At Penzance, May 29, Col. Cody was entertained by Lord and Lady St. Levins at their picturesque castle on Mt. St. Michael, in Penzance Bay. Religious services were held on the show ground in the evening. Among those on the platform I noticed a Cossac and a Jap sitting side by side, a verification of the Biblical words - "The lion shall lie down with the lamb." At Windsor, June 13, Richard Croker the former Tammany chieftain, visited the show. At Illford, 22, the Prince of Pisen Company came out from London to see the Wild West. The girls rode in the stage coach, frightened the Indian off by their yells and would up by kissing the Colonel. There was also a "bunch" of newspaper men from London, who were entertained by Frank Small. Lunch was served in the press tent.
At Mansfield, June 27, James Davis Carter, "cowboy bicyclist" met with a painful, if not serious, accident in "leaping the gap." In making the descent his wheel struck one of the electric lights and although he clered the gap, he landed sideways on the apron with such force as to throw him forward on is face, which is cut quite badly, and he seems to be suffering from the shock. He is nerve to the backbone and refused to be sent to the hospital. This is the third man we have had injured this season doing this act. Mrs. Hutchinson, the wife of our general manager, has a "fad" for collecting snake skins. In fact she has the finest private collections I know of, embracing Pythosn, Boas, Anacondas, Rattles and a fine specimen of the Gila Monster - enough to decorate a large room in true serpentine style. Weather continues fine and business has been big all along the line, even repeaters from last year turning out splendidly. Jacob Posey, superintendent of stock and founder of the B. P. O. Tigers, celebrated his 41st birthday, 27. May this Posey long continue to bask in the sunshine of happiness and prosperity.
General agent W. E. Franklin, of the Wallace show, has sprung another innovation and one that will find favor with those immediately effected. He is going to allow his agents one week's vacation at the World's Fair this month. Just how he is going to do it, is his own secret. In this connection we migh say, however, that Fred Busby ran up to Chicago from Champaign, Ill. and he and Mr. Franklin have had their heads together at the National printing office at different times during the past week. It is reported that W. E. Franklin, of the Wallace Show, let six of his billposters go at Waterloo, Iowa the other day and that thereby hangs a tale of putting up a lot of street fair paper in the country with Wallace paste, and the exchange of a bit of greasy silver between the carnival agent and the knights of the brush.
The Great London Shows closed in Chicago at Washtenaw and Lake Street, Sunday, July 10. The reason Proprietor A. J. Bodkins closed his season at this time is said to be on account of his inablility to secure any more desirable locations. The show has been playing on lots around Chicago and from all accounts has done very well. The Brothers Arisato, who have been with the Great London Shows, have joined Paine's, The Last Days of Pompeii.
Dan Fitzgerald, a native of California and a showman possessed of the highest type of excellence, died recently in New York City. Mr. Fitzgerald started in the show business at an early age as a candy butcher. His early days were spent with various tented organizations which toured the West and particularly California. He also traveled for awhile with the Wilson Show in Australia. For a time he was at the head of his own show. In the early '80s Mr. Fitzgerald was married in San Francisco, Cal., to Miss Carrie Armstrong. During the season of 1887 he allied himself with the Pomeroy Wild West, taking charge of the candy concession. Leaving this show the next season, Mr. Fitzgerald toured with the Van Amburg Shows for two or three seasons. In 1892 he became superintendent for the Reynold Show, in which capacity he served for two season. At the beginning of the season of 1894 the deceased joined the Walter L. Main Shows as ticket seller. He worked himself up and in the end of his ten years' service with Mr. Main, found him superintendent. However, as Mr. Main was not on the road during the season of 1900, Mr. Fitzgerald traveled that season with Barnum and Bailey in Europe. With this organization he served as assistant superintendent. Probably Mr. Fitzgerald had no equal as a popular showman. At one time, while with the Main Show, he was presented with a $500.00 solitaire diamond pin - the gift of every person connect with that aggregation as a token of the high esteem in which they held him. As an officer he was courteous - never failing to bestow a favor upon any one who might present himself. He was idolized by superiors and subordinates alike. He never failed to make friends of all those with whom he came in contact. As a showman he possessed the intelligent business judgment that ranked him in the first-class. He leaves a host of friends in all walks of life to mourn his loss.
The Sells-Downs' Show had good business at Coshocton, Ohio.
Harry Hodge joined the Wallace Shows as announcer and concert director at Hudson, Mich.
W. W. Cole, of dog and pony fame, now manager of a park at Omaha, was in Chicago the past week getting attractions.
B. E. Wallace, of the Wallace Shows, spent several days looking over farms at home last week, re-joining the show in Michigan.
Phil Ellsworth is busy these days showing his friends with the Wallace Shows photos of the colts being produced on his Perfection Stock Farm at Nabb, Ind.
J. S. Kirtchfield, bandmaster of the Jno. H. Sparks Shows, was given his third degree in Masonry, June 24 . . .
William Koering, who serves at teamster of the Star Theatre, at St. Paul, Minn., during the winter, has joined the Campbell Brothers Shows.
Charlie Boyd, the well known newspaper man, of New York, joined the Gentry Bros.' Show at Chicago, and will look after the press work for the balance of the season.
William Herkenrath and wife, who have been at the Wallace Shows' winter quarters at Peru, Ind., since spring, perfecting a new elephant act, joined the show recently in Valparaiso, Ind., for the balance of the season.
Walter T. Murphy, a cracker-jack circus agent, is at liberty. Anyone wanting an aggressive biller and good opposition man, will do well to write him at 1508 St. James Building, New York City.
Gene Durand and Harry Wheeler, of the Wallace Show, spent Sunday at home in Covington, Ky. Al. Johnson visited the Robinson Show at Kendallville, Ind., and Jas. Orr visited his wife at Elyria, Ohio with the Main Show.
Harry S. Noyer, manager of the oriental annex with the John Robinson shows during the season of 1899, and with the Ringling Bros.' show last season, has joined the Arnold and Hutchinson Mardi Gras and Carnival Company.
A fight between the Barnum and Bailey Show and the city street car lines of Des Moines, Ia., resulted in the show management chartering special trains on a steam road to carry the crowds to another lot not adjoining the street car lines.
The "Toledo colony" with the Wallace Show spent Sunday, July 3, at home going on the trolley from Bowling Green, Ind., where the show "Sundayed." The party, all of whose homes are in Toledo, Ohio, included the Jarvis Bros., Orrin Hollis, Wm. Henchey, Al. Singer, Sidney Shepperd and Lew Nichols.
Pete Cornala, of the Cornala family of acrobats, and J. E. Noble, who have been conduction a small tent show, under the name of the W. M. Coleman Shows, on Chicago lots for the past couple of years, have closed the show. The Cornala Family joined a carnival company and the dogs and ponies of the show are not at Riverview Park.
Willard D. Coxey, one of the general press agents of the Barnum and Bailey Show, has disposed of his residence at Maywood, Ill., and will hereafter reside permanently in New York City. Mr. Coxey is proprietor of the Maywood "Herald," a breezy little sheet, which he will continue to publish under the management of W. D. Gallup, who has been looking after the paper during Mr. Coxey's absence on the road. Willard is an old-time Chicago newspaper man, a splendid gentleman in all that the word implies.
Mrs. Robert Meek, the wife of the genial "Bob," who has charge of Ringling Bros.' ring stock department, visited her husband at Madison, Wis., recently. . . . the men working in Bob's department made her a present of a handsome gold watch and chain. The presentation was made by Lew Graham, a past master of the art of making little impromptu speeches of this character.
C. Z. Bronson's Concert band, with the Wallace Shows this season, is one of the best musical organizations of the summer. The individual members of the band are all capable musicians and under the able leadership of Mr. Bronson, they give concerts that never fail to received the warm applause of their audiences.
The Norris and Rowe Show had the first blow down in two years at Grand Forks, B. C. The show had got in late and the extra stakes had not been driven. The gale came up suddenly, and as the lot was sandy soil the stakes pulled. As a result the afternoon performance was lost.
July 4th, at Bowling Green, O., was celebrated on a big scale. Wallace's show packed them in at two performances and it is said that 25,000 people visited the city that day.
"Chat," the one-month-old Shetland pony, which was missing from the Ringling Bros.' Circus at St. Paul, Minn., was found in a barn near that city. It was shipped on to the show at Mankato.
John F. Halderman's receivership of the Hettinger-Hardy circus may soon be terminated. Some time ago Hardy sued Hettinger for an accounting of receipts of the show and had Halderman appointed receiver. Since the suit was begun the statement is made that the partners have settled their difficulties and that the receivership will be ended as soon as the court costs are paid. Messrs. Hardy and Hettinger are now out on the road with the circus and apparently the best of friends.
Barnum and Bailey lost Wellston, O., on account of heavy rains and muddy grounds.
The following is complete roster of Professor James Wolfscale's Colored Band and Vaudeville Company with the Great Sells and Downs' Shows: Prof. James Wolfscales, director; Wm. Lacy, solo cornet; J. Hunter, first cornet; E. Criswell, first cornet; Thomas Sulcer, b flat clarionet; James Harris, first trombone; Ben Everett, second trombone; John Taylor, baritone; Owen Dunn, tuba; Walter Rector, alto; Charles Scott, snare drum; Geo. Beckem, bass drum. The ladies are Mrs. Geo. Beckom, Miss Clara Reese and Miss Essie Williams. Prof. Wolfscales has won a reputation as well as many friends during his three seasons with the band.
Notes from Beasleys and Dorsa's Combined Shows. We showed Pocahontas, Ia., June 27, the same date that Campbell Bros.' Shows were there. We visite them and were royally entertained. Al. Campbell acted as chaperon and, to say that they have the cleanest and most modern shows on the road is putting it mildly. We found them all to be tip-top fellows. We had our "onita" show up town. Jack O'Brien had his show up also. Neither of the shows made anything like expenses and Campbell Bros. showed that day to the smallest audience since they have been on rail, but they left a good impression with the natives, and if they should ever pay that town a visit again they will pack their immense tents to utmost capacity. . . .
The Kendallville (Ind.) "Baldder" says: "A veritable tempest in a teapot has been aroused here because the Sioux Indians, with the John Robinson's Shows, are to have a boiled dog banquet at their camp, July 4, as they desire to celebrate the day and prefer dog meat anyway as a regular diet. Nor is the objection to this taste for canine steaks and ragouts made by the dogs, who certainly have the best right to howl. The criticism is from those sensitive people who never at dog's meat, at least consciously. If the stories of the origin of most of our civilized sausages are not all false, however, who, except a confirmed vegetarian, can say that he has not devoured his share of dog in his day and rather enjoyed it too? However, this is not an apology for the Indians depraved yearning for boiled dog. Only we have them on our hands, appetite and all, and must make the best of it. Meanwhile, if they must eat canines, our neighbor has one that howls by night that we pray they may devour speedily."
Col. Phil Coup writes that he has joined the Snyder and Dowker Wild West Show with the Midget and has the management of the side show. The show has not lost a stand this season.
Billboard, July 23, 1904, p. 12. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Spie's [sic Sipe's?] Dog and Pony Show was greatly damaged by a storm at Pendleton and Lapel Ind., recently.
Dick Radford sells the inside banners for the John Robinson's Shows and has been successful.
H. W. Link was in Chicago last week. He has given up circusing and will be in advance of Al Martin's Show this season.
W. R. Reynolds, the well-known circus man, formerly proprietor of the Reynolds Show, with winter quarters at Rockford, Ill., is now conducting a lucrative business as a florist in his home city.
Fred Busey has become manager of the excursion car with the Wallace Show, and Fred Morgan is now contracting agent with that organization.
Donley Glasscock will open his big show at Krum, Tex., July 24, for a fall tour of the west of Texas. He writes that the country looks very prosperous.
Leon Walton, of Newton, Kan., was left at Coshocton, O., by the Sells and Downs Show on account of a severe attack of rheumatism. His condition is serious.
Flood and Hayes, novelty jumpers, report that they closed with the Floto Circus, June 30 at Denver, Col., and will return to St. Louis to play dates and see the Fair.
Nero, the big elephant star of Gentry Bros.' Show, got loose in Minneapolis, Minn., and succeeded in giving the inhabitants a good scare before he was captured.
Following is the roster of Barnum and Bailey's advance brigade No. 1: Chas. Hayes, agent; J. Beehler, Walter Beck, J. McHaffey, B. Coones, billposters; B. Watkins, letterer.
Rube Moss (P. T. Barnum's "Rube") is now spieler for Cora Beckwith, champion lady swimmer of the world, the leading show with the Robinson Carnival Company. Rube is as funny as ever.
The Rippel Show reports that they are on their ninth week out and have had thirty-two nights of rain. Business is good, and Prof. Wharle and Roley Ryan, both musicians, have been added to the show.
Hank E. Walker (Rocky Mountain Hank), featured with Buckskin Bill's Wild West this season, is now ventriloquist for Sturgis and La Sha's Volcano Show with the Robinson Carnival Company, Oil City Pa., week of July 12.
Will C. Sites, formerly Genl. Agent of Lowery Bros.' Circus, now with Lee and Richmonds New Model Show, writes that the show opened to S. R. O. business in Quarryville, Pa., July 9. The following people made big hits: M. N. Richmond, Jack Lee, the Shields Bros., and Walter Fry. Everything is new and the show is making good.
Nettie Carroll, the petite wire artist, of the Barnum and Bailey Show, has recovered sufficiently from the effects of an operation she recently underwent at St. Mary's Hospital, Chicago, to rejoin the show, but will not be able to take up her duties again this season. Charlie Carroll ran up to Chicago Thursday and accompanied his wife back to the show.
Mrs. Lena Hamilton, wife of John Hamilton, of the Wallace Circus, died at Saranac Lake, N. Y., July 9 from tubercolosis of the throat. She was taken to Buffalo for burial. A husband, daughter and two sons besides a host of frients remain to mourn her loss. Mr. Hamilton will remove his family to Fultonham, Ohio, at which place he will make his future home.
Notes from Snyder and Dowke's Shows. This show has had no falling off of business since the Fourth of July, as is usually the case. At Momence, Ill., a terrible storm struck the show just before the evening performance. All tents were blown down and considerable damage done. Zelda,the midget, started for a near-by house and was picked up by the wind and carried across the street. Everything is now in good shape and running smoothly.
T. J. Fanning, formerly owner and manager of the Marietta Circus, has settled down on a farm about two miles and a half from Lake Zurich, Barrington, Ill. His place embraces forty acres and is a sort of summer resort. He has been entertaining some old professional friends from Chicago this summer. When the Marietta Show closed at Joplin, Mo., last fall, Mr. Fanning was a sick man, but, thanks to good country air, he has regained his health.
Arthur P. Langan (better known to the circus profession as Artie Adair) has entered vaudeville and is appearing this week, in his sketch, Simple Sam Topkins, at Electric Park, Vincennes, Ind. He was at the Grand Theater, Joliet, Ill., last week and made a hit. Arthur took a flying trip to Chicago last Thursday and spent a few hours with his mother, who makes her residence there. As a clown he has been associated with all of the big shows during the years past, and the white tents have lost a good fellow and a clever comique.
The roster of Barnum and Bailey's advertising car No. 1, is as follows: L. W. Murray, Mgr.' J. E. Allen, Geo. Lackas, boss billposter; Joe Fitzgerald, Joe Cunie, C. J. Robey, M. Perry, F. LeClaire, C. J. Rhodres, H. Cook, H. Douthit, W. M. Coates, L. Taylor, lithographers; E. B. Hubbard, H. P. Dukehart, J. Osher, Guy Woods, W. R. Jacobs, programs; Duke Burke, porter; C. C. Herbert, chef; Frank Cochran, waiter and Ponty the Mascot, all union.
The extra strong billing of the Gentry Bros. during their five weeks' stay in Chicago is worthy of mention, and presents some interesting figures. For their first "lot" they put out 100 stands of paper, 600 two-sheet banners and 50,000 half-sheet heralds. They remained on the first lot one week, and the showing for this engagement was naturally stronger than for those that followed, where they exhibited for shorter periods. Altogether, the Gentry Bros. used over __ half-sheet program folders and 3,000 two-sheet banners, besides their regular line of stuff, during their stay in the Windy City.
C. E. Forrest, agent of M. L. Clark's Show writes: "I have been in Mississippi for a little over 2 months and must confess that business has been remarkably good, especially for this time of year. I have been as far into the wilds in the past month as to get 45 miles from a railroad. To say that we aroused the natives would be putting it moderate. It is surprising to see how many people there are who never saw even an elephant. Our fourteen cage menagerie, elephants and camels made a strong attraction through the section. We go into Tennessee next, for six weeks, then South again."P>
Billboard, July 30, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, August 6, 1904, p. 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Here is a new wrinkle that deserves mention. Tom Daly, the old-time circus man and for awhile identified with the W. W. Cole and T. V. Day's New Dominion Dog and Pony Show and F. E. Flynn, formerly a local contracting agent for the Gentry Bros., have made arrangements with the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, to conduct a political tent show, which will open either in Galesburg or Monmouth on Monday, Sept. 12. Mr. Flynn will take charge of a box brigade ahead and Mr. Day will look after the top. They will have a 125 foot round top with three 40 foot middle pieces and calculate to seat 10,000 people. Night rallies will be held in the tent at which prominent speakers will appear. The top will be shipped to the next stand immediatley after the meeting each night, the speakers following on passenger trains the next morning, and making rear-end platform talks on the way. Outside of Chicago the tour will be made up of one night stands, but later in the campaign some ten days will be spent on Chicago lots. Mr. Flynn will have a crew of hustling billposters and will bill the political show just like a circus.
Showmen's Permanent Burial Fund. One dollar a year entitles the donor to membership in the association for burying its members and others of the profession who may die in destitute circumstances. . . .
The Norris and Rowe Show was damaged by a wind storm during its engagement at Red Lodge, Mont. The menagerie tent was blown down and for a time confusion reigned among visitors who were pouring into the tent just before the afternoon performance. No permanent damage was done, however.
Mrs. Hall, widow of the late Geo. P. Hall, now an attache of Hargreaves Circus, was injured at Bayonne, N. J., recently. The lady is the principal feature of the side show. Her act consists of entering the cage of some savage leopards and putting them through a series of tricks. The animals, while sulky and hard to work, were not considered particularly dangerous. But with little or no warning, they suddenly turned on her, and before the attendants could reach her and render assistand, she was quite severely bitten.
Frank Bernardo, formerly a well known acrobat, died July 24, at Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Bernardo, whose real name was Frank Smith, until four years ago had been connected with some of the best circuses in the country when he met with an accident which ended his career as a performer. Since that time he had been engaged in training animals and had become one of the best dog trainers in the country. Mr. Bernardo was a native of Pottstown, Pa., and at the time of his death was forty-six years of age. Funeral services were under the auspices of the Theatrical Stage Employee's union of Kansas City, of which Mr. Barnardo was a member, and a large number of friends followed his remains to the last resting place in Mount Washington cemetery.
Edward M. Willis, superintendent of privileges for the Barnum and Bailey Circus, died of heart failure, July 23, at Kewanee, Ill. The deceased was a well known showman, having been many years with the Sells BRos., the Wallace and Walter L. Main show. For the past two seasons he was with the Barnum and Bailey show, was highly respected by all who came in contact with him and was a faithful and conscientous worker. His wife was notified of his illness and left New York at once but arrived too late to see him alive. He was buried in Pleasant View cemetery at Kewanee, Ill., July __. The masons had charge of the funeral. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Tigers. His wife, Trixie Adams, survives him.
Kokomo, Ind., has a new ordinance increasing the circus license from $50 to $125.
Prof. Everett James' Family Band is now in its sixth season with the Wood Bros. show.
Frank A. Kelzer, who was with the Robinson advertising car No. 1 last year, is again with the show.
F. J. Clark and C. S. Lint, of the Sun Brothers' Circus, were "Billboard" callers Tuesday, July 26.
Sun Brothers' show is seventeen days in Ohio, after which it crosses the Mason and Dixon like and plays south.
Col. Phil Coup, with his Midget, the smallest bearded woman on earth, closed with the Snyder Wild West and is now playing museums in Chicago.
Ben Lucier writes from Eldora, Ia., that he is with Campbell Bros. this season doing ladder drops and playing calliope.
Al. Foster, an outside ticket seller with Sig Sautelle's shows, and Lew Graves, of Cortland, N. Y., have made all preliminary arrangements for putting out a one ring overland circus next season.
H. E. Allott is jubilant over the release of the Buckskin Bill show at Erie, Pa. "Bunk" will not dabble with circus business again this sumemr but promises to be back in the ring next season.
The Brown Family show report that they are making the Indiana coal towns, traveling in their own palace wagon cars, with plenty of good horses. They will close the tent season at Atlanta, Ind., Nov. 25.
M. C. Berg, phenomenal trick cyclist, reports that he is meeting with success with the John Robinson Circus. He has signed a forty weeks' contract with A Country Kid company and opens at Mt. Clemens, Mich., Aug. 15.
It is reported that Ringling Bros. lost Falls City, Neb., on the 21st of July on account of rain. With twenty-four horses and two elephants they had difficulty in getting the cook house wagons on thelot and decided to abandon the stand.
Notes from the Mollie Bailey show. "We have been playing to fine business all spring. We now carry fifty people and one hundred and fifteen horses. Have just purchased two fine Arabian horses. We will summer at Dallas, Tex., and all of the company will visit the World's Fair at St. Louis."
The John H. Sparks circus showed in East Brady, Pa., their home town, July 18, to big business. On Sunday afternoon, the members of the company with many of the town people, held an appropriate service at the grave of the late John H. Sparks. A beautiful floral display was placed on the grave by members of the company and family.
Notes from Lucky Bill's show. "Regardless of rain, bad roads, etc., we are playing to crowded tent and good business. The roster is as follows: Bessent and Bessent, McCoy Family, Lon [Lou?] Hibner, Hon. Newton Jr., James Thing, May and Blondie Dunlap, James Moore, Wm. Jackson and Ernest Rhode. Willard and Willard closed July 19."
C. M. Connor, special and local contracting agent of the Great Wallace shows, closed at Great Bend, Kan., Saturday, July 30 and jumped to New York to join Sullivan, Harris and Woods' No. 1 Fatal Wedding company, as business manager. Mr. Connor has been connected with the Wallace shows for the past three seasons, and will enter upon his fourth season with Sullivan, Harris and Wood. Fred A. Morgan will succeed Mr. Connor with the Wallace shows.
General agent W. E. Franklin, of the Wallace shows, has been conducting an aggressive campaign through his department of publicity, at the National headquarters, Chicago, this summer and it is fair to presume that not a little of the present success of the Wallace show is due to Mr. Franklin's novel and original mailing scheme. Under date of July 23, Mr. Wallace writes to the Chicago office, "Our Michigan business was very gratifying and better in fact than the class of towns would justify, all things considered. I think the method of advertising has worked up the people and the mailing of all that stuff from Chicago certainly has brought results."
Notes from the Sig Sautelle Show. Jack Cousins and wife, Lottie Aymar, are once more with the show, having recently closed with Welsh Bros. A novelty sword swallower has been added to the long list of attractions in the annex. Girard Leon, the famous advertising solicitor, is now with the show and is making good. Veterinary Ramson and Wyoming Jack were slightly injured in a mix-up the other day with an angry jackass. Every one of the twenty-four musicians in No. 1 band is a member of the F. O. E. There are 100 other Eagles with the show. Miss Ruth M. Banks, of East Aurora, N. Y., visited the show at Hoosick Falls, July __.
The New York correspondent of "The Billoard," was a recent visitor to the Hargreaves Show at Flushing, L. I. While the weather was disagreeable, cold and rainy, the business was surprisingly good. Mr. Hargreaves reports that this has been the worst season for rain that he ever experienced. The show is larger and better in every respect, as compared to last season, and give great satisfaction. While the performance is evenly balanced, Miss Mabel Hall is the feature. The young lady does a very clever menage act, and her handling of the huge elephant always earns rounds of applause. The writer is indebted to Mr. Hargreaves for courtesy shown.
Notes of Ringling Bros.' Shows. Everybody with the big show was on the lot at Sioux Falls, on Sunday, July 17, to watch the championship ball game of our two leagues. The acrobats, who have all the other clubs in the Performers League distanced, and the canvasmen, the star nine of the Workingmen's League, were the contestants. For six innings a remarkably even game was played, but in the beginning of the seventh, the canvasmen made several errors which permitted the acrobats to score seven runs, which at the end of the ninth told heavily in the score, which was sixteen to nine in favor of the acrobats. The big show, in spite of its one lost day at Falls City, the past week, has fully enjoyed prosperity of the Middle-west. Sioux Falls on Monday, and Sioux City on Tuesday, both gave big afternoon turnaways and capacity night houses. At Sioux City the "Tribune" compiled a report that 11,846 round trip tickets had been sold by the various railroad lines centering there, and judging from the enormous crowds in the city and on the show lot, the number was not overestimated. A late arrival at Omaha on Wednesday did not appear to affect the business in the least, as the big tents were packed beyond the seating limit at both performances. Falls City, Neb., on Thursday was entirely abandoned, as the roads leading to the ground, owing to recent rains, were thoroughly impassible. No other lot was procurable and therefore no parade or exhibition was given. Falls City is the first stand of the season to be lost or abandoned, and the big show since its Chicago engagement, has enjoyed a road tour of thirteen and one-half weeks. In that time, with the exception of Falls City, of course, not even a parade has been missed, and every performance has been given as advertised. Leavenworth, Kan., on Friday was big at both peformances. Friday night two of the ten locomotives required to haul the show trains became derailed and blocked the line between Leavenworth and Topeka, consequently other engines had to be procured and the circus made the run from Leavenworth to Topeka via the Missouri Pacific to Atchison, and thence over the Santa Fe to Topeka, making a very late arrival, the last two sections pulling into the Topeka yars at 11:45. It was a two mile haul to the grounds also, but nothwithstanding the lateness of the arrival, the parade was on the streets at 1 o'clock and back on the lot at 1:45, the doors opened at 2, and the performance commenced at 2:45, which is without a doubt, the best record yet made by a big show.
Billboard, August 13, 1904, pp. 17, 18. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
J. T. McCaddon, formerly general manager of the Barnum and Bailey show, is now in England, having sailed from New York City some days hence. An interesting rumor has it that Mr. McCaddon has organized a circus company in England, with a paid-up capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, which will confine its operations to European countries. It is affirmed that Mrs. James Cooper, of Philadelphia has a large interest in the company and that Mr. McCaddon has disposed of his $50,000 worth of stock in the Barnum and Bailey Greatest Show on Earth, and has invested the accrument of this sale in the European exploitation. From the time the Barnum and Bailey show was syndicated in London, until the opening of the present year, when he resigned, Mr. McCaddon was one of the directors, as well as the general manager of the show. It is also rumored that Mr. McCaddon has an option on the Walter L. Main show. This Mr. Main has denied, when questioned by friends, but from what can be gleaned, it is believed that Mr. McCaddon has some correspondence from Mr. Main regarding the matter. After the memorable tour of the Barnum and Bailey show in Europe, Mr. McCaddon has accumulated a great deal of valuable knowledge of the different countries and their respective requirements. He has probably no superior in the handling of executive details of big tented organizations. Under his direction the new circus factor (if this rumor is confirmed) should probe a good paying investment for its promoters.
During the performance of Cummins Wild West show on the Pike at the World's Fair, Nebraska Bill is captured by a band of Indians and tied to a stake. Brush is then piled around the victim, ignited and the victim left to his fate. A band of cowboys rescue the prisoner at the proper time. On Aug. 1, the cowboys did not arrive on time and some of the sparks having ignited Bill's leggins, he was soon ablaze. Col. Cummins recognized the gravity of the situation and appraised the cowboys of the victim's predicament. "Slim" Higby and a dozen other attaches of the show rode to the rescue of "Nebraska." The fire was quickly stamped out and "Nebraska" Bill taken to the show's dispensary, where, after considerable difficulty he was revived. The cowboy had inhaled considerale flame and smoke and was unable to participate in the night show.
Peter S. McNally, formerly of the press departments of the Barnum and Bailely and Forepaugh and Sells Bros.' circuses, has just been appointed traveling representative of the Boston Hearld in the circulation department. Mr. McNally has been connected with the Boston press for over 20 years. Besides his accomplishments as a journalist and press agent, he is also the champion long distance swimmer of the world and has been awarded the highest honors in America for individual rescue work, having saved upwards of 300 persons from watery graves. On July 24, 1897, McNally swam the English Channel, covering a forty-mile course in 15 hours and ten minutes.
Circus managers and agents have been much wroght up the past week over the recent action of the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railroad, which controls some of the best show towns in the South, issuing a notice to the effect that in the future they will make no exception in rates in favor of circus railroad equipment, and that from now on the members of all circus organizations who travel on their road will be compelled to pay the same fares that the citizens of the South are wont to do. This means a complete shut-out, so far as the N. C. & St. L. is concerned, and to one who is well posted it would certainly seem to be a case of bad judgment on the part of the railroad. Last year the circuses spent $28,000 with the road in question. There has never been a circus wreck on their system, nor any lawsuits or trouble with circus organizations of any kind, at any time. Therefore, the stringent action of the railroad management, at this time, is wholly inexplainable to circus men. The Sells and Downs Show was the last to use the road.
Berry Johnston died recently at Eaton, O. The veteran showman was cutting grass when stricken with heart disease and the end came so suddenly that medical aid could not be obtained. Mr. Johnston was for a long time employed with the Robinson show.
Four giraffes and a baby Zebu born at Madison Square Garden, are new features with the Barnum and Bailey show.
A baby camel was added to the Campbell Bros.' menagerie, at Des Moines, July 28, while the show was enroute to Indianola.
Mabel Clark, aerial artist, who has been very ill at her home in Bald Knob, Ark., is improving and will be ready for the ring Sept. 1.
Russell Hortman, trombonist with Ben Horner's Band, enroute with Gollmar Bros.' circus, drew 160 acres of land in the Rosebud Indian Reservation.
P. P. Craft closed with the Sells and Downs show and is resting at Atlantic City, prior of assuming the management of The Rising Generation, for the winter season.
At a drawing at Branton, Minn. Kitty May Irwin, contortionist with the Van Amburg circus, won a diamond ring. The Irving Family joined the show five weeks ago.
Joseph During Sr., father of Joseph During, master of transportation with the Sells-Downs' shows, has retired from the express and drayage transfer business in Cincinnati at the age of seventy years.
It is reported that the horses of the Buckskin Bill Wild West show are being sold at private sale in Erie, Pa. The rest of the outfit has been shipped to Chicago by the present owner, Geo. Harmann.
C. C. Peavey and Harry Winslow, late of advertising car No. 1 of Gollmar Bros.' R. R. shows, closed at Stevens Point, Wis., Aug. 2. They have gone to Lake Geneva, Wis., for a few weeks' recreation.
The Hargreaves shows did good business on Long Island. This was the first time that the Hargreaves show visited Long Island and the show made a big impression and is sure of good business next season should it visit that territory.
Robert Henshaw and Millie Anderson, trick cyclists, who perform feats in an eighteen foot transparent globe, are one of the hits of Thompson and Dundy's open air circus at Luna Park, Coney Island.
The Twin Brothers Marriott, expert manipulators of hoops, baton, sword and gun spinners, are this season with Andrew Downie's shows. Their act is received everywhere with much applause and is a pronounced hit. These two clever performers are coming to the front in grand style.
The Court at Erie, Pa., having released the Buckskin Bill show property the same has been shipped to Chicago and is now stored away there. The proprietors have not declared what disposal will be made of the stuff, and it is not certain whether the show will go on the road next season or not.
The Sells and Downs' and Wallace shows are one day apart at Centerville, Ia., the former exhibiting there Aug. 10 and the latter the 11th. There has been some strong opposition billing and the country newspapers were all worked up. The newspaper men say the merchants might well take a few lessons from the circus advertising.
M. S. Bodkin, who was assistant adjuster of the Barnum and Bailey shows last season, is making his headquarters in Chicago this summer. Mr. Bodkins has just returned from a trip to Yankton, South Dakota, where he is interested in a number of shows. He will have some attractions at the Sheyboygan, Wis., Carnival, which is to be held Aug. 14 to 21.
H. P. Merkle, for many years manager of the Bryan and Company billposting plant at Dayton, O., joined the advance forces of the Wallace show last week. He reported for duty to General Agent W. E. Franklin in Chicago. By a strange co-incidence Mr. Merkle was with the King and Franklin shows fifteen years ago and after all this time comes back to his old superior officer.
Notes from Woodford's Trained Animal Show. "The show is now playing at Woodside Park, Philadelphia, Pa. We have added six ponies and an Arabian stallion, doing a menage act. Charles Woodward will also add a llion act the last of next week and then will split the show, making a No. 1 and No. 2 shows. Mrs. Murphy, the $5,000 monkey, will still be a leading feature with show No. 1, and Mr. Dooley will do trick riding with the same show. Show No. 1 will be with the Hottest Coon in Dixie company all winter and No. 2 with H. L. Tucker in charge, will be open for winter booikings after Oct. 2.
Billboard, August 20, 1904, p. 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Sunday, August 7, proved an eventful one with Colonel Frederick T. Cummins, the head of Cummins' Wild West Indian Congress on the Pike. The occation was the testimonial beneft given the Indian leader by his show friends at the Exposition. To say that the affair was a huge success is putting it mildly. The biggest crowd that ever turned out to see an individual attraction was present. The universal verdict was that the entertainment was one of the most unique and pleasing that ever took place in an arena. In the grand entree, headed by Colonel Cummins, were the Hale Fighters in uniform with their apparatus; Hagenbecks performing elephants, camels, dromedaries and natives from Asia; acrobats from foreign contries; McKays Circus and Rome; dancing girls from all of the oriental shows; three bands, performing ostriches, and in fact a good portion of all the exhibitions to be ween in the Pike was in evidence. The friends of the Colonel were legion. In the boxes were many notable in the show business, including Dick Plunkett, Chief Hale, Frank Talbot, General Cronje, Mark Stone, E. Robinson, G. Akoun, G. ___, Excela, Dan Sherman, H. Hagenbeck, J. McConnell, H. Roltair and John Martell. The admissions numbered about 30,000. The visiting Shriners were in attendand in a body.
Hannibal, the untamable lion with the Norris and Rowe Shows, escaped from his cage at Fort Dodge, Ia., during the evening performance. Capt. Frank Hall, the lion tamer, had just completed his performance and while emerging from the cage the door refused to close and the lion bounded through the audiende and escaped. After severely attacking two horses which were hitched near the show grounds, the lion escaped to the wood and was not captured until two hours later. That no one in the audience was killed or injured is a miracle as the tents were crowded with spectators.
A double wedding took place with the Van Amburg Shows at Estherville, Ia., July 8,when Glenn V. Wagner, musician, and Miss Lillie Canfield, a lion tamer, were united in marriage, followd by G. A. Lamont, balloonist, and Miss Carrie Kandell, a performer, being made one.
The Spencer Wild West Show is reported to have closed at Pittsburg, Kan.
Ben Beno, high wire equilibrist and balancing traps, is with the Great Van Amburg Show this season.
The Harris Nickel Plate Show is for sale. If purchased before August 29, it can be had as a going concern.
Chas. Smith, musician, last season with the John Robinson Shows, joined the band of Sells Bros.' at Streator,Ill, Aug. 6.
The Busby Brothers' one-ring circus was re-organized at Pittsburg, Kan. The show carries about fifty people and a band.
William Todt Jr., infant son of Mr. and Mrs. William Todt, of Todt Famous Show, died at their home at Snow Hill, Md., Aug. 3.
W. B. Marks and T. L. Tresler, late of the Sells and Downs' Show, joined the Barnum and Bailey Show at Indianapolis, Ind., recently.
A panther escaped from La Mont Bros.' wagon show at Logansport, Ind., during the recent performance at that place. The animal was captured some days later.
Col. Phil Coup has secured Lalacoola and his dog-eating Iggorrotes from the Phillipines and will exhibit them in connection with his midget. Col. Coup is now playing fairs.
Notes from the Welsh Bros.' Shows. "The show played Red Band, N. J., 6, and Long Branch, 8, to good business and every body well pleased. John Welsh has gone down down Delaware to look the ground over."
Notes from Hulburd's Combined R. R. Shows. Only a few more weeks in the North, then through Illinois on the ___ into the South for the winter. This has been one of the best seasons the Hulburd shows has ever had.
Harry Sanger, of the Campbell Bros.' Show, writes that Mrs. Harry Sanger was taken sick at Blair, Neb., July 9. Doctors claimed it was German measles and wired him to return. He did so and they later decided that it was smallpox. He states he had to give up his work and he and his wife have been in quarantine ever since, but same will be raised Aug. 15.
Notes from McDonald Bros.' New United Show. We have had rain for several weeks, but the show has done well, nevertheless. The side show closed Aug. 1, at Hillsville, Va. All are well and happy and the ghost walks regularly. Geo. B. Stallings has taken charge of the advance and the show will reorganize for a long season South. Walter Fletcher has taken charge of privileges and has ordered two fine monkeys,a box of snakes and an armadillo.
Notes from Sells and Downs' Shows. "D. W. Winslow is with the show doing his famous mule act, clowing and driving chariots. This is his third season. Nola Winslow is riding a menage act and flat and Roman Standing races. Park B. Prentiss and his concert band are receiving comment everywhere as a high-class musical organization. Joseph Berris is equestrian director. The James Wolfscale's Band and Vaudeville company is one of the featurers of the side show and they give a high-class performance. The vaudeville contingent is composed of the following people: John Hunter, Owen Dunn, Walter Rector, Miss Clara Reese, Miss ___ Williams and Mrs. Geo. Beck."
The side show closed with McDonald Bros.' New United Shows at Hillsville, Va., Aug. 2, and went to Allison, where they built stage, seats, etc., and opened, Aug. 6, to good business. The new outfit was named Jim Brackman's Famous Show. the roster of the show is as follows: Jim Brackman, owner and bag puncher; Mrs. Brackman, lady bag puncher; Master Howard, clown, rings and traps; Baby Louise, paper tearing and song; Musical Ten Cycks in sketches, double dancing and musical acts; Wm. Smith, barrel jumping and contortion; Prof. C. J. Hicks, magic and also making all openings and doing advance work, and Lawrence Milley, prop.
It is reported that Eddie Botsford, a cowboy with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show, proved himself a hero recently in Newport, R. I., and received a substantial reward in the shape of a $500 check. During the street parade a pair of horses attached to the carriage of Mrs. Darling, a member of the summer colony, took fright and dashed down a side street. Mrs. Darling, a daughter and a young lady visiter her were in the carriage. Botsvord broke out of the parade and gave chase. He shortly overhauled and stopped the team. The women were profuse in their thanks, but the rancher put spurs to his broncho and rattled away to join the parade. In Middletown, Conn., Botsford received a letter in which was a check for $500 from Mrs. Darling; also intimations that a handsome saddle had been sent him by Miss Darling.
Notes from La Mont Bros.' Circus. "We have been playing to fine business during the past six weeks in Indiana. The show is much larger than last season, as we carry fifty people, forty-five head of stock and an eighty foot big top with forty foot middle, and a forty by sixty for side show. The side show is under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield and has been more than hilding its own. It is no common occurrence to see it crowded three times a day. The big show is winning press regards as well as making the money, and is sometimes strengthened by Chas. La Mont in his aerial and slack wire act. Mr. La Mont has been with all the big ones and whenever he decides to make his appearance in the ring he holds the people spellbound. Our band is the best we ever carried and is under the direction of Lawrence McMackin. At Remington, Ind., July 8, one of the lionesses gave birth to two baby lions. They are drawing much attention in the side show. At Monticello, Ind., a cage containing a panther and a leopard was in a runaway and the cage was wrecked. The panther is making things lively in that part of the country as it is still at large. The show is being well advertised over the affair. We will not pull in winter quarters until the first of November."
Billboard, August 27, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, September 3, 1904, pp. 7, 12, 18. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Fred Kramer, a musician with Ringling Bros.' Circus band, died in Omaha, Neb., last week. The remains were brought to Logansport, Ind., for interment. He was well known in Logansport, which was his home. A large number of friends attended the funeral.
The entire circus world will learn with surprise and deep regret that Peter Sells, of the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Shows, suffered a stroke of paralysis on the morning of August 26. It seemed slight at first but soon affected his speech. He grew steadily worse and by the afternoon failed to recognize his daughter or the other members of the household. His physicians regard his condition as critical. He is 57 years old. Mr. Sells has not had the best of health for some two years. He has suffered froma complication of kidney and nervous troubles, which while not serious, sapped his vitality and impaired his strength.
Latest Re Peter Sells. Writing under date of August 29, Mr. Spahr, of Columbus, O., says: "Replying to your telegram of yesterday. I am pleased to say that while Mr. Sells' condition has not changed materially for a couple of days past, he is doing very nicely, and his doctor thinks he will be about again in good shape after a couple of weeks' rest. Only his left arm and leg are much affected. His mind is perfectly clear, his face not in the least distorted and his speech only slightly affected."
As an example of the saying among circus people regarding the innumerable "shake downs" to which they are subject, namely: "Its not what they can do, but what they will do." A case in point arose, Aug. 19, at Flushing, Long Island, where the Gentry Brothers' Show was billed to give two performances. After the parade, Detective Kelly, accompanied by six police, demanded Mr. Gentry's license. Manager Gentry promptly presented what is known as a common license, signed by Samuel Brock, clerk, and duly obtained from the Bureau fo Licenses in the City of New York, of which Flushing forms a part. The document stated that "the Gentry Bros. were duly licensed for one year from August 2, 1904, to give common shows in the city of New York." Notwithstanding this, the detective declared that this was not the proper license; that what was needed was the full circus license of $150. Mr. Gentry stated that he had already given performances under his license - in fact had given two the day previous in Rockaway, and did not propose to procure any other. When the time came to open the box-office, Mr. Gentry prepared to sell tickets. W. T. Ballinger, manager of the show, tendered fifty cents and got one. Detective Kelly refused to act on that sale, whereupon Mr. Gentry asked him to buy one. The detective put down his money and received a ticket. Thereupon he arrested Gentry, took him to the patrol wagon, ordered the prisoner taken to the Flushing station and the reserves and mounted men went back to their stations. The show was packed up and departed for the next stand, Jamaica.
Smith Farming, aerialist, joined the Pan-American Shows at Graysville, Ill., Aug. 23.
Sells and Downs cancelled their dates on Long Island and did not go east as expected.
Dan S. Fishel has succeeded Whiting Allen as press agent of the Barnum and Bailey Shows.
Fred Busby, who was with the Wallace Show this summer, is now the advance agent of Dealers in White Women.
Ed Van Skaik, for the past nine seasons with the John Robinson Show, has entirely recovered from his illness of last winter.
The Three Tasmanians, lady acrobats, now with the Ringling Bros.' Shows, will enter vaudeville at the close of the present season.
Thomas W. Ryan reports that the business with the Norris and Rowe Show was bigger at Charles City than any other place in Iowa.
H. B. Gentry, of Gentry Bros., came on from Bloomington, Ind., and joined one of the Gentry Bros.' shows at Brooklyn, N. Y., last week. W. O. Tarkington is doing some clever work ahead of Gentry Bros.
The Nickel Plate Shows closed the season at Sebree, Ky., August 29, and are now stored temporarily on the L. & N. tracks at Evansville, Ind.
Frank Miller, press agent for Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Show, has resigned from that organizaton and will take out a company of his own next season.
John Ponsol, late with the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Shows, is still in the hospital in New York City. He lost one of his legs, while with the circus, July 25.
Harry R. Moore writes that he has closed with the Cash Carnival Company, to make arrangements for season of 1905 for the Harry R. Moore Greatest One Ring Show on Earth.
Chas. Bartine Sr., will fit out an entirely new show which will take the road early in 1905. Mr. Bartine writes that he has had a very good season at Elmhurst Park, Connersville, Pa.
Gentry Bros. will open in Philadelphia for three weeks, Sept. 5. Three stands will be played each of a week duration. The lots secured will not conflict with those played by the Hargreaves Shows.
Roster of Gollmar Bros. No. 2 advertising car. Manager George F. Cable, boss billposter; Fred Perkins, Ed. Marsden, Ed. Colvin, J. Moore, I. Erickson, Lew Comstock, Wm. Lane, Frank Dickson, William Johnson.
Chas. Ellis, agent Pan-American Shows, writes that he secured the boards at Newport, Ark., although Sells-Downs had a man on the ground. The Pan-American makes Newport, Sept. 1. Ellis says Sells-Downs come Oct. 15.
Mrs. A. Sutcliff of the Scottish acrobats with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, who underwent an operation for appendicitus at St. Vincent's hospital, Milwaukee, Wis., is rapidly recovering, and will rejoin the circus in a few weeks.
Edward Shipp will open his indoor circus about December 15, playing mostly large opera houses through the west and middle-west. Pascatel will look after the press work with the Shipp show. A number of the leading performers of several of the traveling circuses have been engaged for the winter tour.
The following is the roster of the concert of Sells and Downs' United Shows: Rentz and Dougherty, song and dance; Cecelia Fortuna, soubrette; Conklin and Clark, musical makers; Uland Earl, serpentine dance; Jay Polland and Billie Winslow, comedians; the Kinnebrews, sketch artists; Geo. Atkinson, monologue and stage manager.
W. O. Tarkington, general agent of Gentry Bros.' Shows, has been in Philadelphia for a week. He not only made all the arrangements for the three weeks' stand in that town, but squared the newspapers and numerous other minor details. He also laid out the route for the rest of the season and made all of his railroad contracts.
Frank J. O'Donnell, who has been doing the press work with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, will go ahead for the balance of the season to do the press contracting. Mr. O'Donnell has succeeded in getting numerous good stories in the papers this season, while back with the show, and if he gets an opportunity will spring new ones while ahead of the show.
Gentry Brothers Shows played twelve stands on Long Island, to very large business. The show experienced two days of rain, and no show was given at Flushing, N. Y. The show is now playing a two weeks' engagement in Brooklyn, N. Y. The show will open in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 14, for two weeks. Gentry Brothers have been playing the larger cities all this season, to big business.
While Harris' Nickel Plate shows were giving an exhibition at Clarksville, Tenn., August 24, one of the clowns was burlesqing President Roosevelt. This gave offense to some of Teddy's negro supporters in the crowd and two of the darkies took the matter up. A fight ensued between two of the clowns and two negros during which T. Martin, colored, was badly beaten about the head. The four men were arrested.
The Hargreaves Shows will open a season of a month in Philadelphia, Sept. 5. Three day stands will be played and the show will move from lot to lot by wagon. The train will be side-tracked until the Philadelphia season is over. It is expected that the financial returns will be good as the show acquired some reputation there a few years ago. John H. Rice, the general agent, arranged all the details for this series of dates.
Notes from Al. F. Wheeler's Show. "Since our opening, May 4, we have only had two losers and the show at present is twice the size it was when it left winter quarters. The big show band has been strengthened by Prof. Cormont and Walter Philips coronet and Provost, solo trombone. The big show has added Mack and Hogan, double traps. The side show, under the management of John Reh, has added the big snake, Frank, and a cage of monkeys."
At Bedford City, Va., on Aug. 17, John Robinson gave only one afternoon exhibition to an immense attendance. The beautiful National Home of the B. P. O. E. is at this place and all were invited to participate in the day's festivities. After the show the showmen visited the home where they were courteously received and the seventy-two Elks with the John Robinson Shows were particularly delighted and surprised at the magnitude and excellence of this splendid home for worthy members of the grand order.
The cas of Frank H. Gentry, accused of violating Sections 1472 and 1473 of the city charter in attempting to give a circus without a license, was heard before Magistrate Smith in the Flushing police court, August 22. The prosecution was conducted by District Attorney George A. Gregg. Gentry had no counsel and refused to make any statement. He was held in $50 bail for the Court of Special Sessions. The bond was furnished by Thomas De Alma of Corona. After the hearing Gentry told the Eagle representative that since leaving Flushing he has given performances at Jamaica and at Brooklyn and was not molested.
J. H. Beehan, a former employe of the Cummins Wild West Show on the Pike at the World's Fair, is reported to have been arrested last week for assault with intent to kill upon Frank Reed, one of the cowboys. Reed was standing at the entrance of the show recently when Beehan approached, it is said, and struck him over the head with a cane, knocking him down. Beehan then drew a revolver and was about to shoot the prostrate man when he was disarmed and arrested by Patrolmen McFarland, McCarthy and Callahan. Reed is one of the witnesses to the shooting of three men some weeks ago by Zack Mulhall.
John Parker, a cook employed with Gentry Bros.' Shows, was assaulted by a canvasman, August 20, while the show was enroute between Huntington, W. Va., and Kenova, and then thrown from the rapidly moving train. His escape from death was little less than miraculous. The men were drinking and this led up to the trouble. The fall from the train rendered him unconscious, and he lay beside the railroad track for several hours before he recoverd consciousness and was able to make his way to Kenova, where his injuries were treated. There were fourteen cuts about his head and his entire body was badly bruised. He went to Portsmouth from Kenova, Aug. 19, and sought a warrant for the man who assaulted him, but for some reason it was refused. Parker then left for Columbus, where his home is located.
Billboard, September 10, 1904, pp. 12, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Just before the night show had started, at Iowa City, September 1, a terrific wind storm struck the tents of Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth and blew them down. The famous "danger drill" of the employes was called for the first time this season and every man responded with the promptness of a fireman and the precision of a soldier. They did splendid work. The audience was rescued. No animals escaped, and the fire (originating from the lights) was extinguished before any one was injured. The big top was pretty badly burned, but the losses and damages as given in the press dispatches were greatly exaggerated. The audience escaped without a scratch.
A reunion of the descendants and relatives of the late P. T. Barnum, of Bridgeport, Conn., was held, Aug. 26, at the birthplace of the famous showman in that place. Fifty members of the family participated in the reunion, among them the Barnums from New York City, Detroit, Chicago and from many places in Connecticut.
The Barnum and Bailey Show turned people away both at Waterloo and Mason City, Iowa.
W. C. Boyd experiences some trouble in getting the railroad lot at Pittsburg, but finally closed the contract, Aug. 31.
Peter Sells is improving rapidly. He can move the affected limbs without trouble and will soon be up and about.
Colonel Hugh Harrison has changed his plans and will not sever his connection with the Walter L. Main Show as was first reported.
Robert Mershon, of the Forepaugh-Sells Show, has returned to his home in Washington C. H., O., suffering from an abcess on the kidney.
The Smi-Letta Family, six in number, write that they are now with the Great Pan-American Show. They report good business and fine weather.
Dennis Cunningham, of the Pawnee Bill Shows, was convicted of assault at Danbury, Conn., Aug. 23 and sentenced to ninety days in jail at Bridgeport.
Jerome and Edwards, marvelous novelty equilibrists, now touring with Reno and Alvards Show, report that they are meeting with marked success in Kentucky after a successful tour of Illinois.
It is reported that J. T. McCaddon has successfully incorporated and floated his circus in England. The capital stock is fifty thousand pounds sterling or $250,000. Considerable stock was sold in America.
Roy Fortune, the one-legged slack wire artist, writes that he is in his twenty-fourth week with the Wood Bros.' Show, and is meeting with great success in his Filipino and Jap juggling on the wire. He states that he is headed South for the winter that that the show is doing big business.
A baby camel was born in a Wells-Fargo express car on the Rock Island R. R. near Des Moines, Ia., the other day. Its mother is one of a herd of twelve that Campbell Bros., the circus men, imported from Asia, and was enroute to the western headquarters of the show when the event occurred. The baby tipped the scales at thirty-seven and a quarter pounds.
A new kind of circus "shake down" has come to light in the nature of a "poll-tax" which the officials at Deer Lodge, Mont., recently endeavord to levy on the members of the Walter L. Main Show. It seems that the same thing was worked on the Norris and Rowe Show, sometime previous, and the management of that organization either paid the tax or compromised with the town officials in some way. When they approached Walter L. Main on the subject he informed the guardians of the law that he would pay the tax for himself but when it came to settling for the members of the show he would have to refuse. The Deer Lodge statute calls for a poll tax on $2.50 or work on the streets. Al Gillingham, the adjuster of the Main show, finall worried the tax collectiors out and the show got away without being shaken down, and Walter did not pay any poll-tax either.
Alexius, the Danish trick bicycle rider, who has been featured with the Floto Shows this summer, died at Baker City, Ore., Aug. 9, from typhoid fever. He was taken ill while the show was at Baker City, July 19, and was left in the hospital there. Alexius was one of the best trick bicycle riders in the world. His first appearance in America was on Keith's Circuit. Following he played over the Orpheum and Proctor Circuits, and then joined the Floto Shows. He was about 24 years of age at the time of his death. He was a native of Denmark, and had appeared in all the countries of Europe before coming to America.
Billboard, September 17, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, September 24, 1904, pp. 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The numbered days for the Forepaugh-Sells' Show under the management of the Sells Bros. brings into prominence and interest in the formation of the great show and its varied history of thirty years. The closing of the show under the management of the Sells Bros. is one of the real tragedies of the business world. It might be said that this big and wonderful enterprise is brought to a close because there is no longer a member of the Sells family who can take up the work. Mr. Peter Sells is now an old man unable to weather the storms of fierce business stife and he rightfully seeks the repose he has earned through years of labor. He has make a success in business and gave to the American people one of its most worthy institutions. The Sells and the Forepaugh Shows combined about eight years ago and since that thime have been owned by four equal partners, Lewis Sells, Peter Sells, W. Cole and James A. Bailey. When the Barnum and Bailey started across the ocean about eight years ago, Mr. Bailey was confronted with the necessity of leaving a circus in this country to help protect his richest pasture. The Forepaugh Show was then knocking about the country in somewhat unseaworthy shape and Mr. Cole and Mr. Bailey were able to get ahold of it at a bargain. They found that the Sells Bros.' Show, which had been steadily gaining ground since its ogranization, in 1872, would probably be a dangerous competitor of their Forepaugh property. They went out to Columbus, saw the Sells brothers and the outcome was the combination of their domestic show and the Columbus aggreation, making the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Circus a proposition of some magnitude. The show held the ground in this country successfully until the return of the Barnum and Bailey Show. It divided territory with the Buffalo Bill Wild West, until Barnum's Circus came back to its own and the Indians went over to London to charm the patrons of Earl's Court.
Since then it has divided territory with the Barnum and Bailey people, taking the Middle West last year while the Barnum and Bailey kept pretty well to the east of the Appalachians. This year the two circuses reversed their positions, the Barnum Show now being in Iowa and hurrying back to Chicago to clowe its season in the Coliseum, while Forepaugh's is in the Middle West for the first time this year. Into whose hands the show will fall at the November sale is a matter of much discussion and prophecy. It has been hinted that Mr. James A. Bailey is growing old and is not likely that he will take the responsibility upon his hands. It is also reported that a stock company, composed of Columbus men, would buy the property at the sale, but whether they intended to run it as a show is a matter of conjecture.
The Barnum and Bailey Show will open at the Coliseum, Thursday, Oct. 6, for a fourteen day's engagement, the same concluding Oct. 19. This will include two Sundays on both of which the show will give exhbitions. Last Fall the Barnum Show gave Sunday performances during their Chicago engagement. It was Mr. Bailey's original intention to open the coming Coliseum engagement, Monday, Oct. 3, but on account of the vast amount of work (much of it having to be done after the arrival of the show) to get the building in readiness, the plans were altered and the opening deferred until the 6th.
A furious storm, consisting of the heaviest rainfall ever registered in Philadelphia with wind having a velocity of fifty-eight miles an hour, visited the Hargreave Circus while encamped at Fourth and Ritner sts., Philadelpia, Pa., Sept. 15, and did damage to the show property which will reach into thousands of dollars. The storm came about 2 a.m., Thursday and those who ventured out in the neighborhood of the circus say that the noise was frightful. Cages were upset and the terrorized animals in attempting to free themselves from their prisons emitted roars and cries well calculeted to frighten the bravest. It is said that a major portion of the tents was torn into ribbons and that the paraphernalia was rendered unfit for further usefulness. During the heaviest part of the storm the elephant Jumbo, broke loose and tore madly about the cages, causing, if possible, greater panice than before. The confusion was heightened by the cutting loose of 128 horses and ponies after the tent had been carried away. Arthur Beverly, the elephant trainer, finally captured the elephant by calming him sufficiently to pass chains over his tusks and under his breast. Three employes of the show were injured and had to be taken to the hospital. Seven tents were hopelessly ruined.
Albert Grant, employed as a six horse driver with the John Robinson Show, met with a fatal accident at Glasgow, Ky., Sept. 7. The night performance was over and the paraphernalia was being loaded upon the train when the train gave a jerk and threw young Grant under the wheels. His injuries were very painful and consisted of the calf of his right leg being entirely cut off and he was otherwise bruised about the head and body. He was taken to Bowling Green, where medical aid was administered by the circus physician, Dr. Baehr. He died at noon, Sept. 8, never regaining consciousness. His remains were shipped to Chicago, his home. He was about twenty years of age.
On Sept. 20, Geo. E. Pickering, general agent of Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows, finished his season's work, having done all the contracting for that organization up to Oct. 1. October has been selected as the date for going into winter quarters and the show will therefore retire to Schenectady, N. Y., where it will remain all winter. Mr. Wheeler writes that the season has been a very prosperous one.
J. M. J. Kane will be a half owner in Scott's Minstrels this season.
J. P. Fagan has signed with the Great Wallace Shows for the season of 1905.
Jim Logan has closed with the Main Shows and joined the Fred Hewitt Exposition Company for the balance of the season.
O. W. Courtney, tramp juggler, in his 29th week with the Campbell Bros.' Show, reports very good business in the Western country.
C. E. Forrest, general agent for the Clark Shows, writes that they are doing nicely, being obliged to give three performances at some stands.
The great Ellet Troupe, consisting of one lady and three gentlemen, who perform on an aerial bar, is one of the feature attractions with the Great Floto Shows.
B. F. Webb, leader of band with Texas Bill's Wild West, closed with that organization, Sept. 5, and returned to his home at Waterloo, Ia., and will re-organize his famous Beloit Band for the dancing season.
The city council of the city of Dallas, Tex., has passed an ordinance prohibition circuses from performing in that city during the month of October. The new ordinance is intended to restrain the circuses from competing with the State Fair and other festivities.
We wish to correct the statement in a recent issue of "The Billboad" to the effect that Walter Stanton Jr., has instituted suit against the Gentry Bros.' Shows. It was Walter Standon Sr., as guardian for Walter Stanton Jr., who instituted the suit.
W. P. Hall, who lately bought the Harris Nickel Plate show property, intends to put out a forty car circus next spring. He did not purchase the title with the Harris property and has not announced the name he will give to his new show. Some idea of the extensive operations of W. P. Hall can be gleaned when it is stated that Mr. Hall furnished the 400 horses now being used in the Boer War spectacle on the Pike, at the World's Fair.
Colonel H. E. Allen (Bunk) has opened one of the finest hotels in Chicago. The New Alhambra, at the corner of 18 and State sts., has ben newly furnished from top to bottom and will undoubtedly become the favorite headquarters for professionals playing the South Side. It will be convenient for circus people, it being only a five-minute walk from the hotel to the Coliseum.
Billboard, October 1, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, October 8, 1904, pp. 11, 12, 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Born to Prof. R. C. Carlisle, manager of the Carlisle Wild West show, and his wife, formerly Miss Lily Bartlett, of the Bartlett Sisters, at Independence, Mo., September 9, a nine pound boy.
Miss Nora Braddon, the electric tattooed woman, and Frank Layfield, boss canvasman of Sig. Sautelle's side show, were married September 11, in Arcade, N. Y. After the ceremony the bridal party and a few friends repaired to a local hotel where refreshments were served.
Wallace Sykes, one of the famous acrobats of the Sykes Bros., with C. H. Knight's Show, and Miss Elizabeth Jenkins, of Leipsic, O., were married at Dunkirk, O., during the street fair which was held there recently.
Harry J. Cogdon, a circus rider, and Miss Nellie Thomas were married in Philadelphia, Pa., recently. The young couple eloped from Glasgow, Scotland, where Mr. Congdon was performing with a circus.
Louis Semon and Minnie Robinson, circus performers of New York City, were granted a license to marry in Newport, Ky., September 23, and were married in Covington.
W. H. Tabor, press agent of the Ringling Bros.' Show in conjunction with Mr. Brady, died September 22 at the Portland Hotel, Portland, Ore. Mr. Tabor had recently contracted a cold which ran into pneumonia. Complication set in, and the physicians pronounced his death as caused by typhoid fever. He was left at Portland in care of his mother and a life-long friend, R. M. Feltus. The news of his death was cause for intense grief among the people with the Ringling show. Mr. Tabor was in the employ of Gentry Bros. for many years, until last season when he joined Ringling Bros.' Show. During winter seasons he had been connected with many theatrical companies as agent and manager. He was very popular and enjoyed a wide reputation as a congenial and promising young man.
John F. Ryan, with the Pan American Show, and known among the employes as "Stake and Chain Dad," died at Atkins, Ark., Sept. 24, from malarial fever. He joined show Aug. 7.
Harlow S. Northrup, a former lion tamer for Barnum & Bailey, died at Waterbury, Conn., Sept. 25, of brain trouble, the result of a collision on a trolley car about a year ago.
T. J. Cannon, was born in the State of Kentucky in 1872. He received a common school education and joined the John Robinson Show in 1890. He has since followed up the business and was employed with Sells Bros., Adam Forepaugh Jr., G. W. Hall, Forepaugh-Sells, Lemen Bros. and McMahan. The last years of his life he has devoted principally to carnivals. Last year he was general agent for the Wright Carnival Company and served in the same capacity with the Farari Bros.' Company this season. Just at the present time Mr. Cannon is organizing his own company which he has styled the Delta Carnival Company. [photo on p. 19]
Siebel Bros.' Dog and Pony Show closed at Iowa Falls, Sept. 27, and left for headquarters at Watertown, Wis., where the show will be reorganized and taken South for a fall tour.
Thomas Conners, formerly with the advance of Barnum and Bailey Circus, arrived in Philadelphia, Sept. 26, after a prosperous season. He at once secured a position with the Billposting Sign Company.
Charles Barnes, clown and gymnast, closed with the Great Melbourne Circus at Aniwa, Wis., Sept. 19. He has several offers under consideration and in the meantime is spending a few days in Chicago.
James A. Morrow has completed arrangements for taking out a repertoire company at the close of his contract as manager of Sig Sautelle's annex.
John D. Carey is making good as a car agent and press agent of the Walter L. Main Show. He attends to all the newspapers and keeps the car on time too.
The Miles Orton Southern Show will open at Suffolk, Va., Oct. 10, and will remain out all winter. Frank Robins Jr. has the candy stands. Phil Harris is general agent and railroad contractor.
A cablegram from Hamburg, Ger., was recently received at Hagenbeck's, on the Pike at the World's Fair, and a mamoth three-ring circus will be formed from the Hagenbeck Show, after the close of the Fair.
The Campbell Bros.' Show which is showing and Downs Show have been engaged in a big billposting fight down in Arkansaw, the advance car forces being kept busy in many towns in covering up each other's paper.
Frank B. Miller, the well-known equestrian, is at Lancaster, Pa., organizing a big winter indoor circus. Mr. Miller has secured much gilt-edge time in the large cities. Clinton Newton will be press agent for the enterprise.
Fred Beckman, who has this season been opposition agent for the Barnum and Bailey Show, has gone out ahead of the Elinore Sisters. Mr. Beckman will next season put out a small circus of his own.
The Pan-American Shows closed their season Sept. __, at Nowata, I. T. General agent Chas. McKee will rest in Kansas City. Chas Ellis will take a trip to Chicago. P. S. Mattox is in Brooklyn and the show will go into winter quarters at Dolson, Mo.
Otto C. Floto, sporting editor of the "Post," Denver, promoter of boxing, part owner of the Floto Circus, and dispenser of liquid refreshments in the Colorado metropolis, was in Chicago, Wednesday, Sept. 28, stopping over a few trains there enroute to the St. Louis Exposition.
The Great Barlow Shows are in winter quarters. Manager E. P. Barlow reports that 1904 was the best season financially in the history of the show. He will enlarge it materially for next season. Howe and Decker have been re-engaged for next season as has also Guy Fahlor.
Jos. Meyers contradicts the report that the has purchased an interest in the Sig Sautelle Show. Mr. Meyers has been negotiating for an interest in the show, but the issue failed to reach a satisfactory conclusion and all negotiations are now off. It is quite probably not declared his intentions of doing so.
The Welsh Bros.' Newest Great Railroad Shows closed their season at Quarryville, Pa., Sept. 28. Big crowds were in attendance at both performances. The entire show was shipped to Lancaster, where it will winter again, using McGrann's Park for the purpose. The next season the show will open early in April, 1905.
On September 10, at Suffolk, Va., Lew Nichols opens as manager of the side show with the Miles Orton Show. He has a new 40-80 Thomson & Vandiveer top and a Taylor front. The roster of the side show is as follows: Colored Minstrels (ladies and gentlemen) first part; Mrs. Lovil, snake charmer; Madam Leland, mind reader; Jack Kubns, tattooed man; Dick Hapman's troupe of glass blowers; Prof. Nickolini, magician, and Robell Brothers' performing bears.
Colonel Sam Dawson, formerly press agent for the Pawnee Bill Show, but now manager of the Monumental Theatre in Baltimore, Md., was in Philadelphia, Sept. 29 and 30, to attend the funeral of his sister, Miss Ella S. Dawson . . .
George W. Rollins now uses five cars in transporting his European Trained Wild Animal Shows. He carries six different acts besides some small menagerie stuff. The following is the roster of the show: Geo. W. Owens, general manager; Doc Brennan, boss animal man; Edward Partridge, general agent; Capt. Jack Maitland, press representative; Joseph Boclere, lion trainer; Madame Olivant, lady lion trainer; Lulu Weaver, Antoinette, Swessaine, Nick Roach, Deovino and Geo. Roger, band master.
The roster of the Texas Bill Wild West Show is as follows: W. C. Lane, manager; Clyde Wolfe and Frank Cool, ticket sellers; W. H. Godfrey, adjuster of privileges; Pearl Hazelton, snake enchantress; Zim Williams, musical artist; Grace Hazelton; Big Elmo, fat boy; Math. Mora Troupe of Trained Alligators; Geo. Smith, tattooed man; Shiko, man-eating gorilla; Prof. C. W. Mack, lecture and punch; La Belle Lucy, Lillian Harrington and Mable Hayes, dancing girls; Arabian Band of seven pieces. Free outside attractions: Lone Star May, fancy shooting; Clinton Wyler, high dive; Jim Burton, boss canvasman; Chick Carter, assistant, with six men.
The roster of the Mollie Bailey's Great Texas Show is as follows: Mollie A. Bailey, proprietoress; Eugene Bailey, manager; Willie Bailey, band leader; Prof. Albert Cook, leader of orchestra; Chas. Dickens, agent, with two assistants; Alf Hardesty, boss canvasman, with six assistants; Bennie Hatcher, boss hostler, with nine assistants; Dock Bailey, privileges. Performers: Allie Bailey, cloud swing and wire bars; Brad Bailey, contortionist, concert and revolving ladder; Mrs. Dicken's troupe of dogs and canaries; Miss Bessie Bailey, song and dance; Miss Alice Bailey, skirt dance and illustrated songs; Miss Birdie Bailey, serpentine dance; Chas. Dryden, foot and hand juggler. We are in our thirty-seventh week and business continues good. We have not had a losing week so far this season and will close about Dec. 15.
The City Council of Dallas, Tex., passed an ordinance, Sept. 6, prohibiting circuses from exhibiting in Dallas during the month of October. This is to prevent competition with local attractions during the Fall Festival season. The representatives of two circuses were one the ground and are inclined to fight the ordinance on the ground that the State law permits circuses to exhibit in Texas any month and the new ordinance conflicts with the State Law. The Mayor of the city claims the City Charter gives the Dallas authorities power to prohibit circuses in the city absolutely if the city sees fit to do so. The circus representatives are considering the plan of giving exhibitions in October just outside of the city limits. The ordinance as passed repeals all former ordinances providing for heavy circus licenses, and in order to obtain any revenues from circuses, the city will be compelled to enact special ordinances after October.
Allen E. Sells, formerly assistant manager of the Forepaugh-Sells Show and the only son of Ephriam Sells, passed away at his home, 119 Hubbard av., Columbus, O., Sept. 27. Mr. Sells had been in ill health for over a year and for the past three weeks had been confined to his bed. About a year ago he retired from active service as assistant manager of the show and went to his home in Columbus, O. On Sunday night Mr. Sells' condition became worse, but his physicians were hopeful of his recovery. However he gradually grew worse and his friends were summoned. Death came quietly. He apparently did not suffer and was conscious to the last. Heart failure was pronounced as the cause of his death. Mr. Sells was born Aug. 26, 1862, at Cleveland, O. As a young boy he joined the show controlled by his father and continued with the same until about a year ago. Mr. Sells was married about eleven years ago to Miss Nellie Gilliam, of Columbus. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Anna and Alice, aged four and ten years, respectively.
The Sparks Shows were badly wrecked in a collision at Manticoke, Pa., early Sunday morning, Oct. 2. Telegraphic advices state the elephant was badly hurt, four employees seriously injured and every cage smashed to pieces. The accident was due to carelessness of the part of the railroad. Manager Chas. Sparks immediately took steps to make the necessary repairs and will expedite matters with all possible dispatch.
The Armers, Al. and Rose, are back with the Wallace Shows.
H. W. (Buck Massie) is now manager of the No. 2 Gentry Show.
The Great Wallace Shows gave two performances at Columbia, Tenn., Sept. 24, to capacity.
E. M. Burk has signed with Col. Hugh Harrison for the balance of the season at the World's Fair.
The Campbell Bros.' Show omitted parade the southwest, will close the season early in November.
John Robinson's Ten Big Shows have one performance at Winchester, Tenn., Sept. 14, to immense business.
Moreland's Wild West Show opened at Colorado Springs, Col., Sept. 23 and is headed South for the winter.
John Durham handled the Sells-Downs Shows splendidly during the recent absence of Mr. Martin Downs in Toronto.
Chas. Andress has been re-engaged with the Barnum and Bailey Shows for the season of 1905 at a handsome increase in salary.
The Great Ed Barlow Show closed its season Sept. 24, at South Milford, Mass. He will enlarge his show before next season.
L. C. Mason has retired from the advance forces of the No. 2 Gentry Show, being succeeded by C. W. Finney as local contractor.
The Walter L. Main Circus showed at Shelbyville, Ill., Sept. 23, to splendid audiences both afternoon and evening, and gave universal satisfaction.
Mamie Forepaugh, equestrial and gymnast, closed with Campbell Bros.' Show, Sept. 24, and joined Sells and Downs' Show at Las Vegas, N. M.
The Millettes have signed with M. L. Clark's Shows for the balance of the season after closing their third season with the Harris Nickel Plate Shows.
Chas. Beck, formerly with Cummings' Wild West on the Pike at the World's Fair, has charge of the No. 2 side show box with the Pawnee Bill's Wild West.
A. G. Lowande is more than making good with the Gollmar Show this season; his somersault riding is good and his odd antics on the trick mule are wonderful.
Billboard, October 15, 1904, pp. 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
After an illness lingering for several weeks, Peter Sells, the celebrated showman, died at his home in East Long Street, Columbus, O., October 5. About six weeks ago Mr. Sells was stricken with apoplexy, and exhibited all signs of recovery. The relapse, however, which followed, proved fatal. The end came at 6:30 p.m. and was not expected. His physician, Dr. Charles Hamilton, had given up hope of his recovery. At his deathbed were Miss Florence and Lewis Sells, daughter and brother, respectively, of the deceased showman; and six sisters, Mrs. Willis Cobb and Mrs Minnie Holt, of Cleveland; Mrs. S. H. Barrett, Mrs. B. F. Greene, Mrs. Hannah West and Mrs. Rachel Colby, of Columbus.
Peter Sells was born at Columbus, O., in 1849. He was the youngest of four brothers, the remaining three being Ephriam, Allen and Lewis. Peter was educated at the Grammar schools in Columbus. He was attracted to the oil fields of Pennsylvania in his early days where he journied only, however, to meet his first and only business failure. He started out as a contractor for the hauling of drilling materials on the various leases. A protracted sickness caused him to sell his teams and he returned to his native state, first being engaged as a conductor on the Cleveland Street Railway and afterward as manager of the circulation department of the Cleveland "Leader." He afterwards became attached to the ___ staff of that paper. In 1866 Peter followed his brothers Allen and Lewis to Birmingham, Ia., where they had established themselves as auctioneers. He joined them and soon afterward conducted an auction wagon which traveled with the old Hemmings and Cooper show. But the time was not ripe for him to embark into the business which brought him so much fame and wealth and he returned in 1868 to Columbus, where he and his brother Lewis opened an auction store at Gay and High Streets.
In 1872 the four brothers formed a combination and established the Sells Bros.' show. It was a wagon show and carried a menagerie consisting of nine cages of animals and two camels. From the wagon show was soon converted into a railroad show and the enormous aggregation now traveling the country in special trains was built up gradually as the brothers prospered. In 1881 Allen retired from the company and settled in Topeka, Kan., where he died in 1894. Ephriam died four years later. Peter was really at the head of the enormous enterprise and possessed a memory that was truly wonderful. He booked his own show and took an active interest in the details of the business. His wonderful memory remained with him until the last and even a few weeks before his death he could name every town in which his circus had exhibited from its foundation. The Sells Bros.' show was consolidated with the Adam Forepaugh show in 1897 and has since, most of the time under Mr. Sells management, been a great success.
In 1879 Peter Sells was married to Miss Mayme Luker, of Canton, Mo. One child was born to the union which, however, proved to be a most unhappy one and resulted in the famous divorce case of 1890, in which the showman was the defendant. The decree was rendered in his favor together wil a voluntary statement from the court that never had a man been so viciously ___ and never a man came forth from such a trial with honor so untarnished and reputation so unsullied. His only child, Florence, now grown up, has been constantly at his side. The strain of the trial left him almost a physical wreck, but for the last few years of his life, Mr. Sells had always exhibited fine spirits and strenuously conducted his big show. Intellectually, Peter Sells was a giant. Magazines eagerly sought articles from his pen. He was a man of deep conviction, wide experience and a scholarly attainments. All four of the brothers were self made men. Their career is one that should inspire every person in the business to renewed activity. Peter Sells was one of the best known men in the business. He was genial, pleasant and every ready to help the indigent or to lend a helping hand to the beginner. His name will remain as a hallowed memory of the rise of the tented aggregation and stories of his life and struggle will rebound and regale the arena for generations to come. The funeral services were under the direction of the Knights Templars of which organization the deceased was a member. The services were held at 2 o'clock, Saturday afternoon, Oct. 8. A large number of friends and relatives came to pay their last respects to the deceased showman. Among the visitors were Messrs. W. W. Cole, Joe Mayer, W. H. Gardner, George Bleistine, and Nelson Storbridge of the Strobridge Lithograph Company, and others.
Dan S. Fishell has been re-engaged as press representative back with the Barnum show for next season. Mr. Fishell has made many friends with the show, as well as thoroughly demonstrating his ability in handling the press.
Texas Bill's Wild West Show closed its season Sept. 30 at Neola, Ia. W. C. Lane has signed as side show manager for the Texas Bill Wild West next season.
C. J. Boylan, formerly with Ringling's advance, has settled down in the laundry business at Bloomington, Ill.
Messrs. Tom Corby, Mark Wisehart and Will Uphan closed with the Pawnee Bills Wild West at Circleville, O., Oct. 1.
The Siberts have been one of the sensations of the Great Gollmar R. R. Shows this season. Their aerial work is splendid.
Chas. E. Darling, contracting agent for Al. Wheeler's Show the past season, will winter at his home in North Adams, Mass.
Harry F. Curtis and Gerald Fitzgerald, of the Wallace Shows, will take out The Great Grove and his players this winter, beginning Dec. 7.
The Two Arnolds have closed a very successful season with the Reno & Alvord Combined Shows, and have joined the Barkout Carnival Co. for the winter.
One of the big elephants with the John Robinson Circus escaped at Wilmington, N. C., after the performance, and was recaptured with much difficulty.
The Norris and Rowe Shows were waterbound at Norman, Okla., and lost two stands, Paul's Valley and Ardmore. The picked up their paper again at Gainesville on the 8th.
Prof. Paul B. Jones writes from Reynoldsville, Pa., that he closed with Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Show last July and he has been laid up with typhoid fever. He is now well again.
The Al.G. Barnes Pony, Dog and Monkey Circus, closes a twenty-six weeks' contract, October 15, without losing a performance. It looks like the people want to see Mr. Barnes' attraction.
H. Percy Hill closed the contract by which the Gentry Brothers were engaged by the city of Albuquerque, N. M., for their gala week, Oct. 10 to 15. Gentry Brothers received a guarantee of $10,000, free lot and license.
The Great Ellet Troupe is one of the features with the Great Floto Shows. Their aerial bar act is new and is said to be away from any bar act in the country. They open with the show at Dallas, Texas, March 15, and will close on or about November 25.
Word comes from the East of another elopement in the family circus of "Governor" John F. Robinson, veteran circus owner of Robinson Station, near Terrace Park, O. It is stated that Minnie Robinson, daughter of Charles Robinson and niece of "Governor" Robinson, married over the objections of her father, now a business man in New York, T. Hugh Senron, a ring performer at Luna Park, Coney Island. The latter is said to be a clever artist. This is Minnie Robinson's second romance. Some years ago she eloped to Newport, Ky., and wedded J. M. J. Kane, well known as a theatrical advance man. She sued him for divorce last January and received her decree in June.
J. M. J. Kane, in advance of the Forepaugh-Sells' Show, and M. C. Service, in advance of the John Robinson Show, figured in an affair at the depot at New Bern, N. C., Oct. 3, which is said to have almost amounted to a tragedy. The advance interests of the circuses had greatly aroused the gentlemen against each other. Mr. Kane had checked his baggage to Wilmington, Del., and Mr. Service happened to be at the depot on business for his show. The two men engaged in an altercation and scarcely before the bystanders had been attracted Mr. Kane was stabbed below the heart with a small pen knife. He was taken to his hotel where medical aid was summoned. Mr. Service was apprehended. He was taken before a justice and gave bond for his appearance. Mr. Kane is not in a serious condition, and is improving. He is making an effort to have the case against Service dismissed. The affair is one that should not have happened, but was undoubtedly brought about through the excitement and jealousy attendant upon strong opposition fighting. Both gentlemen are well and favorably known as zealous advance men.
Charles Valentin Pease, formerly director of the curiosity department of the Barnum and Bailey Circus, graduated from Tufts College Medical School, Massachusetts, last June with high honors, and a fortnight ago passed the examination of the Medical Board of Registraion admitting him to the practice of medicine in the Bay State. Dr. Pease joined the Barnum and Bailey Circus at Boston in June of last year as a property man to earn the money necessary to complete his medical studies. He handled props and fought canvas to the satisfaction of his superiors and earned a promotion in a short time. George Arlington discovered that Pease was a young man of more than ordinary ability, a fluent talker with excellent voice and in an emergency, he gave him a trial as an announcer. He proved a genuine surprise and was at once appointed lecturer in the curiosity department and a short time thereafter given general charge at a salary larger weekly than his salary had been monthly when he joined the show. The doctor saved enough money to pursue his studies at the close of the season and a few days ago put out his "shingle" as a physician and surgeon. Dr. Pease was very popular with his fellows of the circus who unite in wishing him the success and prosperity which he so richly deserves.
Closing notes from Andrew Downie's New Big Show. October 1 was our closing day and it was bright and warm. The new show has made a record to be proud of during a season of twenty-four weeks, with nearly twenty-two [missing text] James O'Connell, treasurer [missing text] At Waynesburg, Pa., we turned them away at both performances and it proved to be the banner day of the season. Over one thousand people were unable to gain admittance at night. Our side show with Jumbo, the largest horse in the world as a feature also had the banner day of the season. We played Carmichael, Pa., the second day of their fair and business was excellent. We have been five weeks in the hills and mountains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania and some towns the fourth and fifth tent show this season, but business has been fine. We closed at Beallsville, Pa., and shipped by special train of twelve cars to Medina, N. Y., over the Pennsylvania R. R. Preparations are already under way for the season of 1905. The show will be enlarged to twice its present size. One hundred and eighty head of stock, a menagerie of ten cages, two elephants and two camels will be added. Manager Downie will send two shows to the coast this winter. His private cars are now at Buffalo and will leave for St. Paul, Oct. 15.
Billboard, October 22, 1904, pp. 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The will of the late Peter Sells has been admitted to probate and frm the instrument the estate appears to be worth about $200,000. According to the terms of the will, Mr. Sells bequeathed to each of his three sisters, Anna West, Rachael Colby and Amelia Holt, $5,000, to be paid within 18 months after his death. He provides that his show business shall be closed up, if practicable, at the end of the present season or at the end of any existing contract. He directs that all the property held in common with his brother, Lewis Sells, shall be partitioned and that his part shall be sold by his executors. He appoints his brother Lewis, by codicil, and J. E. Sater as executors. Bernard Green is appointed as substitute. If they should not serve he appoints his daughter Florence McCune Sells, as administrator for the will annexed, without bond. He desired that the estate be fully settled if practicable, within 18 months after his death and gives his executors sweeping power to do so. They are given the right to sell all property if necessary, collect rents and turn over to his daughter for her support, collect outstanding debts and renew all mortgages. On the settlement of his estate his entire estate less the $15,000 given to his three sisters is to be turned over to J. E. Sater as trustee for his daughter, Florence McCune Sells. He directs that the estate be placed in such condition that it will be productive and he authorizes the sale of any portion of the property that may be necessary to improve the residue. The will directs that the daughter shall have the power to directing and suggesting the control of his estate.
The night performance of the Wallace Shows at Gulfport, Miss., October 7, was cancelled at the last moment on account of the damage done by a severe windstorm. The circus tent was blown down and the gasoline lights, which were just being lit for the evening performance, set fire to the tents in several places. But for quick action of the attendants the entire show would have been swept by fire. Dirt was thrown on the burning places and the fires gotten under control. No one was injured, though if the accident had happened an hour later a stampede could not have been averted.
For many years the stronget man in the world, Peter Gottlieb, is now in the City Hospital at St. Louis, Mo., and may become a chronic invalid. Accustomed to life a platform with sixteen men on it when he was with Barnum's Circus, Gottlieb now suffers from stomach trouble, which he thinks was caused by his exertions. Gottlieb was for many years the only man in the world to tear a pack of playing cards in two with his thumb and first finger. To bend a dollar with one hand was an easy feat for him, he says, for it was more of a knack than strength that is required. All of the feats of the latter day "Sampson," Gottlieb declares, were easy for him. Nerves, he says, are more important than muscles in feats of strength, only one must have both nerves and muscles. Gottlieb's arm and chest muscles are still large and hard. He is short, scarcely five feet four inches in height, but he weighs one hundred and eighty pounds, nearly every ounce of which is muscle. Five years ago he left the stage and took up the work of an optician. As a strong man he earned $100 a week in salary and from the sale of works on physical culture, while now he finds it hard to make a living selling spectacles.
The Great Wallace Shows gave two performances at Hattiesburg, Miss., October 8, to splendid business.
Hargreaves Big R. R. Shows will close in Philadelphia, October 19, and will at once ship to winter quarters at Chester, Pa.
Ben and Mae Holmes, Wild West riders and rope spinners, have closed with the Kennedy Bros.' Wild West Show, and are now playing fair dates.
W. C. Lane has closed with Texas Bill's Wild West and is in Hagerstown, Md., for the winter. He reports good business, and a profitable season.
Chas. Sparks spent last week in Hagerstown, Md. John Sparks' Circus was to have played there, but cancelled on account of the Hagerstown Fair.
The Walter L. Main Shows close the season of 1904 at Charlestown, Jefferson Co., W. Va., Tuesday, October 18, and ship to winter quarters at Geneva, O.
Homer Deane, Clarence Shaw and Joseph Meehan have closed their season at Delmar Gardens, Oklahoma City, O. T., and are now en route with the Norris & Rowe Show.
John J. Sullivan, formerly with the Walter L. Main Shows, is doing advance work for Sam T. Jack's Burlesque company.
William C. Clement, better known as Val, the chandelier man, last two seasons with the Floto Show, has located in Dallas, Ore.
The Forepaugh and Sells Circus was compelled to do away with the street parade at Vicksburg, Miss., October 6, on account of a low trussell on the A. & V. R. R., which they had to go under to reach the city.
Messrs. Jessie J. Goforth and J. W. Hettler [Hettier?] have just closed a very successrul season with Seibel Bros.' Dog and Pony Show and have returned to their homes in Bloomington and Dixon, Ill., respectively.
The following members of the Sells & Downs Show joined the Eagles at El Reno, O. T.: Pete Griffin; Will Silverton, of the Silverton Trio; F. Wallace, boss of side show, and Shanty, boss chandlier man.
The Ellets, Chas. and Lizzie, are resting at their home at Grand Rapids, Mich., having closed a successful season with the John Sparks' Circus. They will soon produce a novel aerial act, using five people.
Gollmar Brothers closed a most successful season, October 10, at Popular Bluffs, Mo. The show will be greatly enlarged for next season, in fact to such an extent that it will require several more cars for its transportation.
The Miles Orton Show opened at Suffolk, Va., October 15, for its southern tour. The cars have all been repainted and lettered and the Orton Brothers have spared neither money nor time to make this the best show ever put out by them. Phil Harris is general agent of the show. Chas. Lovell and Capt. Latlip have the tickets. Capt. Jack Kuhns, the tattooed man, is in the side show. Gus Fairbanks is the adjuster. Matt Morris is leader of the side show and band of eight pieces.
Billboard, October 29, 1904, pp. 12, 19. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Word comes by wire that J. T. McCaddon has purchased the Sig Sautelle Show at Ardmore, Pa., October 22. Mr. McCaddon was formerly associated with the Barnum and Bailey, Ltd., during their five years in Europe. The show will be at Atlantic City, N. J., October 28 and will close at Hammonton, N. J., October 29. It is probable that Mr. McCaddon will take the show to Europe for the coming season.
Harry D. Barnum, the veteran twenty-four hour man, will be with the Barnum show again next year, it making his third season in that capacity. Mr. Barnum's career covers a period of thirty-five years, during which time he has been identified with the following aggregations: the Rothschild show, Batchelor and Doris, John O'Brien, Adam Forepaugh, Sells Bros., W. W. Cole, Buffalo Bill, McCaddon and Anderson and Barnum and Bailey. Harry will spend the winter at his home in Pottsdam, Pa.
The Florenz troupe of acrobats are re-engaged with the Barnum show for next season. They will open at Follies Bergeres, Paris, France, December 1, for six weeks, and later appear at the New Coliseum, London, and in Manchester and Liverpool.
Albert Crandall will open at the Hippodrome, London, Dec. 19, for eight weeks. He has signed with the Ringling Bros. for next season.
Spader Johnson will lead the rube band with Henry W. Savage's production, Common Sense Bracket. Spader returns to the Barnum show next spring.
The Siegrist-Silbon troupe of aerialists open with Albert Schumann's Circus, Berlin, December 1, for a two months' engagement. They are re-engaged with the Barnum Show for season of 1905.
Charles and Nettie Carroll will be identified with Edward Shipp's Indoor circus during the winter tour.
Ella Bradna, the equestrian, is booked to appear in all of the prominent American vaudeville houses this winter. She has signed with the Barnum Show for next season.
The Pawnee Bill show closed a successful season at Circleville, Ohio, October 15, and the show was shipped to the winter quarters at Carnegie, Pa. All of the horses excepting three six-horse teams, were shipped to Beverly, Ohio, where they will be turned out to pasture in charge of Mexican Joe. The Eighteenth Annual Farewell Banquet took place at Circleville and genial Joe Lynd, the caterer with the show, fairly outdid himself in providing the good things.
A severe storm caused Gentry Bros.' No. 1 Show to lose Trinidad, Col., recently.
Frank Smith, head balancer, is now a feature with the Wood Brothers' Show.
Oscar J. Krause, general manager of the Pawnee Bill Show, will winter at Carnegie, Pa.
E. M. Burk writes that business with Cummin's Wild West is good and growing better every day.
Sig Sautelle's Show will be at Atlantic City, N. J., Octover 28. They close at Hammonton, N. Y., October 29.
Frank Allen and wife are now with the Wood Brothers' Show after a four months' engagement with the Hobson Shows.
Herbert, the Frogman, writes that he closed a very successful season with the Main Show, October 18, and is booked solid for the winter. He opened at the Pastime Theatre, Ogden, Utah, Oct. 31.
It is reported in Chicago that J. T. McCaddon has purchased forty head of cavalry horses from the Leavenworth, Kansas, United States army post, for the foreign tour of his Great American Circus.
Chas. E. Griffin has been re-engaged as manager of the Buffalo Bill Wild West for the season of 1905, which opens at Paris, Frankce, April 1.
James Brooks, wire walker and trapeze performer, writes from Stanton, Ala. that he is in his fifth season with the Jones Model Plate Show.
Fred Ledgett and his wife, Dallie Julian, have been re-engaged by the Barnum Show for next season, as have the Wentworth Trio and Sam Watson, the English clown.
Gerald Fitzgerald, press agent with the Great Wallace Shows, will go with the Royer Brothers in Next Door after December 10. He will be at the front of the house.
Chas. Bolus, boss canvasman with the Gollmar Bros.' Show the past season has returned to his home in Canton, Ohio. This completes his fiftieth year with the tents.
C. S. Primrose finished his season on October 8 as railroad contractor for Gollmar Brothers Show and is visiting at LaCrosse, Wis. Mr. Primrose will put out his Uncle Si Haskins after election for a season of twenty weeks.
Albert Crandall, who has been featured with the Barnum and Bailey Show this season, in his novelty bare back mule act, has been engaged by the Ringling Bros. for the tour of 1905. Crandall will go to England for the winter months.
Bud Horn, the Calliope King, was a Billboard caller October 17. He had just closed a pleasant season with the Pawnee Bill Show and was enroute to his home at Nashville, Tenn., where he will join the advertising force of the Vendome Theatre, for the winter.
Dave Watt, the famous ex-circus treasurer billed by Adam Forepaugh as "the lightning ticket seller of the world," now in the real estate business at Janesville, Wis., was in Chicago Friday, 14, and renewed old acquaintances with the Barnum and Bailey Show.
The Captain Stewart Big City Show closed its season at Angola, Ind., October 15 and shipped to winter quarters at Fort Wayne, Ind. Next season the show will go out in wagons. They will put out a vaudeville show this winter, beginning after the election.
Employees of John Robinson's Show claim that business South is from 50 to 100 per cent better than the show ever got in the same towns before. The increase is chiefly in the night business, which in former years varied from poor to light, is now running all the way from fair to big.
H. Stanley Lewis was born near Olean, N. Y., in 1874, and entered the profession in 1893, as lecturer and announcer with the Great Wallace Shows. The following year he held the same position with the John Robinson Show. He spent 1875 as advertising manager of Sun Brothers' Shows; '96 with Scribner & Smith; '97 with Leon Washburn, and from '98 to 1903 with the Welsh Brothers, with the exception of the year 1900, when he was adv. manager and principal announcer with Pawnee Bill's Wild West. This season Mr. Lewis is officiating as advertising manager with Norris & Rowe Shows. During the winter seasons Mr. Lewis has always had remunerative employment with the theatrical companies. Last season he successfully managed his own attraction, A Foxy Tramp, with success. With W. W. Brown, Mr. Lewis will have on tour this season The Engineer's Daughter, The Banks of the Yalu, A Foxy Tramp and Mr. Lewis' version of Ten Nights in a Bar Room. Mr. Lewis' headquarters are at San Jose, Cal.
Captain John White, who for so many years was on the front door of the Ringling Bros.' Shows, and who has been acting as superintendent of the main entrance with the Gollmar Bros.' Circus the past season, was in Chicago last week making arrangements to take out a hall show. Captain John is one of the most unique figures in circus business, the soul of politeness and ever ready with a helping hand in any emergency which may arise.
W. Montgomery, of Texas Bill's Wild West Show, writes: "The Texas Bill Wild West which closed its season September 30, is now housed away for the winter at Boone, Iowa. The show was out twenty-one weeks and enjoyed a prosperous season. Preparations have already been commenced for next season, when over eighty horses will be carried, thirty Indians and a new spectacular feature will be added. We expect to take third place in the Wild West field in 1905."
Notes from Alex Glasscock's Mammoth Railroad Show. "The show is doing good business touring Texas. The show carries an average of fifty people and has some of the best acrobats in the circus business. Foster Glasscock, general railroad contractor; M. T. Everton, advance agent; J. H. Holland, M. L. Brown, billposters; Shirly Morton, master of transportation; F. S. Moncay, leader of band; Donly Glasscock, business manager and Alex Glasscock, proprietor."
Last week we published an advertisement of the Great Floto Shows in quest of sensational features for the tenting season of 1905. The Floto Shows traveled close on to twenty thousand miles during the past season, opening March 14 at Dallas, and closing Thanksgiving Day at Mexico. They have made two trips to the coast, going over the southern routes and returning over the Canadian Pacific. The show is now an established institution in the West, where they hold a warm spot in the people's hearts. It will be enlarged and added to for the coming season and the aim of the management will be to sustain its reputation as the most beautiful circus ever exhibited under canvas. The show will winter in Denver in their new quarters, which are built entirely of brick and steam heated. The arena alone to be used exclusively for practice is 144 feet long, 65 feet wide and 35 feet high. It contains two rings and all kinds of aerial rigging. Showmen visiting Denver are always welcome and a uniformed attendant will be pleased to show them about the quarters.
Billboard, November 5, 1904, pp. 11, 12, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Harry Exley, chief of the police force of Robinson's circus, was struck on the head with a brick from the hands of a negro, Oct. 16, at Brunswick, Ga., and is now in a critical condition. The circus physician states that the young man will hardly recover from the wound. Exley was keeping negroes out of the menagerie tent and the negro, whose name cannot be ascertained, kept crawling under the canvas. When forced out by the officer the negro picked up a brick and landed it heavily on Exley's temple. Exley was carried to Waycross and placed in a hospital, accompanied by a physician.
John Robinson's Show had turnaway business at Savannah, Ga.
Norris & Rowe and Gentry "mixed up" down in Arizona last week.
The Boer War will winter at Frank P. Hall's farm, near Lancaster, Mo. Frank P. Hall, of Lancaster, Mo., will back the tenting tour of The Boer War for the season of 1905, so rumor has it.
It is said that Hugh Harrison has bought all the property of the Buckskin Bill Wild West.
Leon Washburn will put out a small dog and pony show, opening at Paterson, N. J., next April.
Welsh Brothers will take out a circus to play opera houses this winter. The opening date is Nov. 7.
Emma and Robt. Stickney sail for Europe in December to open in Berlin, Germany, January 1, with Circus Albert Schumann.
J. T. McCaddon will sell off the cars and such other property of the Sautelle Shows, as he cannot make available in Europe.
Norris and Rowe mad Cananea, Guaymas, Hermocillo and Magdalena, all in Old Mexico. They got $2 a throw (Mex.) in all of them.
The Millettes, Ed and Maud, and their little son, Ira, visited the World's Fair in St. Louis after the closing of the Harris Nickel Plate Show.
Reid and Johnson are in their twenty-fifth week with Sun Brothers' Railroad Shows. They are clowning and doing their black face act in concert.
Henry Widmeyer, of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West, died October 6, at Bolton, England, of a hemorrhage. While working about the show two days before he strained or broke an artery near his heart. He was taken to the Bolton Hospital where everything was done to save his life. However, the physicians were unable to do him good. "Butch," as he was known, lived in Cincinnati while in this country. His health had not been good for the past year. "Butch" was well liked and for a number of years was connected with the Barnum and Bailey Show. He leaves a widow on Stoke on Trent where the interment took place October 10. The Tigers had charge of the funeral services.
Havlin, Tate and Williams are negotiating with J. T. McCaddon for the railroad equipment of the Sautelle Shows, which Mr. McCaddon recently purchased.
Campbell Bros.' Shows close a successful season at Hennessey, O. T., Nov. 5, returning from that point to Fairbury, Neb., the winter headquarters of the show.
Norris and Rowe will not discontinue the dog and pony show. The circus will in no wise interfere with it. Mr. Norris will manage it and it will cover the usual territory.
Col. George (Popcorn George) Hall, an old showman, spent a month with his wife and daughter, who were with the Hargreaves Circus. He will return to his farm for the winter.
J. Henry Rice, general agent of the Hargreaves Circus, closed in Philadelphia the night the show closed. He went to New York at once to prepare for a road tour of a melodrama he has purchased.
Sig. Sautelle's Circus played Ardmore, Pa., Oct. 22, and Woodbury, N. J., Oct. 24, to good business. Both these places are close to Philadelphia and a large number of professionals from that city attended the performance.
Dr. Edward W. Baehr, physician for the John Robinson Show, was shot by a negro named Reid Riley at Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 29. The negro is in jail. Both barrels of a shot gun were emptied into Baehr's right leg just above the knee. The doctor was taken to the nearest hotel and it is feared that amputation will be necessary. Dr. Oliver P. Coe, a classmate of Dr. Baehr, was summoned from Cincinnati.
Billboard, November 12, 1904, pp. 10, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Miss Jessie M. Smith, of Louisville, Ky., and Arnold J. Acker, of New York, were quietly married recently at the rectory of St. Martin's Catholic Church, Baltimore, by Rev. Father Wheeler. Miss Smith, who is a beautiful brunette, 18 years of age, was a soubrette in the Gaskill Carnival company. Mr. Acker, who is a man of splendid physique, was a hippodrome racer in Barnaum and Bailey's Circus. Two years ago the couple met. Friendship soon ripened into love and this summer both decided to wed, and Baltimore was selected because of relatives of Miss Smith, who lived there. When her troupe disbanded she went at once to her aunt, Mrs. J. T. ___, 613 Mount Street. As soon as the Barnum and Bailey closed their season in Chicago, Mr. Acker hurried to Baltimore as fast as steam could bring him. The bride's uncle secured a license waiting, and the happy pair were soon one.
Prof. Chas. Nichols, an old-time musician and employed with the Teets Brothers' Shows, met with a fatal accident, October 24, while the show was making a run from Eautawville, S. C., to Cameron. Mr. Nichols was thrown between the cars by a sudden jerk and had his right hand cut off. He was taken to Sumpter and placed in an infirmary where he died October 27. The remains were laid to rest in Sumpter. The deceased was about 55 years of age.
The Bell Brothers, Chas. and Joe, acrobats with the great Van Amburg Show, report great success through Texas.
C. A. Rippel writes that his show lost but three stands during the season. Nearly all have signed again for next season.
Chas. Johnson, bounding tight wire artist with the Wallace Shows, will spend the winter at his home in New Orleans, and practice at Denier's Park.
Seibel Brothers will have a sale at Watertown, Wis., Nov. 16, at which time a lot of show stuff will be sold.
After making Greendale, Miss., Nov. 17, the Ringling Show goes into winter quarters. Reports from New Orleans say that the city is completely billed for 14 and 15.
After ten years of activity as press agent for the Forepaugh-Sells Show, James D. DeWolfe will take a good long rest in a Southern resting place. He will do magazine work.
Tom Powers, formerly master of transportation with the Harris Nickel Plate Shows, has lately accepted the position of building foreman under Superintendent Hall, of the Coliseum, at Chicago.
Frank O'Donnell, advance press representative of the Forepaugh-Sells Circus, is at his home in Philadelphia for a few weeks' rest. He is undecided as to his winter's work, but will most likely go in advance of a hall show.
The Roberts Family, acrobats, closed with Forepaugh-Sells' Show at Charlotte, N. C., Nov. 2, on account of serious illness of Mrs. Roberts. They will go to their home at Saginaw, Mich., as soon as Mrs. Roberts is able to travel.
Dr. Baeher, physician with the John Robinson shows, is reported to be resting easy. The attending physicians think that the foot can be saved. No expense will be spared to get the doctor through at the earliest possible moment.
John Conroy, master of transportation with the Gollmar Brothers' show the past season, has gone to Freeport, Ill., to take a position with the Illinois Central R. R. this winter. He wll be back with the show in the spring.
M. McGrew, of Kansas City, Mo., last week purchased Harris' Nickel Plate Shows from Frank P. Hall, of Lancaster, Mo. Mr. McGrew purchased the show for Schiller Bros., of Kansas City, who will fit it up at Lancaster this winter and put it out next spring.
Col. W. McGuth, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., writes that he intends to put out the finest wagon show that money can build. The Colonel has recently fallen heir to some forty thousand dollars and will now be able to gratify the ambitions of a life time. His title will be Yankee Robinson Old Fashion Show.
Wenona and Frank, "the world's champion rifle shots," have closed a very successful season of twenty-five weeks with Pawnee Bill's Wild West. While at New Britain, Conn., Mr. Wenona was presented with a complete set of rigging for his pretty black and white horse and a set of spurs. Wenona and Frank will be at Allegheny, Pa., 100 W. Stockton Ave., for three weeks.
The roster of Ringling Bros.' advance car No. 3: Geo. Goodhart, manager; Town Goodhart, boss billposter; Doc Bostwick, lithographer; Chas. Weber, J. Hart and M. Edwards, banners; Dave Condon, Chas. Knox, Chas. Penny, Ed. Beard, J. Diel, Gus Jenkins, H. Mohler, W. Kimphill, billposters; J. Stall, W. Miller, programs.
Chas. R. Coleman writes that he has just completed his third year as general contracting agent with the Sells and Downs Show. The season closed in Chickasha, I. T., Nov. 7, and the show was immediately taken to winter quarters at Topeka.
Tom V. Day, the old-time circus man, long identified with W. W. Cole and T. V. Day's New Dominion Dog and Pony Show, is confined to his bed with a severe attack of stomach trouble, at his home, __ North Ashland Avenue, Chicago. Mr. Day has been very ill for over a month.
The Colorado Grant Show is playing to good business in Arkansas and will not close until after holidays. Grant has added to the outfit of the show six wagons, eight draft horses and four ponies. He is breaking in an 8-pony drill for ring No. 2, and has added a number of new acts to the show. The show leaves a good impression wherever it goes.
Frank A. Gardner, equestrian director of the Van Amburg Shows the past season, and Frank M. ___, have entered into a partnership agreement to run a circus in South and Central America and the West Indian islands. Mr. Gardner has traveled with shows in these countries for the past twenty-two years and is quite well known as the Barnum of the South.
On October __ at Ardmore, Pa., J. T. McCaddon bought the Sig Sautelle Shows. It is said that a number of other people are interested with Mr. McCaddon in the purchase of these shows and that it will be put out in this country next season in a massive manner. The transfer took place October __ at Hammonton, N. J., where the shows close close after their season. The show was at once shipped to Jersey City, N. J., where it was turned over to the new proprietors. The show will be wintered in that city until part of it is shipped to Europe. It is rumored that Sig Sautelle will have charge of the privileges with the Welsh Bros.' Circus next season and will place a large menagerie with that show.
The Forepaugh-Sells Shows are meeting with big success throughout the South. At Macon, Ga., they did an enormous business. Contracting agent S. H. Semon arranged with the State Fair Association to place the show at the fair. During the afternoon the tents were packed and at night with free open gates hundreds were turned away. "Pop" Semon concluded the deal with the Association to pay licenses and ground rent free. The result was a big financial success for both the Forepaugh-Sells Shows and the State Fair Association.
A number of showmen, who closed with the Main Circus, have found positions with Cummins' Wild West, among them are: Art. Hoffman, T. V. McIntyre, Keller Moreland, Mrs. Johnnie Herrigan, George Baldwin, Chas. Hoyt, Mrs. Laura Baldwin, etc. Sam Carter is ably filling the position of purchasing agent; Dr. C. M. Stull, supt. of the working forces, and the genial E. M. Burk is acquitting himself proudly as a hustler in the special service line. Spencer Fenno, formerly of the Little Rock Nat'l. Bank and Walter B. Cogdon are the efficient executives in the booking and stenographic department.
The Cummins' Wild West brass band, under the able leadership of Prof. George Attebery, is the talk of the Pike, W. L. Kennedy, clarinet, and J. T. Davenport, trombone, are making a record for themselves. T. V. McIntyre, ticket sellers, is handing out the pasteboards early and late. Jolly Dan Lester entertains the vast throngs that pass along the Wild West concession avenue, admirably. Supt. of dining tents, Wm. Langan and his able assistant, John Rice, are feeding the show in first-class style. Billy Clemens, chef, and Harry Pope, Billy's assistant, are establishing a reputation in the cooking department worthy of mention.
Notes from the Miles Orton Show. "We opened our winter season very auspiciously at Suffolk, Va., Oct. 15, greatly enlarged and improved. Though meeting with much opposition in the way of other attractions we have been enjoying big business. The roster of the show is as follows: Mrs. Miles Orton, sole proprietor; Norman Orton, general manager; Myron Orton, business manager; Gus Fairbanks, railroad contractor; Philip Harris, general agent; the Great Norman, high bicycle wire; the Orton Children, child aerialists; Jacobs and McCue, comedy acrobats and barrel jumpers; Petite Iva, two pony riding act; Michael Cahill, cloud swing; Ed. Brennan, Ed. Johnson and Master Clarence, clowns; Martin Singer is leader of band No. 1 with twelve men and Prof. J. West is leader of band No. 2 with nine pieces. The concert is composed of the following, viz." the Musical Brennans, comedy musical act; Edw. Johnson, black face comedian; Nina, novelty dancer; Ed. Brennan, eccentrique act, and rogal Bros.' wrestling bear. Col. Dick Richards is supt. of canvas; Curly Devlin, supt. of properties; Peter Dupres, supt. of stock, and Tom Hawahay is chandelier man. The Annex and Congress of Novelties is under the management of Lew H. Nichols and is proving a potent attraction. The performers with this attraction are Capt. David Latlip, high diver; the original Alabama Minstrels, eight in number; Capt. Jack Kuhns, tattooed man; Madame Leland, second sight; Prof. Nickoli, magician; Mlle. Lovella, snake enchantress, and Nona and her troupe of glass blowers. Ticket sellers are Chas. Lovell and Dave Latlip.
The Great Wallace Shows were recently invited to show Okolona, Miss., and offered the following inducements, viz.: free grounds, free water, free city license and free billboards, the manager of the opera house donating the latter. The liberal tendency is growing more and more manifest in the South. As Dixie grows in prosperity the necessity of holding up the stranger within her gates by means of exhorbitant licenses, high prices, ets., diminishes and her people naturally hospitable, favor the open door expecially to showmen and thespians.
Thomas Hargreaves Big Railroad Shows are now safely stored away in the winter quarters at Chester, Pa. All of the draught stock have had their shoes taken off and are turned out to grass at a farm six miles below Chester. The animals are in the new animal house erected during the summer, and the ring stock is at Mr. Hargreaves' private stable. Work has already started on the shows for their next season's tour. Encouraged by his success last season, Mr. Hargreaves will make the show bigger and better next year. A force of workmen under the direction of Fred Locke will overhaul all the wagons and cars and repaint and regild them during the winter. Many new tableau wagons will be constructed. William Powley, formerly with this show, will take out a Wild Goose Chase this winter using one one the sleeping cars that was with the show this summer. Colonel George (Popcorn George) Hall is still at the winter quarters, but will return to his farm in a few weeks. Al. G. Barnes, who was with this show all season, has had fourteen engagements offered him, but is resting in Chester for a few weeks.
Billboard, November 19, 1904, pp. 10, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Birch S. Maine, long famous as a trapeze and flying ladder performer in Barnum's Circus, died last week at Fall River, Mass. He is survived by his wife, who was also a well known gymnast.
. . . advertisement in this issue of The Billboard, officially announcing the organization of the Frank A. Robbins Only New Great Feature Show, which in its inception is already the theme of much comment and speculation in the amusement world. Frank A. Robbins is to be the active arenic manager as well as the president of the company, and a host of friends in every section of the land will heartily wish him success. Fred Beckman is vice-president of the company, and will act as general agent of the aggregation. Mr. Beckman, while comparatively young in years, is old in advance experience and ranks A 1 as an energetic, ambitious and courteous representative. The plans of the show include among other essentials, the already assigned contract for the construction of a twenty-five car circus train. The Tribunal of Nations, which is to be featured, promises to unforld a spectacle of pageantry and historic interest. The stock holders in the new show are to be congratulated upon such a thorough, practical organization and in having their interests intrusted to high-class, honorable and sagacious men who know such word as fail.
Geo. H. Heiser, contracting agent for the Ringling Bros.' Shows, has perfected arrangements to place upon the market a mechanical stake-driving machine, which he has invented and lately patented. One of Mr. Heiser's machines has been in active operation with the Ringling Bros.' Circus all this season and has given great satisfaction. It is estimated the machine will do the work of fifteen or twenty men. Mr. Heiser's apparatus is very simple in construction, and is operated by a gasoline engine. It is fair to presume that this stake-driving machine will, in time, be in use with every circus in the country. It will certainly fill a long-felt want, and in the event of late arrivals it would appear to be of invaluable service to circus proprietors.
Ab. Scott (so it is said) will be ahead of the John Robinson Shows next season.
George Kratz, the calliope man of Evansville, Ind., is building a very large calliope for Barnum and Bailey.
Wm. Burkart, this season with Forepaugh-Sells, is now advertising agent for the Grand Opera House at Rochester, Pa.
Fred R. Castle has stored his calliope in Chicago and returned to his ranch at Clayton, Kansas, where he will stay for the winter.
The Silverton Trio have just closed a very successful season with the Sells and Downs Show and have been engaged for next season.
R. W. Sanger, who died recently in London, left a fortune of almost ___. Al Hayman and Richard W. Freedman were named as executors.
Dan S. Fishell has accepted the management of the Empire Theatre, San Antonio, Texas. He joins the Barnum-Bailey Show again in March.
Harry De Alvin has signed for next season with the Campbell Brothers' Show. The Ocroas, Japanese foot balancers and jugglers, have also signed for next season.
Contracting agent George H. Heiser and wife were in Chicago for a day or two last week. Mr. Heiser is now enjoying a much needed rest at his Dayton, Ohio home.
W. H. Davis writes that he has just closed a very pleasant season with the Campbell Brothers' Show as private secretary, book-keeper and treasurer for J. C. O'Brien.
Five elephant belonging to the Wallace Show escaped from their winter quarters at Peru, Ind., Nov. 10 just after the show had arrived in the city and created intense excitement among the natives.
Prof. Will H. Mead writes that he has joined hands with Col. M. Schult, owner and trainer of the troupe of German war dogs, and that the shows would hereafter be known as Schult and Mead's Great Dog and Pony Show.
Chas. Nichols, white musician with Teet Brothers' Show, fell from a train at Parlors, S. C., on October 24 and had his right arm cut off. He was removed to hospital at Sumter, S. C., and died on 27. Was buried at Sumter.
W. F. Kennedy, aerial performer with the Hobson shows, has not recovered from the injuries received from a fall at Eglantine, Ark., September 27, and is not likely to be able to resume work again this season on account of a fractured shoulder.
The Wallace Shows played Hot Springs to two packed houses. "Hank" Wakefield was a visitor and spent the day with his friend John Talbott. Mrs. Talbott also arrived from Denver to see her better half. They will go to West Baden after the show closes, and then to the World's Fair. They will winter in Denver, at the Talbott Flats. It is rumored around the white tents that Hank Wakefield will be the official representative of the Floto Shows next season.
Items from the Cummins' Wild West and Indian Congress, World's Fair. John Horrigan joined last week as boss hostler and James Wilson as custodian of properties. A magnificent buffalo was purchased last week by Col. Harrison, who turned the animal over to trainer Albert Stadler. F. E. Bennett, rifel show, is a big feature in the Wild West performance. Geo. A. Fay and C. L. Ramsey, managers of privileges, have evinced their ability to please the Wild West patrons. Two of the first persons on the Pike to read The Billboard are Mr. Rose of Peggy From Paris, and the ever popular H. B. Potter, boss property man; C. R. Hutchinson and superintendent Dr. C. M. Stull, are entitled to creit for the many ground and arena improvements ordered by Col. Harrison. The Wild West Concession is by far the largest on the Pike, covering ten acres of ground. Col. F. T. Cummins overcame all obstacles in securing the location which at first seemed worthless. Since the Wild West passed into the hands of Col. Harrison, many innovations ahve been introduced and circus precision and generalship is employed in every department. With Col. Cummins' personally directing the performances and Mr. Harrison's general management the big show runs as smooth as glass. The Wild West is the first show to open in the morning and the last to close, rain or shine. Speculations are rife as to what the new firm of Cummins and Harrison will do with the Wild West when the World's Fair terminates. That there will be a big new tented amusement in the field in 1905 is a cinch, but no definite plans have been announced as yet by the management. Commins' Wild West is the recognized headquarters for all circus folks visiting the Fari. Treasurer J. D. Harrison, "Sunny Jim," who eats, sleeps and labors inside the Wild West grounds, has fitted up several desks, gotten a stenographer, and show folks are welcome. The Billboard is conspiciously filed and oftne consulted. Both Messrs. Cummins and Harrison are more than pleased with the correct and polite manner in which the vast throngs are admitted into the Wild West grounds by James Jordan. . . .
Billboard, November 26, 1904, p. 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Bert Cole goes with Wallace again next season.
The Floto Shows had turnaway crowds at Laredo, Tex.
Frank Stuart, of William Uden's show, will winter with his parents in Akron, O.
Louis Schmidt is mail man with the Pawnee Bill show in winter quarters at Carnegie, Pa. Ed. Springer has charge of the winter quarters.
Milton Gans, alto with the Sig. Sautelle Band, has returned to his home in Chambersburg, Pa.
G. R. Pittner says he is going out with William J. Uden's show next season as fancy and trick rider.
It is reported that Lon Moore and Archie Royer, both of the Wallace shows, will put out a circus next season.
Dutch Durning, trainmaster with Sells & Downs show the past four season, has gone to his home in Danville, Ill.
Dan F. Cline goes with Shipp's Indoor Circus, Dec. 1, as advance. This is Mr. Cline's fifth winter with this company.
Chas. R. Coleman has closed his third season with the Sells & Downs show, as general contracting agent and business manager.
A. S. Englebert (Smithy), boss canvasman of the Sells & Downs Show, is spending the winter with his parents at Berlin, Ont., Can.
Dan Bodder, after a pleasant and profitable season with the Walter L. Main show as trap drummer, has returned to his home in Chambersburg, Pa.
Henry Gilberton, who was interested in the privileges with the Pawnee Bill Show the past season, now has the candy stands at the Clark St. Museum, Chicago.
Fred K. Huffer, baritone, closed a very successful season with Gentry Bros. No. 2 show at Jefferson, Tex., November 12, and is visiting friends at Vincennes, Ind.
It is announced that the Columbus, O., business men who had planned to purchase the Forepaugh-Sells Show, have decided not to make the purchase. The prime movers in the undertaking were Eli M. West, George Chennell, O. M. Evans, Walter B. Beebe and Al. G. Field.
The Cliffords, featured for years in the prodigy department of the Barnum & Bailey Show, passed through Chicago Wednesday 16, en route to Butte, Mont., where they open for an extended tour of the Pacific Coast.
It is said that five big shows will refuse to recognize the Billposter's Alliance this coming season. Rumor has it that the managers and agents of the shows concerned, have reached a perfect understanding and will co-operate.
Mannie Forepaugh, gymnast and rider, is at home in Philadelphia, Pa., after a season with the Sells & Downs Show. She has been re-engaged for next season with the same organization. She will play vaudeville dates this winter.
Shipp's Indoor Circus opens at Petersburg, Ill., Dec. 2 for one week, and the show is booked for thirteen weeks thereafter. The show will carry a band of eleven piecees, seven property men, twenty-seven performers and nine head of stock.
E. J. Gosney, in advance of the Van Amburg shows, reports a very prosperous season. The show has covered Nebraska, Missoui, the Territories, Arkansas, Texas, Louisana, and touched other western states. The season closed at Dumas, Ark., November 19. The Van Amburg Show has gone into winter quarters at Kansas City, Mo. A. R. Wheeler takes his band and joins the Delta Carnival Co. at Indianoa, Miss. The Valentines, Bell Bros. and the Sereno Family also go with the Delta Carnival Co.
Wellington, the baby lion with the Campbell Bros.' Shows, who was raised on a bottle by Mother Campbell at Fairbury, Neb., has at the age of eight months become so large and strong that he was not considered safe for a pet and was taken to the animal room and caged with the other lions.
Lucky Bill writes that his show has closed a most successful season, and are snugly in winter quarters at Quenemo, Kan. Preparations have begun for next season when he intends to send out one of the largest and best wagon shows on the road. He has already booked some good performers.
The Rose Wentworth Trio, equestrians, late of Barnum & Bailey Circus, are now playing vaudeville houses. The are engaged for the season of 1905 with Barnum & Bailey.
While being transferred from the train to their winter quarters at Terrace Park, near Cincinnati, three large African lions, belonging to the Robinson show, escaped. William Johnson, a keeper was injured. The lions were captured after a chase with dogs and a large gang of circus employees and citizens.
Owing to the breaking of one of his trapeze ropes, Herbert, The Frogman, fell twelve feet to the stage while playing the Family Theatre at Butte, Mont., last week. His injuries were all confined to his right side, but though painful, were not serious. He was able to finish his engagement.
By the overturning of the wagon he was driving to the depot, Jim Howard, driver for Robinson's circus band wagon, was fatally hurt at Rome, Ga., Nov. 12. In addition to breaking four ribs he was injured internally. He was removed to Mrs. Willingham's boarding house on Fourth avenue. He can not recover.
The Gabriel Brothers' Wild West Show reports a successful season of twenty weeks at Delmar Gardnes, St. Louis. This was the first season for Gabriel Brothers, but they were with Col. Cody for ten seasons, and are well up in the business. Their entertainment, given in the forum of the World's Fair, was attended by eleven thousand people, including President Francis.
The great Van Amburg shows gave two performances at Florence, La., Sunday, Nov. 18. Some of the citizens did not loke the idea of introducing Sunday shows into the community and engaged attorneys to prevent the show playing on that day; but as the circus people had complied with the State License Laws there was no way to prevent their showing as advertised. After the show had arrived and the tents were erected, the sight was too much and a number of citizens, who were prominent in the movement to prevent the show coming, went with the children - "just to look at the animals."
Notes from Cummins' Wild West. Possibly no amusement attraction at the World's Fair has enjoyed the patronage of so many distinguished personages as Cummins' Wild West and Indian Congress. Among the many in attendance of late were Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox and Congressman William Randolph Hearst. The former is known among the Sioux Indian tribes as "Princess White Wings," the noted lady authoress having be so adoped and titled by Chief Red Shirt, the Indian General Grant thought so much of, and who is now a member of the Wild West. Hearst, too, had the great Indian honor of being adopted and christened by the same chief and his aides, as "White-Chief-Speaks-to-The-World." The ceremony was as impressive as it was unique, and the adoption taking place in the big arena at the conclusion of the Wild West performance, was witnessed by thousands. Vice-President elect Fairbanks was a hurried World's Fair visitor Wednesday. Pat Fagan and son, Mr. and Mrs. Al. Martin and brother, were also Wild West visitors. Chas. Corry, manager Wallace's Circus, was a pleasant caller last week. The genial Marx Gumberts, President of the World's Fair excursion boats, enjoyed the Indian congress performance one day druing the week. Several Chicago showmen visited the Fair Wednesday, as they informed the management, for the sole purpose of seeing a copy of The Billboard which is on file in the Wild West office. Charlie Rhodes, who so long made the ballyhoos for the Wild West, and who is regarded as the most productive talker at the fair, resigned his position with the Wild West last week and has taken charge and an interest in a concession department connected with the Moorish Palace. Messrs. Hugo, ___ and Hoffman are now doing the ballyhoos. Mrs. Warren A. Patrick, the handsome wife of the Chicago editor of The Billboard, was a pleasant visitor last week. Sam Scovil is making a great reputation as a bucking horse rider. Wm. Brandow was a Wild West spectator Friday and was loud in his praise of the performance. Gov. Jack F. Robinson did the Fair last week. Railroad contractor E. Burk how becomes a Wild West Stetson, presented by Col. Cummins. The success the show has made of late has been an incentive to bring forth numerous offers and propositions form various capitalistic sources to Messrs. Cummins & Harrison, but up-to-date no one knows "which is which," or, in the language of book-keeper Fenno, "something will be doing soon."
Billboard, December 3, 1904, pp. 10, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
We were informed by Chas. L. Sasse, representative of the Antonio V. Pubilones Enterprises in Cuba, that the season opened at the Payret Theater, Havana, Saturday, Nov. 5. The business has been something phenomenal, and on Sundays the people can not all be accomodated, so that many are turned away. Mr. Pubillones has also leased the Teatro Ncional, and Mr. Sasse is authorized to book spectacular shows beginning Dec. 19. Here are a few of the attractions now appearing at the Circo Pubillones, Havana: Clarke family of riders; the Clarkonians, greatest of all aerial acts; Escamilli Bros., European tight wire; Les Trois Poiriers, French ring artists; Bertina, the contortionist; Florence Brockway in looping-the-loop; Jack Cousins, principal act; Jolly and Velia, French dancers and pantomimists; Ostrado and Miss Caprice Lewis, aerial combination act; Alfred Bannack and Son, musical eccentrics and clowns; Castrillon family of acrobats, etc. Artists will be sent to Havana every week. Mr. Pubilones has already organized a show to go on the road and a No. 2 show will be sent out within a weeks' time.
C. W. Thompson, who has been business manager of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Shows for several years past is in New York organizing a stock company to take over the big show. He has met with much success and his friends confidently predict that the deal will be perfected within two weeks.
The Cretos are figuring on taking out a six car railroad circus next season.
The Floto Shows closed at Dennis, Tex., Nov. 26. Their business in Texas has been good.
Bert and Mabel Chapman have signed with the J. T. McCaddon Show for next season.
John Sherwood, of the Floto Shows, is organizing a repertoire company at Ft. Worth, Tex.
The Wallace Circus and the Parker Carnival Co. made things lively in Camden, Ark., Nov. 4.
The Savoys, with the Ringling Show this season, have signed with the Wallace Show for season of 1905.
Chas. P. Helton, general agent of the Hall & Sample Show, writes that the show closed at Coyville, Kan., after a very successful season of 28 weeks.
Frank Caldwell and wife, tattooed people, with the Floto Shows this season, have signed with McCaddon's Shows and go to Europe next season.
The Millettes are putting in the balance of the season with the M. L. Clark Show. After closing of the season they will rest awhile at their home in Greensboro, Ga.
The Wallace Circus did a record-breaking business in Arkansas the last week out, Hot Springs, Arkadelphia, Nashville, Camden and El Dorado being especially good.
W. H. McFarland, manager of No. 2 side show with the Forepaugh-Sells Show, has been engaged for next season as manager of the Wallace Nos. 1 and 2 side shows.
Through the kindness of Mose Goldsmith, Herbert, the Frogman, is playing a special engagement of four weeks for Dick Sutton. He resumes his contract with Mr. Goldsmith Dec. 5.
Nichols Trio, tight wire artists, have gone to their home in Canton, O., after an absence of five years where they will rest for a time. They are adding new stunts, wardrobe and apparatus.
The winter quarters of the Barlow Shows in South Milford, Ind., have been enlarged two acres and the new pony barn in completed. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow will celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage January 14.
The Great Ellet Troupe (four people) closed season with the Floto Shows, Nov. 26 and is now home in Grand Rapids, Mich., where they will remain this winter and practice a new aerial act that promises to be startling.
J. B. Morton writes that after eight years of constant trouping he is visiting his old home in Knoxville, Tenn., where his parents are located. He says he will put out a one-ring circus from that point next season.
Frank Hyatt, general superintendent of Barnum & Bailey's Show, together with his wife, is visiting his home in Connersville, Ind. They will remain until the latter part of February, when he will resume activity with the show.
Pascatel will act as press agent back with the Shipp Indoor Circus. Dan F. Cline will go ahead of the show. The Pacheco Family, Chas. and Nettie Carroll, Lew Sunlin and wife, Art Adair and wife and Anita Stirk are booked with the show.
There will be a new amusement enterprise in Canada next summer in the way of a six or seven car railroad show. New trappings, wagons, canvas, in fact, everything from the ticket wagon to seat planks will be made this winter. It will tour Canada exclusively.
Chas. Gordon, manager of the Floto Show advertising car, was presented with a handsome gold watch by his men at Gonzales, Tex., Nov. 17. Al Holland, of Local No. 6, Denver, made the presenting speech. The roster of the car is as follows: B. F. Miller, boss billposter; Al. Holland, Henry Mosier, Frank Krause, Frank Berger Wm. Houtz, C. W. Jordan and James McKenna.
Billboard, December 10, 1904 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, December 17, 1904, pp. 3, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
J. L. Lamberto, the cyclist, juggler and slack wire artist, has met with phenomenal success in every section of this country. Mr. Lamberto was one of the first performers to introduce the bicycle on slack wire in America. At the present time his acxt is considered one of the best of its kind before the public. For the past season Mr. Lamberto has held the position as treasurer of the Sun Bros.' Circus.
Ed. Cullen has been engaged by Lee Williams to act as business manager next season for the Hagenbeck Show, which will go on tour. Mr. Cullen is well known to showmen, having been connected with the John Robinson attractions for many years.
The Mighty Haag Shows had good business in Lecompte, La.
Frank Miller and wife will ride with the Norris & Rowe Show next season.
The Marvelous Belfords will be with the Norris & Rowe Show again next season.
Geo. Whitby, of Lancaster, Pa., has signed with the McCaddon Show for next season.
Melnotte, LaNole and Melnotte, the comedy wire trio, have been re-engaged for next season with the Norris & Rowe Show. Joseph F. Geisler will again direct the performances of the Greater Norris & Rowe next season.
The M. L. Clark Show will winter in Lecompte, La.
Wm. F. Melrose, somersault equestrian, closed his fourth season with the Wallace Shows last month. He has signed with Barnum & Bailey for next season.
George Holland and Rose Dockrill, who joined the Norris & Rowe Show at Monterey, Cal., to finish out the season, have been re-engaged for next season.
Dan Bodder, of the Walter L. Main Show the past season, after spending two weeks at his home in Chambersburg, Pa., has joined the band of The Waif of the Sierras Co.
W. S. Dunnington arrived in Chicago Dec. 3, where he will spend the winter. He has had a very successful season as manager of advertising car No. 1 of the Norris & Rowe Show.
Dan Keating, of Keating and Goodwin, who have just closed their sixth successful season with the Ringling Bros.' Shows, was among the callers at the Chicago office of The Billboard last week.
I. C. Shipley, manager of the annex for the Floto Shows the past season, was a recent caller at the Chicago office of The Billboard. He reports a most successful season for the Floto privileges.
Al. Steel writes that next season he will take out a wagon show instead of his Uncle Tom's Cabin, which he had out the past season. He has already engaged quite a few novelties. Sam Dock is busily engaged in training ponies, dogs and monkeys.
Harry Bonnell, of the Newark, N. J., Evening and Sunday News' reportorial staff, has signed with Hulburd's Wild West for next season. He will join in February at Laredo, Tex., and will do the press work for the advance as well as back with the show.
Col. M. Schult, of the Schult & Mead Dog and Pony Show, celebrated his sixty-fifth birthday Sunday, Dec. 4, at New Orleans, La. After the performance Lieut. Mead, on behalf of the employes, presented the Colonel with a handsome gold-headed cane. An elaborate supper was afterward served.
Billboard, December 24, 1904, pp. 14, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Fred Haines, who was with the Great Van Amburg Shows last summer and was on the side show door, died at the South Omaha (Neb.) Hospital Dec. 15, 1904, of typhoid fever, contracted while with the show in the southern states.
Chandy Marshall will have the lights with the Hagenbeck Shows.
Thos. L. Finn will run the side show with Downie's Circus the coming season.
J. T. Decorum has disposed of this dog and pony show and is now at Hot Springs, Ark.
Big Buck Terry, formerly with the Wallace Shows, is now on the police force in Peru, Ind.
Master L. H. Mundy, with L. H. Morgan's Circus the past season, is resting in Denver, Col.
Andrews, magician and orator, formerly with the Buffalo Bill Wild West, goes with Frank A. Robbins next season.
Frederick Egener, principal clown with the Floto Shows the past two seasons, is at his home in Brazil, Ind., for the winter.
Emmett Littleton, manager of Littleton's Circus, is spending the winter to advance of Old Farmer Hopkins.
V. O. Woodward, for several seasons car manager with the Welsh Bros., is now treasurer of the Fulton Opera House at Lancaster, Pa.
Ollie Webb, steward of the Ringling Bros.' Show, has purchased a home in Chicago and hereafter will make his residence in the Windy City.
The Two Coles, fashion plate gymnasts, have signed with Barnum & Bailey for next season. In the meantime they will play Proctor's Circuit.
Messrs. Henry Emgard and Harry Burton are in their thirty-third week with Sun Brothers' Railroad Shows. They report fine weather and business.
The Three Powells closed a very successful season with the Van Amburg Shows, Nov. 19, and opened with the Delta Carnival Co. at Indianola, Miss., the 24th.
Saad Dahduh writes that he has had a very successful season with the Campbell Brothers' Show this season.
Daisy Leroy (Mrs. J. H. Andrews), last season with the Buffalo Bill Wild West, is doing her blindfolded paper-tearing act at Bradenburg's Museum, Philadelphia.
J. D. Miller will have the canvas with the Hagenbeck Shows. It is said to be a 175 ft. round top, with four 60 ft. middle pieces. This show is building in Cincinnati.
C. N. Thompson, for the past five years the asst. general manager of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, has signed in the same capacity with the Wallace Shows for next season.
C. W. Finney, of the Gentry Brothers, has taken out a Humpty Dumpty Co. and reports good business. He has signed with the Gentry Brothers' Show for next season.
Charles W. Thompson, business manager of the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Shows for several years, has organized a stock company in New York for the purchase of the big circus.
The Caldwells, of Mexican implement act fame, have closed with the Floto Shows and will spend the winter at their home in Kansas City, Mo. They do not go with J. T. McCaddon's European Circus as previously reported.
Charles Tripp, the armless wonder, for years with Barnum & Bailey, has been visiting friends and relatives in Olney, Ill. Charles Tripp was born in Canada, but from infancy until the time he started with the circus lived in Olney.
Floto's Circus arrived in Denver last week and went into winter quarters at Manchester, one of the suburbs of Denver. Everything and everyone was in good condition, and the management is looking forward to a prosperous time next season.
Fred P. Sargent, who recently closed his contract with the Hagenbeck Show at the World's Fair, has gone to Hot Springs, Ark., to take a much-needed and well-deserved rest. Mr. Sargent has signed to go with the Barnum & Bailey Show next season.
Howe and Decker, novelty jugglers and aerial gymnasts, for the past three seasons with the Great Barlow Shows, are now meeting with usual success on the coast circuit. They have lost only four weeks in three years. Next season they will be with the Barlow Shows.
The wagons, horses and part of the stock of the McFarland & Holder Shows were sold at public auction in Philadelphia, Dec. 15. This show only stayed out a few weeks last summer and the losses were great. It was a wagon show with a good lay-out, and had brilliant prospects.
The new elegant barn, constructed for Buchanan Bros.' Circus, at Ingersoll Park, near Des Moines, Ia., is attracting much attention, as it is the only barn heated by electric heaters, which keeps an even temperature. Four big heaters have been installed, and as the experiment has proven a success Buchanan Bros. will install electric heating plants in all their animal barns.
Horace Webb, clown and gymnast with the Ringling Show, informs us that he was married Thanksgiving day to a non-professional of Fulton, N. Y., by the name of Miss Ella A. Kline. Mrs. Webb will accompany her husband with Shipp's Indoor Circus this winter. He is re-engaged for next season with the Ringling Show.
John H. Rice has been engaged as general agent of the Tom Hargreaves Railroad Shows for the coming season. These shows will go out in better shape than ever, next season. A new ring barn has been built at the winter quarters in Chester, Pa., and a small army of mechanics is busy getting out new tableaux, wagons and other material.
Frank A. Robbins has engaged the following people for the department heads of his show for next season: John Lewis, equestrian director; Lucius Foster, master of canvas; H. B. Craig, master of transportation; Arthur Eldridge, superintendent of horses; Fred Merkle, superintendent of sleeping cars, and Wm. Burke, superintendent of lights.
A remarkable record is shown by the John Robinson Shows for the past season. Not a wreck or blowdown was experiences. The tour, beginning at Cincinnati, embraced 12,196 miles. The number performances given was 323; twenty-five performances were lost. The show was out 174 days, and fifteen states were visited. The number of clear days was 106, while sixty-eight were rainy.
F. W. Hall, of the Hall & Sample Shows, writes that he has purchased the interest of Mr. Sample and will hereafter be sole owner and manager of the show, which will be known as F. W. Hall's United Wagon Shows. They closed a very successful season at Corryville, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 12. It is now in winter quarters at Corryville, where it will open next season on Saturday, April 1. The show will be enlarged and improved. It will carry a new seventy foot big top with two thirty-foot middle pieces, a forty by sixty museum and thirty head of horses.
Notes from the Sells & Downs' winter quarters. The Sells & Downs' Show reached home Nov. 9, after a prosperous season and went into winter quarters at the fair grounds, where the show has wintered for the last three seasons. The horses have been sent to Mr. Sells' farm and the animals requiring warmer quarters are housed on Quincy street. James McElray has charge of the stock, and Mr. Blackey has charge of the animals. The show will be greatly enlarged in every department for next season. Mr. Perry, who has charge of the quarters, is pushing the work on new stuff. Mr. Rowlings is wintering at Kansas City; also Mr. and Mrs. Crane.
The Hagenbeck Animal Show on the Pike at the World's Fair has just closed contracts with the Bothe [Bode?] Wagon Co., of Cincinnati, for the construction of forty-eight wagons for next season. Thirty-two wagons will be used for parade and are to be the finest ever constructed, costing $38,000. A forty car show is arranged for. The show will winter in St. Louis and will occupy the building on Leonard and Olive streets, formerly occupied by the Ferari Bros. Zoo. It is now being remodeled and extended to accomodate the show. That they will make money this winter is an assured fact. Mr. Tate and Lee Williams are managers. Between sixty and seventy thousand dollars will be made on the World's Fair season.
One of the biggest hits of the Hagenbeck's Animal Show on the Pike is that of Kerslake and his pigs. This is one of the cleverest of acts and people never leave the performance until after his turn has come on. While the act with the pigs is exceptional and first class, the has another that is still greater, that of his donkeys. They are three in number and the cleverest ever exhibited: Louisiana, height 22 1/2 inches, weight 26 pounds and but six months old; Skeeter, 28 inches high and Buster, 32 inches high. This act, first put on Nov. 1st, was a pronounced hit from the start. His entry with Buster in the shaft of the wagon and the other donkeys and pigs piled up in the wagon, is a sight both comical and lasting. His donkeys and pigs each wear pants, coats and vests, and a more clever, interesting, amusing and lasting performance is seldom seen. Mr. Kerslake is to be commended in the highest terms for his successful and clever training of these animals.
The Alexander Glasscock Mammoth Railroad Shows start out the first of next month with six new cars and the following people: Alex Glasscock, owner and manager; D. W. Glasscock, railroad contractor; Foster Glasscock, treasurer; Mike Glasscock, supt. of construction; M. McCarty, general announcer; Red Middleton, boss animal man; Big Tom, canvas man; Mr. Montcayo, leader of band; Willie Wayatt, Sam Fisher, G. Fisher, Will Gettsfore, Harry Hoffmaster, B. Muller, "Dutchie" Cuff, J. Joist, W. Tibbett, Geo. Turner, Bill Smith, Walter Lee, Preston Willison, Dr. M. T. Everton, agent; W. P. Cuff, boss billposter; Will Perry, Harmon Eyest, Mike McDougal and Eugene Harding. The performers are as follows: Tom Samuels, Foster Glasscock, Sweedie Glasscock, Gus Glasscock, Will Samuels, Ruth Glasscock, Loney Glasscock, Toby Glasscock, Eli Lozano, Rose Lozano, Harry Hoffmaster, Charles LaMay, Harry Motto and Burt Myers. C. M. Carson is supt. of privileges.
Billboard, December 31, 1904, pp. 17, 19. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
George H. Wymann has signed with the Gollmar Brothers' Show for next season.
Fred Haines, with the Van Amburg Show the past season, died in South Omaha, Neb., Dec. 18, from typhoid fever.
It is reported that Skyler Clark will be identified with the J. T. McCaddon Show. Sky is now in Paris.
Samuel F. Harrison, a brother of Hugh and Jim Harrison, the well-known circus men, died at the Union Printers' Home in Colorado Spring, Col., Dec. 24.
Floyd Bernard, for the past two seasons with Campbell Brothers' Show, goes out next season with Ringling Brothers.
Fred DeCarlo, horizontal bar expert, writes that he has had a very successful season of thirty-seven weeks with the Floto Shows. He has signed with the same for next season.
Frank A. Goldie, announcer and ticket seller of the Sells-Downs' Shows, is wintering at his old home, Galesburg, Ill., and will be with the same next season, making his fourth year.
Prof. Clarence F. Brown, who for several seasons has had the band with the M. L. Clark Circus, in the South, willhave charge of the band with Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows the coming season.
The winter quarters of the Great Floto Shows are undoubtedly the finest in the land. Fred Beckman well expressed it the other day when he said: "Why, they are big enough to winter all the shows in America, and then leave elbow room." Everything is in working order and every wagon and horse and animal is under cover. Charles Sander is busy breaking a new elephant act. He will have to begin all over again, as the Floto Shows bought all the costumes, camels and elephants used at Luna Park, Coney Island, during the past summer in the big spectacle, The Durbar of Delhi. This will give the Great Floto fourteen camels and ten elephants, making quite a feature in the parade. Fred Beckman, James J. Jeffries, "Punch" Wheeler, Lew Dockstader, Arthur Dunn, the Fortunes, Sam Mott, John Talbot and Hank Wakefield were visitors during the past week. The big elephant, Mama, grabbed and threw Mr. Floto twenty feet against a stone wall last week. Luckily Mr. Floto escaped injury. Joseph H. Huston, who has been in New York closing the deal for the Luna Park animals, returned to headquarters last Sunday. Johnny Carroll, who has been on a visit to his old home at Baraboo, Wis., since the closing day of the Floto Shows, will be in Denver Christmas day, ready to assume his duties at winter quarters. Four massive tableaux are building at winter quarters to carry the wardrobe and to go in the parade the coming season. The show will carry one hundred draft horses, and will require twenty-four cars to transport the big thing. Arthur Hill is breaking a new animal act that requires twenty animals, including lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, and other animals of the feline genus.
1905
Billboard, January 7, 1905, pp. 17, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Pat Kelley, who was with McDonald Brothers' Circus the past season, has joined Wallace's Comedy Co.
John Zouboulakis, the novelty musician and comic-o-plastic artist, has signed with the Floto Shows for 1905.
Jones' Railroad Show, Augustus Jones, manager, report that they are now playing the orange belt of Florida to good business.
Col. J. C. O'Brien was born at Iron, Ohio in 1852, and at the age of fifteen entered the show business, joining the Adam Forepaugh Circus. Since that time he has been connected in an official capacity with a number of the most prominent tented organizations. For the past two years Col. O'Brien has been adjuster and manager of privileges with the Campbell Brothers' Shows, with which organization he will be identified next season.
W. E. Ferguson has signed as general agent of the Carl Hagenbeck Shows, and will report at St. Louis the latter part of January.
Geo. S. Burton, in the ticket wagon of the Ringling Brothers the past season, is putting in the winter as treasurer of the Gayety Theatre, Springfield, Ill.
Dr. H. W. Turner, who has been veterinarian to the Barnum & Bailey Show for the past two years, has resigned his position and will take up another branch of his profession.
John Lowlow, the famous clown, who had charge of the exhibit of the United States Playing Card Co. at the World's Fair, reached Cincinnati in time to be home for the holidays.
Catalogues of the great auction sale to be held at Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 10, 11, 12, on which occasion the property of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Shows will be disposed of, are now ready.
Harry Sells and wife, write that they are spending the winter at Logan, Ohio. They will sail for Paris, March 1, having been engaged to do a high-wire act with the McCaddon European Show.
W. B. Menefee, the faithful route rider of the Wallace Show for a number of seasons, will again be with the advance of that show next season. He is now working in the paint shops at the winter quarters, Peru, Ind.
M. L. Clark's combined shows cloed their season Jan. 10, and will winter in New Orleans, La.
The report that Bert and Mabel Chipman had signed with the J. T. McCaddon Show for next season is denied. On the contrary they are at liberty for next season. They are spending the winter in Kansas City, Mo.
Florida is getting her share of shows. The following are now playing the state: Jones' Railroad Shows, Sun Brothers Shows, Sparks Shows, Orton Shows, and the Teets Brothers Shows. Strangely enough they are all reporting to be doing fairly well.
Harry L. Carrier reports that he has just closed a very successful season of ___ weeks as drum and calliope player with the Mighty Haag Shows, and is now spending his vacation with his parents at Marshall, __.
Eddie Jackson, local contractor for Gentry Brothers (No. 1) Show, writes that he closed his third season with that firm Dec. 1, at Alexandria, La., and left immediately for Oconomowoc, Wis., where he opened with the Uncle Si Haskins Co.
Friends of Edward Hirner will be ___ to learn that he has signed with the Barnum & Bailey Show for next season. Mr. Hirner is now resting in Chicago. He has been with Buffalo Bill's Show for six straight seasons, and with the Ringling Brothers one season.
On Dec. 28 the employes of the Hargreaves Show were summoned from winter quarters in Chester, Pa., to fight a fierce fire which was raging in the center of Chester, and which threatened to reach the hotel owned by Tom Hargreaves. They all did valiant work in assisting the firemen.
Members of the McDonald Brothers' New United enjoyed a Christmas tree and dinner quite unique. While en route from ___ to Stillmore, Ga., in their wagons, the McDonald Brothers called a halt and informed the showmen that they could prepare for a Christmas dinner. Fires were started, and Will and Harry began to prepare a tree for the McDonald children. There was much fun for the little ones and old folks as well. After a big dinner the show packed up and continued its journey to Stillmore.
Following is the roster of performers with the Frank Adams Southern Show: Frank Adams, sole owner; Agnes Adams, who does her iron jaw act and always makes a hit; the ___ Irwins, and Teddie, who do a novelty contortion and clown act that makes good. The show has just received its new seventy-foot top with a forty-foot middle piece from Baker & Lockwood. They travel in two cars and carry six head of ring stock. The show is now touring the southwestern portion of Texas, where the weather is warm and business good.
Billboard, January 14, 1905, pp. 17, 18. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Members of the circus world at large will be surprised to learn that W. E. Fuller, general contracting agent of the Barnum & Bailey Show, has resigned his position with that organization. Mr. Fuller's immediate friends and associates, however, have rather anticipated this step on his part for some time back, in that it was visibly apparent Mr. Fuller's business interests were fast assuming proportions that would ultimately require his personal and individual attention. After much thought and consideration, Mr. Fuller decided to annul his circus connections, both as a protection to his own interests and in justice to the Barnum & Bailey management. Mr. Fuller leaves the circus field after an extended career . . .
Al. G. Barnes, with his trained Animal Show, sailed Jan. 5 for Havana, Cuba, where he will play a twelve weeks' engagement with Pubillones Circus. In order to accept this engagement Mr. Barnes had to cancel a number of dates in vaudeville houses which he had contracted for. Week Dec. 25 he played at the Garrick Theatre, Wilmington, Del., and the newspapers were glowing in their description and praise of the novel act introduced. Mr. Barnes has signed for the tented season with one of the big shows and will return from Cuba in time to open with the show.
Fred Busey takes a car with the Barnum & Bailey Shows.
Chick Bell is to have the candy stands with the Wallace Show next season.
Dave G. Pollock is ticket seller and makes the announcements with the Schult & Mead Show.
A. H. McPhail will be a member of the advance force of the Barnum & Bailey Shows for the season of 1905.
Rocky Mountain Hank (H. E. Walker) has signed with Hulburd's Wild West to work in the arena and double in concert.
John H. Rice is mapping out his territory for next summer. John will act as general agent for the Hargreaves Railroad Shows.
Mlle. Amy, sword swallower, formerly of the Forepaugh-Sells Show, has signed with the J. T. McCaddon Show for the European tour.
Prof. Hank Snider writes that he opened his Winter Circus Pavilion, Dec. 22, to packed house. He has booked some good attractions.
The Petit Family have signed for their third season with the Gollmar Shows. They will appear in a new act besides their acrobatic work.
Sam McCracken, general contractor for the Ringling Brothers' Shows, spent the holidays with his relatives on his farm near Kansas City, Mo.
W. E. Deacon will have charge of the cook tents with the Wallace Show next season. "Deac" made a great record with the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
Jas. M. Robinson, formerly agent of the Hobson Show, writes that he is now located at Lecompte, La., where he has erected a billposting plant.
Wm. Althers will open a dog and pony circus in north St. Louis about Feb. 1. Forty dogs and thirty ponies comprise the show. The prospects look bright.
Chester White, manager of Ringling Brothers' black top, who makes his home in Baraboo, spent the holidays in Chicago, as did Sid Rubian, steward of the Ringling lunch car.
Nick Petit, the twenty-four hour man of the Ringling Brothers' Shows, who heretofore has made his home in Minneapolis, has taken up his residence on the north side, Chicago.
W. C. St. Clair, the past two seasons opposition agent with the Great Wallace Shows, writes that he has been engaged to manage the advertising car with the Gentry Brothers' (No. 2) Show.
Herbert, the Frogman, writes that he has not lost a week since the Main Show closed and is meeting with success in the northwest. He has signed with the Wallace Show for next season.
Walter A. Shannon has the privileges with Norris & Rowe next season. He has just bought a seventy-foot Pullman from C. N. Thompson, and is in Columbus looking for other circus property.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gore, of the Sells-Downs Shows for the past three seasons, are with Trousdale Brothers' Joshua Simpkins Co. Mrs. Gore is playing soubrette parts and doing her character dances.
Col. M. L. Clark, of Clark's Combined Show, will rebuild his winter quarters near Alexandria, La., which were burned a few weeks ago. Contracts are let and work will be commenced at once.
A new ring barn, built for the Hargreaves Shows, at Chester, Pa., is a commodious and inviting structure and is now being used by a number of well-known performers for breaking in stock.
Robt. E. Kane, the well-known show talker, has closed a very prosperous season and is now resting at Hot Springs, Ark. He will place his show with one of the large circuses for the coming season.
Contracts aggregating $3,000 have been awarded McRae and Bursey, of Bridgeport, Conn., for repainting Barnum & Bailey's cars. The tableaux and wagons are being done by Barnum & Bailey's own mechanics.
Col. H. E. Allott is figuring on making some extensive additions to his New Alhambra hotel, Chicago. A first-class Turkish bath parlor will be one of the acquisitions. The New Alhambra is proving a veritable gold mine for Bunk.
Bob Taylor, master of transportation of the Ringling Brothers, is a very busy man at Baraboo these days, working on some new cars for the circus. The Ringling Brothers are the first circus organization to build their own cars on the premises of the show.
Rolla Fox writes that after selling out h8is one ring circus he opened a vaudeville and moving picture show and is playing through Wisconsin to big business, making one and three day stands, carrying seven people. In the spring he will open a vaudeville company under canvas.
The roster of the annex department of Jones' Railroad Shows is as follows: D. H. Lano, manager and license adjuster; E. S. Ardell, tickets; Mrs. E. S. Ardell, snakes; Mrs. Doc Lano, monkeys and birds; Cudjo, half man and half animal; Tazewell, untamable lion. There are two cages of animals and Lano's London Punch and Judy Show.
Notes from the Great Floto Shows. Sig Robert Zierke, bandmaster of the Great Floto Show band, is in Denver for the winter, and is gaining many friends by introducing a budget of cornet and trumpet solos. He is signing musicians for the coming season, and will have one of the finest concert orchestras carried by any tented organization. Ted Garvell, late of the Ringling Brothers; E. G. Bricey, of the Forepaugh-Sells; Frank Russomanne, of Ellery's Royal Italian Band and many other artists selected from the best musical organizations in America have been secured. The band will consist of thirty members.
Billboard, January 21, 1905, pp. 17, 18. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
James A. Bailey bought the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Show at Columbus, Jan. 10, for $150,000. The consideration was cash. He immediately sold a half interest in the venture to Ringling Brothers, and the work of refitting it was started at once in order that the show may take the road in April. An immense crowd of showmen was present. In this respect it was the most notable gathering that ever took place. Many of them had hoped to buy odd lots and were disappointed when the show was sold as a whole; but they took the matter philosophically and gathered at the Hotel Chittenden, after the sale for a good time. Among those present were James A. Bailey, Otto Ringling, W. W. Cole, Lewis Sells, B. E. Wallace, W. E. Franklin, C. N. Thompson, John G. Robinson, Geo. Arlington, Al. Stewart, H. H. Tammen, F. C. Archer, Geo. Chenelle, Phil. Oliver, Gil Robinson, C. E. Corey, J. P. Fagan, Ernest Haag, Geo. Sun, Walter Shannon, Wm. P. Hall, Col. Fred Cummins, Frank A. Robbins, Mike Welsh, Phil. Ellsworth, Chas. Wilson, Francis Ferari, Dan Robinson, Wm. Sells, Rud Hynika, Judge Mike Mueler, Adolph Seeman, R. E. Markle, Arch Donaldson, John P. Church, Fred Clark, John Rudolph, Wm. Bartels, O. M. Murray, C. O. Campbell, Edwin Arlington, Wm. E. Clark and Chas. Arnold. Otto Ringling conducted the negotiations for the Ringling Brothers. In spite of all rumors to the contrary, Mr. Bailey did not finally make up his mind to big the show in until about an hour before the sale on Tuesday morning. It was conceded that the price paid was more than the show would have brought piecemeal.
Taking advantage of the attendance of many managers at the Forepaugh-Sells sale a meeting was held at the Hotel Chittenden at which a preliminary organization was formed, embracing practically every tent show in America. It was provided, furthermore, that those shows not represented could become members upon application. The idea is that the proposed organization will crystalize into a strong protective association. J. T. McCaddon was chosen as chairman, and a committee consisting of Chas. Ringling, Frank A. Robbins and C. C. Wilson was appointed to perfect the organization, draw up a constitution and by-laws, etc., etc. With Barnum & Bailey working in harmony under a five years' agreement with Ringling Brothers, and the bond further strengthened by equal ownership in the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, the prospects for the long looked for association seem bright.
An associated press dispatch sent out from Geneva, Ohio, Jan. 12, details the sale of the Main Shows as follows: "Geneva, Ohio, Jan. 12. A deal was closed here Thursday evening whereby W. P. Hall, of Lancaster, Mo., became the owner of the Walter L. Main Circus. Consideration given as $120,000. The deal includes all show property, except winter quarters buildings here. Hall is the owner of a large stock farm in Missouri, and has for years imported fine steeds for circuses. Main has been in the business for 22 years, but will spend the coming season at home."
Negotiations between Messrs. Main and Hall began at Columbus, Jan. 10, and they left for Geneva together, Jan. 11, to look the property over. Hall is a bold, quick buyer, and the story of the purchase is probably true with the exception of the consideration, which is probably overstated. Mr. Hall bought the Harris Nickel Plate Shows last fall from C. C. Wilson, took the outfit to his home at Lancaster and sold it again, all in less than two weeks.
The partnership existing between John T. Welsh and Col. M. H. Welsh, owners and proprietors of Welsh Brothers' Newest Great Railroad Shows, was dissolved by mutual consent Dec. 24, 1904. Col. M. H. Welsh retiring from the firm. The show will continue to be known as the Welsh Brothers Newest Great Railroad shows, but under the ownership and management of John T. Welsh. The same liberal and progressive policy in vogue for the past eighteen years will be maintained. The show is comfortably quartered at McGranns Park, Lancaster, Pa., where it will open the season early in April. Clinton Newton will be general manager.
Jack Albion has signed as principal clown for the W. P. Hall Shows.
W. W. Cole is once more entirely out of the circus business.
John Hamilton and family are once more living at their old home in Fultonham, Ohio.
Col. Hugh Harrison has signed as manager of privileges with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows.
Lash Brothers, musicians, have signed for the season of 1905 with Capt. W. D. Hobson's Shows.
Mollie Bailey Sons are expecting to go en tour early in March. They have permanent quarters at Houston, Tex.
Roy Purcell has been engaged as manager of the box brigade with Gentry Brothers (No. 1) Show, season 1905.
Phil. Harris, with the Miles Orton Shows, will be contracting agent with the Welsh Brothers Newest Great Shows.
Cecil Lowanda, the somersault rider with Shipp's Indoor Circus, spent New Year's day at his home in Petersburg, Ill.
Girard Leon, the well-known eccentric clown and novelty advertiser, goes with the Welsh Brothers Shows this season.
Arthur Adair, the musical clown, is making a great hit in the comedy end of Ed. Shipp's Indoor Circus.
Park Prentiss, formerly bandmaster with the Sells & Downs Shows, has signed as musical director for the W. P. Hall Shows, season 1905. John Talbott will have the privilege car with the W. P. Hall Shows, and Phil Ellsworth will have the side shows and the candy stands.
Mr. Burns, who was identified with the Barnum & Bailey Show, season of 1903, has been engaged as general contractor for the Hagenbeck Shows.
Wm. Sells and a syndicate consisting of Rud Hyniks, Judge Muller and Chas. Arnold, are said to have bid $125,000 for the Forepaugh-Sells Shows.
Charles Carroll, a caller at The Billboard office, Jan. 11, states that he has been engaged as boss propertyman with the Norris & Rowe Shows.
Harry Lambkin, with Forepaugh & Sells' Show last seasson, after spending several weeks in Cincinnati, arrived home in Petersburg, Ill., New Year's day.
E. W. Marsh writes that the has signed as first trombone with Ringling Brothers' Concert Band. Last season he played first trombone with the Carl Clairs' Band.
Oscar Lowande offered Mr. Bailey #1,000 for Gypsy, one of the ring horses with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, but was told that the mare could not be had for $2,000.
Frank and Albright (Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Blasser), the past two years with the Walter L. Main Circus, are spending the holidays at their home in Lawrence, Mass.
The Ty-Bell Sisters write that they have been engaged for the Hippodrome, New York City. They have also signed for the season of 1905 with the Great Wallace Shows.
Fred Hutchinson, of the Buffalo Bill Shows, left Columbus immediately after the sale, catching the Luciania at New York, Jan. 14. He expects to reach winter quarters at Stoke-on-Trent, Jan. 21.
Dan S. Fishell, late of Barnum & Bailey Shows, has accepted the office of business agent of the Royal Chef Co., now playing the Garrick Theatre, St. Louis. He rejoins Barnum & Bailey in the spring.
The Elzors, Fred and Winnie, a duo of remarkable equilibrists who have just finished a successful season over the Stoll Circuit, England, have signed with the Welsh Brothers Newest Great Shows for the coming season.
James H. Gray, formerly of the circus firm of Sells & Gray, is now identified with the real estate business in Santa Rosa, Cal., where it is reported Mr. Gray has accumulated a considerable fortune in the laying out of resident subdivisions.
The James Shelby Show will leave Albany, Ga., Jan. 15, for the season of 1905, and will be enlarged as spring approaches. The show has been in Albany three weeks repainting and inproving, and will work southern Georgia and Alabama until spring. They did a splendid business in the Carolinas and Georgia all last season.
W. N. Merrick, of Shipp's Indoor Circus, claims to be the oldest circus leader in point of continuous active service in the country. He led the band with Sells, then Forepaugh & Sells, for over twenty-five years, and was with the old Van Amburg Circus and J. H. Haverly Minstrels. He will sail in March for Europe with the J. T. McCaddon European Circus.
Billboard, January 28, 1905, pp. 12, 20, 21. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Chas. Lee, the veteran showman, died at his home in Canton, Pa., Sunday, Jan. 8, after an illness extending over some nine years. Mr. Lee's immediate was heart disease. In 1896 he suffered three strokes of appoplexy, and from that time has almost been an invalid, with the exception of being able to get out a few months during the summer. As a showman Mr. Lee's experience covered a period of over thirty years. In 1870 he toured the country with the Barnum and Adam Forepaugh Shows. For a number of years he appeared under the name of LaCardo, the magician. In 1884 he embarked in the circus business, with Sam A. Scribner for a partner. Three years later Mr. Lee started his own show, which he called Lee's Great London Shows. It gradually grew to be the largest wagons show on the road. In 1888 the outfit wintered in Canton, where he purchased property and wintered every year until 1896, when he was stricken with appoplexy. Mr. Lee was sixty years old July 1, 1904. He married Miss Elma Rogers in 1882, who has been a faithfull and loving wife, and who now mourns his loss. Besides a widow he leaves a brother, three half-brothers, three half-sisters, and an adopted son. The funeral services were held from the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Lee was a member. The Rev. J. W. Martin officiated. The G. A. R. attended in a body. Mr. Lee was very popular and well known among the profession.
Joseph P. Quaid died in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 17, from the result of an accident. He went from New York to his home in Philadelphia to spend the holidays, and on Jan. 3 slipped on the ice and fractured his leg. He was taken to the Pennsylvania hospital and was getting along nicely when pneumonia set in, which was the direct cause of his death. Mr. Quaid was well known in theatrical and circus circles, not only for his geniality but also for his business abilities. He was for a number of years treasurer of the Standard and Trocadero theatres, Philadelphia. From 1890 to 1894 he was in charge of the ticket wagon of the Adam Forepaugh Circus. In 1905 [sic] he went to England to instruct the ticket sellers for the first tour of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and then returned to this country. For the next seven years he hel an important managerial position with Buffalo Bill's Wild West. For two years he was assistant treasurer of Weber & Fields' Music Hall, New York, and afterwards was manager of their road company. In 1903 he was manager of the West-end Theatre, New York, and last season managed the English Daisy Company. This season he had been New York representative for several companies. He was a member of Brooklyn Lodge of Elks. The intermnet took place at Philadelphia, Pa., on Saturday, Jan. 21, and was attended by a large delegation of theatrical and circus people. Many came from New York, Boston and Buffalo, and numerous floral emblems were sent from all parts of the country. At the time of his death Mr. Quaid was thirty-six years of age.
Samuel B. Dezarn, attache of Sun Brothers' Circus, was killed by a northbound freight train near Dade City, Florida, Jan. 12. The body was crushed to a pulp and it was only by some papers that the body was identified. Mr. Sun arranged for a burial at his own expense.
Benjamin Miller, horse trainer, who had charge of Silver King, with Ringling's Show for two seasons, and had the pony stables with several different shows, died at Dixon, Ill., Jan. 16, of heart failure.
Diavolo, otherwise known as Dr. Clark, is reported to have been fatally injured at Clenfuegos, Cuba, Jan. 14, while leaping the gap on a bicycle.
William P. Hall of Lancaster, Mo., who recently purchased the Walter L. Main Show, announces that he will combine his new purchase with his own show, and make of them one of the finest thirty-car shows on the road. The entire equipment will be overhauled, and paint and gold leaf will be spread galore. In the future act, which has not yet been announced, Mr. Hall promises a revelation. Phil. Ellsworth has been engaged as director general and headquarters will be at Geneva, Ohio.
Gus and Marion Kohl have signed with the Great Wallace Shows for next season.
C. J. Sassaria and W. M. Day have signed with the Robinson Show for next season.
The Austin Sisters, flying return act, have been engaged by the Wallace Shows season 1905.
J. B. Swafford has signed as general agent with the Andrew Downie Show for the coming season.
W. P. Hall, of Lancaster, Mo., has purchased from Andrew Downie a thirty-two whistle calliope.
The Stumon Family Band and Orchestra closed its forty weeks' engagement with Sun Brothers Jan. 28.
Shipp's Indoor Circus will disband March 21 so the performers can join the Barnum & Bailey and other shows.
Harry Rentz has signed for next season with the Frank A. Robbins Circus, to do his riding act with his mule, Maud.
Vic O. Woodward will again have charge of advance car No. 1 of the Welsh Brothers Newest Great Shows this season.
Mr. and Mrs. Nate Wilson, of Joplin, Mo., are enjoying a pleasant visit to their son, C. C. Wilson and family, at their Chicago home.
Miss Eva Howard, for the past four seasons with the John Robinson Shows, is suffering with tonsilitis at her home 814 Main stret, Cincinnati.
Frank F. Lavell has signed for next season with the John Robinson Show. He has been out eighteen weeks with the Newman Entertainers.
E. L. Brannan, general agent of the Van Amburg Shows, was in St. Louis last week. He purchased a number of animals from the Hagenbeck Zoo.
Peter Fink, well-known showman of Peru, Ind., will shortly move to Denver, Col. He has been with the Great Wallace Show, has signed contracts for the coming season.
Anita Faber has closed with Shipp's Indoor Circus and is now at her home in Columbus, Ohio. She has signed with the Wallace Show for next season.
Jumbo, said to be the largest horse in the world and a feature of the Andrew Downie side show last season, died last week at Medina, N. Y., from blood poisoning.
J. J. Blanck is erecting at Verona, six miles from Pittsburg, Pa., several large storage buildings for the purpose of wintering circuses and theatrical outfits.
Paul Spearing (Cincy), assistant trainmaster with Forepaugh-Sells Show last season, goes with Buffalo Bill next season. He leaves New York Feb. 12 to join the show.
Max Hugo, principal clown and comique juggler, and Prof. J. A. Kelly, aeronaut and parachute leaper, are among the recent bookings for the Welsh Brothers Newest Great Shows.
Chas. P. Helon writes that he has signed as general agent for the F. W. Hall United Wagon Shows for next season. He will leave Coryville, Kan., March 20, with the advance brigade.
Berndt Spahr, the clever clown and rider of Canal Dover, Ohio, who has been with John Robinson's Show for the past two years, will be back in the same position duirng the coming season.
George Holland and wife (Rose Dockrill) and Frank Miller and wife will be the principal riders with the Norris & Rowe Shows this season. They are now breaking stock and practicing at the San Jose, Cal., winter quarters.
Signor Robert Zeirka, bandmaster with the Otto Floto Shows, is spending a month or two at Cripple Creek, Col. Signor Zeirka informs The Billboard's correspondent that he will have about thirty choice members in his band next season.
W. A. Schaar, formerly featured with the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Shows, has closed contracts with the Great Wallace Shows to furnish a family bicycle act, Devil's Chimney and other attractions.
George Gallagher has signed as general agent for McCaddon's European Circus and will sail for France early in March. Mr. Gallagher has been one of Chas. H. ___'s best agents for the past five years, and is well known as a great business producer for any show he goes ahead of.
Tom Hargreaves is completing arrangements to make his railroad shows better, bigger and grander than ever. He will have a corterie of clowns this season that will be a startling feature. Superintendent Bailey has the winter quarters in fine shape, and employs a small army of mechanics on new wagons and cars.
W. A. Shannon, general manager of privileges with the Norris & Rowe Shows, passed through Chicago Friday, 20, on his way from Columbus, Ohio, to San Jose, Cal., with his privilege car, Thelma, which he purchased from C. N. Thompson. Mr. Shannon called at the Chicago office of The Billboard. He will have all of the privileges with Norris & Rowe this season.
Everything is hustle and bustle around the winter quarters of the Campbell Brothers' Show. Fannie, the lioness, gave birth to a litter of cub lions and they are doing fine.
D. H. Lano closed as side show manager and adjuster with the Jones Railroad Show, Jan. 14, at Frenandina, Fla., selling his animals and the freak, Cudjo, to Mr. Jones. Mr. Lano is now resting at Jacksonville, Fla., and will direct the tour of his wife, who has out her troupe of boxing dogs and monkeys. Mr. and Mrs. Lano have been engaged for next season with the Wallace Show.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cousins, equestrians, have signed with Welsh Brothers Newest Great Shows for the coming season. In addition to their equestrian displays, Mrs. Cousins will present a unique carriage menage act, employing two beautiful Arabian horses and six fox hounds. Mr. Cousins will also fill the position of equestrian director, making his third season in this capacity.
Norris & Rowe will have twenty-two cars with their show this season. Eighteen cars comprised their equipment last year. Joe Geisher will be equestrian director; Pop Smith, musical director; George Warmwold [sic?] superintendent of canvas, and Jim Low, boss hostler. The big top will be one hundred and forty feet with four forty-foot middle pieces; menagerie top eighty feet with three thirties. Leonhardt is turning out a new band wagon of magnificent proportions for the show.
A new claimant of public patronage will appear in the tented field the coming season to be known as Washburn and DeAlma's Famous Trained Animal Shows, of which Leon W. Washburn and John DeAlma are proprietors. The winter quarters at Corona, Long Island, have presented a busy appearance for many weeks past. Fifty ponies and one hundred dogs, besides to elephants, are at school in the winter quarters. Four cars will be required to transport the show. The printing will be of new designs. The show will open the last week of April.
Items from the Great Texas Bill Wild West. Many marked improvements are being made to the show for this season. Nearly a hundred head of horses will be carried. Two new band wagons, several cages and a new ticket wagon have been ordered. The following people have already signed: Harry Knight, arena director; W. C. Lane, side show manager; Sam Moore, boss hostler; F. C. Sylvan, rube; Lone Star May, champion wing shot; Frank Cool, reserved seat tickets; W. W. Jeffers, treasurer and assistant manager. There will be a tribe of twenty Sioux Indians from the Rosebud Agency. It is manager Montgomery's intention to give the public this season a strictly first-class Wild West performance, together with the installation of several ideas new to the wild west field.
Notes from the Canada Frank Shows. This is our thirty-seventh week under canvas. We have toured Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, Texas and Louisiana. Business has been better than any previous season in the show's history. The roster is as follows: F. M. Myers, owner and manager; Mrs. F. M. Myers, ticket taker; Miss Winifred Myers, reserved seats; Walton Brothers, double traps; Edwin Curtis, slack wire; Oscar Hilbert, single traps; Prof. Chas. Dryden, barrel kicking; Jack Maloney, clown; Bert Myers adn Maloney, revolving ladder; Miss Manda Myers, sourbrette; Myrtle Myers, songs; Bert Redd, master of properties; Henry Kline, boss canvasman; "Slim" Andrews, chandelier man; Willie Loftus, carboy, and Edward Hobart, leader of band. The show will run about three weeks longer under canvas and will then play opera houses until March 10, closing at Tipton, Ia.
Shipp's Indoor Circus, now in its sixth week, is eclipsing all previous efforts. Mr. Shipp's idea of producing a circus on a stage is not only practical but satisfies the demand of the theatregoers, who are continually crying for something new. To further substantiate this Mr. Shipp has a tempting offer from a prominent syndicate to give up his regular summer circus engagement and devote his entire time to an indoor circus. The company includes some of the best known performers in America, and a glance a the roster will reveal many familiar names to those conversant with circus folks. Art and Dot Adair, head balancing act; Carrie Kemp, rolling globe; Miss Julia Lowande, principal bareback act; Prof. Sunlin, presenting his trained bull; Fred Ledgett and Dollie Julian, jockey riders; Arthur Adair and George Hartzell, principal clowns; Peerless Anita, aerialist; Delavoye and Fritz, trick-house act; Horace Webb, revolving ___; Madame Marei, with her educated horse, Mizpah; Cecil Lowande, principal somersault equestrian; Pascatel, the man with a hundred forms; Nettie Carroll, high wire act; the Marvelous Pacheco Family of acrobats and Alec G. Lowande, with his comic riding on a mule. The Shipp circus season is to close March 11, at Convention Hall, Kansas City, where the show is well known. W. N. Merrick has a band of eleven people, which has been one of the contributing factors to the success of the enterprise.
Billboard, February 4, February 11, and February 18, 1905 are online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, February 25, 1905, pp. 10, 11. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Among recent acquisitions of the Norris & Rowe Show at its winter quarters in San Jose, Cal., is a handsome new sixty-foot Pullman car, just from the shops and fitted throughout in a style that fairly rivals the private property of many a railroad president. When the employes of the show became appraised of the fact that the new car would be in the side-track in an hour, the whole force assembled at the tracks and much speculation was engaged in as to the appearance and name of the new Pullman. As the car came in, richly painted, handsomely finished and as bright as a silver dollar, a cheer went up from the delighted crowd as they read the name which Messrs. Norris & Rowe had palced upon the sides of the car in an artistic design - The Billboard. The management of the show at once became the object of much praise in their selection of the name. Every member of the Norris & Rowe Show is proud of its new possession, and The Billboard is proud of its namesake.
The Miles Orton Show, which has been playing with such pronounced success in Florida, is visiting the Bahama Islands. The show left Miami, arriving in Nassau where the opening performance was given to a packed tent Feb. 8. The Nassau papers speak well of the show, giving it the highest praise.
Campbell Brothers will stay exclusively in the west this season.
Ellis Cregmile has signed with the Forepaugh-Sells Show for next season.
Ward Kelly has been appointed treasurer of the Norris & Rowe Show. The Flying Victorellas were recently engaged for Norris & Rowe.
C. D. McIntyre has been engaged as contracting agent for the Gollmar Bros. Shows.
Frank Ellett, of the Ellett Troupe, has been visiting his family in McKees Rocks, Pa.
Williams and McComb, aerialists, have signed for the season of 1905 with the Great Pan-American Shows.
Charles Hayes, business manager of the David Harum Co., has signed with Barnum & Bailey for the coming season.
Chas. F. Mack has again signed as ticket seller with the Wallace Show, making his fourth season in that capacity.
Will Tarkington, in writing to a friend, states that he will not be identified with the Gentry Bros. Shows this season.
C. I. Norris is doing fine work with his foot juggling bear, one of the many new features to be introduced by Norris & Rowe this season.
George Holland has recenlty purchased a new horse for a principal act, and is breaking him at the Norris & Rowe winter quarters.
Edward Herner, late of Barnum & Bailey, will be head chef in charge of the kitchen of the Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Shows next season.
Jerry Mugivan, general manager of the Van Amburg Shows, purchased some cars in Chicago last week and registered at The Billboard office Wednesday, 15.
B. F. Loveridge, who has been spending the winter at Pennoyer Sanitarium, Kenosha, Wis., has signed as route rider with Forepaugh-Sells Show for the coming season.
The Elstun Brothers Dog and Pony Show is being shaped up nicely for the season. The show will carry twenty-one ponies, fifty dogs and goats and the disrobing horse, Senator.
Miss Belle Clark, novelty menage artiste, and Miss Nellie Braddon, wild west equestrienne, are engaged to go with the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers Combined Shows for 1905.
L. J. Chamberlain's crack circus band of eighteen first-class musicians will furnish the music for the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers Combined Shows during the coming season.
Wm. DeMott, equestrian, has signed with the Robinson Shows. He says that Mrs. Gertrude Davis, under his instruction, gives promise of becoming an equestrienne of high degree.
Curvin Zeck, aerial performer, writes that he has joined with Nellie Billings, aerialist, and hereafter the team will be known as The Billings. They go with Al. Steel's Show this season.
James Stuart, contracting agent; Walter Dynan, chief steward, and George Wormwold, boss canvasman, were recently arrivals at winter quarters of the Norris & Rowe Show in San Jose, Cal.
Lew Barrella has taken the side show management of the Campbell Brothers this season. It will be a sixty with two thirties. Fourteen different attractions will be carried in this department.
H. P. Matlack, associate manager of privileges with the Hagenbeck Shows, transacted business in the interests of that organization in Chicago last week, making his headquarters at The Billboard office.
Great LaFleur's sensational acrobatic and ladder act was a big hit at the Mid-winter Exposition recently held in Topeka, Kan. Great LaFleur has been engaged for the season with the Forepaugh & Sells Brothers' Show.
It is reported to The Billboard by reliable authority that a number of Cairo, Ill., capitalists have agreed and arranged to put out a circus the coming season. Paddy Smith, the ex-pugilist, is scheduled as manager of this new one which, it is said, will be a thirty-car show.
Herb Rumley will work the seals and sea lions with the Norris & Rowe Shows this summer. Albert King is breaking a lay-down entry for two rings and a driving elk, which will be anovelty for the street parade. A troop of trained dogs are receiving the finishing touches of their education under the master hand of Joe Geysler.
Lieut. Byron N. Hulburd of Philadelphia has returned from a trip to Texas, where he went to arrange for the opening of Hulburd's Wild West April 15, at San Antonia. He writes that he will go to the Pacific coast this season, and that he has closed a contract with the Southern Pacific R. R. Co. for the transportation of the outfit.
John A. Barton returned to Chicago Thursday, 16, after a conference with Sig. Sautelle at Homer, N. Y. Mr. Barton is enthusiastic over the progress being made at winter quarters, and declares that the general equipment of the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Bros. Consolidated Shows will be of the best throughout all departments. The show will consist of fifteen cars.
Lee Williams was a Cincinnati visitor last week, having run over from St. Louis to look after the wagons and effects being built for the Hagenbeck Show. He left Wednesday for northern Ohio, where he goes to meet Walter L. Main and close up a deal he has on hand with that gentleman. Mr. Williams is sure of a prosperous season for the Hagenbeck Show this year.
Notes from LaMont Brothers' Show. We are very comfortably located in our winter quarters at Salem, Ill. The shops are kept busy and will be so until the show leaves Salem. C. D. Randolph is very busy breaking a team of trick mules, which he says will be one of the best acts of its kind ever placed before the public. Mr. Ferguson, of the Ferguson Show Print Co., of Logan, Ia., spent a very pleasant week with us recently.
Fred Beckmann, associated with Frank A. Robbins with his new show and who will handle the advance, was in New York last week and conferred with his car managers and contractor Haley as to next season's campaign. Mr. Beckman will be foot loose and will use a flying squadron box brigade to the best advantage in billing the extreme advance for extra billing purposes as occasion may require. W. M. Goodman will have charge of the first car and a Beckman protege will handle the excursion car. As their printing is divided among four lithographic houses there will be an unusually fine assortment of poster for the show.
The organization of the Adam Forepaugh & Sells Brothers Shows Combined is now practically complete. Henry Ringling will be the manager and A. G. Ringling the general agent. The equipment will be new from the smallest stake to the widest canvas. The area of canvas will be enormous, because the menagerie will be enlarged. The men for the working departments are steeped in experience, and known for effective work. Besides the new sleepers and cars added this year the cars heretofore used have been rebuilt and painted by the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. at its shops in Columbus, Ohio, and is the largest contract ever given to a carbuilding company by a circus. James A. Bailey and the Ringling Brothers will give the employes of the new aggregation the greatest possible comfort, and no expense has been spared to develop this idea to the highest standard the name and fame of its present owners enjoy. George Stumpf will be superintendent of stock; Frank Wingate will have charge of the ring stock; John Devinney, superintendent of canvas; "Buggy" Stumpf, superintendent of transportation; Harry Sells, superintendent of properties; Thomas Dunn, superintendent of lights; Peter Heinz, superintendent of mechanics; Fred Schaefer, superintendent of wardrobe, and John Patterson, superintendent of animals and elephants. Hugh Harrison is to have charge of the side shows, and the culinary department will be in charge of A. D. Moreland. Edward Shipp will be equestrian director.
Billboard, March 4 and March 11, 1905 are online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, March 18, 1905, pp. 28, 30, 32. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Harry Stevenson, musician, late of Gentry Brothers' (No. 2) Show, died recently of tuberculosis at his home in Chandlerville, Ill.
The train bearing the Great Floto Shows leaves Denver March 19 for Fort Worth, Tex., where the season begins, 22. After Dallas, Waco, Galveston, Houston, Austin and San Antonia, only six stands will be made to California. Floto's agents are now scattered from Dallas to Victoria, B. C. No enterprise of this class will go out better equipped, for it has Pullman train service from the advance cars to the last train, and everything is brand new in every department. The growth of the Floto shows has occasioned much comment and praise from visiting showmen.
Frank Tammen is the general manager; Joseph H. Huston, general agent; Mell A. Faris, contracting agent; Arthur E. Diggs, manager advance car; "Punch" Wheeler, press agent; Arthur L. Hill, manager outside attractions; James Ross, concert manager; Harry Evans, treasurer; John Carroll, equestrian director; Chris Seitz, superintendent of menagerie; Ed. Jenks, boss hostler; "Slivers" Holland, boss canvasman; W. C. Clements, property man; Dr. Rowland Curtis, surgeon; Prof. John H. Andrews, lecturer; John Kent, master of transportation, and Sig. R. Zierke, bandmaster, with fifty musicians.
The circus program includes the Ellet troupe, aerialists; Varin and Turenne, battle axe manipulators; Sugimoto Japanese troupe, the Three Hocums, principal riders; William DeVan and Lizzie Rooney, principal riders; the Four Avenas, trapeze; Clara Ruel, menage rider; Campbell and Johnson, comedy bicycle act; the Rose-edyth ballet, premiers, secundos and coryphees; the Marvelous Chester Brothers' performing elephants; two comic mule riding acts and twenty clowns headed by Frank Milton, George LaMar, Frank Ellet, Joe Smith and Will Koplin. The side show: Great Vallecita and her performing lions; Pan-American Minstrels; Windecker, the Great; International Congress of Dancing Girls; Al. Armer and wife, impalement act; DeLong Sisters, musical act; DuBarry Trio of singers and dancers; Zouboulakis, the great wonder; and Fantano, the mystery. Annex brass band of twelve men.
Charles L. Kennedy, the well-known showman and formerly a partner in the Kennedy Brothers Wild West, died March 3, in Hannibal, Mo. The remains were shipped to Lexington, Mo., for interment in the Porteus Cemetery. Of recent years Mr. Kennedy conducted a milk business in Bloomington, Ill. He leaves a wife and two small children besides a wife and two small children besides his mother, two brothers and four sisters.
The Norris & Rowe Show opened its season of 1905 at San Francisco, Cal., Saturday, March 4, with a matinee, the receipts of which exceeded those of last year by something like $200. Saturday night every reserved seat was sold and the gallery was crowded at 25 cents. Sunday matinee was a corker, to use the expression of H. S. Rowe, and Sunday night witnessed a capacity tent. The big illuminated parade of Friday night before the opening day was a big success, if large crowds count for anything. The streets were crowded all along the line of march.
Thomas During has charge of the train with the Wallace Shows.
Burns and Burns have sigend with the W. P. Hall Shows for the coming season.
Olga Read will be one of the principal riders for the Wallace Shows the coming season.
The Kennedy Brothers' Indian Congress and Wild West Show will open June 15 at Paragon Park, Boston.
The menagerie of the John Robinson Show was increased March 9 by the birth of a baby Ansa antelope.
The Great Wagner, the "flexible" clown, has signed to go with the Campbell Brothers Show this season.
George Wood will have charge of the canvas with the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows the coming season.
A baby camel was born at the Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show winter quarters in St. Louis, Mo., March 6.
Niler Lewis, for three years with the Floto Shows, has joined the Coast Artillery and is stationed at Ft. Dade, Egmont, Fla.
A. S. Engiert [Englert?], "Smithy," left Berlin, Ont., March 15, for Topeka, Kan., to take charge of the canvas with the Sells & Downs Show.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gore closed with the Joshua Simpkins Co. (western) at Moline, Ill., March 4, to join the Great Floto Shows at Denver.
David E. Imler (Shorty) is said to have left the Wallace Show winter quarters for Denver, to take the cook house with the Floto Show.
George Gallagher with a corps of advertising men started for Europe on March 15. Mr. Gallagher will be general agent of the McCaddon Shows.
Frank J. O'Donnell will close with Hanlon's Superba on March 27, and at once assume the duties of press agent with the Forepaugh-Sells Circus.
The Morris Family Band, Matthew Morris, last season leader of the Miles Orton's Shows, has booked with the Welsh Brothers shows for the coming season.
Our correspondent at Whitewright, Tex., writes that James McKenna, bannerman for Floto's Circus Beautiful, left there this week to join the car at Fort Worth.
W. H. Bullen, agent of Murray and Mack, was a Billboard caller March 9. He will be a member of the John Robinson advance force next season.
John H. Rice, general agent of the Hargreaves Shows, has started to work after a winter's studying of maps and railroad guides. He states that an entire new advance car will be used this summer.
Lamarr and Siada [Slada?], who have been wintering in Chicago since Christmas, will not take out the Chinese Palace this season, and will go with Sells & Downs Circus.
W. H. ("Bones") Holden, last season with Gentry Brothers No. 1 advance and now advertising agent at the Broadway Theatre, St. Louis, Mo., will be with Sells & Downs Show this season.
James Duval, at one time accounted one of America's greatest contortionists, but who has forsaken acrobatic work and embraced the comedy field, has signed as a funmaker with the John Robinson Shows.
Willard McGuire, of the Casino Theatre, Philadelphia, made a hurried trip to Washington during the inauguration and engatged a number of Seth Bullock's Rough Riders for the Pawnee Bill Wild West.
Hargreaves Shows will have an amusing burlesque on a national subject as part of their clown frolics. Their new 20-sheet clown stand, by Donaldson, is one of the fetchiest pieces of paper ever printed.
P. A. Dutch, cowboy electrical tattoographist, now at the Clark Street Musuem, Chicago, has signed with manger of annex, James H. Morrow of Sig. Sautelle's & Welsh Brothers Combined Shows for season 1905.
Mr. VanWyck, manufacturer of apparatus and juggling outfits, Cincinnati, is making some handsome apparatus for Gentry Brothers' monkeys.
S. Schlup, our former correspondent at New Philadelphia, Ohio, writes that he joined Sun Brothers' Circus as lithographer, March 11.
Otis Kiefer of Bloomington, Ill., has been making preparations for some time to go on the road again - this season with the Wallace Circus. He does a baton swinging turn in the big show and in the concert. He will join the show at Indianapolis the latter part of March.
The Flying Fisher Family have been working at Bloomington, Ill., preparatory to taking the road with the Ringling Brothers Shows. The troupe consists of Charles Noble, Edward Foreman, Clyde VanNovle, Henry Franz and Fred Johnson. They leave March 20, to join the show at Chicago.
Notes from Canada Frank's Vaudeville Circus. Everything in winter quarters is putting on an appearance as though there wes going to be something doing this season. The show will have a larger tent than last season, the old one proving too small at many stands. The show opens the first week in May.
Frank A. Robbins has purchased several animals from Louis Rhue, among which is a giant camel, the largest and finest specimen ever imported to this country. The giant camel is to the dromedary species as large as Jumbo was in the elephant class. Mr. Robbins intends makingit one of the features of his menagerie.
Nathan Davis, who has been connected with the Barnum & Bailey Show, the Buffalo Bill Wild West on both sides of the water and others for many years, and whose travels have extended over most of North America, writes that he has retired from the show business and opened a cigar store at 107 North Ninth street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Billboard, March 25, 1905 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, April 1, 1905, pp. 18, 26. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Judson C. Webb, formerly transportation and concession manager with the Barnum & Forepaugh Shows, died last week at the Swedish Hospital, Omaha, Neb. Remains were shipped to Fremont, Neb.
Lillian Harrington has joined the W. P. Hall Shows as dancer.
Al. G. Barnes' Animals are touring Cuba with the Circo Pubillones.
Norris & Rowe had good business at both performances at San Diego, Cal., March 20.
The Gentry Brothers Show No. 2 opens at Greenville, Miss., April 8.
The Garcinetti Family is said to be a big hit down in Cuba with the Circo Pubillones.
E. M. Jackson is doing the local contracting again this season for the Gentry Show No. 1.
E. M. Washburn has signed as master of transportation for Gentry Brothers Show No. 2.
Harry Bonnell will be back with the Hulburd Wild West Show this season, doing press work.
The Three D'Enpas, horizontal bar performers and acrobats, go with the Campbell Brothers this season.
Ed Adams, a canvasman with the Barnum & Bailey Show, is recovering from his injuries received lately.
R. A. Thompson's troupe of trained horses have arrived in Peru, Ind., from Dallas, Tex., to join the Wallace Show.
Geo. Parento, sensational ladder and trapeze performer, is now in is thirty-fifth week with Jones' Model Plate Show.
William L. Carr, advance agent for the Vernon Stock Co., has been engaged to go in advance of Car No. 2 of Hargreaves' Circus.
The Stumon Family have re-engaged with the Sun Brothers Shows for the season. Edwin Dutch will be a member of the family.
W. E. Sands will manager advertising car No. 1 of the Campbell Brothers Shows this season, which will be his second year with the show.
The eighty head of work horses formerly used by the Walter L. Main Shows have been sold to the Hagenbeck Trained Animal Exhibit.
F. C. Archer, last season excursion agent with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, is managing the No. 1 advance car with the Norris & Rowe Big Shows.
Wm. C. Lane, of Hagerstown, Md., is preparing to open with the Texas Bill Wild West, with which organization he will have charge of the side show.
Geo. Claire, advertising agent of the Grand Opera House of Rochester, Pa., writes that he has signed to go in advance of the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Show.
The John Sparks Circus suffered a blowdown at Corinth, Miss., March 18, in which it is said that the main tent was completely ruined. Luckily no one was injured.
Thomas During (Dutch), for the past five years trainmaster with the Sells & Downs Circus, has signed with the Wallace Show for the coming season.
Fred Maurer, Ed. Bucher and Bert Reiss, billposters of Canal Dover, Ohio, left last week for New York, where they joined Barnum & Bailey's advertising car No. 1.
John R. Feltus writes that he has signed with the Ringling Brothers' excursion car for the coming season. He was with car No. 1 of the Walter L. Main Show last season.
Beja (Mrs. Prosser), contortionist, and W. M. Prosser, who have been spending the winter at their home in Bay City, Mich., have signed with the Sells & Downs Shows for the season.
Martin Milligan has closed his season as agent of the Margaret Neville Co., and is at present resting in Akron, Ohio, arranging to manage advance car No. 2 this season with the Lemen Brothers World's Best Shows.
MacVay and Seabright, novelty acrobatic rope jumpers, have signed with the John Robinson Show for the season. MacVay, the male member of the team, has added the unique novelty of jumping the rope while standing on his head.
Col. Frederick T. Cummins reports things are rapidly shaping up for the road tour of Cummins' Wild West and Indian Congress, which will open early in May. The show will be first class in every particular and well equipped in every department.
Col. Geo. W. Hall, formerly of the Hall & Bingley Circus, who retired from the business about two years ago and settled upon his farm near Evansville, Wis., was in the South week of March 13, visiting friends in Florida. The Col. is now seventy years old.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts or can offer any suggestions toward locating the Gillman Family of Acrobats, who had a little wagon circus through Missouri two years ago, will confer a favor by addressing a lost daughter, Mable Gillman, care this office.
The roster of advance car No. 2 of the Floto Shows is as follows: Arthur Diggs, car manager; Cliff Redfield, boss billposter; F. Redfield, J. A. Yost, H. J. Mosier, E. J. Hamblin, Bert Stevens, F. Burger, Tony Royg, F. George, "Doc" Prite, "Doc" Garnett, Sam Morley and J. Black.
Geo. S. Ely's Shows, in winter quarters at Paducah, Ky., are about ready for the opening performance which occurs April 20. E. C. Grace (Blackey) has just finished breaking a new eight-horse lay-down entree and a fine menage horse, which, in addition to his other trained stock, will make a fine display.
Henry W. Davies, one of the original "Wild Men of Borneo," who toured the country with the Barnum & Bailey Show for many years, died in Waltham, Mass., March 17, of old age. He had been living with his brother, who accompanied him while with the show. Davis was a Malay, less than two feet tall. He was discovered in Borneo forty years ago by H. A. Warner.
A new factor has vaulted into the circus arena. The Greater American Shows, under the management of C. F. Rhodes, who is well known in amusement circles, will bid for popular favor this season. The privileges will be in charge of Billy Mann. The show will consist of six cars and will open in Chicago early in May, playing the suburban lots for the first four weeks. Mr. Rhodes has established an office at 302 Dearborn street, Chicago.
Billboard, April 8, 1905 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, April 15, 1905, pp. 3, 10, 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Edward L. Marsden, for several years with the Gollmar Brothers' Shows, will return to that organization again this season in the publicity department. Mr. Marsden has been identified with the advertising department of the Folly theatre, Chicago, the last winter.
Mary Ann Leon, known professionally as Mollie Leon, died at Springfield, Ill., March 28. Mrs. Leon was the wife of Ed. Leon, a famous circus gymnast, and was for many years associated with John Robinson's Shows. A fall received in the ring compelled her to retire. She leaves two children, Maude and Edward Jr.
Sam Cohen and the Inmans go with the Frank A. Robbins Show this season.
The Floto Shows played two performances at Douglas, Ariz., April 4, to good business.
Archie Royer will be principal clown and manager of the concert this season with the Sells-Downs Show.
The Gonzales Troupe of Mexican acrobats and tumblers go with the Hulburd Wild West Show.
Geo. W. O'Doir, "the man with the ladder," goes with the Campbell Brothers Shows, making his second season.
W. B. Harold and wife, who have been wintering in Chicago, go with the Sells & Downs Show this season.
Dr. J. E. Fitzgerald has signed with the Gollmar Brothers for the season, making his fourteenth with that show.
Willard McGuire, advertising agent of the Casino Theatre, Philadelphia, will do special press work for Pawnee Bill during the summer.
The Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers Shows United will play a four-days engagement at their first stand, Lancaster, Pa., beginning April 24.
M. Thaddeus Sowder will organize a wild west show at Cheyenne, Wyo., to exhibit at the Lewis and Clark Exposition this summer.
Frank Gregory and his famous Banda Rossa of forty solo musicians will furnish the music for the Frank A. Robbins Shows the coming season.
H. A. Jones, formerly assistant steward of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, has signed with the Hulburd Wild West in the capacity of steward.
The Floto Shows made two stands in Old Mexico last week, at Hermosillo and Guaymas, Sonora. "Punch" Wheeler reports business and weather fine.
Bert Cobb, of Montgomer, Ala., who will be superintendent of the wardrobe with the Wallace Shows this season, was a Billboard caller April 3.
Chas. Smith, billposter of Newark, Ohio, passed through Cincinnati last week on is way to join the advertising car of the John Sparks Show at Gallatin, Tenn.
Following their tenting season C. L. Holmes and Dan Pheney, of advertising car No. 1 of the Ringling Brothers Show, will put out their melodrama, Dear Old Georgia.
Martin Downs, associate owner, and H. B. Potter, advertising manager of the Sells & Downs United Shows, were welcom callers at our Chicago office Thursday, 6.
C. A. Rippel writes that the Rippel Shows are about ready for the opening at Frankfort, Ind., April 28. Mr. Rippel is looking for a fair season in the circus business.
F. C. Burkley, steward last season with Gentry Brothers' (No. 3) Show, has signed as steward and ticket seller with Washburn & D'Alma's Famous Trained Animal Show.
E. C. Steel (Skyrocket) has No. 2 car with the Van Amburg Shows this season. R. M. Dent and R. R. Jones left Parsons, Kan., April 3, to join the car.
One of the many features of the Great Floto Shows this season is that of DeCarlo and Stokes' new and novel aerial bar act, in which they are assisted by Sandy Copland.
W. C. Lane and Clyde Wolf left Hagerstown, Md., March 28, to join the Texas Bill Wild West Show. Mr. Wolf will sell pasteboards and Mr. Lane will manage the show.
The new advertising car for Hargreaves Shows arrived at Chester, Pa., April 3. It is a handsome and complete car with all up-to-date improvements, It started on the road April 8.
W. A. LaDuque, in advance of Berger Exposition Co. last year, has signed a contract with the Carl Hagenbeck Shows to take charge of the clowns and do a roller skating specialty the coming season.
Clark E. Felgar, last season with Under and Over The Sea at St. Louis, has joined James A. Morrow's with the Sig Sautelle & Welsh Brothers Circus for second opening on the side show and concert.
The marriage of James Brooks of the Jones Railroad Shows, and Miss Mamie Wilson, of Portsmouth, Ohio, is announced for May 23. Mr. Brooks has been with the Jones R. R. Shows for the past six seasons.
J. C. Banks, for several seasons press agent with the Sautelle Shows, and for the past winter connected with M. B. Raymond's attractions, will be legal adviser and adjuster with the Frank A. Robbins Shows this season.
J. J. Brolley, who has been confined to the hospital at Philadelphia, Pa., since January 21, suffering from paralysis of the lower limbs, writes that he hopes to be able to fill his engagement as twenty-four man with the Hargreaves Show this season.
Phil. Harris closed as advance man with the Miles Orton Show at Jacksonville, Fla., to go in the same capacity with the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers Shows. The genial Phil. is A1 in advance and is known by all the newspaper men along the route.
Mitchell Bremer, while en route from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, March 28, was struck by a fallen ventilator window at King's Mountain and rendered unconscious for two hours. Mr. Bremer, familiarly known as "Peanuts," is all right now, and will be with one of the big ones this season.
The Pawnee Bill winter quarters at Carnegie, Pa., have been purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad, to be used for new freight yards. Next fall Pawnee Bill will open new winter quarters near Philadelphia, having purchased a large farm in that vicinity on which new and commodious buildings will be erected this summer.
Harry Lake, for four years superintendent of the St. Louis Billposting Co., and last season advertising manager for Crawford's Theatre in St. Louis, leaves this week to join the Sells & Downs Shows. He takes charge of car No. 2 and his energy, practical experience and close attention to business insures him a most successful season.
Harry VanAuken, late of VanAuken & Vannerson, has joined Frank Ellet and will work with the Great Ellet Troupe this season in their aerial bar act. Mr. Ellet has returned to Grand Rapids, Mich., after a pleasant visit to his family at McKee's Rocks, Pa. Master Willie Ellet received some nice presents in celebration of his eleventh birthday.
Notes from Brown's United Shows. Everybody is busy at winter quarters. Horses, new wagons, canvas and paraphernalia are arriving daily. The parade and band will be a feature. Ten men ahead will advertise the show. Most of the paper will be special. The route has been carefully gone over and indications point to a successful season.
The roster of the advance of Gentry Brothers' (No. 1) Show is as follows: Eddie Jackson, local contractor; Geo. Cable, manager car No. 1; Harry Beltz, boss billposter, with E. A. Robey, Chas. Lindblade, Harry Pitney, W. A. Lane, Fred. Dick and O. H. Menimen, as assistants; Allen Pierce and Fred Green, programmers; C. S. Primrose is general agent and railroad contractor, making his ninth season with that show.
To the Great Barlow Shows have been added three new menagerie wagons, and all the wagons of the show have been painted yellow with a red and green decoration. The roster is as follows: Ed. P. Barlow, manager; Ella Barlow, treasurer; Theodore Bates, advance agent; G. Watson, privileges; Edna and Erma Barlow, singing and dancing; LaDeal and Hepner, aerialists; Howe and Decker, jugglers; Guy Tailor, principal clown; James Wiley, boss hostler; Clarence McGoughn, master of properties; Frank Speidler, Leo Wilson, Ledger Pontions, Clinton Warrior and Gorman Blair.
The Rollo Fox Show opens at Appleton, Wis., April 24. They will carry a sixty foot round top with one fifty foot middle piece, side show 40x60 and dressing tent 35x60, with everything new. The roster, in part, is as follows: F. W. Frazer's troupe of educated dogs, ponies, goats and monkeys; Clark and Stonebaker, double traps; F. A. Carro, jugggler and hoop roller, and Clark Ridgeway's band. J. H. Walsh will be boss canvasman with six assistants. The show will make two and three day stands in Wisconsin and northern Michigan. Billy LaPearl and James O. Contel are proprietors.
The Gentry Brothers Famous Shows United, No. 1 and 2, left winter quarters (Bloomington, Ind.) Monday, April 3. The two shows traveled as far as Memphis, Tenn., where they separated and immediately left of their respective opening stands, Jonesboro, Ark., and Greenville, Miss. No. 2 show arrived at its destination Tuesday night, after each member of the troupe had received a good shaking up. We had the pleasure and experience of having a man as engineer who believed in going the limit, and the first sixty-eight miles out of Memphis was made in seventy-five minutes. The season opened at Greenville, Miss., April 8.
Notes from the Lucky Bill Show. We started from the winter quarters at Quenemo, Kan., March 25, with one of the finest wagons shows on the road, many times larger and better than every before. Business is big and the weather is delightful. The show is composed of the Whitlarks, traps and rings; Clyde and Lottie Rialdo, sketch artists and clowns; McCoy Family, slack wire; Sid DeClairville, human spider; Jas. Wing, aerial artist; Wm. Newton Jr., unicyclist; Blonde Dunlap, buck and wing dancer; Mary Dunlap, painist; May Newton, moving pictures; Roy Thornbren, chef; W. V. Fox, boss hostler; John Curley, boss canvasman, and Chas. McCoy, electrician.
Notes from winter quarters of Geo. W. Hall's Circus and Menagerie. Everything is about completed for our opening, which will be early in May. The finishing touches are being put on the cages and wagons. The stock is in fine condition and the elephants, horses, dogs and pigs are in daily practice. Dan Costello is finishing a manage horse and a number of pony acts, which will be a feature for the coming season. Prof. Pearl Grinnell will have charge of the band; Wm. Cook of the stock, and J. H. Simmerson of canvas. Among the performers recently engaged are the Whitlarks, aerialists; Three Powells; Wm. Milliken, principal clown; Evangeline Metcalf, soubrette, and Sim Holloway, comedian.
The roster of the George S. Ely United Shows and Trained Animal Exhibition is as follows: Geo. S. Ely, sole proprietor and manager; Mrs. K. S. Ely, treasurer in charge of ticket wagon; Lee Howard, equestrian director; Howard Family; Gertie DeMent, flying trapeze; Sophia Howard, flying rings; Wilbur Brothers, horizontal bar; Miss Mae Wealty in Roman standing races and menage act; Prof. Grace and his school of dogs, ponies and goats; the Hamburg Brothers, acrobats and gymnasts, and Professor Zadell and his four performing steers. Blacky Jones is boss canvasman with twelve assistants; Ben Swift is boss hostler with eighteen assistants; and Prof. Rau has charge of the band with eight pieces.
Mollie Leon, in private life Mary Anne Leon, for many years known in the circus ring and at one time a feature of the John Robinson Show, died at her home in Springfield, Ohio, March 28, after a week's suffering with convulsions. Mrs. Leon was the wife of Ed. Leon, a former circus gymnast. She received an injury several years ago while doing a trapeze act that put her out of the business completely. She was born February 19, 1855, and twenty-five years ago was married to Ed. Leon. Their two children, Maude and Ed., are still living. Maude having retired from the vaudeville and settled down to private life. Young Edward is said to possess a wonderful singing voice. The funeral was held March 30, from St. Mary's Church, Springfield.
The roster of the Pubillones Shows is as follows: the Escamillos Family (2), wire act; the Segundo Garcinetti Family (8), acrobats; Miss Bertina, the Todd-Judge Family (3), acrobats; the Clarke-Clarkonians (4), aerialists; Mr. Toki Murata, Japanese; H. Higuchi and Son, Japanese; Miss Beatrice, contortionist; Dr. Clarke, loop the gap; Mr. Ostrado, trapeze; Mr. Scatinelly, rings and trapeze; Mr. Flexmore, clown; the Three Pouriers, bars and rings; Mr. Tome Eck and Miss Florence, loop the loop; Mons. Jolly and Mlle. Velia, Parisian dancers; Alfred and Rowan Banack, European clowns; the Three Bottomleys, parallel and triple bars; the Ryan Family, equestrians; the Feres and Griff, hercules acts; Mr. C. Eggers, loop the gap; Mr. Broad and Mr. Rose, bicyclists; the Lawrent Family (3), strong acts; Messrs. Pito and Chocolate, clowns; the Barnes Family and their animal collection; Mr. Delgado and wife, and their animal collection; Mr. Chachito and Lolla [Loila?], colored minstrels; Pancha and Modesta, equestrians; the Ortclaza Sisters, contortionists; Peter and Lou, Chinese acrobats; Messrs. Lasaro and Jiminez, gymnasts; the Castrillon Family (6), acrobats; Mr. Mendez, clown; Jose Pino and wife, comic songs; Eugenio Gomez, equestrian; Roman and Daniels, comedy barrel act; Mr. Maximus, bull act. Antonio Pubillones, proprietor and general director; Manuel Pubillones and Isidore Rabogo, directors; Benito Gutierrez, general administrator; Manuel Garcia, Enrique Maseda and Johnny Harrison, secretaries; Pancho Veritia, Mario Maspose, Jose Duarte and Horacio Llanso, interpreter agents; and orchestra of twenty people. The property mane in charge with three different companies are Gervasio, Santago and Perico.
Billboard, April 22, 1905 is online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, April 29, 1905, pp. 4, 11, 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Owen W. Doud, who for a number of years acted as private secretary to Walter L. Main, and this season is to be identified with the Sells & Downs United Shows as press representative, passed through Chicago in company with his wife, Wednesday, 19, on his way from Geneva, Ohio to Topeka, Kan. . . .
Hargreaves Suffer Blow Down. While preparing to give a dress rehearsal Friday evening, April 21, at Chester, Pa., preparatory to the opening of the Hargreaves Show were swept down and the main top torn to ribbons by one of the fiercest storms of wind and rain that ever visited that section of the country. The show had been wintering at Chester and everything was in fine condition for the opening. The damage will amount to several thousand dollars. Luckily the animal tent, only a few feet from the main tent, was only slightly damaged. Several animals escaped, however, but were recaptured without injury. The storm lasted but three minutes, and as soon as the wind had subsided, Manager Hargreaves and the entire force were busy at work righting things and ascertaining the extent of damage. The main poles were broken as if they were matches. These were hastily supplied and new canvas was secured enabling the show to open on time, Saturday. The catastrophe will in no manner interfere with the route of the show. Manager Hargreaves has restored everything with lightning speed, and with the true spirit and pluck of the showman has demonstrated that disaster to him does not signify failure.
The Carl Hagenbeck Circus, Menagerie and Trained Animal Show opened its big arena in St. Louis with a matinee performance, April 24, inaugurating its first season as a tented exhibition. The display is a fitting honor to the name of its founder. Everything connected with the enterprise is new and the properties are highly ornamented. It has been said that it was impossible to put on an exhibition of trained animals of the magnitude of this under canvas, with any degree of success, but the excellent Hagenbeck staff has solved the problem and in the most simple manner. The show can clear the lot in one hour and fifteen minutes. The arena top is 290x150 feet, while the seating capacity is 7,500, with two rings and the steel cage, which is slate bottomed and rubber lined. The seating arrangement is the most complete of any show seen here. The tiers are fourteen sections high and are all braced with seasoned oak jacks, five jacks to a stringer. The seats proper are of highly seasoned basswood, 15 inches wide, while the reserved seats are the latest improved back chairs. Another remarkable feature of this mammoth enterprise is the lighting, which is accomplished by the Bolte & Weyer New Circu Light. The arena is lit by 24,000 candle power and the performance fairly glitters in its splendor. The menagerie has 18,000 candle power; the side show 9,000 and 15,000 candle power at the entrance sheds a brilliancy on the scene, the only equal of which is the late World's Fair.
The performance consists of fifteen of the most exciting and humorous acts every performed by wild beasts, and the tent fairly trembled with the enthusiasm of the vast audience. The first act consisted of four baby elephants, but two years from the jungles, which performed in dances and did feats of head balancing under the direction of Mlle. Alice DeFay, and in the steel arena the most thrilling act ever devised - a royal Bengal tiger performing on the back of an Indian elephant, under the direction of Chas. Judge. Display number two consists of Pete, the clown mule in antics, under the direction of Harry VanCleve in ring number one, and Miss Mollie Kerslake and her three wild dwarf India asses in ring number two. Display number three is called the miscellaneous group, and is one of the cleverest exhibitions of animal training of lions, tigers, leopards, polar bears, pumas and great boarhound dogs. This act is under the direction of Herman Royer. Display number four, ring one, shows three full-blooded African zebras and performing tricks equal to the best trained horses and under the direction of Frederick Drahn. Ring two shows three zebras in clever high school work under the direction of Adolph Kluge. Display number five shows the steel cage in which Mr. Hagenbeck's $50,000 polar bear septet in most astonishing feats and tricks. In this act, Muffee, the wrestling bear does a Graeco-Roman match with his trainer, John Dudak.
Display number six, ring one, shows Mr. Sil Kerslake and his group of trained pigs, six in number, who shoot the chutes, as a climax to their wonderful act. Ring two, the Coroneted and Canine Congress of eleven Swiss Angora goats and two fox terriers in an act of almost human intelligence, under the direction of Harry Schubert. In the steel arena another equestrian act consisting of a monster leopard performing on the back of a handsome piebald horse, under the direction of John Penji. Display number seven, ring one, shows two large dog-faced baboons in ballet costumes performing feats of horsemanship, under the direction of Harry Van Cleve. Ring two, a herd of eight performing sea lions and two seals in juggling acts, under the direction of Prof. Alaska. Display number eight, ring one, shows Buster Brown, the cake walking monkey and Happy Ned, the trained high school donkey in amusing antics, under the direction of Sol Kerslake. Ring two, George Holland with a high school equestrian menagerie act of exceptional merit. Display number nine, ring one, shows a superb high school equestrian display, under the direction of Miss Kate Holland, and in the steel arena a wild Leonine equestrian act, under the direction of Miss Dolly Castle. The performance concludes with a herd of eight elephants shooting the chutes into a tank of water, which is a most pleasing act, and seems to delight these giants of the jungle as much as it does the audience.
The menagerie top is 240x100 feet and the menagerie itself is one of the largest ever seen here, containing almost every species of beast known to the world. Among them are thirty-six cat animals, sixty-eight hay-eating animals, thirty-three species of birds, fifty-six kinds of monkeys and eleven sea lions. The side show section contains eighteen distinct and separate shows. The concert in the arena after the show is made up of fifteen vaudeville acts, all above the average circus concert performers. The working force of this excellent aggreation is 275 people back with the show, and sixty people ahead. They carry 136 head of horses and twenty-nine transportation of baggage wagons.
Another handsome feature of this enterprise is the monster parade. Never before has such a spectacle been witnessed on the streets of St. Louis, and the throngs who saw it sent up cheer after cheer in their appreciation of the beauty and magnificance of the spectacle. Headed by a platoon of the city police clad in their bright new uniforms, the parade moved in the following order: Six cages of animals in wagons of red and gold, followed by a tableau wagon of exquisite design, then five more animal palaces, band, then four cages of animals, fifteen elephants, six camels, three zebras, five zebrulas and calliope, the largest ever made. The trainers rode in carriages in full uniform and followed behind each of their various groups. The transportation wagons were intersperced in the parade with good effect, being new and highly ornamented. The harness and trappings fairly dazzled with its brilliancy as this mighty carnival of beauty passed through the city. The wagons were all drawn by six, eight and ten horses, and as they pranced to the music of the bands, all St. Louis took a solemn oath that none should miss the wonderful performance which this display presaged. In conclusion we have but to rejoice at the success of this wonderful exhibition, and must congratulate Carl Hagenbeck, John H. Havlin, Frank Tate and C. Lee Williams on their wonderful achievements, for a more truly magnificent, wonderfully interesting, fascinatingly beautiful and skillfully operated exhibition has never before been given to the American public in the short space of time which they have consumed.
Gentry Brothers' Famous Show No. 1 opened the regular season at Jonesboro, Ark., April 8, and the business was phenomenal. The large tent was crowded at the afternoon performance and the two ticket wagons were closed at 7:45 in the evening as both the menagerie and big tent were crowded to their utmost capacity. The show this season is on a larger and grander scale than ever before and is conceded by both press nad public to be the best trained animal performance ever presented by this well known firm. Besides the regular trained animal exhibition the Gentry Brothers have added a number of big and sensational circus acts this year, including the marvelous Five Juggling Normans, who have just returned from an extended trip abroad, and who were for a number of years a special feature of the leading vaudeville houses. Also the Yoshamites Troupe of Imperial Japanese performers, who are now making their first appearance in this country. The No. 1 show is under the personal direction of W. W. Gentry, with the following on the business staff: Jack Beck, asst. manager; Ed. E. Daley, press representative and chief adjuster, and G. W. Dunn, treasurer. The band comprises sixteen carefully selected musicians under the direction of Harry Creigler. The parade this year presents a beautiful spectacle in which are used twenty-five gold and glittering wagons and cages, five elephants, four camels, a baby camel three weeks old, sacred cows, zebras, etc. The show is giving great satisfaction in Arkansas, and it is safe to predict that the show this season will eclipse all previous records. The concert is under the direction of Wink Weaver.
Beno, king of the wire, goes with the Lemen Brothers' Show this season.
The Musical Berger Family has signed with the Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show.
The Van Amburg Show gives its dress rehearsal April 20 at Sheffield, Mo., and opens April 22.
Fred Jones, for the past two seasons billposter with the Wallace Shows, is now with the California Billposting Co. of Los Angeles, Cal.
Ed. Bluski of Cedar Rapids, Ia., has joined Ringling Brothers' advertising car No. 2. This is Mr. Bluski's eighth season with the Ringlings.
Little Betheresa and her genuine Turkish Girls will be a feature of Minas Simon's Beautiful Orient with the Great Wallace Shows this season.
E. E. Daley, the well-known press agent, does not go with the Robinson or Hagenbeck shows as formerly reported, but is the chief adjuster and press agent of the Gentry Brothers' (No. 1) Show.
An elephant, two hyenas, twelve monkeys, a box of pythons, a box of macaws and one of birds of paradise comprised a shipment of animals received by the Van Amburg Shows at Kansas City, Mo., April 15, from Louis Ruhe, New York City. On April 14 they received two large African lions and a white camel from B. E. Wallace.
Notes from the Costello & Graves Shows. We are almost ready for the road and will open May 5 at Homer, N. Y., playing New York and the east. We will make Long Island in July for twenty-one stands. We have eighteen wagons, forty head of horses, and will carry sixty people. The performers engaged are Mr. Bowen and wife, bar performers; Prof. McConkey's dogs and ponies; the Two Castellos, Fred and David, in double jockey and return act; Prof. Mitchell on the wire and hand balancing; George Harner, juggling act; Miss Ada Castello, principal riding act; Prof. Gagnier, clown; the Wilsons, in brother act; Jack Lel, side show and Chas. E. Darling, advertising agent.
The Billboard is in receipt of the following from Charles Schaenfelt, now at the St. Alexis hospital, Cleveland, Ohio: An accident happened to me at Columbus June 26, 1904, while I was working for the Sells & Downs Show. I was shot by a colored man in the left leg, which has been amputated, and I will have to buy an artificial one that will cost me $75. I have written to Mr. Walter L. Main about my condition, and he promises to help me and advised me to write to The Billboard. I assure you I would very much appreciate anything you can do for me. I have been in the business since 1891, and have worked with all the large shows. They call me "Chuck."
Billboard, May 6 and May 13, 1905 are online on this website, click on Billboard.
Billboard, May 20, 1905, pp. 3, 18, 19, 20. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
We are in receipt of a breezy letter from our old friend, Lew Nichols, associate owner of the St. Louis Syndicate Amusement Co., now en tour in Tennessee. Lew Has broken away from the circus business after a continuous service for twenty-five years without missing a season. His wide experience gleaned on the road with the white tents should come in good stead now that he has assumed managerial responsibilities on his own account, and being a master of his particular line of endeavor, with the circus, it is safe to predict a successful future for him in his new amusement venture.
A Lake Erie & Western train, carrying the Gollmar Brothers' Show, left the track near Kempton, Ind., May 9, causing slight damage to the show property and shaking up the performers and attaches with more or less serious results. Several elephants escaped from their wrecked car and ensconsed themselves in a neighboring wood, where they were captured after considerable difficulty. The show proceeded to Bluffton, Ind., where the matinee performance was given without delay.
On the afternoon of May 11, during the performance of the Wallace Show at Marietta, Ohio, a thunderbolt struck the center pole of the side show, killing William Tullins, a spectator, of Lowell, Ohio, and stunning four others. None of the performers or attendants of the show were injured. The performance in the big top was on at the time and was continued to the close without unwonted incident, the management showing rare presence of mind in preserving a calm demeanor and witholding the news of the accident from the crowd of spectators that filled the tent.
Show news from England. . . . the following from Torsett's Circus, shows that the circus season is on. "The show met with gratifying success at Woodstock and Blenheim. Twenty clever acts were submitted with lightning rapidity. Toronto gave his wonderful pyramid and staircase act. Thomas Fossett appeared in his splendid fast riding act. Mr. R. Fosset, Jr. created a furore in his jockey act. Comic Otto, a good clown, creates plenty of fun, and there is a good band to enliven the proceedings." Captain Texas, the crack shot, is with his show in Scotland, and Buckskin Bill is with the Hannaford Circus in Ireland. . . .
C. L. Heffelman is press agent for Gentry Brothers No. 2.
Skatinelli is down in Cuba with the Circo Pubillones and is doing good.
Chas. Hahn, king of all calliope players, is with the Gentry Brothers No. 2.
Willard McGuire is looking after the press back with the Pawnee Bill Wild West.
Tote Ducrow, the Spanish clown, joined the Norris & Rowe Circus in California.
Jess Brown recently joined the Miles Orton Show to manage the museum department.
Miss Johanna McFarland has arrived in Peru, Ind., from New York to join the Wallace Shows.
The Flying Banvards have joined the Greater Norris & Rowe Show to do their return and casting act.
Russell and Forepaugh write that they have signed with McDonald Brothers' Show for the coming season.
Prince Askazuma, late of the Buffalo Bill Show, joined the Hulbrud Wild West at San Antonio, Tex., April 15.
The Seibel Brothers' Dog and Pony Show did good business at Hopkinsville, Ky., where they gave two performances.
The James Shelby Show is working toward Tennessee and will play that state in conjunction with Kentucky all season.
The Two Martelles, Harry and Emma, who have been west for two seasons, are with the Wallace Shows this season.
The Wm. P. Hall Show, resplendent with gilt and gold, left Geneva, Ohio, April 4, and arrived at Lancaster, Mo., April 6.
Fred J. Bater, last season manager with the Main Shows, goes this season with the Gollmar Brothers in the same capacity.
Will H. Mead, formerly of Schultz & Mead's Shows, writes that he will lay off for the summer and break in an animal act for the fall.
Tom Welsh and Chas. Horn, boss hostlers, recently of Ringling's and Forpaugh's, are recent acquisitions to Barnum & Bailey.
Victor L. Stapleton, for a number of years identified with some of the prominent circus bands, is now making his residence in Standish, Mo.
Chester Barr, of Indianapolis, will join the Forepaugh-Sells Show, and Jim Miller, of the same city, will go with the Ringling Brothers Show.
Madden and Lemay write that they will be members of the Andrew Downie New Big Shows, making their second season with this organization.
Sheren and Walsh have just closed a successful season in vaudeville and have joined the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Show for the season.
Chas. Garvice's Comedy Ponies, the Two Morellos, head balancers, and Mlle. Morello's Spaniels have been secured for Brown's United Shows.
Bert (Rube) Davis is making good with the Gentry (No. 1) Show during the performance of which he assumes the role of an Arkansas cotton farmer.
The Big Otto Trained Animal Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., has arranged to furnish Ringling Brothers with a big animal act as a feature for their concert.
E. Ray Swan, for the past four years advertising agent at Green's Opera House, Cedar Rapids, Ia., left that city Wednesday, May 10, to join the Wallace Shows.
Mitchell Bremer, "Original Peanuts," left Cincinnati Thursday, May 4, for St. Louis to join the concert and reserved seat ticket department of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows.
Harry St. Julian, female impersonator, does not go with the Sells & Downs Circus, but has signed for his second season with Pawnee Bill's Wild West and Far East.
The Great Wallace Shows exhibited in Sidney, Ohio, May 2 to two immense crowds.
Arthur H. Hustler, representing Pawnee Bill's Wild West, was in Monessen, Pa., May 5, where he closed some nice contracts for advertising.
Farmer and Mother Jones and their dumb animal contingent, have joined the vaudeville annex of the Great Wallace Shows as headliners. Manager E. H. Baker says that they are breaking the record this season.
Al. Steele's Show met with bad weather at Vandergrift, Pa., during the three days' engagement ending May 6. Some of the tents were blown down and greatly damaged. However, business was fair.
The Musical Brown Brothers, who have just completed an engagement over the Crystal and Lyric Circuits, have signed with the Ringling Brothers' Shows for the season. They have good time booked for the winter through the east.
Though Barnum & Bailey have declared against the street parade, their heavy tableau parade wagons still remain at winter quarters ready for the road. Whether opposition or one day stands will call for their use it remains to be seen.
Sid DeClairville write that he is with the Lucky Bill Shows, doing his combination aerial act. He reports big business.
Every inch of available posting space at Fairbury, Ill., has been covered by the opposition forces of the Cook & Barrett Show and the Texas Bill Wild West, which will appear there on the same date, May 24. The war is as merry as it is strenuous.
Young Buffalo and wife have joined the Snyder Brothers & Dowker's Wild West Show and are introducing their shooting and balancing act. Young Buffalo's wife has recovered sufficiently from her recent illness to warrant her appearance with the show.
The Frank A. Robbins Shows have had excellent business since the opening at Passaic, N. J. The show did a turn away business at Hackensack, N. J., also at Middletown and Kingston, N. Y. Frank A. Robbins has one of the best twenty car circuses on the road and a successful season is assured.
The roster of car No. 1 of the Sig Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Combined Shows is as follows: V. O. Woodward, manager; Fred. Bowers, boss billposter, with Nick J. Nary, James Kelly, Frank Eunis, Frank Derors, Tom Sharkey, W. W. Wiekins and Gro. Carrow as assistants; John Thomas, programmer, and Ed. Cook, chef.
Winfield Hope and Edward Schafer, of car No. 1 of the Barnum & Bailey Show, were entertained by their friends while the car stopped at Scranton, Pa. These boys were connected with the Lyceum and Star theatres, respectively, the past winter in Scranton, in the capacity of treasurer. Mac Fisher, another Scranton boy, is a billposter on car No. 1.
Hanna Duffy, lady juggler, wished to make the statement that she is not with the Sig Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Circus as reported in the roster of that show, but that she has joined hands with Ed. Barnell, late of The Barnells, whose wife died fifteen months ago. The new team will be known as The Barnells, and they have signed with a well known western carnival company.
Following is the roster of advertising car No. 3 of the William P. Hall Shows: Fred. Hessler, car manager; Tony Hannum, boss billposter, with Marvin Neis, A. G. Vermette, DeWitt Evans, Wm. ("Old Glory") Miller, V. D. Williams, L. E. Nichols, "Doc" Ingram and Frank Mills as assistants; Chas. Mohr, banner; F. E. Swaby, lithographer; O. L. Smith, programmer, and Arthur Russell, porter.
The roster of the annex with Lemen Brothers' Circus includes Bert Sorden, orator; Harry Walker, Ray Hale, Felix Borden and John Fleury, door talkers; Joe Lucasie, albino violinist; the Hiwaiian [sic] Glee Club; Zelleno, magician; Mabel Filmore, Circassian beauty; Mrs. P. J. Smith, snake enchantress; Ada Smi Letta, the physical culture girl; Tootsie Jones, oriental dancer, and Millie Carlotta. The canvas is in charge of Charley Rosenthal.
Following is the roster of car No. 1 of the Great Sells & Downs Show: Geo. B. Beckley, manager of car; H. W. Wright, boss billposter, with James Johnson, Chas. Venable, J. Gillmore, Fred. Guy, R. E. Pupin, J. Smithee, H. Weisenback, Geo. Padgett, Geo. Berdell, A. Bradshaw, C. Phelps, D. Moon, J. Noble, H. Holden, Lon Hildebrand and R. Garrett as assistants.
What is known as the Flying Squadron is a new feature with the Barnum & Bailey Shows. It is the first section of their trains and contains the cookhouse, menagerie top, and horse tents. As soon as it is loaded it is sent on its way and record breaking runs are a feature with this section. It reaches the next stand away ahead of the other cars and is on the lot and ready for business before the show arrives in town.
Hall's opposition brigade in charge of Geo. Robinson, Gentry Brothers' car No. 1, under the management of Geo. F. Cable, and Campbell Brothers' No. 1 car, under the management of W. E. Sands, all worked Des Moines, Ia., Tuesday, May 9. The former show plays Des Monies May 15. Gentry Brothers on the 19th and 20th, and Campbell Brothers May 25.
The roster of the big show with the Lemen Brothers' Show is as follows: Ed Baldwin, equestrian director; Anna Cook, principal riding act; May Meeker, aerialist and contortionist; Smi Letta Brothers, triple bars; Coopero, leaping the chasm; Pulaski Brothers, acrobats; Stubblefield Trio, triple trapeze; Smi Letta Sisters, aerialists and contortionists; Williams and McComb, loop walking and double traps; the Female Zouaves; Cook Sisters, four horse act; and the following clowns: Billy Milligan, George Stubblefield, Ed. Dilger, Henry Williams, Dick Marley, John Davenport, Joe Robie and L. C. Zelleno.
The Greater American Shows, under the management of C. F. Rhodes, opened to turnaway business on Chicago lots Monday, May 8, and in spite of extremely inclement weather, with rain most of the time, the balance of the first week of the season was marked by big business, there being a number of turnaways at the night performances. The show looks like a winner. The Big Otto Trained Animal Co. have several dens of trained animals with the aggregation, which help to make a showing in the stret parade and materially strengthens the big performance. The Greater American Shows are scheduled to play on the Chicago lots for several weeks prior to going on the road.
The following tribute to Benjamin E. Wallace, proprietor of the Wallace Shows, was contributed by a citizen of Peru, Ind., Mr. Wallace's home city: The well-known proprietor of the Great Wallace Shows, is a resident of Peru, his beautiful home being located at 110 North Broadway. His name is familiar throughout the entire contry, but though he spends much of his time in travel, he is regarded as one of the valued and progressive citizens of Peru. His grandfather, John C. Wallace, was a soldier in the war of 1812 under General William Henry Harrison, in whose command he fought in the battle of Tippicanoe, and various other battles against the Indians in the Wabash valley. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and continued to make his home there until his death. Ephriam Wallace, the father of our subject, was born in Indiana County, Pa., in 1819, and having attained to a man's estate, married Rebecca Elliott. In 1866 he came to Miami county, Ind., locating on a farm in Washington township, where he spent his remaining days. He became the father of eleven children, but only three are now living, Benjamin E. being the only living son. A daughter, Alice, is a resident of Chicago, and Emma makes her home in Pennsylvania.
Benjamin E. Wallace was born in the Keystone State in 1847 and came to Miami county with his father's family in 1863. He was for a number of years engaged in the livery and stock business and has always had a special fondness for animals, studying their habits and modes of life until he had a comprehensive understanding of them. In 1884 he established the nucleus of what has become one of the most extensive enterprises of its kind in the United States, the Wallace Circus and Menagerie. . . . In 1884 he began his travels with a wagon show, traveling through Virginia and Kentucky. The following year he traveled by steamer from Pittsburg, exhibiting in the various towns on the Ohio river and its tributaries. The same year he took wagons and closed at New Orleans, shipping the exhibition home by rail. The next year, 1886, Mr. Wallace began his travels by rail, and since that time, with his combined circus and menagerie, he has visited every town of importance in the United States. During all the years that have elapsed since he established this enterprise as a wagon exhibition he has kept constantly adding thereto, investing vast sums of money, in the determination to make his one of the best shows on the road. At the close of each season he returns to his home in Peur. His beautiful farm of fifteen hundred acres, at the confluence of the Wabash and the Mississianews rivers, affords elegant winter quarters for his vast menagerie. Here follows a period of rest and recuperation and of training for the coming year. Besides his circus busines, Mr. Wallace is one of hte largest stock men in this section of the country. He has from eight hundred to a thousand head of cattle on his large stock farm, is president of the Wabash Valley Trust Co., owning the principle part of the stock. In the last three weeks he has made the following purchases: Three more farms, the Clark Hotel, situated near the Wabash Railroad; the Webb Opera House and the half block of residences adjoining it. He is also figuring for the erection of a large business block in this city the coming summer.
Charles Ellis is the local contractor for the Great Van Amburg Shows, which opened at Pleasant Hill, Mo., April 22, to big business.
Andrew Downie's Big Shows had two large and appreciative audiences at their opening stand in Medina, N. Y., April 29, in spite of the cold weather. The bill consists of a number of new and costly acts. The street parade is all new and bright and was a revelation to the natives. The big tent consists of a 125 ft. round top with two 50 ft. middle pieces. With the side show and horse tents they make quite an imposing front.
The Barnum & Bailey Show people, some seven hundred in number, are congratulating themselves over their good fortune in having the finest midnight lunch counter ever connected with a circus. Ed. Homer and Car Faber, two hustling young men, well known in connection with circus privileges, have charge of the stand, and have spared neither pains nor expense in procuring the neatest and best outfit to cater to the hungry and thirsty troupers. The tent was up for the first night at Jersey City, Monday, May 1.
Notes from Lowery Brothers' Big Railroad Show. The show opened its season April 26 with the following people: Geo. B. Lowrey, manager; Will C. Sites, advance manager; John Dorawords, ring master; Charles Thomas, manager privileges; Wm. Sbred [Shred?], manager side show; Peggy O'Brien, world famous clown; the Mongley Family on traps; Frank Lewis, wire walker; Darawords' acting dogs and ponies; Harry Johnson's troupe of performing monkeys and donkeys; Levado, contortionist and rings; and band of ten pieces. When we have opposition we have Prof. DeLong and wife make double balloon ascensions. Wm. J. Brown has charge of the canvas with ten assistants. Fatty Stout joined at Gilberton, Pa.
Notes from the Rice & Davis' Big Shows Consolidated, Dunlap & Steele, managers. We opened at Patton, Pa., May 3 to S. R. O. and have played to big business ever since. Mr. Murphy, in advance with the Sig Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Show, attended the opening performance and declared it was the best show of its size on the road. As a special feature we have Prof. Ogden and his band. The Mitchell Sisters are making good with the show. Phil Taylor, as clown, keeps the audience in an uproar. Torcello, wire walker, is in his usual good trim. Chapman and Nelson do a ladder act, and Murdock and Lemmen do good work in their acrobatic turn. Mr. Steel has his dogs and ponies, which do first class work. We put on a good concert and a fine street parade.
William Sells has sold his interest in the Sells-Downs Show to Martin J. Downs and John "Blue Jay." . . .
Billboard, May 27, 1905, pp. 10, 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Arthur Bailey, of Brooklyn, N. Y., an attache of the Barnum & Bailey Show, was killed at Allentown, Pa., by being run over by a switching engine.
The Common Council of the city of Amsterdam, N. Y., has passed an ordinance increasing the license for all circuses and requiring that the circus, to secure this license, must deposit $200 in cash before it exhibits in the city. Unquestionably it is a "hold-up scheme" for people to put in claims for damages over triffling matters. It will cause all circuses to cut out Amsterdam and to show in other places. This will mean a big loss to the railroad company and the billposter.
Harry E. Anderson is contracting agent for the Wm. P. Hall Shows.
Sigino Abanico, contortionist and head balancer, joined the Andrew Downie Circus, May 22, at Canandaigua, N. Y.
Ben and May Holmes have joined the Col. W. J. Uden Wild West Show for an eighteen weeks' engagement.
J. J. McConnell writes that he has closed with the Frank Adams Show and joined Sells & Downs.
Grant Brown of Eleventh, Minn., has joined the advance forces of the Norris & Rowe Show.
John Zouboulakis, of the Floto Show, has had a touch of neuralgia recently, which kept him out of the parade with his one-man band.
Owing to the illness of Harry S. Bartlett, the Musical Bartletts were unable to join the Ringling Brothers' Show for the summer season.
Billy Guyott, formerly of the Skerbeck Shows, is now manager of the St. Louis Hotel at McKinley, Minn.
F. B. Corey, for the past two seasons with the Barnum & Bailey Show, joined the Andrew Downie Circus, May 20, at Penn Yan. He has charge of the stock.
Ray Swann, for the past five years identified with the Greene Opera House at Cedar Rapids, Ia., has joined the force in charge of the opposition car of the Wallace Show.
The Great DeVilbis writes that he is in his fourth week with the Andrew Downie Circus, meeting with success. His sensational unsupported ladder and wire acts are making good.
The Stumon Family have been re-engaged for the annex of the Sun Brothers' Big R. R. Shows. Edwin Dutch, cornet and Ike Shermer, baritone and violinist, are with the Stumon Family.
Dan W. Lester, the well-known clown who has been at the Arcade Garden, Knoxville, Tenn., all winter, joined the McDonald Brothers' Show May 29. Dan writes that the engagement is for 104 weeks.
On account of their tents not arriving, the Rolla Fox Show is playing opera houses in Wisconsin. Tents will reach the show June 10, when they open their tenting season. The show is in its sixth season.
The Forepaugh-Sells Show headed off a big advance in the circus license at Sioux City, Ia., and secured a license there for June 13 for $150. The pending ordinance raises the license to $1,000.
Andrew Downie's Circus gave two performances at Penn Yan, N. Y., May 20 to large and appreciative audiences. Mr. Downie reports good business so far this season.
Harry Helms, magician, closed his magic show at Antigo, Wis., May 1, and joined the F. W. Burns & Co. R. R. Show, taking charge of the side show and concert. He is also presenting his tramp juggling act. Next September Harry opens in opera houses with his magic show.
Henry Walsh, for many years connected with the Ringling Brothers' forces, and whose fondness for the fruit has caused him to be nicknamed "Apples," and Darwin C. Hawn, for nine years prominent as a hostler with the Forepaugh-Sells Show, have joined the Barnum & Bailey Show as boss hostlers.
Three baby lions were born to a lioness with the John Robinson Show at Clearfield, Pa., May 19. One of the new arrivals was named DuBois in rememberance of a fire benefit given by this show at DuBois in 1888; another Clearfield, in honor of that city, and the third Savage, after a prominent citizen of Clearfield.
Two camels and a baby elephant were born in the veterinary department of the John G. Robinson Show at Penn Yan, Pa., May 25. The camels were christened Penn Yan and Geneva, in honor of the Pennsylvania cities. The elephant has been named Binghampton, the Governor himself applying the appellation to the new arrival.
The roster of advertising car No. 1 of the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows is as follows: Chas. R. Coleman, manager; Bert Wheeler, boss of paper; C. Anderson and P. Brush, lithos; J. McKinnon, programmer; Jno. Howard, paste maker; and Clarence Carey, R. Rippon, W. E. Johnson, H. Johnson, J. Beasant, L. Moore, Wm. Schlenk, O. Wiley, E. Hopper, H. Meuth, H. Mason, W. K. Miller, C. Graves and B. Deshane, billposters.
The roster of advance car No. 1 of the Ringling Brothers' Show is as follows: Frank Estes, manager; Chas. A. White, press agent; W. H. Hoskins, boss billposter, with J. P. Miller, C. L. Holmes, J. H. Graves, C. A. Betts, C. T. Crippen, Robert Faye, W. Hadison, W. I. Jackson, W. Whitmore, Harry Lausch, C. C. Sellers, Dan Pheney, H. Crabtree, Chas. McDowell, Ralph Root, Wm. Vance and M. Coughlin as assistants.
The following performers are with the Cook & Barret Circus: Jenier Family, La Tow Sisters, Emma and Dollie; the Jenerios, George and Jessie; H. E. Mitchell, Harry DeAlvin, Royal Japanese Troupe, Master Roy Jenier, the Scotts, Burt and Anna, Baby Geo. Jenier, Master Walter Jenier, Leonzo, Mlle. Marie, Miss Irean, Billie Scott, Two Colemans, Emma Shippley, Dick Schiller, Webb Brothers and the Nickle Plate Band.
Notes from No. 1 advance car of the Campbell Brothers' Show. Since starting from winter quarters we have encountered sime extremely bad weather, having only three clear days since that time. In spite of these adverse circumstances, we have lost no time and the work has been well and thoroughly done. The roster of the car is as follows: W. E. Sands, manager; Wm. Gilman, contracting agent; Chas. D. Hammond, press representative; Tobias Beers, boss billposter, with W. B. Sands as assistant; Fred. B. Gaster, lithographer; W. F. Kohlman, chef; and the follwoing billposters: Edward Williams, Harry Potts, Perry Howard, Emmet Mullhollen, Louis Smith, Thomas Pirtle, Carl Bowers and S. D. Allen.
Notes from the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows. The shows opened at Lancaster, Mo., May 6, and the great tent was packed to capacity. We have been showing to capacity audiences in every town in which we have played since the opening, except at two stands in Iowa, where the weather prevented even a matinee performance. New stock is being added all the time and all departments have been enlarged to a great extent. Under the able management of Phil. Ellsworth everyting is running smoothly. The parade has, in each town, been witnessed by thousands of people. The performance is being greeted enthusiastically and everybody leaves the big white tops satisfied with the entertainment. The Hall Shows will experience a most successful season.
Billboard, July 1, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
John Sylvester, well-known billposter, died at his home in Beaver Falls, Pa., June 20. Mr. Sylvester was for several years excursion agent for Ringling Brothers Shows and was with the Bijou Theatre in Pittsburg for four years.
Marshall "Butch" Nellis, of the Campbell Brothers' Show, celebrated the anniversary of his birth June 14, at Groton, S. D., by preparing for a number of the members of that show a sumptuous banquet. Mr. Nellis is steward with the Campbell Brothers' Show . . .
While assisting in placing the paraphernalia of the Great Wm. P. Hall Shows on the train at Neosha, Mo., June 15, Chas. Mitchell, train master, slipped and fell off one of the cook houses, one of the wheels passed over his left shoulder. He was immediately removed to his hotel and a physician summoned. Upon examination it was found that the showman had sustained a dislocation of the left shoulder, to which his injuries were confined. Mr. Mitchell is being well cared for and there is every hope for his immediate recovery.
Budd Hawes writes that he joined the Wallace Shows at Michigan City, Ind.
Al. Steele's Shows met with good business at Monessen, Pa., June 19.
The Sells & Downs Show is reported to be doing will in New Brunswick.
Ringlings play Bangor, Me., July 8, following Hargreaves and Robbins.
Joe Lichel, equestrian with the Wallace Show, fell and broke is arm recently.
The Three Rays have closed with the Al Steele Shows and joined one of the carnival companies.
Harry B. Graham, for the last three seasons with the Wallace Shows, has joined advertising car No. 1 of the Forepaugh & Sells Shows.
The Sig Sautelle and Welsh Brothers Shows played to turnaway business at Kittaning, Pa., notwithstanding it was the third big show there this season.
Wm. H. McFarland, manager of Farmer and Mother Jones, writes that his attraction continues to be the headliner in the vaudeville annex of the Wallace Shows.
Campbell Brothers' advance car No. 2 is in charge of Al. Lindly and eighteen other hustling men. F. Hatfield is handling the press work in a most credible manner.
Frank E. Tracey, formerly in advance for Walter L. Main a number of seasons, is now piloting the German Marine Band, under the management of W. H. Ishams.
Willard McGuire has purchased an interest in Drake and Falkner's United Shows, and has assumed active management of this show. Mr. McGuire was formerly press agent for Pawnee Bill.
The Crosbys, Harry and Oma, are doing a very strong singing and dancing act in the vaudeville annex of the Great Wallace Circus.
Wm. Conners, the bounding rope performer, is one of the salient features in the "big show" programme of the Sig Sautelle and Welsh Brothers Shows. Conners is said to be executing some new and original tricks.
Edward L. Boyce, lithographer with the Campbell Brothers' Shows for the past three seasons, and who has been on the Van Amburg advance car as lithographer for two months of this season, informs us that he is now with the advertising car No. 1 of the John Sparks Shows.
Billboard, July 15, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. King Blinker, to Miss Jessie Stumon, at Brownstown, Ind., June 27. Both are members of the Sun Brothers' Show.
Marriage. Gordon Orton to Miss Etta Jordan at Carthage, N. Y., July 2. Both are members of the John Robinson Show, and the ceremony was performed by Rev. William Shenk, the minister of that organization.
Harry Fitzgerald, formerly adjuster for the Gentry Brothers, has joined the Campbell Brothers' forces to act in the same capacity.
Mrs. Bell Clark is scoring in a great menage act with the Sig Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Show. She rides her own horse, Black Spirit.
J. C. O'Brine has the side show with Campbell Brothers, Les Borello makes the openings, G. Burkhardt is lecturer, while his wife is making good as mind reader.
After an absence of seven weeks, during which time he was ill with typhoid fever in Denver, Col. Clarence Stokes has again joined his partner, Mr. DeCarlo, with the Floto Shows. He will go to work shortly. The act now consists of four people, two comedy and two straight.
Owing to a broken truck the Wm. P. Hall Shows did not reach Carrollton, Mo, from Atchison, Kan., until 12 o'clock. The parade was given at 4 p.m., and the afternoon performance began an hour later. During the evening performance it rained. Nevertheless they had a fairly good crowd at the first and a big one at the last performance.
Following is the roster of the No. 2 advance car with the Gollmar Brothers' Show: Fred J. Bates, manager; Ed. Baker, billposter; with Geo. Leavensauler, Mack Scholl, W. H. Lonabarger, John Loveland, F. Fyre, W. Clark and S. T. Harris as assistants; F. A. Dixon, programmer; and Wm. Saxton and Roy Purcell, special agents. Mr. Bates writes that they have had so much rain that the boys are getting used to it.
Henry Fisher, one of the employes of the John Robinson Show, was killed during the engagement at Gouvernour, N. Y. During the evening performance Fisher crawled under one of the heavy wagons and fell asleep. At the close of the performance the driver hitched the horses to the wagon, and, ignorant of the presence of Fisher, drove off. The wheels passed over the unfortunate man's breast and left arm, crushing the former and breaking the latter in two places. Fisher was picked up and taken to the hospital where he died in a few minutes. His remains were shipped to Cincinnati, his home, July 1.
Notes from Col. W. J. Uden's Wild West. We continue to turn away business daily, enjoying the best of health and prospects. Had quite an exciting, though not serious, accident at Alta, Ill., this morning, which will compel us to lose the afternoon performance. While on the way from Peoria, our last stand, one car jumped the rails and shook everybody up pretty bad. The roster is as follows: Chas. Lafayett, advance agent; Mrs. Ben Holmes, fancy rifle shot; Ben Holmes, fancy rope spinner; Chas. Smith and Matt Smith, bronco twisters; Uden Sisters, champion lady riders; and Sie Collins, arenic director.
The roster of the advertising car No. 2 of the Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Shows is as follows: W. S. Dunnington, manager; Geo. Edgar, secretary and stenographer; Ed. Norris, boss billposter; R. B. Springer, assistant billposter; E. N. (Tony) Clark and W. P. Walters, lithographers; Geo. Hoyt and Matt Williams, banner men; Arthur Coyne and Joe hamilton, programmers; Louis M. Speiden, paste maker; Victor Stout, Joe ___, S. W. (Pop) Ray, Louis Henry, Dick Ashbrook, George Beardale, Cliff Guy, E. P. Mulloy, Harry McClure, J. E. Simpson, John Maghy, Todd Cooper and James Whale, billposters.
Notes from the McDonald Brothers' Shows. We have had rain and bad roads for the past two weeks in eastern Tennessee, but have been playing to good business. We had to leave Dan Festos at Elizabethton on account of illness, but he has rejoined the show. We have added several head of stock, and have had six new baggage wagons built. We now sleep all our people on the lot, and they say that they would not give it up for the best hotel in the land. Following is the roster: McDonald Brothers, sole owners; Will S. Rydon, manager; Harry McDonald, and W. R. McDonald, advance with two assistants; Joseph McAllister, equestrial director; Dannie Festos, principal clown and concert manager; McAllister Sisters, aerialists; Womack Sisters, aerialists and contorionists; James McCan, clown; Mrs. Harry McDonald, rings and double traps; McDonald Children, aerialists, and Wilbur W. Plank, in charge of band of eight pieces. The McDonald Brothers casting act is a strong feature and the concert is the strongest ever given with a small show. The show will put in the summer in east Tennessee.
Notes from the John Robinson Show. We are encountering rain almost every day, but the elements are having no effect whatever upon business, which has been large throughout the east. At Chatham, N. Y., Miss Maggie Bagby fell from a trap and sprained her wrist. White River Junction proved to be the banner stand of the eastern trip. John Rouen fell from the high trapeze at Montpelier and sustained severe injuries. The Great DuBarry fell three days in succession doing his leap the gap. He has returned to his home in Jackson, Mich. At St. Albans, Vt., the rain poured. The afternoon business big; no evening performance. In hauling wagons from the muddy lot two horses broke their legs. One was shot. Miss Marie DeVere, in swallowing a glass sword at Burlington, Vt., was injured and it required several physicians to remove the broken part from her throat. Potsdam, N. Y., the home of the Napoleon of advertising ideas, Hon. Geo. Cole, proved a banner date. Mr. Cole was royally welcomed by the citizens here. At Carthage, N. Y., a six horse team ran away and smashed the buggy of a farmer. Harry Martin, and eight horse driver, was caught between a horse and stock car and badly squeezed. Mr. Crone, secretary of the circus, was taken ill with fever and sent to his Cincinnati home. At Carthage Dr. Wood and a number of surgeons removed a needel from Geo. Mellivan's right thigh. Mellivan is our tattooed man. Five months ago, in wrestling with a friend, a tattoo needle was imbeded in his chest. The needle worked down to his thigh. The Ten Big Shows continue to do business.
Billboard, July 22, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. Charles Barnard, of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Miss Bertha Forrester, of Detroit, Mich., at Minneapolis, Minn. July 8. Mr. Bernard is connected with the Barnum & Bailey Shows.
Circus News from Australia. Messrs. Fitzgerald Brothers' Combined Shows closed their Sydney season June 27, and sailed for India, via Torres Straits, July 1. The Herberts, Dr. Jorden and the Walhallas sailed with them. Messrs. Dan and Tom Fitzgerald, who have been ill in a private hospital, are rapidly regaining their strength and old time vigor. Herr Von Mahdan has left for the states to engaged artists for this show. He may be addressed in care of The Billboard. Worth [sic?] Brothers' Circus opened at Brisband, Queensland, June 30. Kilpatrick and Chefalo in the loop the gap are with them.
Information from the McCaddon Show, now touring France, is to the effect that business is fine. The show has been exhibiting to the Frenchmen for two months and is pleasing immensly. Following is the roster: J. T. McCaddon, owner; Whiting Allen, manager; William Vogt, treasurer, with a score of assistants; Schuyler Clark, manager of the side show and freaks; James Rafferty, in charge of side show canvas; Mons Foster, in charge of front door, with ten assistants; Thos. McVal, in charge of big top, with James Wilson, Frank O'Brien, Chas. Hill and 140 canvas men as assistants; Peter Walker, in charge of lights, with fifteen assistants; Jack Bowen, superintendent of construction, with ten assistants; "Mickey" Martin, in charge of cook house, with fifty men; John Zinkaneister, master of transportation; Geo. Layfield [Lavfield?], charge of sleeping cars; Wm. Ducrows, equestrian director; Prof. Heckenrood, in charge of menagerie; Jack Coleman and Dick Cameron, in charge of baggage stock; and Dr. Turner, in charge of ring stock, with Mrs. Turner as assistant. The show carries a menagerie of thirty cages, 150 head of baggage stock and fifty head of ring stock, besides ten performing elephants.
Joe Jackson, owner of the Texas Jack Wild West Show, and Mexican George, a cowboy with the show, are dead as the result of a short but fierce battle between a number of wild west people and some excursionists on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Burnsville, W. Va., July 9. The trains carrying the show people and the excursionists were sidetracked near each other. An altercation between passengers on the different trains arose, and guns were used. The fight spread, and before the B. & O. police could quell the disturbance two cowboys were dead and a number of escursionists and cowboys injured. A number of arrests were made.
The frenzied ride of Walter Scott from San Francisco to Chicago, which has been claiming a goodly share of space on the front pages of our daily newspapers, is interesting to circus people, in that Mr. Scott, familiarly known as "Scotty," was formerly a showman. Mr. Scott was born not over thirty-five years ago in Cynthiana, Ky., where his father now resides. At an early age he exhibited a strong liking for horses. In 1896 he witnessed a performance of Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and being unable to withstand the inviting and breezy life, he joined that organization as hostler, and the following season served in the capacity of assistant boss canvasman for the Buffalo Bill Show. After Buffalo Bill decided upon his European tour in 1900, he sent Walter Scott to Cincinnati to superintend the construction of the canvas which was made in the Thompson & Vandiveer shops. He went to Europe with the show that year and the following year drifted into San Francisco. He soon struck it rich in Death Valley, and succeeded in interesting New York capitalists in his find. The result was that he became fabulously wealthy. Walter Scott is in an excellent position to organize a fine wild west show and score a record-breaking tour of the world.
While fully 4,000 spectators were witnessing the afternoon performance of the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Show, at Warwick, Orange county, N. Y., July 8, a cyclone and cloudburst flattened the tents, killing Solomon Cohen, a candy butcher, and injuring a number of employes and spectators. The employes immediately tore asunder the canvas and released the imprisoned patrons, who escaped with their clothes torn and ruined. The roars and screams of the animals increased the excitement, and a number of animals escaped. Miss Ella Drees, a rider, of Terre Haute, Ind., is reported to have been fatally injured.
J. M. Stumon, of the Stumon Family, with the Sun Brothers' Show, wishes to deny the announcement made in last week's issue of The Billboard to the effect that his daughter, Jessie, had married Mr. King Blinker. Mr. Stumon says his daughter is but sixteen years of age, has no admirers who are matrimonially inclined, and that she is the leader of the Stumon band and orchestra. The Stumon Family are in their forty-ninth week with the Sun Brothers' World's Progressive Shows.
Wm. P. Hall left his shows at Red Oaks, Ia., July 6, for his home in Lancaster, Mo., where he picked out 900 horses to be sent east. He rejoined the show July 10, at Jefferson, Ia.
The Valentinos were callers at The Billboard office Saturday, July 15, en route to Huntington, W. Va., where they joined the Van Amburg Shows, July 17. It is their fourth season with these shows.
Chas. D. Hammond, who has been doing the contracting for the Campbell Brothers' Show, closed with that organization July 8. He has signed as business manager for the Woodward Stock Co. for the coming season.
The Billboard's correspondent at Peru, Ind., was entertained by Mr. LaMont, of the LaMont Brothers' Show, at Bunkerhill, Ind., last week. He reports that the boys have a fine show and every one has the appearance of prosperity and good health.
Willard Herrmann, the mystic, with the Sun Brothers' Show, is putting on a new illusion witht the assistance of Miss Izzeta Wallingford. It is called the magic broom. At the close of the circus season he will put on a repertoire show, featuring Miss Wallingford in the leading role.
A member of the Col. W. J. Uden Wild West writes that during the performance July 3 at London Mills, Ill., the seats collapsed and 1,200 people were thrown to the ground. One man sustained a broken leg and several others were injured. The people with the show are all well and enjoying prosperity.
Billboard, July 29, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17, 24. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
William Denning, candy butcher with the Forepaugh-Sells Show for the past three seasons, died suddenly at the home of a friend in Columbus, Ohio, July 15. Anyone knowing the wereabouts of his brothers, Jim and Frank, will please notify his cousin, Owen Brady, whose address is Auburn, N. Y.
Mrs. Claire M. Ravenbyrne, mother of Claude C. Silverton, of the original Silverton Trio, tight wire artists, late of the Wallace Shows and at present featured with Sells & Downs' Shows, died in Chicago July 19. Mrs. Ravenbyrne died of a complication of diseases very suddenly after a long illness. The Silverton Trio are well-known both in vaudeville and circus fields. She was buried in Mt. Carmel cemetery July 21.
Punch Wheeler, the indomitable press agent of the Great Floto Shows contributes the following, which he avers is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The Floto Shows were billed in at Buena Vista, Col. recently, and arrived there on scheduled time. Buena Vista is a small town and with the nearby surrounding country probably has a population of 1,500. The show stopped there to break the jumps and did not expect to get much money, as the population was not large enough to produce a paying business. The advance had made arrangements to stop, and the license had been agreed upon at $50 with hte mayor of the city. The show arrived in time, proceeded to unload and frame up for the day with the above understanding. After everything had been unloaded and arrived on the show grounds the mayor detailed a lot of tin-star police to notify the manager that the show was larger than he thought it was, and that they would have to double the license and charge them $100 before they could show or parade. Word was immediately sent to Denver of the conditions and asking for advice. The answer came to pay the license and charge $5 admission, and refuse all passes issued with the exception of the mayor's. It was the intention of the Denver office to have the show give the performance to the mayor alone, as it was not expected that the show would be patronized at the above-mentioned admission fee. However, on the other hand a big crowd turned out to see the performance, much to the delight of the management.
Otto Floto, who happened to be a visitor at the show, was called upon to make the announcement why the price of admission was so high (as the show was billed at adjoining towns at twenty-five cents admission) and incidentally roast the mayor and his associates. He made a very able impromptu speech, telling the people about the treatment they had received at the hands of the city fathers, and that the object they had in view was to give the performance to the mayor alone. Mr. Floto said that they did not propose to be held up, and apologized for having to repudiate all passes that had been issued, and after such a reception had been accorded them that the Great Floto Shows would never visit their city again. A riot was anticipated, but the shows were allowed to leave the city without any trouble.
The Arnolds, Charles and Teddie, write that they have closed with the Mighty Haag Shows.
The Sharrocks are more than making good giving their second-sight entertainment with the Wm. P. Hall Shows.
Fred Bowers, boss billposter of the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers forces, paid a visit to his home a Havre de Grace, Md., July 15 and 16.
Lewis Cook, general agent, and Eddie Arlington, general railroad contractor, of the Barnum & Bailey Shows joined at Creston, Ia., July 18.
Manager G. P. Kemp, of Kemp's Wild West, was in Virginia for a few days last week, where he went to engaged talent with which to strengthen his plantation show.
Manager W. H. McFarland, of the Great Wallace Show Vaudeville Annex, writes that the Crosbys, Harry and Una, are making a big hit singing in The Shadow of the Pyramid, and Miss Georgia.
Martin G. Milligan, manager of advance car No. 2 of the Lemen Brothers Shows, has signed to go in advance of the Great Cradoc Neville Co., this coming season, making his third season with that company.
Washburn & D'Alma's Trained Animal Shows played a number of New Jersey watering places lately and did a nive business.
H. I. Ellis, the well-known contracting agent, has been compelled to close with the Hargreaves Show on account of acute stomach trouble. He goes to his home in Lancaster, Ohio, for several weeks' rest.
H. H. Tammen, one of the proprietors of the Great Floto Shows, was a visitor with the shows in southern Kansas for four days, and left the shows at Winfield, Kan., to visit the Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show, at Ottawa, July 15.
Young Buffalo writes that himself and Hawkeye Vera have gone to Indianapolis, Ind., after spending the past three months with Snyder Brothers and Dowker, doing their shooting act. They have secured three hundred feet of side wall and will put out a wild west show of their own, playing the county fairs.
J. H. ("Kit") Carson, an old time showman, visited the Hagenbeck Shows at Joplin, Mo., and has some very pleasant things to say about the people with that organization. Mr. Carson was entertained by Theo. E. Baure, press agent, and Messrs. Ed. Cullen and Ed. Holland, also by Ephriam Sells and Claude Frederick, of the side show. He also renewed acquaintance with Anthony V. Cicio, leader of the band, and formerly conductor of the Marine Band of Brooklyn.
Col. Pete Conklin, one of the oldest of circus clowns, and who retired from the sawdust ring about three years ago, is interested in a syndicate which controls the Loop-the-Loop at Coney Island, N. Y. Col. Conklin has a beautiful home on Surf avenue, and is enjoying prosperity. His children are with the Barnum & Bailey Show this year. It is stated that the Colonel is the neatest dressed man in Coney Island. Every showman looks him up when they drop into Coney Island.
At the close of the afternoon performance of the Wm. P. Hall Shows at Jefferson, Ia., July 9, a large number of the showmen, accompanied by Gregory's Famous Italian Band, marched to the grave of "Yankee" Robinson, where services were held, and Phil. Ellsworth made a short speech on the life of the deceased showman. It is a very pretty plot. Mr. Robinson died in 1884, and in 1890 the Forepaugh and Ringling people erected a handsome monument over the grave.
Notes from the Floto Shows. The Floto Shows were in Colorado week of July 4, and did the biggest general average business in the show's history. Cripple Creek, with Victor to draw from, turned out to be the banner in money returns. The afternoon show at Trinidad, July 4, was a record breaker. The shows are now in Kansas following two other shows. As the harvesting is completed the outlook is encouraging for a duplication of the Colorado receipts. The show is now in its twentieth week, and has had only ten rainy days since it started.
Notes from the Sun Brothers Shows. We opened in Savannah, Ga., April 5, and have turned Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and are at present in Ohio. We are gaining a reputation and making friends at every stand. Our canvas is all new. We use the Botte & Weyer gas light, and look like a twenty-car circus. We carry ten cages and sixty-five head of horses. Everything is running smoothly and we are looking forward to a prosperous season.
The roster of the side show with the Sells & Downs Shows is Jack E. Ogden, manager and orator; Bert Chipman and Bob Woods, door talkers; La Marr and Saida, Chinese opium den; Wm. Veno, lecturer, punch and magic; Cleo, snake enchantresss; Jessie Franks, bag puncher; Jay Paige, clay modeler; Gracie Hamilton, musical artist; Inez, mind reader and palmist; Prince Mongo, Filipino cheiftain; Mlles. Moriania, Martina, Habebe and Co. of dancing girls of all nations; Wolfscales Georgia Minstrels, band and orchestra, including the Bruces, Geo. Beckom, Johnny Jones, Parson Lacey and fourteen colored artists.
Whiting Allen, manager of McCaddon's International Shows, writes that the shows are playing to turnaway business in France. The natives, he says, go wild over the circus and they have played to turnaway business at most every town. Because of the Frenchman's lack of interest in menageries, this feature of the McCaddon Shows has been put in storage, and nothing but the circus proper is carried. According to his statement the climate of France and cook house food of the McCaddon Shows are treating Whiting Allen very kindly. He has gained over thirty pounds of flesh during his brief stay in the Continent.
An episode of interest not down on the program of the Barnum & Bailey Shows at Milwaukee, Wis., was the marriage of Chas. Barnard, head usher, to Miss Bertha Forrester, of Detroit. The ceremoney was performed in the Church of the Redeemer by Rev. Dr. M. M. Shutter, with Carl Clair, leader of the band, officiating as best man. Only a few of the circus people were present, but the news soon spread and congratulations galore were received by the happy couple. Charlie Barnard has been with the Barnum & Bailey Show for twenty years in the capacity of director of the ushers, and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all the show people in the country. Mrs. Barnard is a handsome young lady of refinement.
The rumored wedding of James Orr and Miss Grace Clark has sent the Wallace Show agog. While the event had been generally anticipated, the friends of the couple did not believe they would have the knot tied without extending invitations to the folks with the show. The adjuster for the circus, while making his official rounds at Olney, Ill., was informed at the court house that a license had been issued to the couple. No one except the interested parties knows who performed the ceremony, and both the bride and groom make denial, but a denial so weak that it is ineffective. Congratulations have been showered on genial James and jolly Grace, and the entire show, like Rip Van Winkle, drinks to their health and the health of their family, and may they all live long and prosper.
Notes from Capt. Stewart Big Ten and Twenty Cent Shows. This outfit has been sold to C. O. Taylor & Co., and is touring Indiana to a good business. After Capt. Stewart sold out he immediately began to build a new show, and next season will find him with the largest, neatest and cleanest twenty-five cent show on the road. He will use a hundred foot round top, with two thirty foot middle pieces; thirty by sixty side show; two twenty by fifty house [sic?] tents; twelve wagon cars, twelve by eighteen; two bill wagons; ticket wagon; two carryalls; two two-seated carriages; two pony carts; two donkey carts and two band wagons. About fifty or sixty people will be carried with the show, and about forty head of horses. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are now camping at Lake James, near Angola, Ind., having a good time fishing.
Notes from the McDonald Brothers' Shows. We are having real summer weather now and business is big. We have finished our eastern trip, and are now on our way back south. We will put in a part of the summer in Tennessee. We now have all new wagons, having just received six baggage wagons from the Willis Wagon Works, of Moristown, Tenn. Everybody is well and happy and laying something by for the winter. We have recently introduced a new idea in the way of sleeping wagons for the working men, each having a large berth, furnished with the best of bedding, and now we are run over with working men, where before we could not keep them. We have several more new ideas which we hope to introduce shortly.
Camp Gallagher is the name of a summer camp composed of circus and theatrical people on the bank of the beautiful river Eel, near Denver, Ind. The personnel of the camp is William P. Gallagher, F. C. DeBrune and Harry Wener, of the Al. W. Martin Uncle Tom's Cabin Co., Chas. W. Lockwood, formerly press agent of the Wallace Shows, and Eddie Scherever, of the Barnum & Bailey Shows. On Saturday, July 8, the LaMont Brothers' Show exhibited in Denver. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. LaMont, Harry LaMont, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kerr, "Kokomo" Adams and several other members of the [missing text] visited the camp and enjoyed a suptuous turtle dinner prepared by chef deBruner. In the evening the camp was a guest of Mr. and Mrs. LaMont at the show. After the evening performance the party proceeded back to Camp Gallagher and a big time was had until early next morning.
Notes from the Wm. P. Hall Shows. We were able to give but one performance July 3 at Richmond, Mo., on account of rain and high winds. The afternoon performance, however, was well attended and everybody spoke well of it. We celebrated the Fourth of July by playing to two large audiences at St. Joe, Mo., where our parade was given at 12:30 owing to our late arrival. Every car that could be put into service was placed on the line going to the show grounds, and even with these additional transportation features, the cabs and carryalls did a land office business. The afternoon attendance was not as good on account of fireworks in the park. Mr. Hall is still buying horses and last week shipped five horses to a brother in South Africa. We show Iowa this week, and as Mr. Hall is very popular throughout the state good business is expected.
Notes from the Lemen Brothers' Show. After an absence from the state since May 7, we are again on Uncle Sam's sod, having crossed through Port Huron, Mich., on the night of July 20. Our first stand in the states was Capac, Mich. During our Canadian trip we exhibited in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, and went as far east as St. John, N. B., and nearly three hundred miles north of the city of Quebec, into the Lake St. John region. On July 17 we showed at Port Colborne, Ont., which is only twenty-four miles from Buffalo, so a large number of us took a trip to Buffalo, and from there to Niagara Falls. Our trip to the Falls is one that will live long in our memories. As the massive body of water, rushing at the rate of twenty-seven miles an hour, passes over the precipice and dashes on the rugged rocks beneath, it holds one spellboung with admiration and amazement. A magnificent rainbow is almost constantly playing across the face of the Falls and its primitive beauty is like a projecting arch of glory. The Bonney Family of Scotish dancers and bagpipers joined us at Port Colborne, and they are making good with their act. Since H. R. Cooper left the show on account of illness at St. John, N. B., Fred Fillmore has been successfully leaping the gap every day.
Notes from Mackay's European Circus. We still have nine weeks in Michigan, and business has been great. No turnaways, but capacity houses. Our stands are all week stands and business increases every night. At Lansing week of July 9, we had S. R. O. every night, except Monday. The following people are with the show: Andrew Mackey, owner; William Leach, manager; Col. Sherwood, general agent; Prof. Jamison and his high diving dogs; the Bartnos, slack wire; the Stilsons, barrel jumpers; Tom Hayes, wire expert and Spanish rings; Bert Wiggin, clown juggler and caronist; Mrs. Jamison and her pet dog, Pete, in their Hindoo box mystery; Mr. Bartino, bicycle wire act. We close with Prof. Jones moving pictures and Miss Agnes Alvin in illustrated songs. . . . The following people are in the concert: Bert Wiggin, comedian and comedy drawing; Melvin and Alvin in comedy sketch; the Two Kids; Prof. Jamison, mind-reading dog, Spot; and closing the concert with a series of comic moving pictures. Prof. Moore and his concert band of fourteen pieces furnish the music. Our people all stop at hotels and eat on lot. Jack Doyle is boss canvasman with eight men. Our free show is the talk of the natives. Prof. Jamison's diving dog, Bob, makes a parachute jump from a sixty foot spiral tower daily, and it draws crowds every day.
The following is the roster of the Sun Brothers' Show: Geo. and Pete Sun, sole owners; Geo. Sun, manager; Pete Sund, general agent; E. H. Kraut, assistant manager; J. L. Lamberto, treasurer; Will O'Dale, equestrian director; M. S. Hutus, band director; Ben Bowman, side show manager; Bowman & McLaughlin, manager of privileges; J. C. Cherry, superintendent; D. M. Ulrich, boss hostler; Wm. Randolph, in charge of ring stock; J. D. Singteterry, boss property man; L. B. Pratt, train master; R. Bassett, boss animal man; Johnny Parker, superintendent of dining service; J. H. Carrier, blacksmith; Mike Cary, artist and decorator, and Wm. O'Brien, boss chandelier man. The feature acts are Will O'Dale and Geo. Sun Jr., jockey two-horse carrying act; Artie Chapin's Troupe of aerialists; Hill Family, society acrobats; Jno. Miller, contortionist; the Great Lamberto, novelty wire act; Hardell Brothers, triple horizontal bars; Jno. W. and Lillian Teet, impalement act; Rowanna, head balancing and trapeze act; Billy Reid, principal clown; Millie Ashburn and her high-school horse; Virginia and Walter Ashburn and his trained elephants and troupe of ponies, besides a number of other acts. In the concert they have Eddie Lamont, novelty musical act; Chas. LaNoire, minstrel and Eingard and Reed, blackface wench act. The side show consists of the Stumon Family Band and Orchestra; Nena Delmato and Bowman, mind reading; Agnes and her den of monster serpents; Hinman, magician; Punch and Judy and marinettes; Stumon Sisters, singers and dancers, and Alex Thomas, the Grecian Hercules. The advance car has C. S. Clark, local contractor; W. H. Quinnet, car manager; Bert Moore, boss billposter, and eleven billposters.
Billboard, August 12, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Thos. J. Smith, of the team of Smith and Leslie with the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Circus, died very suddenly, July 19, at Keyport, N. J., of heart disease. Mr. Smith was apparently in the best of health. He was thirty-six years of age and had been in the profession for a period of twenty-five years. For twelve consecutive years he was stage manager of the National Theatre, Philadelphia, Pa. He appeared as a comedian with the Sadie Hasson, Flynn and Sheridan, Rive and Barton and Hi Henry companies. Mr. Smith was a member of the Holyoke, Mass., aerie of Eagles and was one of the charter members of the Philadelphia lodge. The remains were taken to Philadelphia for interment July 23. The deceased leaves a wife, Lillian Leslie, and a host of friends to mourn his death.
Geo. H. Saylor, an employe of the Floto Shows, was found dead, Aug. 2, on the Frisco Railroad about three miles north of Pleasanton, Kan. The corner is investigating his death.
It is reported from Guthrie, Okla., that the Miller Brothers, whose celebrations at 101 Ranch, Okla., have created wide interest, will start out next month with a wild west show which will include about two hundred cowboys and Indians. They are scheduled to open in Kingman, Kan., and the report has it that they will be seen in Madison Square Garden, New York City, this fall. Also that next season the show will require seventy-four cars for its transportation.
Fire at Wallace's Winter Quarters. Fire of unknown origin is reported to have destroyed the large horse barn, containing 150 tons of hay, the camel, pony and hospital buildings of the Wallace Show at winter quarters, near Peru, Ind., on August 2. The loss,it is said, will amount to $15,000, unprotected by insurance. There were no animals in the buildings.
The Great Wallace Shows played at Hartford, Ind., July 26 to packed tents at both performances.
During the stay of the Sells & Downs Shows in St. John, N. B., two lion cubs were born in the menagerie. The Martelles, recently of the Ringling Brothers' Shows, are doing splendid work with the Sells & Downs' Shows.
The Parento Brothers, sensational ladder and trapeze performers, are one of the features of the Cole & Rogers Show.
The Pawnee Bill Show has changed its dates for Oskaloosa, Ia., until sometime in September. The Ringling Brothers play that city August 28.
Johnny B. Riggs, after a two weeks' rest at his home in Monticello, Minn., took the road August 12, as manager for Dick's (three car) one ring circus.
The LaVards, William and Beatrice, have recently joined the Hargreaves Circus to do the concert. They write that they are making good with their talking and singing act.
The Sells & Downs Shows met with an almost continual downpour of rain at Ashland, Pa., July 29. However, the afternoon performance was given to well-filled seats.
Darwin C. Hawn, a young and congenial assistant superintendent with the Barnum & Bailey forces, is recuperating in the Columbian Hotel, Denver, Col.
Mose Davis and "Rube" Ryan are in their twenty-third week with the Hagenbeck Show, doing the fat cop and the rube on the track. Davis and Ryan have formed partnership.
A correspondent at Mattoon, Ill., writes that the Hagenbeck Shows gave two performances in that city July 29 to fair crowds.
Geo. R. Murray: Your wife writes that she is ill in Chicago and wants to hear from you. The gentleman referred to was formerly boss canvasman with Hunt's Show, and is known as "Red." Address Mrs. Murray, in care of general delivery, Chicago.
Geo. H. Snyder, employed by the Floto Shows, was found dead, lying in the 'Frisco road about three miles north of Pleasanton, Kan., August 2. The Floto Shows went over the road about 3 a.m. on that moring, and it is supposed that the unfortunate man fell from the car.
Notes from the Glasscock Shows. The shows are playing Texas to fair business. On July 27, at Ruse, Tex., W. A. Allen, one of the Allen Brothers, fell from a trapeze and received injuries which are very severe. The roster of the show is as follows: Tom Samuels, Allen Brothers, F. S. Moncayo, Foster Glasscock, Ruth Glasscock, Etta Glasscock, W. H. Smith, clown; W. G. Gunsilas, Ely Losanoirs, Ross Loanoirs, and W. H. Nictis, who has charge of the side show.
Notes from the James Shelby Shows, C. T. Ogden, manager. This show has now been out for twenty-five weeks and has done steady business all along. At present we are laying up at Columbiana, Ala., repainting and repairing generally for the fall and winter business. Most of the people who opened with the show three years ago are still with us. We open again August 5 at Wilsonville, Ala.
August 1 was a gala day for the citizens of New Philadelphia and Canal Dover, Ohio, that being the date of the Robinson Shows, which played half way between both cities. The second section did not arrive until 9:45, but the parade was given on time. The inmates of the Tuscarawas County Children's Home were the invited guests of John Robinson. "Doc" Wadell and Rev. Shiek showed them the animals, and reserved seats for them for the afternoon performance.
Floto's Fad and Fancies. Never again for this enterprise on the government reservation at Leavenworth, Kan., so well and dearly remembered by all tent show. Business was good in the afternoon but at night a much larger audience witnessed the show after the whole 18th regiment "side walled," which convinced manager Tammen it looked like his treat, so he ordered the entire side canvas dropped to give everybody a look, including helf the members from the soldiers' home. As Floto was the sixth circus for the town this season, it was only proper to go on record as having the largest number of sightseers. The show closed its Kansas tour with two turnaway crowds at Paola, and is now on its gentle way into Nebraska and Iowa, and to show there is no ill feeling and jealously at Grinnell, August 14, same day and date, and almost the same show grounds. Floto and Pawnee Bill will strike in friendly supremacy to gather in the festive farmer. Both shows will adhere to regulation prices, and a big double parade is very likely.
Notes from the Gollmar Brothers' Show. At Farmington, Ia., on Saturday, July 29, Gollmar Brothers' Show gave the last performance in the third month of the season. We have been out eighty-one days, and have had sixty-one days of rain and wind. We showed every day and lost but three performances. From Ohio to North Dakota and back business has been phenomenal. "Doc" Parkhurst, boss canvasman, has been off the lot every night by 11:45, and trainmaster Jno. Conry "turns 'em over" an hour later. Though we have had four railroad wrecks, not a man has been injured. Steward Ed. Jameson and his assistants have been giving satisfaction to three hundred and fifty people. Boss hostler Geo. Holland has the stock in fine condition. He is ably assisted by Will Benon and Jno. Quigley. Emory Stiles has charge of the menagerie. Geo. Irwin's side show is a feature with the country people. When Bill Crawford and "Doc" Fitzgerald open on the front they eat it up. George, himself, with his graceful gestures and enchanting smile, brings them in after the big performance. Chas. Gollmar continues as general superintendent. Walter Gollmar superintendent of the performances. Ben Gollmar handling the ducats in the big red wagon and Fred Gollmar ahead. Everybody is satisfied and contented.
Billboard, August 26, 1905, pp. 11, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
P. L. Dixon, of the Cook & Barrett Circus, and Miss Ivey Smith, of Eagle Ford, Tex., were united in marriage at Pierce, Neb., August 9.
There is a chance - a very definite chance in fact - that most of the shows will go to winter quarters early this season. The southern territory is closed to them on account of the yellow fever epidemic, and there are not enough good towns above the line to accommodate them all down to the usual time of closing. It is deplorable, too, for, barring the fever, conditions in the south are just right.
It has been a bad season in Canada. None of the shows that have gone up there have taken any money. Canada is not a big circus country. It is all right for small shows of the dog and pony order, however.
A local freight train on the Big Four Railroad, northbound, crashed into the fourth section of the John Robinson Circus train at Brookville, Ind., Wednesday morning. The freight engine and the circus locomotive were totally demolished. Both train crews jumped and saved their lives. Loss to the railroad company, $20,000, to circus $5,000. "Tillie," the leaping elephant, at command of her trainer, Tim Buckley, jumped from her car down the embankment and escaped death. She trumpted wildly and ran to the woods, followed by seven other elephants. With great effort they were recaptured. Farmers' horses coming to the circus frightened and ran away. At least ten rigs were wrecked.
Ten of the circus sleepers, including the Palace Pullman of Governor Robinson, had just been placed on the siding, and the brakeman had barely closed the switch when the local freight dashed around the curve. Trainmaster Maloney of the Big Four claims the sleepers were on the siding sometime. The meat car of the circus was wrecked, and there was not enough meat in Brookville for the 1,000 people with the show. The first consignment of cigarettes for the people from the Orient, which must be imported in order not to violate the Indiana cigarette law, was destroyed, and this made the foreigners rave with rage. The Big Four promptly provided cars to take the place of the damaged ones, and the show did not lose a single date. The railroad company are now rebuilding the wrecked cars. Trainmaster Maloney says the flagman was not out far enough, and that was the cause of the wreck. All around it was a narrow escape.
Governor Robinson, who was with the show to allow his son, John G., a vacation, has had it hard, indeed. He has encountered storms, railroad wreck, and all sorts of difficulties. But, as in the good old days, he meets the obstacles and emergencies and surmounts them. He is the last one off the lot at night and the first one there in the morning. Governor Robinson has now been dubbed "The Gladstone of the circus world." The Great Marty is with the "Ten Big." His double globe act and blindfold leaps are a hit. Hayden and La Londe, on revolving ladder and high trapeze, are a recent addition, and are more than making good. The McNultz have joined our ranks. Their novelty "cycle dazzle," with fireworks display, is a center ring feature.
Joe Canty, boss hostler with the Campbell Brothers until recently, when he was compelled to go to the hospital at Pierre, S. D., because of injuries received, met with another accident Thursday, August 17. While at work upon a government building, he fell from a scaffold and was returned to the hospital in an unconscious condition. His injuries are serious and may prove fatal.
The Ellett Troupe has closed with the Forepaugh-Sells Show to play fair dates.
W. S. Washburn has closed with the advertising car of the Mighty Haag Show, and joined car No. 2 of the John Robinson Circus.
John Griffith left the Lemen Brothers Show in Toronto, Can., and went over to Sells & Downs.
Con. Hogan has succeeded Geo. Womald as boss canvasman of the Norris & Rowe Show. Geo. Dyrian now has the cook house and "Red" Carroll the props, with Norris & Rowe.
Eddie Jackson is now contracting agent for the Campbell Brothers Shows, having closed August 3 with the No. 1 Gentry Show.
Will C. Sites closed with the Sells & Downs Shows August 18 at Edwardsville, Ill., to prepare for the dramatic season.
Rube Newton has closed with the Gollmar Brothers Show, and is clowning for the Tallinger Wild West and the Cosmopolitan Carnival Co.
Geo. Orr and "Skinny" Belt, who have been in Piqua, Ohio, for several weeks, owing to sickness, rejoined the Wallace Shows, August 8.
Martin G. Milligan has closed as manager of advance car No. 2 of the Lemen Brothers Shows, to go in advance of the Great Cradoc Neville Co.
Bob Thomas left the Barnum & Bailey Shows in Salt Lake City to assume the position of boss canvasman with the Norris & Rowe Show now touring Canada. Geo. Wamold, for several seasons boss canvasman with the Norris & Rowe Shows, left that aggregation in Toronto, Can., and returned to Cincinnati last week to attend a sick wife.
P. L. Dixon, manager of concessions of the Cook & Barrett Show, and Miss Iva Smith, of Eagle Ford, Tex., were happily married August 9 in Pierce, Neb. Several of the show officials were present during the ceremonies. Miss Smith is the daughter of a prominent citizen of Dallas, Tex.
It is reported that a river wild west show is being organized at Pierre, S. D., by Capt. Senechal, Scotty Philip and C. P. Jordan. Several Sioux Indians, besides a number of wild animals, including buffalo, will be carried. The show will play the Missouri, Mississippi and Ohio rivers.
Roster for advance car number one of the Forepaugh & Sells Brothers' Show is as follows: A. Osborne, manager of car; H. K. Johnson, boss billposter; F. J. McFarland, Kid Gleason, lithographers; Hi Getz, H. Matson, F. Green, D. Scanlon, G. Cullen, R. Patchen, J. Paul Weaver, Baldy Shaffer, Joe Eisle, Roy McConnell, O. N. Bedwards and Pete Hurst.
Billboard, September 2, 1905, pp. 10, 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Joe M. Howard and his advance brigade for the Pawnee Bill Show are not enjoying a vacation in Missouri, Kansas and the territories. They are meeting with opposition at every stand, at one place having to bill against five other circuses. The brigade is composed of Chris. Custagson, boss billposter; Lou Hauser, Frank Mille, Wm. Burns, Bud Johnson and Fred C. Crocker, billposters; and Joe M. Howard, agent.
_. S. Stevens, legal adjuster and detective of the John Robinson Show, and a son-in-law of Governor John F. Robinson, was murderously attacked by a burly negro at Evansville, Ind., Aug. 22, in front of the main entrance of the show. It was about 9:30 p.m. The negro had become offensive and profane and was ordered by Mr. Stevens to "move on." He proceeded to carry out orders, but no sooner was Mr. Stevens' back turned than the negro struck him on the left of the head with a blackjack. Mr. Stevens fell to the ground and policeman seized the offender. Mr. ___, directed his attention to Mr. Stevens, who was revived with difficulty. Then Mr. Robinson got together his witnesses, but to his surprise he found that the negro had been released. The policeman could not explain. Mr. Stevens was placed under a physician's care and put aboard the next train for his home in Terrace Park, near Cincinnati, where he arrived the next morning in a very serious condition. Regarding the matter, Mr. Robinson has not complained to the city officials, though the chief of police had not official notice until two days after the affair. Where the negro is no one knows. Why he was released no one seems to know. Three detectives have been detailed on the case. Mr. Robinson is determined that the negro shall be punished, and he is going to push the matter to a finish.
After seven months of illness, Phillip Krigh, known as Indiana's 700-pound man, died August 22, at his home in Stilesville, Ind., of dropsy. For a number of years Mr. Krigh traveled with circuses, being exhibited as the largest man in the world. His weight often reached 775 pounds. He stood over six feet high. The body was interred at Stilesville. The deceased leaves a widow and several children.
H. S. Rowe, general manager of the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus, announces that he will sail for Europe shortly to secure a number of big feature acts for the coming season. Mr. Rowe is now negotiating with European agents for one of the biggest acts ever seen in this country, and the deal will no doubt be consummated during his visit abroad.
Hayden and LaLonde opened with the John Robinson Show August 14 and report that they are doing well.
The Pacheco Family of acrobats closed a very successful eighteen weeks' engagement with the Floto Shows at Winnipeg, Man.
Miss Van Osten, press agent for the Pawnee Bill Show, did some very effective work at Kansas City, where the show exhibits September 4-5.
M. C. Cookston has taken charge of the No. 1 advance car of the Cook & Barrett Shows, A. D. Funk having been transferred to the excursion and opposition brigade.
W. S. Washburn, recently of the Haag Show, did not arrive in Washington, Ind., in time to catch the No. 2 car of the Robinson Show. He returned to Covington and engaged with the Covington Billposting plant.
The William P. Hall Shows will close the season at Lancaster, Mo., August 30. This is the first big show to close, thought the others will probably follow in rapid succession on account of the southern territory being closed to them because of the fever epidemic.
Sterling, Kan., looks like a big menagerie. Paper is up announcing the Campbell Brothers Show for August 29 and Sells & Downs for September 26. Billposters Bassett & Findlay have erected about 8,000 running feet of boards to meet the emergency.
It is reported that W. W. Brown, lot superintendent of the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus, recently fell heir to $85,000 through the death of an uncle. It is understood that he will invest the money in real estate in Santa Cruz, Cal., the new winter quarters of the show. Mr. Brown is enthusiastic over the climate and future of the beautiful coast city.
Notes from the Cozad California Dog and Pony Show. We have been in British Columbis and Alberta for the past month, enjoying a cool climate and good business. We returned from Nelson, B. C., to the United States August 22. We carry two cars, fifty dogs, fifty ponies, twenty monkeys, four goats, a band of twelve pieces led by J. K. Alvard, and a canvas eighty by thirty feet, with one forty foot middle piece.
Following is the roster of advance car No. 1 with the Sun Brothers Show: Pete Sun, general agent; Clyde S. Clarke, contracting agent; O. R. Stewart, special agent; Chas. Holden, manager of car; Bert Moore, boss billposter, with two assistants; John Reardon, lithographer; Fred Riley, programmer; Orra Rowland, banners; Mike Noonan, Sam Gramling, George Stallinger and Harry Weaver, country route men, and Fred Wold and Chas. Heath, railroad route men. The car has been out nineteen weeks.
The roster of the advance force of the Cook & Barrett Show is as follows: E. L. Brennan, general agent; M. S. McGrew and J. F. Schiller, contracting agents; M. C. Cookston, manager car No. 1; Walter Scott, boss billposter, with w. A. Davidson, F. P. McDaniels, Fred Herman, Jas. Randolph, L. V. Farnum, F. E. Jackson, Robert Darrow, Lewis Hillman, David Redfield and H. P. Henry as assistants; and J. E. Franklin, lithographer. Brigade No. 2: A. D. Funk, manager; James Coles, boss canvasman, with C. R. Rogers and A. M. Combs as assistants; D. E. Hubbards and Frank Gates, banners and E. M. Evans, programmer.
Billboard, September 16, 1905, p. 3, 10, 11, 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Emma Donovan, who for years was identified with the Great Wallace Shows, was among the unfortunates stranded with the McCaddon Shows, in Grenoble, France. At the instance of general agent W. E. Franklin, a purse was raised by the members of the Wallace Circus for Miss Donovan, and $140 was cabled to her. She is now on the high seas bound for God's country. The Flying Potters and Robert Stickney Sr. and wife, who were with the McCaddon Shows in France, secured a long engagement in South Africa, and have sailed for that country.
Bertini, who ascends and descends a spiral pathway upon a unicycle, and who went to France with the McCaddon Show, writes that he is playing fairs. He informs us that he is meeting with a gratifying degree of success and is being pressed for return dates. Bertini will tour in America next season.
The McDonald Trio, bicyclists, closed with the Norris & Rowe Show at Chatham, Ont., and on September 4 joined the Floto Shows at Regina, Wash.
Earnest LaVon, of The LaVons, an acrobatic sketch team now playing with the Burrowes Shows - writes as follows to the readers of The Billboard: "En route, Fairfield, Neb., Sept. 4, 1905. The Billboard, Gentlemen: I wish to state to the profession through your columns a case in which I would kindly ask their aid. My wife and I were playing fair dates last season with our two boys, aged four and six years. On our return home the Humane Society of Des Moines, Ia., brought suit against us in the juvenile court, claiming that we were not proper people to raise the children because of our profession, being circus performers. The case was tried before Judge Hugh Brenan, who reserved his decision for one week, and placed the children in the temporary custody of a Lillian Barnett. At the end of the week the judge decided in our favor, and armed with the proper papers, I went to take possession of our babies. The order was served on Lillian Barnett, but she only laughed. This was Saturday evening. The next Monday morning my wife and an officer went for the children, but Miss Barnett had fled with them.
We located them at Emerson, Can., through the services of a detective and my wife made a trip to that town. When she arrived they were not to be found. We then secured an indictment against her from the Polk county grand jury and applied to the governor of Iowa for requisition papers. The governor refused to grant them on the grounds that Miss Barnett was not a fugitive from justice. We have spent every cent we have on that case. I now wish to take another trip up there and, if necessary, make another legal fight for the possession of the children. We know where this Barnett woman is, but have not sufficient funds to make the trip again. We are now en route with the Burrowes Shows in Nebraska, saving every cent of our salary to try to get back our boys. If you will please publish this letter I am sure you will be able to help us. I refer you to Judge Hugh Brenan, Des Moines, Ia., and to our lawyer, Wm. McLaughlin, of the Loan and Trust building, same city. The only thing the humane society could bring against us was that we were show people. Trusting that you will give this matter your attention, we remain, Yours very respectfully, The LaVons.
William H. Reed, formerly connected with a number of well-known circus bands and more recently of the orchestra force at the opera house in Logansport, Ind., died last week at this home after a prolonged illness. "Billy," as he was commonly known, was a great hearted, wholesould individual. He was fifty years of age. About thirty years ago he joined out with the Pierce Circus, which was that year organized in Peru. Later he was connected with the Van Amburg, the Ringling and the Forepaugh-Sells Shows as musician. Of recent years he had been a member of the local opera house orchestra. Last season he was forced to retire because of ill health. Mr. Reed leaves a mother, two brothers and a married sister. He was a member of the Logansport Lodge No. 66, B. P. O. E.
A. R. Bellus, an aged resident of Napoleon, Ohio, and at one time ringmaster for Dan Rice and Adam Forepaugh, dropped dead upon the streets of his home city, September 8. Mr. Bellus was formerly very wealthy, but died practically a pauper. For some years he has resided on a farm near Napoleon.
D. H. Lano, assistant ticket agent for the Wallace Show, was injured last week at New Albany, Ind., by a negro who had engaged in a previous altercation with one of the drivers. Mr. Lano was taken to St. Edward's City Hospital suffering from paralysis. It is feared that his injuries may prove fatal. The negro was arrested and will be held to await developments. The trouble started during the parade. A negro became involved in a quarrel with one of the drivers, who climbed from his seat and laid the negro out. The negro's friends gathered at the circus grounds and awaited the return of the showmen. They were soon dispersed. Mr. Lano was not engaged in the altercation.
Joe Becker has taken the business management of Eiler's Big Show.
Emma LaTow, recently of the Cook & Barrett Shows, joined the Van Amburg Shows September 2.
Vic. Hugo, recently of the Barnum & Bailey Show, has opened up the People's Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Ia.
Dan Fallow has closed with car No. 2 of the Barnum & Bailey Show and joined the advertising force of the Empire Theatre, Pittsburg.
Albert Gaston, the veteran circus clown, is in his second season as principal fun maker with the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows.
After closing with the Wm. P. Hall Show, the Millettes, Ed. and Maude, joined the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Show for the balance of the season.
W. W. Gentry spent a few days last week in Hot Springs, Ark. Mr. Gentry is proprietor of the four houses in that city known as the Gentry block.
Gladys DeForest, one of the youngest and most successful riders in America, is meeting with gratifying success with the Ringling Brothers Show. Orrin Davenport, the somersault rider, is her teacher.
The roster of Gentry Brothers' advance car No. 2 is as follows: A. C. St. Clair, manager; F. Garrigus, boss billposter; F. C. Stern, E. Higbee, C. Mycum, J. Rich, J. B. Mickum, billposters, and A. Bridge, lithographer.
Martin G. Mulligan closed as manager of advance car No. 2 of the Lemen Brothers' Shows August 24 to go in advance of the Great Cradoc-Neville Stock Co. Mr. Mulligan has signed as special agent of the Lemen Brothers' Shows for next season.
Ed. Roberts and wife joined the Greater Norris & Rowe Show at St. Thomas, Canada. Mr. Roberts is clowning and with his domestic pets is making good. Mrs. Roberts is a feature of the concert with her well-trained voice and superb robes.
The following performers are with the Van Amburg Shows: the Valentinos, Hines Kimball Troupe of acrobats; Hatsuh, Japanese juggler; the Four Howards, Chas. Crooks, Ben. Beno, Emma LaTow, Jess Leon, Dan Leon, Annie Carroll, Bell Brothers, Yeager and twelve clowns.
Friends of D. G. Markle will be pleased to learn that he is rapidly regaining strength after his long siege of typhoid. Mr. Markle has severed his connection with the Siebel Show, and is now on his farm at Alberta, Can.
The St. Leon Family of acrobats and equestrians closed with the W. P. Hall Shows at Princeton, Mo., to fulfill an engagement with the Pain Fireworks Co. The parting was very affective. The Italian Band rendered appropriate selections and as the train was leaving Clark's band struck up Auld Lang Syne.
Mexican George, the rough rider, who was reported killed in a riot between an excursion party and the Montgomery Brothers' Show recently, has entirely recovered from his injuries, which were never at any time serious. He is now in Sardinia, Ohio, framing up a wild west of his own, which will take the road next season.
The Greater Norris & Rowe Shows concluded their Canadian tour August 31 at Windsor. They are now returning to their home on the Pacific coast. The new winter quarters at Santa Cruz, Cal., are rapidly nearing completion and, from all accounts, will be as perfect and well-appointed as any quarters in America.
Capt. Jake Hindman, who about thirty years ago toured Australia with the W. W. Cole Circus, and is now a respected and worthy citizen of Houston, Tex., has fallen heir to a third part of something like $7,000,000 left by his father. The captain joined the show against his father's wishes, and after his return he never corresponded with his parents, who supposed him dead.
Manager D. S. Ward and son, of advance car No. 1 of the Lemen Brothers Show, has gone to his home in Coldwater, Mich.; Joe Mulvihill to Chicago, Harry Lady to Akron, Ohio, Robert Morris to Denver, Knowles Casady to Riverside, Cal., H. W. Hardy to Oklahoma City, Lewis Doty to Coldwater, Mich., E. N. Smith to Chillicothe, Mo., and Jno Hurley and Wm. Houtz to Kansas City, Mo.
Because of illness, George B. Beckley, the veteran circus agent, has been compelled to close as manager of advance car No. 1 of the Sells & Downs' Show and seek relief in the hospital in Philadelphia, where he will remain for several months.
Archie Royer, principal clown with the Sells & Downs Shows, writes as follows: Next season I will send my brothers out with the finest little wagon show upon the road. Have already purchased tents, seats, lights and trappings, and have place my order for five new wagons. The organization will be known as the Famous Royer Brothers Great United Shows. W. F. Clark, formerly of Crandall and Clark, is interested in the show, and will handle the business ahead. Our printing will equal that on any enterprise ten times our size.
Notes from the advance car of the Hargreaves Show. We are still on the road and doing fine. Our roster is as follows: Geo. L. Naughtaling, manager; Frank Knect, boss billposter; Jerry Bohrmann, assistant; Sam Porter, Tom Kennedy, Jerry Delaney, Will Sanders, Walter Snyder, Will Elliott, F. A. Cummings and Frank Thomas, billposters; Phil. Gardner, chief bannerman, with H. B. DeWolf and J. E. White as assistants; Alfred Turcotte and F. A. Jackson, programmers; Mill Shatzi, cook; R. A. Robinson, waiter and J. A. Titlow, porter and paste maker.
Notes from Tuttle's Olympic Show. We have been out sixteen weeks to the best business in the history of the show. Have not missed a single night and have had no blowdowns. Mrs. Tuttle and daughter, Jessie, are at present in Harrisburg, Pa., on a visit to Mrs. Tuttle's mother. During her absence Jack Hunt has charge of the show. We have the same roster as when we opened the season, Bert Rude, Gene Kelley, Don Murdock Fred Martin, Pony Patt, Bert Smith, LeVonde Bros., and Jack Hunt still being with the show. Harry Germane is in advance.
The horses and elephants of the McCaddon Show have been sold, the former for about $13,555, and the latter for $2,600. The expense of liquidation aggregates about $4,000, which leaves $11,800 to be applied to employes' salaries, amounting to about $25,000. Regarding the condition of finances before the last stand was made July 4, Whiting Allen, assistant manager of the circus, makes the following statement: The show needed money, as anyone can appreciate from the fact that for some weeks the total receipts were only $3,800, while the daily expenses, originally over $2,200, and subsequently cut down to about $1,000 a day, were piling up a total far in excess of the total receipts.
Among the performers of the McCaddon Show at Grenoble, France, are the Potters, aerial artists; the Streator Zouaves; Nettie Carroll, high wire artist; Holman Brothers, Al. and Carl, in a revolving ladder act; Emma Donovan, flying rings; Carl Mayo, clown; Two Friskies; Sally Stickney, equestrienne; Billy Wallace, rider; Stirk Family of six, trick cyclists; Mr. and Mrs. Charley Thompkins, and Mr. and Mrs. Wyoming Jack, rough riding and lariat throwing. Others are Robert Stickney, ringmaster; William Ducro [sic?], equestrian director; Whiting Allen, assistant manager; William Vogt, treasurer; Joe Harper, superintendent; Thos. McAvoy, boss canvasman, and William Sintsmaster, master of transportation.
Billboard, September 23, 1905, pp. 11, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
E. W. Dilger, known as the tramp contortionist, died in the hospital at St. Louis, Sept. 5, while undergoing an operation, made necessary by injuries received while performing with the Lemen Brothers Show, Aug. 21, at Farmer City, Ill. Mr. Dilger was at first sent to his home in Louisiana, Mo. He was thirty-three years of age, well known, and considered a competent performer. The remains were interred at Frankford, Mo., under the auspices of the Eagles.
Mrs. Nellie Bruce Koplin, one of the Four Avenas, with the Floto Shows, died at Fargo, N. D., Sept. 9, of typhoid fever after a short illness. Miss Bruce, as she was professionally known, was taken ill during the engagement in Fargo, Aug. 22, and was left in the St. Johns Hospital. She was twenty-eight years of age and very popular. Her winning manners and very cheerful spirit won for her the respect and esteem of all with whom she came in contact. The funeral services were conducted under the auspices of the Eagles, and the remains were buried at Fargo.
George Jennier Sr., equilibrist, who has been in the circus ring for over forty years, died September 5 en route to Curtis, Neb., on the Cook & Barrett Show train. Death was due to hemorrhage of the brain, caused by a paralytic stroke the afternoon previous. Mr. Jennier had been in perfect health and spirits, and his sudden demise was a severe shock to his family and many friends. George Jennier, Sr., was born in Cincinnati, December 25, 1878. At the age of eleven he began his career as an apprentice to Dan Rice. He afterward married Rice's niece, Nina Howland, who survives him. He has been connected with the majority of the circuses, and this season has toured with the Cook & Barrett Show. Besides a devoted wife, Mr. Jennier leaves seven children to mourn his loss. Three children, George, Walter and Roy were with him at the time of his death, and a daughter, Mrs. Maude Millette, attended the funeral services. Three children, non-professionals, of Washington, D. C., were unable to attend. The remains were interred in the cemetery at Ellwood, Neb., Sept. 7, the entire circus company being present.
The Frank A. Robbins Show will winter at Clifton, N. J.
Charlie (Buckskin) Clark is with the Campbell Brothers Shows.
Pawnee Bill's Show will winter near Bristol, Pa., this season.
J. W. Brownlee has recently joined the Washburn & D'Alma Shows as treasurer.
Wm. LaRue closed with the Norris & Rowe Show at Stratford, Ont., and joined the Great Floto Shows.
Tom Truss and Charles Nod, two well-known circus clowns, are spending their vacation in Fargo, N. D.
Zelleno, the mystic, with the Lemen Brothers' Show until its closing in Camp Point, Ill., Sept. 9, has joined the John Robinson Show.
The Van Amburg Shows played to good business in Farmville, Va., Sept. 11. The Hines-Kimball Troupe received special newspaper notice.
Fred Busey, the former circus agent, is now the proprietor of the Queen of the Highway.
Of the $4,500, which is estimated will be necessary for the transportation of the ninety American employees of the erstwile McCaddon Shows from France, $3,013 has been raised.
F. E. Davis, the well-known showman and agent, joined the Washburn & D'Alma Circus in Brooklyn, N. Y., last week, as general agent. He will route the show through the south.
The Hargreaves Shows opened in Philadelphia September 13. The show plays two and three day stands in that vicinity for four weeks, and then goes into winter quarters at Chester, Pa.
The Washburn & D'Alma Trained Animal Circus played to good business for four weeks on Long Island and for two weeks in Brooklyn. They are now playing vacant lots near Philadelphia. The show goes south this winter.
Notes from the James Shelby Show. We are entering our twenty-fifth week. We have been in the southern states all season, playing to good business, and have met with plenty of rain. The past three weeks we have been playing to record-breaking business. We will confine our tour to Tennessee for some time, and expect to remain out all winter.
John Zouboulakis, of the Floto Shows, writes: Sept. 4 was inauguration day for the newly-created provinces of Alberta and Saskatchwan, Can. We played Regina that day, and Madame Forgot, wife of the governor of the latter province, celebrated the event by visiting the annex of the Floto Shows. She highly praised the performance.
Our correspondent at Tyrone, Pa., writes: The advance car of the John H. Sparks Show was in town Monday billing for Sept. 19. The car is managed by Harry A. Mann, long identified with the Barnum & Bailey and the Forepaugh-Sells Shows. He has ten husky billposters, and they bill like one of the big ones. Mr. Mannr reports that business throughout the state has gone beyond their expectations.
Notes from Lemen Brothers' Show. We closed our season Sept. 9 at Camp Point, Ill., and immediately went into our winter quarters at Dodson, Mo. Since leaving Dodson on April l28, our train traveled 7,730 miles. The show was out nineteen weeks. We played Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. At Dallas, Ill., the Benningtons, Seth __ and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kimmer, of the Harry Kimmer Comedy Co., visited the show. At Camp Point we received the sad news of E. W. Dilger's death. Mr. Dilger fell from a trapeze while performing at Farmer City, Ill., Aug. 21. He was sent to his home at Louisiana, Mo., and from there he was taken to a hospital and an operation performed.
Billboard, September 30, 1905, pp. 24, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
During the afternoon performance of the Ringling Brothers' Show at Marysville, Mo., Monday, Sept. 18, a terrific windstorm, accompanied by a drenching downpour of rain, leveld the big canvas which buried beneath its folds over five thousand spectators. One man was killed and a number of others seriously injured, some seriously and two fatally. None of the showmen were injured. . . . Fortunately the herd of twenty-four elephants had been taken from the animal tent previous to the storm. The gas lights in the top of the rings ignited the canvas, but the fire was soon extinguished and without damage. As soon as the storm had subsided every physician in the city was summoned. A number of injured were taken to the hospital and many were taken to private homes. The exact number of persons injured has not been reported, though it is estimated that fully fifty people were thus unfortunate. No evening performance was given in Marysville. Soon after the disaster the show property was placed upon the train, which pulled out for Trenton, the next stand.
The Frank A. Robbins Show lost Norwich, Conn., Sept. 4, because of what some of the showmen have designated the biggest "bloomer" of the season. The incessant rains of the day previous had caused all the neighboring streams to be flooded. When the sun came up Monday morning it found the circus, tents, property and all, except the animals, in four feet of water. The circus ground was a miniature lake. Many boats were pressed into service and men worked in water up to their arm-pits tearing down the tops and packing up. Much difficulty was experienced, and it was past noon before all the property was safely on board the cars. Hamilton, Can., Tuesday's stand, was cancelled. Jalietta, the snake enchantress, lost two valuable reptiles in the flood. H. Stanley Lewis has severed his connection with the Robbins' Show. He is now with the Sig. Sautelle & Welsh Brothers' Show. The performers of the Robbins Show have formed a society which has for its object the suppression of profance language on the show grounds. Members are fined when they violate the laws and rules of the society. The Billboard's Shenandoah, Pa., correspondent visited the Robbins Show recently at Lykens, Pa. He was cordially received by Messrs. Glennen and Shipman, of the press and managerial departments, respectively. They reported a very successful season. Throughout Maine they reported receipts often played around the $2,000 mark. A great deal of the "long green" was accumulated in virgin territory. The only disadvantages this season has been the inclement weather, continued rains.
W. H. Quinnett, manger of the advance car with the Sun Brothers' Shows, writes that he has been compelled to close on account of sickness. He will take the agency of the J. H. LaPearl Liniment Co. in northern Ohio.
William Gore, formerly private secretary to Capt. Dave Dedrick of the John Robinson Shows, wishes to announce that he has signed with the ___ Show now in Sidney, Australia. The contract, says Mr. Gore, is for two years, and the salary runs up into the thousands.
The Norris & Rowe Show received a ovation at Belvidere, Ill., last week in the way of attendance. During the afternoon performance a rider fell under a horse, but escaped uninjured. Shortly afterward a driver of five ponies was knocked from his mount. He likewise escaped injury.
Our correspondent at Sterling, Kan., writes: F. T. Rose, the contracting agent for the Sells & Downs Circus, is here again changing the date of their stand from Sept. 26 to the 23.
The Ty-Bell Sisters, now with the Wallace Shows, have been booked for an engagement with the Orrin Brothers Show, beginning Dec. 4 in Mexico City. Following this engagement they play at the Cicero Theatre, Payret, Havana, Cuba. Julian Ty-Bell writes that this team is booked solid until Nov. 1906.
The roster of advance car No. 2 of the Pawnee Bill Wild West is as follows: Thos. D. Van Osten, car manager and press agent; J. N. Nedrow, in charge of paper; Arthur Butterworth and Robert L. King, lithographers; J. Frank Homan, banners; J. A. Meyers, Vic Cleveland, H. Nelson, S. Schlenk, J. Roach, A. Monroe, Wilbur Win, and W. H. Brownmiller, billposters; Sherwell Rice, steward; W. F. Humphries, chef, and Jerry O'Leary, porter.
Notes from the Norris & Rowe Shows. We recently entertained some very welcome visitors. At Battle Creek, Mich., September 4, Arch M. Donaldson came on and made Charlotte, Hastings and Dowagiac with the show. Contrary to the usual visits of Mr. Donaldson, nothing out of the ordinary happened. Last season when he visited us at Ft. Dodge, the lion Hannibal escaped from his den. At Belvedere, Ill., we had as guest Mme. Dockrill, the one time famous equestrienne. It has been sixteen years since Mme. Dockrill left the ring, but she is still of magnificent physique and enjoys perfect health. Her daughter, Rose, and son-in-law, Geo. Holland, are now with the show. At Janesville, Sept. 12, Col. Geo. Hall, better known as "Popcorn George," was a welcome visitor. Mr. Hall came fifteen miles to see the show and renew old acquaintances. At Michigan City, Ind., Sept. 9, Mr. Vandercook, bandmaster of the old LaPearl Show, visited us, both he and his family declaring it was the most enjoyable day they had spent in a long time. At Janesville, Wis., Sept. 11, George Holland's folk came over from Delavan, Wis. At Watertown, Wis., Sept. 13, we were visited by Emil Seibel, of Seibel's Dog & Pony Show, and Bobby Beach, the one time famous minstrel man. Watertown is the winter quarters of the Seibel Show. Mr. Seibel entertained H. S. Rowe at the quarters and afterwards visited the various departments of the Norris & Rowe Show.
Billboard, October 7, 1905, pp. 24, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The Great Wallace Shows will close the season at Tazewell, Va., Oct. 22. En route to winter quarters, Peru, Ind., the show will make a one show feed stand at Williamstown, W. Va., Oct. 23. . . .
Mrs. Joseph T. McCaddon, wife of the proprietor of the McCaddon Shows, died suddenly in London, according to advices received from the British metropolis. Mrs. McCaddon was prominent in Philadelphia social circles. Mrs. Jas. A. Bailey, wife of the great showman, and Mrs. Dr. Harper, wife of the eminent New York physician, are her sisters. She accompanied her husband to London last spring when he took is show to Europe. She leaves three children.
D. H. Lano, performer with the Wallace Shows, writes as follows: "In regard to a notice appearing in The Billboard that I was probably fatally injured at New Albany, Ind., Sept. 4, will say that I was discharged from the St. Edwards Hospital one week ago, and am now able to walk about with a cane. I am getting better all the time, and am now able to be with the show. My position has been held for me. My wife, Mazie Lano, and I will play vaudeville this winter."
Notes from advertising car No. 1 of the Gentry Brothers' Show, under the management of George F. Cable. This car closed a very successful season of thirty weeks Sept. 30 at Oxford, Ind., closing early on account of the yellow fever. It is the earliest closing in the history of the show. The past season has been a very pleasant one for all the boys, having had no rain since the early part of May and little hot weather to speak of. We opened in Jonesboro, Ark., in March, and the car has traveled 9,682 miles, covering everything of importance west of the Mississippi river. The roster of the car is practically the same as when we started out. In departing for their homes and winter positions the boys all wish the Old Reliable success galore. Our engagements are as follows: George F. Cable, car manager, leaves for Waukesha, Wis., where he will spend a few days with his parents before assuming his duties as business manager for C. S. Primrose's Uncle Si Haskins. Harry Beltz takes charge of the adverting for the new $40,000 theatre at Taylorville, Ill., his home. E. O. Robey goes in advance of the Otis Bowers' Minstrels. A. H. Stone takes charge of the advertising force at the LaCrosse Theatre, LaCrosse, Wis. Harry Pitney will be connected with the advertising force of the theatre at Freeport, Ill. Wm. Lane will be with the advertisin force of the theatre at Rockford, Ill. Wm. Dawson goes to Omaha to tak a position with the Mulvahill Posting Service. Allen Pierce and Fred Green go to their homes in Milwaukee for the winter, and Grant Keeney goes to his home in Bloomington, Ill.
The Robinson Shows. Rev. W. H. Sheak, of the Robinson Shows, writes as follows: Tom Exum has taken charge of the cook house. Mrs. John G. Robinson is again with the show, after an absence of two months. Gus. Ledget is considering a proposition from a vaudeville company. Though Nellie Currier has had no previous experience in a menagerie act she is riging with as much grace and skill as a veteran horsewoman. She is also doing nicely in her ladder act. Lola and Lula Daniels are splendid examples of what circus life will do for a girl. When they joined the show in 1902 they were frail and delicate. Now they are perfect specimens of womanhood. Rita Holst has greatly enjoyed her season in the King Solomon Spectacle. Edna Maretta is still adding to her fame as a somersault artist. Warren Travis, who has won new laurels in his lifting act, will return to his home in Brooklyn, as soon as the season closes.
The McNuts, who joined in August, have made many friends. Their act elicits applause at every performance, surpassing anything ever attempted on the stage. Capt. Hugh Thompson, of the calvary company, will shortly enter the Kansas City Veterinary College to prepare himself for a position in the division of animal industry in the Department of Agriculture at Washington. Frank LaRose has had a strenuous season with the Big Ten. Besides giving his juggling act in the big performance, he has been engaged in statuary posing, chariot racing, ticket taking, lithograph collecting and acting as special attendant on the Governor. This winter will see him back in his old place as art model in the Cincinnati Art Institute. Margaret Elrick has made a name for herself as a six-horse driver, and is perhaps the most expert lady "long string" driver in the world. She is also the captain of the Ladies' Zouave Co.
Aside from the births and death that have had a place in Doc Waddell's imagination, the menagerie has been enriched by the advent of two Zebu calves, an Anoa calf, two litters of lion cubs and a litter of leopard cubs. It has suffered the loss of a trained lion, the leopard cubs already mentioned, an Addax antelope and a cinnamon bear. Mrs. Dr. Matthews, of Carlinville, Ill., presented the menagerie with a fine young coyote.
Everybody is mourning the loss of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Stumpf. Mr. Stumpf, commonly known as "Buggy," and who has been a faithful employee of the Ten Big for years, has resigned to go with the Hagenbeck Show. Probably no man can put a show onto a train in less time and with as little loss of space as Mr. Stumpf. Mrs. Stumpf, as Miss Myrtle Kearns, had the wardrobe here for two years. Their baby, Mary, won a place in the hearts of both old and young. Prof. Winston's sea lions continue a star feature of the performance. Trainer Hudgens, who has been working the troupe with the show this season, is an able lieutenant. Miss Ada Lorton is again with us. Last season Miss Lorton was with Hereafter, on the Pike. In April she decided to spend the summer with her mother at her home near Cincinnati. She grew tired of the quiet life and in two months signed with the Hoss & Nauman Carnival Co., to sing The Holy City in connection with a biblical spectacle. When that company closed she came back to the Ten Big. She is riding in the ladies' flat race, and is participating in the specatcle as in former seasons. She is also a member in the Ladies' Zouave Co.
The Robinso Show has suffered from the many unfavorable conditions of the season, as have all the big circuses, but, despite all reverses, a large measure of financial success has come to the old institution. Business was especially good throughout New England, New York, Ohio and Indiana.
During a performance of the Pawnee Bill Wild West at Burlington, Kan., Sept. 21, Wenona, of Wenona and Frank, champion rifle shots, received injuries which will probably keep her from work for some time. During their act Wenona shoots from a rapidly moving horse. Owing to a muddy arena, her horse slipped and fell. Wenona was thrown to the ground and sustained a severe scalp wound and an injured left foot.
The Col. W. J. Uden Show went into winter quarters at Flanigan, Ill., Oct. 1.
After a very successful season with the Sibel Brothers' Show, J. W. Hittler is home at Dixon, Ill.
John Allen, for many years with the Ringling Show, but now with the Floto Show, will not winter at Baraboo.
Mrs. Roxie Horgan, wife of John Horgan of the Hagenbeck Show, is very ill at her home in St. Louis.
Reports from Chambersburg, Pa., indicate that the Frank A. Robbins' Circus did a large business in that town Sept. 25.
George Mantell has closed his fourth season as special agent with the Hargreaves Shows. He goes in advance of the Vernon Stock Co.
"Red" Carroll wishes to announce that he has closed with the Norris & Rowe Show. He may be addressed at the Chicago office of The Billboard.
The Toozoonin Troupe of Arabs, which has been one of the hits of the Hargreaves Show this season, will play vaudeville dates, beginning Oct. 9.
M. S. Bodkin, for some time identified with the Barnum & Bailey Show as adjuster, is meeting with success with the Bodkin Bros. Shows this season.
The Zecks, Nellie and Cuvier, with the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows all season, have been engaged by Mr. Wheeler for his Indoor Circus and Carnival.
Fred H. Seymour, contracting agent for the No. 2 Gentry Bros.' Show, has closed a pleasant and successful season and is now making his headquarters in Chicago.
The Stumon Family Band and Orchestra are still with the Sun Brothers Big Shows. Westley Mack and Gertrude Wiseman have joined them to do the cornet and tuba.
S. H. Semon is at present in charge of the Barnum & Bailey offices in New York City, Jeff Callan being ill with typhoid fever. Mr. Callan is getting along nicely, and hopes to resume his desk shortly.
Col. M. W. Welsh, formerly one of the owners of the Welsh Brothers Shows, is in Chambersburg, Pa., busily engaged in rehearsing a theatrical company to play the larger cities this season. He will present The Watermelon Trust.
The Ellett Troupe proved one of the biggest drawing cards that every played Antigo, Wis., during the recent fair. They are also engaged for the Utah State Fair, at Salt Lake City. After this engagement Mr. Ellett will take his troupe south for a number of leading fairs.
Dave G. Pollock, who has been outside orator for the Hargreaves Show all season, will shortly close and go into Chicago for the winter. During the illness of Frank Morris, who has been laid up with rheumatism, Mr. Pollock has had full charge of the side show.
Sid DeClairville writes that he is still with the Lucky Bill Show, with which organization business has been big all season. The show has played Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and the Indian Territory. The season opened March 25, and will not close until some time in December.
W. J. Elliott writes us from his home in Evansville, Ind., that after a year of illness he is on the road to complete recovery, and hopes to be able to troop again in the near future. For a number of years Mr. Elliott had entire charge of the refreshment privileges with the Walter L. Main Shows.
General agent Walter Forbish, of the Siebel Dog & Pony Shows, was a welcome caller at the Chicago office of The Billboard, Monday, Sept. 25, on his way to San Francisco, Cal., he having closed his season. The Siebel tour of 1905 has proved a prosperous one.
Al. F. Wheeler writes that his shows close the season Oct. 5, at Port Leyden, N. Y., and go into winter quarters at Schenectady. Mr. Wheeler's Society Circus and Carnival opens at Schenectady early in November.
W. M. Chilcott, for a number of years identified with some of the leading circuses, now established in Kansas City, Mo., where he has a number of business interests, was a welcome caller at the Chicago office of The Billboard last week.
Following is the roster of advertising car No. 2 of the Great Cole & Rogers' Railroad Shows: E. H. Jones, general agent; Frank Ryan, contracting agent; E. C. Bass, press agent; H. J. Williams, manager of car; Charlie Patcher, boss billposter; Ernest Lieweling, lithographer; Edward Crane, programmer and bannerman; Chas. Chandler, chef, and W. G. Yeager, S. J. McAllister, C. P. House, S. Diess, F. C. Norris and C. J. Reid, billposters.
Notes from the Al. F. Wheeler Big New Model Shows. This show closes Oct. 5 at Louisville, N. Y. We have been traveling through the Catskills and the Adirondacks.
Chas. Lafayette closed with Col. W. J. Uden's Show at Marshall, Minn.
W. H. McFarland, manager of the annex with the Great Wallace Shows, has framed up a snake show which has created no end of laudatory comment. The conception is an original one, and is worked out on an elaborate scale. Miss Grace Clarke, a Titian-haired beauty, is featured. On three sides it is draped with rich tapestries ten feet high, and a plush curtain carrying illuminated silver letters, "The Enchantress," covers the front. When this curtain is drawn aside a perfectly black background is exposed. A spot light is thrown upon the centre of the stage and Miss Clark, attired in pure white fleshings, steps forth. The black curtain is then drawn exposing to view a snake den worked in silver filigre. Mr. McFarland has secured sixteen large snakes for the act. The act has made such a hit that Mr. Wallace has requested Mr. McFarland to feature it on a larger scale next season.
Billboard, October 14, 1905, pp. 24, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Archie Royer, clown and comedian this season with the Sells & Downs Shows, announces that next season the Royer Brothers will have a show of their own. It will be known as the Royer Brothers Great United Shows. Archie will appear this winter in Next Door, having already opened in the successful piece. They fill a six weeks' engagement in New York City before launching their new show next spring.
Ben Ali Vindicates Himself. The following letter, dated Sept. 29, from Coney Island, N. Y., explains itself: The Billboard: Gentlemen - Owing to considerable scandal connected with the McCaddon American Circus touring France, I desire to make a short statement to the public that will set matters straight as far as my interests were concerned with the aggregation. When the circus was being organized, I had every assurance that it was on as strong a basis as the Rock of Gibraltar, and in more ways than one was promised that if I imported and furnished a first-class troupe of Fezzan Arabs that were novel, original and somewhat different from the general run in their appearance and performance, I would be protected in every way financially. At the time I was very dubious in furnishing the desired troupe, as I was extremely busy as extreme pressure and persuasiveness was brought to bear aside from the promised financial guarantees, I agreed to furnish the desired Fezzan troupe of Arabs. On signing contracts, I immediatley carried out by obligations, and at great expense, giving bond to the chiefs of the tribe, as well as to the Sulton of Morocco for their welfare. I furnished the greatest troupe of Fezzan Arabs that has ever left their native country, and which on their appearance made an instantaneous success.
The career of the much-hearlded McCaddon American Circus is only too vivid before the public eye to recapitulate; affairs were in a sorry plight, performers and attachees in all branches were stranded in a foreigh country, on the verge of starvation, and without any visible means of returning home. Before the circus closed I was apprised of the outlook by my representative, with the result that I immediately set sail for France and on my arrival booked my Fezzan troupe at the Printania Garden Paris for two weeks. Upon the opening they were re-engaged by the same director for one month more at The Olympia, Paris, and since then I have been deluged with contracts for this troupe form all parts of Europe.
My object in writing you, Mr. Editor, is to impress upon you and your readers that my troupe was not a charge on the charity of the public; in fact, I deposited a substantial sum with the American Consul in Paris towards the subscription that was being raised for may unfortunate brother performers. I trust that you will give this communication due publicity, and in the interests of the profession at large use your influence in promoting laws that will demand sufficient guarantee to be deposited by the directors of amusement organizatoins, whereby artists and all employees are ensured of a comfortable return to the place from whence they were engaged. By adopting such laws much distress in the profession would be avoided, and show business would be conducted on a more legitimate plane, and held in higher esteem. I am Respectfully yours, Sie Hassen Ben Ali.
Owing to the illness of his mother at Lincoln, Neb., Bert Chipman closed with the Sells & Downs Shows at Osage City, Kan., Monday, Sept. 25. Mr. Chipman will be located at Lincoln during the winter months. His show experience covers quite an extened period. In 1899 he was with Frank G. Bostock, 1900 with Lemen Brothers, 1901-04 with the Great Pan American Shows, 1904 with the John Robinson Shows, and the past season he has rendered service with Sells & Downs.
Our correspondent at Chambersburg, Pa., writes: "The Frank A. Robbins' Show gave two performances here Sept. 25 to large audiences. They spent Sunday here. Mr. Robbins and Fred. Beckman, besides a score of attaches, were entertained at Wolf Lake Park by their brother showman, Col. M. H. Welsh. The Colonel is putting the finishing touches to his colored aggregation of fifty people which takes the road Oct. 7."
The roster of the annex of the John Robinson Ten Big Shows is as follows: Cal Towers, manger; Chas. Brasie, assistant manager; L. C. Zelleno, lecturer and magician; Franks Sisters, bag punchers; Zello, chest expansionist; Prof. Mellivan, electric tattooed man; Jess, snake enchantress; The Arcaris, in an impalement act; Aimee, the lion queen; Nellie Zanfro and George LaFell's Concert Band.
The opposition brigade of the Great Adam Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Shows visited the show at Wichita, Kan., Sept.27 for the first time since the second stand out early in the spring. The line-up of the brigade is as follows: Harry Graham, William Cain, George Clare, Fred Winters, Bert Wilson, Hiram Green and Dan Scanlin.
At Gallatin, Mo., Sept. 30, the Greater Norris & Rowe Show celebrated its thirtieth week of the present season.
The Floto Shows turned them away at both performances in Tacoma, Wash., Sept. 25.
The English and American Gazette, published in English in Paris, France, ha started a relief fund for the performers and employes of the McCaddon Show. The Gazette started the ball rolling by subscribing 20 frs.
Edwin T. Ziegler, years ago trainmaster for the John Robinson Shows, is again in harness successfully filling the same position with the Ten Big. He has the trains loaded and under way by 11:30 regularly.
The roster of car No. 2 of the Gollmar Brothers Show is as follows: Wm. Saxton, manager; Ed. Bader, boss billposter; Roy Purcell, special agent; Geo. Levensaur, Harry Anderson, Frank Dixon, Bob Frye and Will Clark.
The Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show drew two big audiences Oct. 5 at Reading, Pa. From Reading the show headed toward the hard coal regions.
Two white cubs were born to one of the lionesses with the Campbell Bros. Circus on Sept. 23. One unfortunately died, but they hope to rear the other. A white cub lion is a decided novelty and much of a curiosity.
E. C. Glover, calliope player and his wife have closed with the John Robinson Shows and gone into Chicago for the winter.
The Long Brothers Show closed its season Sept. 28, at Plain City, Ohio, and went into winter quarters at Circleville.
Mrs. Emma D. Barnum, wife of E. D. Barnum, boss canvasman, died at Union City, Tenn., Oct. 1.
Leonard Hollenberger, trombone player, has joined the Campbell Brothers' Show.
Billboard, October 21, 1905, pp. 14, 15, 20, 21. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Worth Bros. Circus. This is now working overland towards Melbourne and is doing good business all along the line. Chefalo met with a nasty accident at Forbes the other evening in looping the loop that nearly cost him his life. The trap did not work at the right time - result, he got some nasty cuts also an abrasion on the legs. E. J. Kilpatrick desires remembrance to friends.
Marriage. Frank Longbotham, treasurer of Hargreave's Shows to Miss Mabel Hall, elephant trainer, at Chester, Pa., Oct. 3.
Marriage. Billy Mann, well-known circus man of Chicago, Ill., and Miss Rose Bluntach of Rochester, N. Y., were married at Jeffersonville, Ind., Oct. 8.
One year ago this month W. H. Gardner retired as general agent of the Barnum & Bailey Shows, a position he had occupied from the formation of that show in 1881, with the exception of a few years when in the interest of Mr. Bailey he occupied the same position with the Buffalo Bill and the Forepaugh-Sells Shows. When Mr. Gardener relinquished his position last year, it was with the avowed intention of retiring for all time, but one year of idleness was sufficient for him. His restlessness and energetic spirit longed for the strenuous life again, and when he was approached by mr. Frank Tate, secretary and treasurer of the Carl Hagenbeck Trained Animal Show, with a proposition to buy an interest in the Hagenbeck organization and become its advance manager, Mr. Gardner, after seeing the show and a careful consideration, decided to accept the proposition and identify himself with it. The Hagenbeck Show is now safely in winter quarters in Cincinnati. It is to be greatly enlarged for next season. A fine circus is to be added, its menagerie enlarged, its parade made one of the best in the country and a number of novelties added.
Frank Longbotham, treasurer of the Hargreaves Shows, and Miss Mabel Hall, trainer of Jumbo II, and a daughter of Col. Geo. W. Hall, were married in Chester, Pa., the winter quarters of the Hargreaves Show, Tuesday, Oct. 3. The people connected with the winter quarters and a large number of friends united in giving the newly married couple a royal sendoff. They were accompanied to the train by a band and a large number of friends and well wishers. Mr. and Mrs. Longbotham left immediately for Col. Hall's farm in Wisconsin.
George W. Rollins, of the Rollins Trained Wild Animal Show, writes as follows: "I am now in my ninth month of uninterruped prosperity. I carry a company of twenty-three artists, mechanics and laborers, and a good band of seven musicians. We are booked south, and will probably not close all winter. Here is my roster: Dr. John Oyler, representative; Lieut. Wm. Meade, principal orator; Capt. Edw. Wilson, principal trainer, and Prif. Edw. Tabor, leader of the band. The animal acts are done by Capt. Wilson, Lieut. Meade, Iona, Senorita Cisernoss, Belle Utter, Albert Locker and Walter Rosenburg."
Notes from the Colorado Grant Show. The show has been on the road eighty weeks to good business. We close the last of October and go into winter quarters at Christopher, Ill. John Teets and wife in an aerial and impalement act joined Oct. 2. Arthur Tappin, comedian, joined the same day. Floyd Trover, assistant manager, made a flying trip to Niagara Falls, N. Y., and on his return to the shows spent a week at Beaver Falls, Pa.
The John Robinson Shows gave three performances at Sullivan, Ill., Friday, Oct. 6, and took in $22,360. The first performance was given immediately following the parade in the morning, and the other two on regular schedule time.
Notes from the Orton Brothers Shows. We have just run into winter quarters at Des Moines, Ia., after a successful season of eighteen weeks, the last two of which were hampered by sickness in the family. We had only one accident during the season. That was at Desota, Ia., where the seats fell injuring no one. The Ortons are remodeling their residence here in Des Moines. They are also going to build a ring barn adjoining it.
Col. Frederick T. Cummins' Wild West and Indian Congress closed a successful season at White City, Chicago, Sunday 15. It is reported that the Cummins' shows will go on rails next season.
Arthur Webb closed, Oct. 2, at Grundy Centre as leader of the band with the Cook & Barrett Circus, and went to his home at Waterloo, Ia. His brother, Howard, will have charge of the band until the season closes. Arthur will winter in Waterloo, where he will have charge of the Beloit Band.
After an illness of ten weeks in Providence, R. I., suffering from appendicitis, Will H. Mead has joined the European Wild Animal Show. He is making good with his troupe of trained dogs. He also reports that the wild west is enjoying a prosperous season.
Chas. Lafayette, the rube and character artist, recently closed with Col. Uden's Show, and went into Chicago where he married a belle of Oshkosh, Wis. Mrs. Lafayette will accompany her husband with winter upon his southern tour.
Nola Satterfield, the dare devil lady rider, is en route with the Ringling Brothers Show. Miss Satterfield rides in the races and does a menage act.
General agent E. L. Brennan closed with the Cook & Barrett Show last week, and is making his headquarters at the Windsor Clifton, Chicago. The Cook & Barrett Show has been doing nicely in northern Iowa, and are now headed for Missouri.
May Morris has closed her short but successful and pleasant season with the Wm. P. Hall Shows, and is booked to open on the Keith Circuit in Boston, Oct. 30.
Mlle. L. Cotera, dancer with the Hagenbeck Show this season, has gone to her home in Chicago to rest up for her vaudeville season.
The Wallace Show will close at Williamson, W. Va., Oct. 23.
Billboard, October 28, 1905, pp. 10, 20, 21. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The Reno & Alvord's Circus closed its season at Crescent City, Ill., Monday, Oct. 16, and went into winter quarters at Kankakee, Ill., Reno & Alvord will take out a vaudeville company the first of next month.
John D. Tippett, late associate manager of privileges with the Hagenbeck shows, and well known to showmen, is under the care of physicians at the Western Hospital, Springfield, Ill., as a result of serious injuries he received in a wreck of the Royal Blue limited of the Baltimore & Ohio railway, Saturday evening, Oct. 14. The wreck occurred one mile east of Springfield, near the old west mine. One person was killed and several injured, among them Mr. Tippett, whose back and spine were affected. Late advices indicate that Mr. Tippett is in a serious condition. A corps of physicians held a consultation last Wednesday but we have been unable to ascertain late developements. Mrs. Tippett is attending her husband. Mr. Tippett is one of the best known men in the amusement business. He was prominently identified with the Pike at the World's Fair, St. Louis,a nd at the Pan American Exposition, Buffalo. For a number of years he was associated with the Buffalo Bill show.
"Punch" Wheeler, press agent for the Floto Shows, writes from Nampa, Ida., under the date of Oct. 14, as follows: "The Floto Shows close the season here today after thirty weeks out. It is the longest mileage tour ever made by any circus at any time. We made two trips to the coast, and went over all the mountains in the west.
M. J. Dowling, business representative of the Sells & Downs Show, is in Nashville, Tenn., completing arrangements begun by traffic manager Potter to have the shows winter in that southern city. Mr. Dowling announces that arrangements have been completed with the exception of a few minor details.
Saturday night, Oct. 14, the John Robinson Ten Big Shows, sixty cars strong, crossed the Mississippi and entered its annual southern tour after seven weeks in the state of Illinois, awaiting developments of the yellow fever situation. At Sullivan, Ill., there was such a crowd in the town that three exhibitions were given. The actual paid admissions at Sullivan were $22,361. There was one bad stand in the state, Rantoul. Billy Sunday, the evangelist, had converted everybody, and Rantoul citizens were afraid to take even a peep at the tricky mule or a red wagon. The only trouble experienced was at Abingdon, a college town. College students and "toughs" about eight years ago had whipped one of the big shows. They tried the trick on us, and were badly whipped, including the police force. The women of Abingdon applauded and complimented the fighting showmen. Gil Robinson, who is abroad, has cabled the engagement of perhaps the greatest act ever brought to this country. It is an automobile ride down a steep incline. The automobile and its daring rider leaping a chasm of 50 feet, and in making the leap turning a complete somersault. This will be a big feature act for next season.
The Robinson Show, during its eighty-three years of existence, has introduced all the essential ideas now in vogue in the circus world. They have been first in everything. Their latest is a large chart, on which is painted the reserved seats. Purchasers of reserved seats can pick their seats from the chart as they enter the circus tent. Another splendid new idea is doing away with both earth and wooden rings. We now employ for rings a circle of heavy duck canvas, in red, white and blue colors. The first idea was originated by Edward Van Shalk. The new ring is the invention of Frederick Fisher, our equestrian director, and William Curtis, our boss canvasman. . . . The loading and unloading of our show train is down to a science. The other night Edwin Ziegler, our trainmaster, loaded the cage train of twenty cars in twenty-two minutes. He has the fifty cars loaded every night by 11:30 o'clock. We are very religious. Rev. William Sheak holds service every Sunday, and lectures on the wild animals every day. Prof. Park Prentiss, leader of our band, is the son of a minister. Rose Maretta, who withher two daughters, are star performes, is a minister's widow.
The Lucky Bill Shows. During our two day's engagement, Oct. 9-10, at Cherryvale, Kan., our manager, Lucky Bill, together with Sid. DeClairville, aerial artist, and W. M. Newton Jr., picture machine operator, were made members of the E. O. E. Aerie, No. 1137. This brings the number of Eagles with the Lucky Bill Show up to eight. Other members of the company are Mr. and Mrs. Granger, musical comedians; Mr. and Mrs. Whitlark, contortionists; W. M. Newton, Roman hippodrome and hurdle rider; the Muras Deseygne, aerialists, and May Dunlap, musical director. Saturday, Oct. 28, is our closing date, after which we will go into our winter quarters in Quenemo, Kan.
Ben L. Beyer, formerly of the Walter L. Main Show, writes that he has had a successful season with the Eiler Rip Van Winkle Co. under canvas, doing his comedy bicycle and unicycle act. . . .
Our correspondent at Gallatin, Tex. writes: "Gentry Brothers exhibited here Oct. 14 to excellent business. This is the fifth town of their supplementary season of seven weeks in the south. Their tour closes at Dalton, Ga., Nov. 18. W. Weaver made a killing with his Dog and Monkey Theatre. W. W. Gentry is general maanger; L. B. Williams, press agent; W. E. Wells, ring master and equestrian director; J. B. Austin is general agent; E. E. Daley, press agent, and H. L. Massie is doing the local contracting."
Frank and Albright, known in private life as Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Blasser, closed with the Gollmar Brothers Show, Oct. 12, at Moweaqua, Ill., and jumped to their home in Lawrence, Mass., where Mr. Blasser's mother is seriously ill. Their address is 164 Willow street, Lawrence, Mass.
Major DeForrest DeCleo, of the Great American Shows, has gone to his home for a three weeks' rest. He will shortly return to North Manchester, to tak a winter's engagement with the American Mid-winter Circus.
The G. P. Kemp Wild West arrived at its winter quarters in Lamar, Mo., Saturday, Oct. 14, after a successful season in the eastern and central states.
Otto Weaver and wife of the Gollmar Brothers Show are in Decatur, Ill., visiting Mr. Weaver's parents.
The Great Beno, slack wire artist, has returned to the Van Amburg Show, after an absence of three weeks.
Billboard, November 4, 1905, p. 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
While en route from St. Louis to Perryville, Mo., with the Am. Altherr Dog and Pony Circus, on board the steamer Geradeau, Woodie Cook, principal clown, instituted a new order - the Gobble, Gobble, Gobbles - and initiated into it the following showmen: Wm. Altherr, proprietor; Fred Lightner, treasurer; John Morgan, equestrian director; Howard F. Baldwin, announcer; Peter Peterson, props; Harry Dickinson, trainer; James O'Neill, barrel jumper; Mrs. O'Neill, traps; Tony Weismantle, clown; Theo. Miley, clown; Happy Cameron, clown; Lulu, Nettie and Chas. Leurdecker, aerialists; Trendall Brothers, aeronauts; Toots Jones, McKenna Brothers, comedians, and Joe Bishop.
The Rolla Fox Show. The show is stored away in Escanaba, Mich., for the winter. We are planning to open early in May, next season. Mr. Fox has purchased the entire show, and is going to make many improvements on it. Dan Murdock has signed for next season to do his contoriton and acrobatic act; F. A. Carey to do his comedy juggling and hoop rolling act, and R. Ben Fox to feature his troupe of trained dogs.
Nelson T. Downs, one of the proprietors of the Sells & Downs Show, is negotiating for a $20,000 residence in Nashville, Tenn., where the show will winter this season. It is understood that Mr. Downs has planned to move his family to the southern city and establish it as the permanent winter quarters of the show. The Sells & Downs Show closes its season Nov. 20, and will arrive in Nashville about five days later.
The Carl Hagenbeck Circus and Show Company of Cincinnati, was incorporated Tuesday, Oct. 24, by C. Lee Williams, W. Austin Goodman, Frank R. Tate, John H. Havlin and Lorenz Hagenbeck. The company is capitalized at $500,000, two-sevenths of which is seven per cent preferred.
Frank A. Robbins' Show. We closed one of the best tenting seasons Mr. Robbins has ever had at Dover, Del., Oct. 19, and ran into Jersey City for the winter. We had a little trouble after arriving in the Jersey yards of the Pennsylvania road in the shape of a wreck that damaged two flat cars. Despite this, we had the entire show, consisting of sixteen cars, stowed away by Oct. 20. Things at winter quarters will move lively this winter. Chas. Robbins will have charge with Frank A. Jr. as an able assistant. Mr. Robbins has his eyes on a new advertising car to take the palce of No. 1. Among the executive staff for the past season who have re-enaged are John L. Glennan, treasurer, and Chas. W. Sprague, private secretary. Mr. Glennan has gone to Winchester, N. H., to buy horses and Mr. Sprague will establish offices near winter quarters. J. C. Banks, who has many friends with the white tents, is visiting friends in New York. W. M. Goodwin has been re-engaged as man ahead on No. 1. Dave Haley, contracting agent, will be back at his old post by April 1. C. W. Coleman, who had car No. 2, is now manager of the opera house at Crisfield, Md. Lillian May Coleman, mailing clerk, has gone to Crisfield to join her husband. We will all be glad to see Mr. Coleman back on car No. 2 next spring. Fred Beckman has joined Dockstader's Minstrels.
After winding up a successful season at Chicago's amusement resort, White City, where his Wild West and Indian Congress were among the leading attractions playing to over three hundred thousand people during the summer, Col. Frederick T. Cummins has decided to make his future residence in the Windy City. He last week purchased a three story flat building at 3825 Indiana avenue, Chicago. Col. Cummins has not announced his plans for 1906, but it is generally understood that he will go on rails, in the event he does not arrange with a leading amusement resort to produce his Wild West and Indian Congress.
Claude Meredith, who retired from the circus business in 1901, was found dead in his bed at his home in Youngstown, Ohio, Oct. 19, having died of rheumatism of the heart. Mr. Meredith was well known to the circus world, having traveled with the Hulburd, Hulburd & Hunting, Tony White, Walter L. Main and the Wm. H. Harris Nickel Plate shows. His brother, Albert, of the Meredith Trio, was notified of his death and immediately went to Youngstown. The remains were taken to Wheeling, W. Va., for interment Oct. 21. Interment was made in Peninsular Cemetery.
Jesse Teats, solo clarinet, en route to his home a Vevay, Ind., after finishing a season with the LaMont Brothers Show, paid The Billboard a call the first of last week. He reports that the show, which closed Oct. 20, at Greenville, Ill., has been prosperous this season.
Robert, better known as "Boy" Frey with the advance car No. 1 of the Gentry Brothers Shows, died very suddenly of heart failure at Washington, Ga., one day last week. He was a member of local No. 1 of Chicago, and had been with the Ringling Show eight or nine years before joining the Gentry Show this season. The K. of P.'s of Washington took the remains in charge and shipped them to Chicago.
Seventy-six of Walter L. Main's trained horses used by the Hagenbeck Shows this season were shipped from Cincinnati to their home in Geneva, Ohio, last week, in charge of C. H. Scott.
J. Augustus Jones, owner of the Cole & Rogers Railroad Shows, now playing the south, has sent a car of horses and ponies to his farm in Chandlers Valley, Warren Co., Pa. The show was formerly a six car affair, but Mr. Jones is now using two cars, having sent part of the show to Verona, Pa., for the winter.
Col. W. J. Uden, proprietor of the Uden Wild West and Roman Hippodrome, writes that his seventeen weeks' season was a financial success. The Colonel is now safely located at his winter home in Flanagan, Ill., where he will rest and prepare his organization for next season.
Chas. Bolus, after a season as boss canvasman with the Hagenbeck Shows, has returned to his home in Canton, Ohio. This was his fifty-first season under canvas.
Wederman, the trick and fancy rider with the Uden Wild West this season, is visiting his people in Kansas City. This was Wederman's sixth season with Col. Uden.
The Jenniers, Geo. and Jessie, are resting in St. Louis, Mo., after a lively season with the Cook-Barrett Show, which closed at Harrisonville Mo., Oct. 14.
Paul Gore, late of the Floto Shows, has the band with the MacDonald Stock Co., this season. Mrs. Gore will spend the winter at her home in Florida.
George Dexter, late lecturer with the Carl Hagenbeck Animal Show, is now engaged in a similar capacity at Huber's Museum, New York City.
Mat Smith, the rope spinner, joined the Cosmopolitan Amusement Co., after the closing of the Uden Wild West.
Chas. B. (Slim) Moore, head billposter with the John Sparks Show, is resting at Chambersburg, Pa.
Billboard, November 23, 1905, pp. 10, 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Notes from the Barlow Shows. We are now packed away for the winter. We have six Shetland and four Mexican ponies, fifteen dogs and four goats. Frank Decker, who was taken to the Akron city hospital, Aug. 27, has had a very severe siege of typhoid fever. He will sonn be able to come to winter quarters where he will remain for the winter. Next season is our ninth on the road.
Since the closing of the Wm. P. Hall Shows for the season, Phil Ellsworth has gone to his home in Nobbo, Ind., where he has bought out the principal store, and is also erecting a grist mill.
Mackay's European Circus will begin its sixth annual tour May 26, at Detroit, Mich., and manager Mackay is advertising for good circus and vaudeville people The policy of this organization will continue as in the past, making a special of high-class foreign arenic celebrities and the biggest modern sensations.
Because of a washout on the Frisco Railroad between Afton, I. T., and Neosho, Mo., the John Robinson Shows were forced to take a roundabout way to reach Anita, I. T., making the distance about a hundred miles farther. The big show was given with the sidewalls minus the big top.
Floyd Trover closed with the Colorado Grant Show, Oct. 14, and joined the Cook Brothers Show two days later at Crossville, Ill., to take the advance for the winter.
Kitty Kruger, the equestrienne, who was featured with the Gollmar Brothers Show this season, will spend the winter at her home in Topeka, Kan., with her husband, George Atkinson, the singing and talking comedian.
Ed. E. Daley, the press agent for the Gentry Shows, will spend the winter as business manager for the Black Crook Co., which he joined Nov. 16. Mr. Daley will be with the Gentrys again next season.
Thomas During, trainmaster with the Wallace Shows, has returned to his home in Danville, Ill., where he has taken a position as assistant yard master for the Frisco System.
Harry Clark, principal and advertising clown with the Sells & Downs Show, reports that he is meeting with success, and the show is doing a good business in the south.
Frank P. Maynard, the eccentric clown, better known as "Shorty," writes that he closed a successful season with the Great Wallace Shows on Oct. 23.
The two white lion cubs recently born in the menagerie of the Campbell Brothers Show, are dead. Campbell Brothers report good business in Texas.
Frank B. Miller and wife are touring Mexico with the Greater Norris & Rowe Shows.
Two cars of the fourth section of the John Robinson Show train were ditched near Norphlet, Ark., Nov. 11, and a number of cages were wrecked. The lioness Sultana and a number of large snakes escaped into the woods, but by skillful maneuvering the lioness was recaptured. It is said that the elephant, Tip, leaped to the ground and saved his life. The accident happened as the train was making a sharp curve and was consequently going very slowly. It is reported that the loss will be several thousand dollars.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Horace Edward Tudor, of the Buffalo Bill Wild West, a son, Oct. 22, at Beziers, France.
Married. Sid DeClairville, aerialist, and Miss Olive Jones, singer, both with the Lucky Bill Show this season, Oct. 28, at Quenemo, Kan.
Charles N. Thompson has just been engaged as general manager of the Carl Hagenbeck Shows and George Aiken as railroad contractor. The consummation of the engagement of these two able showmen constitutes a coup de circus. C. N. Thompson is one of the best known circus managers in the business, while George Aiken has been with the Robinson Show in the same capacity for which he has been engaged for the Hagenbeck aggregation for forty years, with the exception of three years he spent with the Barnum and Bailey and Forepaugh-Sells shows. With W. H. Gardner as advance manager and Mr. Thompson back with the show, the success of that organization will be emblazoned in large bold type. . . .
Campbell Brothers' Circus train was wrecked near Temple, Tex., Nov. 7, and a large number of animals were either killed or escaped. The accident occurred on a down grade. The train broke in two, and the sections ran together. Cages were broken, and many animals escaped into the woods. Posses of men were organized for their recapture, and something like a panic struck the rural districts.
Ed. E. Daley, press agent for the Gentry Brothers (eastern) Show, writes as follows: "When the band plays Home, Sweet Home, and equestrian director Wells gives the signal for the finale of the main performance, Monday night, Nov. 13, at West Point, Ga., the season of the eastern show will be over. The eastern show this season has been under the direction of H. B. Gentry, while W. W. Gentry, with the assistance of F. H. Gentry, has had charge of the western company. Much credit is due to the heads of the various department, and special credit is due the business and advance staffs. J. D. Newman and J. B. Austin, general agents, have long been identified with the Gentry Brothers. C. W. Finney has been the able adjuster with the western show and L. B. Williams attended to the press. Another department deserving mention is the contracting department in charge of H. L. (Buck) Massie, who succeeded in playing the big city of tents on such locations as the public square or in church yards, when they were large enough. As usual, the shows go into winter quarters at Bloomington, Ind. . . ."
The Pubillone Show is meeting with the best of success in Cuba this season. It opened an engagement at the National Grand Opera House, Havana, Nov. 3, to the capacity of the big house, which seats 5,000 people The following Sunday the matinee played to a crowded house. Antonio Pubillones says it is the best season he has ever known. The performance opens with the Trillert Brothers, French artists in a clever bit of sketch work. Others on the bill are McGuire's educated horse, Mascott; Senorita Ursisina, in trapeze work; Mr. Reed, comic equestrian; Bunth and Rund, Spanish grotesques; the Levis Family, slack wire artists; Pito and Chocolate, clowns; and the Jordan Family. The animals carried with the show were exhibited in the patio.
General contracting agent, George H. Heiser, of the Forepaugh & Sells Bros. Shows, after closing a successful season, spent a few days in Chicago last week, on his way to his home city, Dayton, Ohio.
Theodore H. Bauer, press agent for the Hagenbeck Shows this past season, is now business manager for The County Chairman Co.
The Forepaugh & Sells Show will close Nov. 23, at Fordyce, Ark.
Billboard, December 2, 1905, pp. 3, 5, 6, 7, 30, 36. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
William Sells, formerly of the Sells & Downs Shows, will next season be the director general of the Floto Shows. Mr. Sells has taken an interest in the Circus Beautiful and will bring into it his long and successful experience, which extends from his boyhood days until last season. The successor to C. N. Thompson had for several weeks been a matter of much discussion among showmen. As it was hinted that Mr. Sells would establish a circus of his own, his name was never mentioned as a probable manager for the Floto organization, though his capacity and fitness for such a position would never have been questioned.
L. C. Zelleno, well known among vaudeville and circus people as Zelleno, the Mystic, has delighted thousands of people in this country and the Hawaiian Islands with his prestidigitation acts. At present he is en route with the John Robinson Shows, doing magic and clowning. Mr. Zelleno is literary, and finds time between performances to write for The Billboard and other papers. In 1903 he published the route book for the Pan-American Shows. Mr. Zelleno is a member of the Society of American Magicians and of the Honolulu aerie of Eagles.
The circus as an institution in England is dead. The sale of the Sanger Show, by auction, last week was the burial. The hippodromes which have sprung up all over England, where a combination of music hall and circus performance is given, have been too much for the traveling or common canvas circus. "A glamor fades from the earth." It makes one wonder where the next generation of English music hall artists are coming from. We know, of course, that the comic singers will continue to come from the sands of the seashore, and the sketch artists from the theatres, but the others, who furnish the real variety of the program, where are they to come from? I am afraid they will have to be imported, for I see no school that could possibly replace the English circus as it flourished up to a few years ago and existed up to last week. If I were not afraid of slighting some one by omission, I could cite over one hundred prominent English music hall turns who learned their business with Sanger. I see them on nearly every music hall bill, not only in England, but in America, at Keith's New York this very week, at Miner's Bowery, where one is the principal attraction with a Dinkin's Show, and at the Orpheum in 'Frisco, to say nothing of the continent, where nearly every circus is made merry by an English clown. Then there is the great Jee Family, which in all its branches is the largest professional family on earth, every one of the playing today, and nearly every one were at one time or another with "Lord" George. [Under "London Rialto," author C. C. Bartram, representative.]
The Floto Shows are contracting and closing up with people for their advance and to appear in the performance, sparing neither money nor inducements to secure the best there is in the circus world for the coming season. Physicall, the Floto Shows will next year be enlarged to thirty-two cars, and will show under a 150 foot round top. A feature in the new equipement will be regulation reserved seats, reserved chairs and boxes, foot rests for the blues, and each one will be numbered and checked, so that the patron may always depend upon finding his seat empty when he wishes to occupy it.
Charles Spencer, a eight-horse driver with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, died at Castre, France, Oct. 17, from injuries received several weeks previous. Mr. Spencer was about thirty years of age and a native of Columbus, Ohio.
Sig Sautelle and the Welsh Brothers have dissolved partnerships, and agreed upon an amicable settlement. Each will have a show of his own next season. Sig. Sautelle will organize in Homer, N. Y., this winter, and John Welsh is organizing in Lancaster, Pa. Mr. Welsh will have an entirely new unit.
It is reported that Footit, the famous English clown, who has for many years delighted all France, is going insane at Lisbon, where he was recently giving a series of representations. For more than ten years Footit was connected with the Noveau Cirque in Paris.
The Sells & Downs Shows closed the season at Sylacauga, Ala., Nov. 22, and went directly to Birmingham, Ala., where they will winter and arrange for next season. The show is to be greatly enlarged, and will open early in April.
The Forepaugh-Sells Shows closed at Stuttgart, Ark., Nov. 23, all the men in advance being paid at Pine Bluff, Ark.
Chas. H. Tinney, who handled the music department of the Sells & Downs Show this season, has been re-engaged for the same position next season. He closed with the show Nov. 22, in Sylacauga, Ala., and went to Hot Springs, Ark., for the winter.
Bert Davis and wife have signed with the Carl Hagenbeck Show for next season. Mr. Davis has a large farm near Hastings, Okla., on which he raised twenty-eight bales of cotton this season.
Albert Henry, one of the clowns with John Robinson's Ten Big Shows, was recently called to his home in Warren, Pa., owing to the serious illness of his mother. Her sickness ended in death.
Mrs. Masie Lano, wife of the legal adjuster with the Orton Shows, is very ill at the hospital in St. Joseph, Mo. Mrs. Lano features her trained dogs and monks in the concert.
W. W. Parmlee, of the Wallace Shows, is visiting his parents in Warren, Pa. He has been with the Wallace people for a number of years.
Ernest Albright, calliope player with the Gentry Brothers (No. 1) Show this season, will winter at his home in Mt. Vernon, Ind.
Billboard, December 9, 1905, pp. 5, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Australia. North Brothers' Circus opened in Melbourne, Oct. 28 to capacity. Chefalo, the death-defying demon in Kilpaterick's Looping the Loop being the headliner of this company. The Reyes Trio, Willian McCloud are all the American artists that I can recall at the present time.
Eroni Brothers' Circus finds itself in Melbourne once more, after a long absence, and his housed in the large permanent buildings of the Messrs. Fitzgerald Bros., Messrs. Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus being at the present time in the Philippine Islands (Manila), but will be back in Australia at Christmas time. . . .
Frank A. Gardner, the well-known circus man who opened the season as equestrian director of the Van Amburg Shows, but was forced to go to Kessler Hospital, Huntington, W. Va., shortly afterward, died in that institution Oct. 9, according to a communication just received from A. K. Kessler, M.D. Mr. Gardner was about fifty-eight years of age, and had been connected with all the big shows. He once managed his own show in South America, and at one time was known as the world's champion double somersault leaper. Mr. Gardner was buried in Spring Hill Cemetery. . . .
Robinson notes. Al. Williams, trombone artist, has received several offers from New York people, but he thinks he will winter in Cincinnati. A freight train approaching from the rear frightened the elephants in the street parade at Morrilton, Ark., and caused a stampede. Ethel Schroder, who was riding in a howdah, jumped and escaped injury. Head keeper Harry Reed is proud of the baby Oryx antelope that was born Oct. 2. Chas. Smith, one of the musicians of former days, visited us at Anna, Ill. Everybody was glad to see "Smithy." Mrs. W. H. Sheak, of Peru, Ind., recently spent a few days with the show visiting her husband. Mrs. Sheak was accompanied by her little son, Meyer. The entire company was grieved that illness compelled Ada Lorton to close at Belleville, Ill. Recent letters announce that she has recovered her health and has accepted a position in St. Louis. In the El Dorado (Ark.) wreck the two calliopes and six of the cages were precipitated down a steep embankment, and four cages were so badly damaged that they cannot be used again. Fortunately none of the animals were killed or escaped. The track was cleared and the first section of the show train reached El Dorado about ten o'clock. The parade and two performances were given as usual, though the parade and matinee were a little late.
J. T. McCaddon will not have to stand trial for alleged violation of the French bankruptcy law. The English Court has refused the request of the French Government for extradition, and Mr. McCaddon has sailed for America.
Henry W. Ziegler, the prominent theatre manager of Cincinnati, denies the report of his having purchased stock in the Hagenbeck Show.
Notes from the side show of the Texas Bill Wild West. We have just closed our thirtieth week, during which time our roster has not changed. We have played twelve states and two territories. We expect to be out all winter. We have at present twenty-six people among whom are William C. Lane, general manager; W. H. Godfrey, adjuster; J. D. Bryant, boss canvasman, with five assistants; D. T. Bartlett's Bagdad Girls; Mme. Ada, snake enchantress; Zenobia Williams, Cuban warbler; Prof. Ajax, Mexican sword swallower; Signor Mattox, cowboy juggler; Ted Godfrey, fire eater; C. T. Wolfe, magician; Joe (Pie) Wallace, dog eater; Exemo Scriggins, Prof. Peg. Prince, and his wooden headed family; Prof. Shelton's concert band; Mrs. W. C. Lane, palmist; Ray Maharahaha and Frank Cool, ticket sellers, and Ink Davis, doorman.
Notes from advance car No. 1 of the Van Amburg Shows. We are managed by Don McKenzie, R. M. Dent has charge of paper with R. R. Jones as assistant. John Burget, Ollie Robinson, Jack Flynn, Burt Carleton and E. W. Harris are also with the car. E. C. Steele and "Deacon" Thurman are one week back doing banner and lithograph work. We have all been with the show since it opened April 8.
Notes from the Annex of the Van Amburg shows. We now have Sig Cerona and Inez, in an impalement act; Chas Camm, Punch and magic; Norman McLeon, Scotch piper and dancer; Mlle. Rose, snake enchantress; Dot Asall, bag puncher; Three Margaret Sisters, singers and dancers; Mlle. Leah, magnetic wonder; Mad Verona, second sight; Bobo, wild man, and Ben Shelby's band of ten pieces and jubilee singers. Claude Coley makes the openings.
Next season the Great New England Shows, now wintering at New Bedford, Mass., will be enlarged from five to twenty-four wagons, carrying twenty-eight heads of baggage stock, sixteen saddle, ring, race and trick horses, five ponies, a troupe of dogs and a trained steer. Pastimes on the Plains will be the big spectacle that will require almost a hundred performers. The show left a good reputation everywhere it played this season.
Our correspondent at Manning, S. C., writes as follows: "I had the pleasure of witnessing two performances of the Great Van Amburg Shows Nov. 23 and of meeting Chas. Milligan, who has charge of the front door and Lee Howard, the principal clown. The Hines-Kimball Troupe is one of the leading acts."
Word comes from the Otto Foto Show that Fred McMann has been engaged as manager of the excursion car; W. R. Musgat as general agent; Chas. Coleman as special and opposition agent. The Potter Family of ten aerialists have been engaged as a special feature. The show will carry two advance cars, built brand new. Geo. H. Heiser, who will manage the Otto Floto Shows next season, his brother, and Mr. Thompson, of Thompson and Vandeveer, were callers at The Billboard office Nov. 26. Mr. Heiser is the inventor of the patent stake driver used exclusively with the Ringling Brothers' Show for the past two seasons with great success.
John Rouen, of The Rouens, and who was injured some time ago while performing at Montpelier, Vt., with the John Robinson Shows, is critically ill at his home in Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Prince Mungo, who has been with the Sells & Downs Shows six seasons, will spend the winter at the London Dime Museum, Chicago. He has signed with the Sells & Downs Shows again for next season.
It is reported that H. L. Weinacht is negotiating for the apparatus used by Nick Howard in looping the loop in an automobile at Sellsville, Ohio. No one appears to be very anxious about trying the feat.
H. H. Gunning, of the Buffalo Bill Show, sailed from Paris Nov. 25, for New York. Mr. Gunning will spend the winter at his home in Toledo, and in the spring will return to the show in Europe.
C. N. Thompson, general manager of the Hagenbeck Show, last week returned to his New York offices in the Childs Building, after having spent ten days at his home in Florida.
J. L. Mofford, the four, six and eight-horse driver, is spending the winter at Sheridan, Wyo., after a successful season with Lemen Brothers' Show.
The Mollie Bailey Show closes its season Dec. 16 at Spring, Tex.
A. W. McKinney, with the Great Wallace Shows this season, has taken charge of the No. 1 advance car of the M. L. Clark Show.
G. P. Kemp recently visited Chicago for the purpose of securing ten more cars for the Kemp Wild West. He is going to take out a much bigger show next season.
Chas. Davis, steward with the John Robinson Shows for the past four seasons, will have charge of the cook house with the Barnum & Bailey Shows next season.
Manager Krause of the winter quarters of the Pawnee Bill Show is becoming popular with the natives. He is manager of the Canton football team.
Leslie's Porcine Circus, with the Ringling Show this season, will play vaudeville after Jan. 1. They are now in Meridan, Miss., strengthening the act.
Mackay's European Circus will inaugurate its sixth season at Detroit, Mich., May 26. The show next season will have two rings and an elevated stage. Jack Doyle, boss canvasman, will again have charge of the canvas and train with the Mackay European Circus next season.
Wm. Vesta, of the Great Wallace Shows, is visiting his parents in Meriden, Conn. He goes with the Wallace Show again next season.
Walter T. Murphy, having closed the season as contracting agent for the John Robinson Shows, spent a few days in Chicago last week.
George Reis, A. A. Sanders and Harry DeAlvin are at the winter quarters of the Colorado Grant Wild West in Christopher, Ill.
It is announced that W. E. Franklin, J. P. Fagan and Denny Lynch have signed with the Wallace Shows for the season of 1906.
The Millettes, aerialists with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows this season, are spending the winter on their farm near Greenboro, Ga.
C. W. Parker, with the advance of the Sells & Downs Show this season, has gone to his home in Meriden, Conn.
Floyd Bernard writes that he has been re-engaged with the Ringling Shows for next season.
Geo. Vanderslice, of car No. 1 of the Sells & Downs Show, is resting at his home in Charleroi, Pa.
Del and Lulu Fuego have signed again with the Sells & Downs Show for next season.
Hayden and LaLonde have signed with the Hagenbeck Shows for next season. C. Lee Williams of the Hagenbeck Show, is still seriously ill with pneumonia at his home in Cincinnati.
C. N. Thompson will leave shortly for his winter home near Braidenwood, Fla.
Ross McMannory, the old time circus man, is resting at Hot Springs, Ark.
The Triplette, Vic and Maude, joined the Geo. S. Ely Show at Ringgold, Tex.
The John Robinson Show will close the season at Bolivar, Tenn., Dec. 8.
Billboard, December 23, 1905, p. 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
John Rouen, of the Three Rouens, aerialists, who was injured while performing with the John Robinson Show in Vermont on June 24, was operated upon for appendicitis at the St. Joe Hospital, Ft. Wayne, Ind., Thursday, Dec. 7. He is improving nicely.
John D. Carey, who has done press work during the past ten years for some of the largest tented aggregations, and who last season was general press representative for Pawnee Bill's Wild West, has been engaged to pilot The Temptation of Regime. Mr. Carey has been re-engaged for next season by Major Gordon W. Lillie (Pawnee Bill), and even at this early date has placed some special illustrated articles with the newspapers.
W. T. Kennedy, who is under treatment at San Antonio, Tex., will not rejoin the Kennedy Brothers Show this season, but will remain at the health resort all winter. About Jan. 25 the show goes into winter quarters at San Antonio and Mr. Kennedy will devote all his time to putting it in shape for the coming season. Two lions, two zebras and several smaller animals will be added to the show.
The Sells-Floto Show, next season, will be larger and better equipped than ever before. H. H. Tammen has some original ideas with regard to the seating arrangements. There will be no hippodrome track and the spectators will be seated close up to the rings and stage. The feature acts are expected to give better satisfaction from this proximity.
The new winter quarters of the Norris & Rowe Shows at Santa Cruz, Cal., are said to be extensive and complete. It is said that this firm recently bought a controlling interest in an eastern circus, which hereafter will be operated in the Middle West.
H. H. Tammen, proprietor of the Sells-Floto Shows, stopped over in Cincinnati Dec. 16 to purchase some wagons from Bode. Mr. Tammen had been in New York several days, together with William Sells, procuring animals to augment their menagerie.
The Miller Brothers, proprietors of the famous 101 Ranch, at Bliss, Okla., are negotiating with experienced parties who want to take an interest in the 101 Ranch Wild West that will go out again next season.
Three baby Bengal tigers were born in the menagerie of the Sells-Floto Shows at Denver, Col., Thanksgiving Day. The tigress, Agnes, is the mother.
A communication from Ed. Leonard announces that he is in the Charity Hospital, New Orleans, in a very serious condition. He is well known around the Sells & Downs and the Wallace Shows.
Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Lowande, C. D. Clark, Fred Erie, the Julian Children, Louis Spink and Linda Jeal are practicing at the winter quarters of Julian's Amphitheatre at Havana, Ill.
The Zechs, Curvin and Nellie, aerialists, have been re-engaged with Al. F. Wheeler Shows for next season, which will make their third with that aggregation.
W. E. Fuller, who is visiting C. N. Thompson at the latter's winter home in Florida, has been engaged as contracting agent with the Hagenbeck Shows.
Alfredo and Cerita, with the Campbell Brothers Show this past season, are at present resting in Ft. Worth, Tex. They will open in vaudeville next month.
J. D. Miller goes with the Forepaugh-Sells Shows for 1906. He will winter in Cincinnati.
Will Allen, with the Campbell Brothers Shows this past season, has gone to his home, 1001 C. street, Lincoln, Neb., for the winter.
William Sellers, of the Sells & Downs Shows, is spending the winter in advance of the Lewis' Si Plunkard Co.
The Hines-Kimball Troupe of acrobats will be one of the attractions with Shipps Indoor Circus during the winter.
Bill Webb, assistant boss canvasman of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows has opened a cafe at 411 Walnut st., Cincinnati.
E. Ray Swan, of advertising car No. 2 of the Wallace Shows, has gone to Hot Springs, Ark., for his health.
Will Brock and Ed. Bluski, of the Ringling Shows, have gone to Cedar Rapids, Ia., for the winter.
Lewis Snow, of Sells & Downs advance car No. 2, is spending the winter in Terre Haute, Ind.
John Patterson, boss animal man of the Forepaugh Show, is wintering in Grand Rapids.
William Merrick will have the band with the Sells-Floto Shows next season.
Charles Buckskin Clarke is spending the winter at Havana, Ill.
Billboard, December 30, 1905, pp. 10, 16. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Married. Joy Coyle and Miss Stella Weare, both of the John Robinson Shows, Dec. 16, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Notes from the Geo. S. Ely Circus. Since our opening April 22, we have toured and done the biggest business in the history of the show in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Indian Territory, and we are now in Texas, where we will remain all winter. We carry fourteen wagons and forty head of stock. "Blacky" Grace has charge of the canvas with ten assistants. Our roster is as follows: Ely's educated bulls, goats, horses and mules; Vic Triplet, principal singer and talking clown; Mme. Triplet, contortionist and slack wire artist; Wm. Mitchell, comedian; Scott Ruth, clown and trapeze performer, and Wm. Hurly, bandmaster.
A communication comes from Geneva, Ohio, to the effect that the Walter L. Main winter quarters at that place have been leased for the Cummins' Wild West, though Col. Frederick T. Cummins will remain at this home, 3825 Indiana ave., Chicago, till near time for the opening of the spring season. The letter also dwells upon the fact that while the show has been a feature of such expositions as those held at Omaha, Buffalo, Madison Square Garden, New York, the World's Fair at St. Louis and the White City at Chicago, it has never been on the road traveling as wild west and circuses usually do.
I. S. Wolfing, whose trained stallions and dogs here with the Ringling Shows this season, has left the hospital at Charleston, S. C., after many weeks' illness with typhoid and malaria fever. He is now at 333 W. 21st street, New York City. His lady rider, Mlle. de Montmorcecy opened last week as a feature at the Amphion Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Chas. Kinnebrew, with the Robinson Show this past season, is spending the winter with Eiler's Rip Van Winkle Co. He writes that both he and his wife, Leonie Kinnebrew, who was with Sells & Downs Show this year, have signed with the Ten Big for next season.
Lew Howard, having closed with the Van Amburg Shows, was a Billboard caller Dec. 21. He reports the show will winter in Atlanta, Ga., this season.
1906
Billboard, January 6, 1906, p. 10. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed. Page(s) with circus news missing.
Married. Chas. Orland Knox, of the Uden Wild West, and Miss Goldie Uden, daughter of the showman, recently.
Married. A. R. Wheeler and Leah DeVall, both of the Van Amburg Show, Dec. 20, in Atlantic City.
Married. Michael Fride, contortionist,, and Miss Grace Bonney, bag-piper with C. A. Bonney's Scotch Band, Dec. 20, at Sloan, N. Y.
Billboard, January 27, 1906, pp. 10, 16, 17. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Byron Tufts, age 42, a driver with the Buffalo Bill Wild West, died at the hospital de la Conception, Marseille, France, Dec. 23, of a complication of diseases. Mr. Tuft's home was in Boston.
J. E. McCoy, well known to circus and fair people, died suddenly at his home in Birmington, Ala., lat week of heart trouble. Mr. McCoy was a partner in the McCoy & Shannon Great Southern Shows, and for ten years had been operating a shooting gallery in Birmingham.
John Conroy, train master with the Gollmar Brothers' Show the past three seasons, was killed at Baraboo, Wis., Jan. 12, while acting as an extra breakman. He was run over by an engine enveloped in steam and both his legs were cut off. Mr. Conroy was a popular young man of good habits. He was buried under the auspices of the Eagles.
The Miles Orton Show was destroyed by fire Sunday morning, Jan. 14, at the Seaboard depot in Tallahassee, Fla. The show gave two performances in that city Saturday, and after the last performance the property was loaded on the cars for shipment. The origin of the fire is unknown, but about three o'clock in the morning the blaze started in a car containing the ponies. Before the animals could be gotten out, they were suffocated. It is reported that one of the attendants was severely injured in attempting to rescue the animals.
The Sells-Downs sale came off at Birmingham, Ala., promptly as scheduled, Tuesday, Jan. 16. It was the firm intention of Mr. Downs to sell the show piecemeal, but he yielded at the last moment to the earnest entreaties of his associates and decided of offer the show as a whole. The offer was bona fide. Mr. Downs was really anxious to retire and engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Toronto. Had he succeeded in getting a fair bid for the entire outfit, as a going concern, he would have let it go. As no offer was forthcoming he had to instruct a friend to bid it in. Prominent among the showmen present were H. S. Rowe, Walter Main, B. E. Wallace, Frank Tate, Arch Donaldson, C. Lee Williams, Jerry Mugavin, Ike Strebig, M. L. Clark, Ernest Haag, Geo. Sun, Pete Sun, John Durham, Martin Downs, Frank A. Robbins, Charles Thompson, Will Rydon, Al. Campbell and wife, J. Augustus Jones and Walter Shannon.
Charles Cohan, who had a candy stand with the Wm. P. Hall show last season, and who was charged with a murder which took place in a general melee at Bloomfield, Ia., on the day the Hall Show played that city, was acquitted at his recent trial. In writing of the matter, Al. J. Gillingham, says: "The fight was started by some drunken negroes and a man was shot. Cohan was accused and lodged in jail. Everyone knew he was innocent, but the ruralites said he ought to hang because he was a showman. The state retained special counsel in the person of H. C. Taylor, one of the most prominent lawyers of the state. Cohan was defended by Payne & Lowers. The trial lasted ten days and the jury was out twenty-four hours. Cohan's attorney spared neither trouble nor expense in securing evidence for their client and they deserve much praise for the manner in which they conducted the defense."
John A. Forepaugh, an elder brother of the founder of the Adam Forepaugh Show, and himself a showman for many years, died at his home at 1919 Glenwood avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 13, of cancer of the stomach. Though practically unknown to the present generation of showmen because of his retirement over a decade ago, Mr. Forepaugh is will remembered by the older members of the profession as being an honest man who did much to place the circus upon a high plane. Mr. Forepaugh was 75 years of age at the time of his death. The last ten years of his life were saddened by a total loss of his eyesight. Mr. Forepaugh began his circus career in 1866. He was interested in the managerial, and in most cases in a financial capacity, with the following enterprises: Adam Forepaugh Show, Dan Rice Show, Forepaugh-Gardner Show, Springer, Roston-Henderson Show, Forepaugh-Samwells Show, Montgomery Queen Show, Pullman-Mayberrg-Henderson Show, Forepaugh Winter Circus at Tenth and Callowhill streets, and the Forepaugh Theatre at Philadelphia. The funeral services were held from the late residence, Jan. 17, and the remains were interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery. A wife, two daughters, two brothers, nineteen grandchildren, and a nephew survive him. Pearl and Mannie, grand daughters, and George M., a nephew, are in the circus business.
From the Sells-Floto Show. Exciting were the scenes about the winter quarters Jan. 15 when a big African lion escaped while being transferred from one cage to another. Johnny Carroll claims the record for a hundred yard dash when he saw the brute coming toward him. Another carload of draft horses arrived 18 from Iowa. This makes over one hundred head now with the show. Kitty Kruger arrived recently, and is practicing hard daily in the big ring barn. A somersault will be one of her features the coming season. The Dio Trio of champion riders will sail from Paris, France, Feb. 1, coming direct to Denver. This act was secured through Thompson & Dundy for the Sells-Floto people. In addition to the five dens and two tableaus being built by Bode of Cincinnati, five new dens are now nearing completion in Denver. There will be 27 dens in the parade this year.
W. T. Kennedy, of the Kennedy Brothers Show, who has been under treatment for stomach trouble at the hospital at San Antonio, Tex., for the past eight weeks, is improving. The Kennedy Brothers Show closed a very successful season Jan. 18, and went into winter quarters on W. Commerce street, San Antonio.
A communication from Geo. L. Miller, of 101 Ranch, near Bliss, Okla., denies the report that the Miller Brothers will put out a wild west this sumer. Mr. Miller says that they have completely abandoned the idea of putting out a show, and that they will devote their entire time to the management of their ranch properties.
H. C. Wilbur has closed with the European Amusement Co., and with C. C. Rogers he has organized a one-ring circus with which they will tour Mexico, featuring Meza, the contortionist. Their opening at Eagle Pass, Tex., proved encouraging, and prospects for a good season. The roster is: C. C. Rogers, owner and manager; H. C. Wilbur, treasurer and adjuster; and H. L. Spencer, in advance with four billposters.
Harry Hodge will have the side show with the Frank A. Robbins Show the coming season. Mr. Hodge is spending the winter at his home in Port Richmond, Staten Island, where he has been too busy superintending the erection of another dwelling to give Fourteenth street any attention.
The Sells-Downs Shows was sold as a whole after all. Mr. Durham bid $30,000. Then Mr. Thompson bid $35,000, at which priced it was knocked down to him. The impression prevailed that Messrs. Downs & Durham were the real purchasers. It is said that work on repairs and refitting will be started at once, and that the show will open early in March in Birmingham.
Wenona and Frank, the rifle shots, are not playing vaudeville this winter has has been their custom for eight years, but they are resting at Malden, Mo., where they will remain until March. They closed with the Pawnee Bill Show Nov. 4.
Albert McLaughiln dropped into Xenia, his old home, last week and spent a few days looking over the place where he spent his boyhood days. He left Jan. 12 for Baraboo, Wis., having signed with the Ringling Show for next season.
Walter J. Ashborn, trainer, and Mrs. Ashborn, manager of the trained pony, Rex, have signed with the Sun Brothers Show for the coming season. It will make their third year with that organization.
After spending a vacation of eight weeks in Jackson, Tenn., Chas. Lafayette will join the Frank Adams Railroad Show. He will play the rube clown while his wife will do rings and traps.
L. C. Guinter, side show talker, is wintering in St. Louis, Mo. He will be identified with the Ringling Bros.' Shows season 1906.
Fred Markel has returned from a few weeks' sojourn in Toronto, Can., and has resumed his work at the Frank A. Robbins' winter quarters in Jersey City.
Nat Reis and his partner, Mr. Burch, have purchased from Norris & Rowe the Cozad Dog and Pony Shows. The consideration is said to have been $7,500.
The Younger Brothers Greater Wild West Show has secured a twenty-piece band for next season.
B. Peri has been re-engaged as ballet master for the Ringling Circus next season.
Billboard, February 17, 1906, pp. 20, 21. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Bonheur Bros. Offer Reward. After storing his big tent show away in winter quarters at Carmen, Okla., last November, Howard Bonheur, manager and owner Bonheur Brothers' Golden Mascot Shows, began framing up a neat little opera house trick to visit some of the interior towns of southwestern Oklahoma. Time was limited, and he needed an agent to bill the show and do his contracting. After failing to secure the services of his brother, A. G., Mr. Bonheur decided as a last resort to accept the proffered services of one Harry Conroy, who had worked for him during the last eight weeks of the tenting season in Kansas. It happened that Conroy had worked his way up from a penniless laborer at the time he joined the big show to the position of boss canvasman when it closed. This fact more than likely influenced him to accept Conroy and furnish him with a complete billposting outfit, including a team of horses and buggy. Conroy did fairly well for the first six weeks as an amateur adjuster and bill distributor. On arriving at Butler, however, he sold the advance outfit under pretence of owning the team and buggy and escaped to parts unknown before the crime was discovered. At last accounts Conroy had not been apprehended and Mr. Bonheur had not succeeded in recovering his rig and team, although he had commenced an action in replevin. Circulars describing Conroy and offering a reward of $50 for his arrest are being mailed to many points in the southwest.
Having just returned from an eastern trip, general manager M. T. Clark of the Younger Brothers' Wild West has established offices in Oklahoma City, Okla., from which section the show will secure a majority of its people. It is the aim of the management of the Younger Brothers' Wild West to put out as clean and neat an outfit as money will permit. They have already secured some of the best people in the wild west show business, among whom is a large number of lady riders. A feature spectacle will be Custer's Massacre, or The Battle of Little Big Horn.
The Cole & Rogers Railroad Show opened its season Feb. 1 at Tampa, Fla., under the most auspicious circumstances. The weather was fine, and they did an immense business, the tent being packed at every matinee and evening performance during the three days' engagement. Master George Springer and his trained ponies and dogs do an act that is about as good as the best. The lions and elephants are trained with particular care. The roster of the show is as follows: J. Augustus Jones, general director; Richard Solt, ringmaster; O. W. Pixley, musican director; C. L. Erickson, master of transportation; H. J. Williams, general agent; M. Robinson, assistant agent; Walter W. Wilson, advance man with two assistants, and Frank McGuire, press agent.
Thomas Samwells Sr., who claims to be the oldest animal trainer in the business, being seventy-nine years of age, announces to his friends that he is still in harness, and is making preparation to launch his new six-car dog and pony show early in Aprial. The show will open in Ft. Smith, Ark., where it is wintering.
Lex Caldwell writes from the winter quarters of the Wallace Show as follows: Robb Stickney is busy training a high school horse for Mr. Wallace. Jo. Lisbel, the bareback rider, will be a feature of the show the coming season. We have just received a carload of young baggage horses and expect another load of the same kind in a few days, but boss hostler Jeff Posey thinks there is not another carload as good as the one just received. Frank Miller, boss painter, is very busy. Six large animal cages have been added to our menagerie. Tom Brown and Curly Robinson are making the cage cover.
Ollie Young and Brother, now with the Orrin Brothers Circus in Mexico City, write: The Orrin Brothers began their twenty-seventh season in the City of Mexico, Jan. 22, with a company of over ninety-five artists, all American. They have had a capacity at every performance. Among the performers are Mlle. Adgie, Helen Gerard, the Florence Troupe, Prof. Darling's troupe of ponies and dogs, Chas. Carlos, Abrullah Trio, Si Hassen Ben Ali Troupe of Arabs, Tom Everetts, Ollie Young and Brothers, Wolf and Milton, the Ty-Bells, Zireshoe and Karino Troupe, Prof. Montagues Cockatoos, Capt. Keller's Zouaves, Bimm, Boom and Birr and the Four Nelsons.
John H. Sparks' Old Virginia Shows have been out all winter, and will play right through until the spring opening. A splendid new advertising car has already reached Fernandina, Fla., and the old one will soon be vacated. General agent Mann is proud of the new acquisition. It is 64 feet long and is one of the most completely equipped advertisin cars ever built. A feature is a good-sized reading room with tables and plush upholstered seats. The car is elaborately lettered and decorated in gold leaf.
"Punch" Wheeler writes from Denver, Col.: The Sells-Floto winter quarters are open to the public every Sunday,and at a small admission the receipts pay for the expense of wintering. It is probably the only time a circus ever obtained so great a winter revenue, but the climate is in the show's favor. Last winter the paid admissions were 2,600, but on account of the extremely mild winter they will likely be doubled this year.
J. C. Fenton, of Williston's Circus, now touring South Africa, writes as follows: "We are all well and playing to enormous business. Manager Williston certainly has this country right. He is known as the Barnum of the Gold Fields.
The Two Coles, Nellie and George, arrived in New York City, Jan. 23, after a ten weeks' engagement with the Grand Circus Payret touring Mexico and Cuba. They open with Barnum & Bailey Show March 17.
Andrew MacKay, owner of MacKay's European Circus, was a Billboard caller Feb. 7. Mr. MacKay is managing Sie Hopkins this winter. He is making big preparations for the tenting season. E. M. Clark, of Harvey and Clark, will join hands with L. DeAerien, and they will do a trapeze act with MacKay's European Circus this season. Mr. Clark will also sing illustrated songs in concert.
The Dorian Drum and Fife Corps of New York, of which Edward E. White is manager and Jno. Greve is secretary, has been engaged for the Cummins' Wild West for the season.
Harry R. Rhodes has been re-engaged as band leader for the Mighty Haag Shows, making his eleventh season with that organization.
S. H. Fiedler, business manager with A Runaway Boy, will take out the No. 1 advertising car for the Hagenbeck Show this season.
The Lewises have signed to feature their automobile calliope in the parade of the Andrew MacKay European Circus this season.
R. W. Hart, of Bellville, Ont., has framed up an indoor circus which he is offering to department stores as a special attraction.
Edwin LaBelle, the clown, has signed with the Frank A. Robbins Show for the coming season.
Bert Gribble is resting at his home in Crystal Falls, Mich., after a season with the Robbins Wagon Show.
Arthur Herman, comedian and acrobat, has re-engaged with the Robinson Shows for the coming season.
"Skinney" Bell, of Piqua, Ohio, has signed with the Sells-Floto Show for the coming season.
Al. Johnson has signed with the Cole Brothers' United Shows for the coming season.
The Wilson Family is ojne of the hits of the Castro Circus at San Antonio, Texas.
The McDonald Brothers report good business in Georgia.
MacKay's European Circus opens at Detroit, Mich. May 26.
Billboard, March 3, 1906, pp. 20, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
In South Africa. L. J. Hall, a brother of Wm. P. Hall, of Lancaster, Mo., and like him a big horse dealer, has scored a big success with Hall's Hug Horse Show & Hippodrome in South Africa. The Cape Argus, speaking of the enterprise says: "The entertainment provided in the huge arena on Barrack Square by L. J. Hall, is what its name denotes - a horse show and hippodrome. To those who like to see handsome, well-groomed, well-trained horses to their best advantage, the show will be an unmixed delight. It is certain we have never had such a display in South Africa. The attendance last evening was gratifying, considering the prevlence of a south-easter. The management took precautions to provide against discomfort from this source, and a wooden boarding has been erected round the show grounds which shields the spectators from the wind. The grounds were well watered, and there was really less dust blown about than usually arises in a covered tent. Mr. Hall announces that his object is to provide a horse show and hippodrome first - and he has succeeded. It is true that many of the best features of a circus are introduced, but pleasing as these are, the equestrian exercises far excel them in interest.
The horse and pony races are only possible in an arena of such dimensions as that in Barrack Square. The riders are induced to try their utmost by the offer of cash prizes for success. Before each race the jockeys draw for their horses, and the one with the highest aggregate of wins and places at the end of each week will received an additional bonus. The pony race, besides providing an exciting display of skill and speed, completely over-shadowed any clowning that could be given. Half the pretty little steeds are unbroken to ring work, and the way in which they twist and buck, with their native riders clinging to head and mane, evokes roars of laughter. The climax of the programme is the chariot race. They made the corners with but inches to spare. Of the items associated with the circus part of the program, the Denovas were accorded an ovation. Their work on the flying trapezes, at an elevation of eighty feet, was a revelation. The following program will give an idea of the entertainment provided by Mr. Hall.
1. Overture by L. J. Hall's Selected Band, conductor, George Freeman, B.M. In Hippodrome track - 2. The Grand Parade. 3. The American Buffalo, or Bisons (one of the last of a well nigh extinct species, never before seen in South Africa). 4. Ring No. 1, Clown's Entree. 5. Ring No. 2, Pim Pim and His Educated Donkeys. On Central Stage - 6. Brothers Blanche, musical clowns; 7. Clown Entree, introducing "Scooping the Scoop." 8. Flat Race, 3 laps. 9. The Panama Troupe. 10. Ring No. 1, Azodi, the Human Lizard. 11. Henry Ward, on trapeze. In both rings - 12. Mules and Hurdles, one of the funniest equine items ever presented. 13. Man vs. Horse, event open to all comers. On Central Stage - 14. The Madrelina Troupe of Spanish Dancers. 15. Flat race on Texan ponies. Ring No. 1 - 16. Dashing equestrian act over bars and hurdles, by Miss Lizzie. 17. Exhibitionof riding on barebacked horse, by Miss Rose. 18. The Great Forty Horse Act, forty magnificent greys ridden and driven by one man. 19. Selection, popular melodies (10 minutes). 20. The Denovas, the world's greatest aerialists, direct from their tour through the United States. 21. Flat race, lady jockeys, open event. 22. Clown entree, "Fun in a Gymnasium," by Billy and Fred. 23. Four-horse act by W. O. Foster. Ring No. 2 - 24. Feats of horsemanship by Willy Vonare. In Hippodrome Track - 25. Pre-historic motor-car. 26. Cake-walking horses, Campbell and Spec, elegant equestrianism. 27. Hall's Burlesque Band, by the clowns. 28. Rough-riding exhibition, by Ernest Ward. 29. Exhibition of Gaucho riding, by Evencho. 30. Live Out West, realistic and exciting representation of holding up the stage coach on the prairie. 31. Roman standing race. 32. Pony race, native jockeys. 33. The Great Roman chariot race, reminiscence of the Coliseum of Rome in ancient days. . . .
One of the big feature shows for the coming season will be Talbot's Fighting the Flames. This show is somewhat on the order of the fire shows which were such big successes at Coney Island in New York and White City of Chicago. It is claimed that it will be the biggest organization on the road without animals. The vastness of the show can readily be imagined when it is said that over nine hundred feet, in length, of scenery will be carried. This will have an average height of forty feet, the buildings going as high as fifty-five feet. Although the management have been working on the production for the past six months, they have courted no publicity by advertising. But now that everything is in shape, contracts have been made with the principal fire departments of the United States whereby the show will be given under their auspices. Harry J. Armstrong, of the Schiller Building, Chicago, Ill., has been scouring the country for the past four months in search of novel and up-to-date circus acts. The spectacle will be operated by a corporation which consists of F. L. Talbot, general manager; Frank Rate, president, and Emmett W. McConnell, vice-president and treasurer. Sam C. Haller, Frank L. Albert, Jno. D. Tippett, F. J. Warrell and Dell Mead have been chosen by Mr. Talbot to act as agents. . . .
The Gentry Shows. All paraphernalia from both shows have been overhauled and practically made new. The main performance of 1906 will be augmented with a number of big circus features and the trained animal exhibition will be only such as could be seen with a Gentry show. The business staff of the Number Two Show will include: H. B. Gentry, general manager; C. F. Finney, assistant manager and adjuster; J. B. Austin, equestrian director; W. E. Wells, ring master and A. Randall, treasurer. The advance staff will be piloted by J. D. Newman and Ed. E. Daley, H. L. Massie will continue as local contractor. The Number Two Show will be personally managed by W. W. Gentry, with the assistance of F. H. Gentry. L. B. Williams will be the general agent and L. Hennessy, local contractor.
Frank Burns has been re-engaged for the coming season as contracting agent for the Hagenbeck Show.
Harry Clark has returned to his home in Toledo, Ohio, after visiting the winter quarters of the Cummins Wild West Exhibiton Co. in Geneva. Mr. Clark has been engaged as principal clown with that organization and will have the exclusive advertising privileges.
We are informed that Dave W. Perrine, manager of Perrine's Circus, is training his Shetland mule to play the title role in his new four-act farce comedy, Her Name Was Maud. As soon as the animal's training is complete, play will be written and launched. Mr. Perrine will have his circus out the same as last season. The winter quarters at Eaton Rapids, Mich., narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire Feb. 12.
Martin J. Downs has just signed for Cole Brothers' United Shows, a big family act which will eclipse anything ever before offered by the most daring aerialists. Mr. Downs has also engaged several other new thrillers, and these together with a complete line of new paper from original designs, will make rival managers sit up and notice. One feature sure to create a sensation is a mixed animal number. For this three Shetland ponies, a pair of Texas steers, an African lion, a tiger, a leopard and two Great Danes will be used, and the acxt will be given in a huge steel barred cage erected upon the center elevated stage in the big top. General agent Ed. Knupp, who was at the Birmingham, Ala., winter quarters last week, has returned to Erie, Pa.
The following is the advance force of the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus for season of 1906: E. C. Warner, general agent; E. M. Burk, traffic manager; J. C. Stuart, contracting agent; H. Smith, special agent; C. G. Henery, excursion agent; Tom Moor, twenty-four hour agent, and Jas. McCaw, route rider. Alton Osborne will manage car No. 1 and Tony Crandell, car No. 2. Walter Nissen is opposition agent, and Tomy Myers, press agent. The billposters are E. E. Billings, J. W. Bradley, Wm. Bremer, Paul M. Comes, Ross Gount, E. V. Garnett, C. B. Jordan, Jos. N. Graham, Roy Gilpin, E. C. Pinkham, Harley Cunningham, Jos. B. Keener, Edgar Crowell, Jno. Bagwell, W. H. Donacker, Joe Hyde, Chas. Johnson, Walter Hewitt, Les Williams, E. L. Young, Ed. Heard, Peter Collins, G. L. Howard, P. Harkins and Frank Osborne, offical programmer.
The following superintendents have been engaged with the Ringling Brothers' World's Greates Show: Spencer Delevan, supt. of stock; Jas. R. Whalen, of canvas; Robt. Meek, of ring stock; Robt. Taylor, of trains; Charles Smith, animals; Pearl Souders, elephants; Wm. Andrew, of wardrobe; Charles O. Miller, of properties; Jas. Leonard, scenery; Harry Smith, trappings; Max Domschke, lights; Paul Cunningham, porters; Tom Parks, mechanics; A. L. Webb, cook house; Sid Rubein, lunch car, and W. H. Fay, dining car.
Whitey Lykens arrived home from South Africa last week. He left Jan. 19 and arrived in New York Feb. 18. He reports L. J. Hall's shows a great success.
Williams & Canfield, comedy sketch artists, singers and wooden-shoe dancers, have closed with the Wm. Todds Southern Show, and are resting in Charleston, S. C., after a season of twenty-eight weeks.
Two carloads of heavy draught horses arrived last week at Cole Brothers' United Shows in Birmingham, Ala. Every animal is a dapple grey and will tip the scales at from 1,350 to 1,600 pounds. Cole Brothers' Marine Band will number thirty-three pieces and a feature will be made of the 40 minutes promenade concert before each performance.
Albert Gaston has been re-engaged as principal singing and talking clown and equestrian with Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows. This will make his third season with the show.
General manager Fred A. Hodgson, of the Orrin Bros.' Circo, left the City of Mexico last week for Collingwood, Ontario, Can., to attend the golden wedding anniversary of his parents, Feb. 26. Mr. Hodgson will leave for the east soon and arriving in New York March 6, will remain at the Orrin Bros.' offices in that city one month. The Orrin Bros.' Shows opened in Mexico Jan. 24.
Geo. Levassem, the European Wonder, has signed with the Ringling Brothers Shows for season of 1906. Among the features of his act is pulling against a span of horses and lifting an automobile with four occupants.
J. E. Allen, sixty-four years young, was a caller at the Cincinnati office of The Billboard Feb. 26. This is Col. Allen's seventeenth season on the program of the Barnum & Bailey Shows.
Rapid progress is being made at the winter quarters of the Yankee Robinson Shows, at Des Moines, Ia., and manager Buchanan will spare no expense to make the organization the best of its class in the country.
C. C. Wilson will sell or lease the title of W. H. Harris Nickel Plate Shows. For twenty-five years this organization was considered the leading popular price show.
Jay Rial will be identified with the Adam Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Shows again this season. Ed. Jones and Wm. Bridge, billposters of East Liverpool, Ohio, will join the advance car No. 2 of Forepaugh & Sells, March 10.
The Haag Shows have just received a carload of draught horses at the winter quarters in Shreveport, La.
Miss Ray Campbell, last season with the Robinson Show, goes with the Ringling Show next season.
"Doc" McAdams will be identified with the Seibel Bros.' New Railroad Shows this season.
The Geo. W. Rentz circus is at Tallahassee, Fla., getting into shape for their opening.
The Cornalias have signed for the coming season with the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
Billboard, March 10, 1906, pp. 20, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
On Feb. 26, while attending a theatrical performance in Pittsburg, Allen Murray McPhail, general railroad contractor of the Hagenbeck Shows, suddenly became blind. Thinking it was but a freak of his imagination, he lighted a match and held the flame before his eyes. His act attracted the attention of the audience and the players on the stage, and when an usher went to his aid it was found that he had collapsed. A physician was summoned and announced that McPhail had been stricken with apoplexy. . . . At last accounts the conditionof the patient was reported improving, but still very serious.
The Campbell Bros.' Show. The Billboard correspondent at Omaha, Neb., writes: "I recently visited the winter quarters of the Campbell Bros.' Circus at Fairbury, Neb. Wagons are being repaired and beautified by paint and gilt, and several new wagons are in the course of construction. The animals are all being cared for out at the farm owned by the boys, a short distance from town. The size of the show next season will be enlarged with the addition of about $20,000 worth of paraphernalia, in the way of cages, animals and cars, purchased from the Hall Show. The show will carry about 175 head of horses, and will exhibit under a 150 big top.
From the Frank A. Robbins Show. William Ducrow, who was equestrian director for the Barnum & Bailey Show during its European tour, will act in the same capacity for the Frank A. Robbins Show next season. Mr. Ducrow is now engaged in breaking in a big horse number as well as a floral cart act. The Hurdling Hocums will be the equestrian feature with the show this season in their triple principal and jockey acts. Fred Beckman is now prospecting in the south. He is organizing his advance force and closing up his railroad contracts. Tom Van Osten has been engaged as general press agent and will handle the No. 2 excursion car. The first car will be in charge of W. M. Goodwin. Contracting agent Dave Haley has also been re-engaged. The show has signed a new big flying act, the Aerial Weavers, who have contracted to produce a number similar to that put on by the famous Hanlon Brothers when they were in their prime.
Aunt Mollie Bailey did it, and she did not have a five thousand dollar press agent to help her, either. Assisted only by her quartet of boys and one of the actors, she broke into every paper in Texas, and the Associated Press carried the story all over the country. She pulled off the little trick on her opening day, and will enjoy the fruits of the advertising all season long. It was all carefully planned and rehearsed, but the newspapers "fell" to it in fine style. Here is the way the Associated Press sent it out: Houston, Tex., Feb. 26. An unusual marriage ceremony in a circus tent was interrupted here last night by force of arms. The parties to the rite were Miss Mollie Bailey, aged 65, and a young man of 30, connected with the circus. The marriage had been secretly planned. The couple was standing in the midst of the ceremonies when the four grown sons of Mrs. Bailey rode into the tent on horseback and with drawn revolvers ordered the preacher to vanish. The reverend gentleman immediately went under the circus tent. The young man who was to have been the groom also beat a retreat. Mrs. Bailey is reputed to be worth $100,000. Houston is the winter quarters for the circus, and last night it took to the road for the season. It was evidently the plan of the lovers to start the season by consecrating their love in marriage. Mrs. Bailey is famed throughout the south for her circus, which has been continually on the road for the last thirty years. It is strictly a wagon show. The first stand was made today at Humble, eighteen miles north of here.
Pawnee Bill's Advance. John Boyle will have advance car No. 2 with the Pawnee Bill Show this season. Bert Wheeler will be boss billposter. Fred J. Bates will have car No. 4 with Wilbert Will as boss billposter. Joe Howard will have charge of the opposition brigade, and will also act as special agent.
H. A. Cunningham, press agent of the LaMont Brothers Show, writes: Chas. LaMont, general manager, has been busy the past few weeks purchasing animals for the menagerie. A pair of African lions have just been received from Mundy's Zoo in St. Louis, and a cage of monkeys and many birds from New York. Everything is progressing nicely for the opening, April 28. The stock in the ring barn is being put through daily performaces. The Delmo Family, the McMahons, Mr. and Mrs. McLain, Clarence McCombs, Del Rio, Mr. and Mrs. Kerr and Professor Randolph's trained ponies, goats, monks and mules have been engaged for the big show. Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield, the DeAlvins, and Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have been engaged for the side show. Tom Altons will have charge of the canvas, with Shorty Steel and ten assistants. Claude Morehouse will be boss property man, with two assistants. Ed. Bennett will have charge of the stock, with David Drake and four assistants. The advance will consist of Harry LaMont, Oscar Laughlin and three billposters. The business staff remains the same, as follows: Chas. R. LaMont, teneral manager; Chas. D. Randolph, treasurer; Jake Allen, assistant manager, and H. A. Cunningham, press agent. Prof. Dan Buckley and his band of fifteen pieces will be ready for the opening.
W. E. Fuller succeeds Al McPhail as railroad contractor for the Hagenbeck Shows, and Si Semon, who had been engaged as twenty-four hour man with the show, has been promoted to the position formerly occupied by Mr. Fuller.
Fighting the Flames will be one of the spectacular features of the Cummins Wild West Exhibition the coming season. The exhibition will take place in the big wild west arena, in which a panoramic scene of Chicago will be shown. Genuine firemen in feats of dexterity, hose couplings, quick hitching and acts of heroic bravery; showing how fires are fought in our large cities both day and night in a realistic manner. Real fire department horses have been purchased, and show an intelligence in their work that is little short of human. Fire engines, hooking ladders, hose carts and all kinds of modern fire-fighting paraphernailia and devices have been purchased, and are arriving daily at the winter quarters.
A member of the M. L. Clark Shows writes: We opened our two weeks' engagement in Mobile to two ring bank houses. Our roster is the same as when we opened. Sixteen baggage cars and three cages will be completed before we terminate our engagement in Mobile. We have been going all winter. A camel and llama were added to our menagerie here. Our animals have been engaged by the city for the mardi gras Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Ellet Brothers, comedy bar artists, closed their vaudeville season March _, at Bloomington, Ill., and have gone to their home in Grand Rapids, Mich., to prepare their aerial bar act for the circus season. Manager Frank Ellet has signed H. Hardell, of the Hardell Brothers, and Chas. Wietzell, to work in this act this season.
Howard W. Damon will manage the dining camp owned by the Cummins Wild West Exhibition Co. The camp outfit will be brand new. New canvas, stoves, cooking utensils, tables, bakery, etc. Mr. Damon is now busy at the winter quarters, Geneva, Ohio, arranging the details of this model establishment.
Capt. Curley Wilson and wife have arrived at the winter quarters of the Jones & Adams New Railroad Shows and Capt. Wilson is breaking a new feature act for the annex. It will consist of the following animals: one lioness, one hyena, two leopards, two gray wolves, two black bears and two boar hounds. Messrs. Jones and Adams have also purchased an African lion, two hyenas and two pumas.
Col. W. E. Franklin has sol his farm, Woodlawn, near Valpariso. Mr. Franklin had spent a great deal of time and mony on the place with the expectation of retiring permanently to the simple life of the country, but the call of the blue bird is heard even on the farm, and proved too strong to be resisted.
Thomas Robinson (in the profession Red or Tommie), formerly a circus billposter, but of late years doorkeeper at Heuck's Opera House, Cincinnati, died at Denver, Feb. 26. Three weeks previously he had gone to Denver in the vain hope of regaining his health, or at least staying the progress of his malady. Messrs. Heuck and Fennessey had the remains brought to Cincinnati and interred. Robinson was 34 years old and an Eagle. A wife and mother, both residents of Cincinnati, survive him.
Owen W. Doud, press agent of Cummins' Wild West, writes as follows, viz.: Geo. C. Satterlee on March 1 sold his stock in the Cummins Wild West Exhibition Co., to Walter L. Main, and with his wife will leave for their home in the east, and will not be interested in, or travel with the Cummins' Wild West the coming season. Mr. Satterlee states he has retired from business permanently.
B. E. Wallace attends the auction sale of heavy horses at the Union Stock Yards, Indianapolis, every Tuesday and Wednesday. He has secured two carloads of extra fine dapple grays, and will purchase two more carloads before spring.
Dan S. Fishell has left St. Louis for New York to take up his duties as press representative back with the Barnum & Bailey Show. Next winter Mr. Fishell will incorporate the Dan S. Fishell Amusement Co., which will furnish attractions for parks and all festive occasions.
Max Zimmerman, who retired from the circus business ten years ago, is in business in Midway, nearl St. Paul, Minn. He recently sold to John Derham, of the Great Cole Show, two fine horses for his farm.
During the engagement of the Sparks Show in Tampa, Fla., recently a large ape escaped from its cage and created much confusion before it could be recaptured.
James Brown, of the Van Amburg Shows, goes from West Baden, Ind., to Hot Springs for a short vacation before opening with the show.
F. P. Folsom, business manager for Pretty Peggy this winter, closes March 23 to assume the management of the Hagenbeck advance car No. 1.
W. H. Quinnett has signed as special agent of the Campbell Brothers' Show, making his sixth with that organization.
John Sheehy, manager of the Grand Opera House, St. Louis, will put in the summer ahead of the Hagenbeck Shows.
Mrs. Walter Shannon, wife of the manager of the side show of Norris & Rowe Shows, died Feb. 26.
Chas. Cavanaugh, manager of the Century Theatre, St. Louis, has signed to go ahead of Ringling Brothers.
The Jones & Adams New Century Railroad Shows will carry its own electric light plant this season.
Sam Dock is organizing his show in Ft. London, Pa. He has a new top and all new wagons.
Billboard, March 17, 1906, pp. 5, n.p.n. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Mar Tina, the American Jap juggler, during the summer months will appear with the John Robinson Shows.
The Musical Bergers, two boys, are wonders on the novelty instruments. Last season was their first on the road. They scored heavily with the Hagenbeck Shows, and have been re-engaged for this coming season with the same organization. Their musical talent will no doubt bring them to the top in their profession.
Australia Letter, by Dr. W. H. Lane. The smiling face of Dan. Fitzgerald will be missed by many of the boys. He died in this city Feb. 3, and will be buried at the Waverly Cemetery, Feb. 6. Dan Fitzgerald was the senior member of the firm of Fitzgerald Bros. Circus. - Sydney, Australia, Feb. 24.
The LaComa Brothers, acrobats, will take out from Akron, Ohio, their own show this season under the title of the Fleiter Brothers' World's Famous Shows. They have engaged Prof. Lamon and his troupe of dogs and ponies; the McCue Sisters, contortionists; Butler, balancing traps; Learno Brothers, comedy acrobats; Joe Rodway, singing and talking clown; the Lenett Trio, triple bars, and Prof. Hammer's concert band of twelve pieces. C. C. Fleiter will be general manager; A. Fleiter, manager; Joe Fleiter, director and Chris Fleiter, secretary and treasurer. Oscar Heibel will have charge of the sixty-foot round top.
Walter Forbish closed with the Britt-Nelson Pictures at Knoxville, Tenn., March 7, and has signed with the Hagenbeck Show.
One hundred and sixty head of horses arrived in Cincinnati last week from Lancaster, Mo., consigned to the Hagenbeck Shows.
The Haag Shows open March 15 at Shreveport, La.
The Camm Brothers, in A Society Circus, will be one of the features in the Annex of the Van Amburg Show this season.
W. J. Forgraves and Charles Morris, of El Reno, Okla., have joined the advance of the Sells-Floto Shows.
Harry Overton has closed as treasurer of the Eugenia Blair Co., to go with the Hagenbeck Show.
M. T. Clark is no longer connected with the Younger Brothers' Oklahoma Greatest Wild West.
Charles D. (Butch) Fredericks has signed with the advance of the Sells-Floto Shows.
The Pacheo Family of acrobats have signed with the Great Cole Brothers' Show.
Billboard, March 31, 1906, pp. 11, 14, 20, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Kerry C. Meagher, for the past eight years treasurer of the Ringling Bros.' World's Greatest Shows, has become identified with C. E. Kohl's executive forces at the Majestic Theatre, Chicago, having resigned his position with the circus. Prior to assuming charge of the Ringling Bros.' financial department, Mr. Meagher was for two seasons contracting agent for the big circus organization and after thirteen years' consecutive service on the road has decided to settle down.
Fred Buchanan contracted with Bolte & Weyer for a complete lighting system for the Yankee Robinson Show last week and placed orders for a number of amusement devices for Ingersoll Park, Des Moines.
From Perry, Okla., the winter quarters of Kennedy's Wild West, Indian Congress and Mexican Hippodrome, comes the following report: The above show opens its season May 25, at Wonderland Park and County Fair, Boston, Mass. It will be a three car affair, and will carry forty-five head of stock and fifty people, including twenty-two Indians picked from three different tribes. Black Hawk's Indian Band of twelve pieces will be a feature, as will the twin papooses which are not yet three months old. The opening of the Cherokee Strip will be a new act in which lady riders, cowboys and rubes will take part. The roster of the show includes W. H. Kennedy, sole owner and manager; James Kennedy, superintendent of arena; Will Dickey, Chas. Craig, Esten Beasley, Geo. Steckel, Ben Holmes, Frank Shadwell and Jack Carney. Wyoming Jack and Prairie Nell, rifle shots; Ben and Mae Holmes, ropers and rope spinners; Mrs. Bessie Kennedy, champion lady rider; Frank Sohn, rube; Henry Theissen and wife, charge of cookhouse; Frank Carney, charge of stock, and H. H. Page, property man.
The Canadian Pacific Railway has received an application from general agent Ike Strebig, of the Van Amburg Show, for all territory west of Winnipeg clear out to Vancouver. This section of the Canadian Northwest has had a most remarkable developement in the last few years and the Van Amburg Show will play the better part of their season out there.
Equestrian director Ed. Shipp, of the Hagenbeck Show informs us that all performers will report for rehearsal Monday afternoon, April 2, at the old Cincinnati show grounds in Cumminsville. The first performance will be given Thursday afternoon, April 5, at Cincinnati.
H. Stanley Lewis has concluded his labors as pictorial embellisher for the Cummins Wild West, and is now in Verona, Pa., decorating the J. Augustus Jones Show. From Verona he goes to Canton, Ohio, to decorate the Pawnee Bill Show, thence returning to Geneva to witness the opening of the Cummins Wild West.
W. S. Griffith, aerial bar performer, joined the Flying Nelsons at New Albany, Ind., March 20. This troupe of six will be a feature of the Gollmar Brothers' Show this season, making their third with the show. At the close of the tenting season the Flying Nelsons sail for a tour of Europe.
Frank A. Robbins' winter quarters at Jersey City are alive with preparations for the opening of the season. Finishing touches are being added to the tableaux floats, representing the military heroes of France, Germany and England. The spectacle will be called The Tribune of Nations.
Henry H. Sylvester, the "merchants' publicity promoter," has again secured the advertising privileges with the Sun Brothers' Show. He is at the Hotel De Doto, Savannah, Ga., preparatory to the show's opening in that city.
A snow white double humped camel was born at the winter quarters of the Great Wallace Show in Peru, Ind., last week. The newcomer will be a feature with the menagerie of the show this season.
R. J. Stapleton, who has been spending the winter as advertising agent of the Grand and Lyceum theatres in Springfield, Ohio, has signed as route rider with the Pawnee Bill Show.
Leon W. Washburn intends exploiting the Washburn and D'Alma Show again. It will be a four car show this year.
The Petet Family of acrobats have just closed a season of fifteen weeks in vaudeville, and will rest for a couple of weeks before opening with the Gollmar Bros.' Circus.
Because of a quarantine law forbiding pigs to enter Canada from the United States unless on thirty days' notice, the Leslie Porcine Circus cancelled Tronto, March 12.
Joe W. Cousins and wife, equestrians, and the Sisters Cousins, aerial teeth performers, have signed with the John Robinson Ten Big Shows for the coming season.
The Van Amburg Show will open the season with three performances at Atlanta, Ga., under the auspices of the Masons, who are selling the tickets in advance.
F. C. Robson, the treasurer of the Cole Brothers' Circus, has arrived in Birmingham, Ala., to take up his duties.
Pearl Showel has signed with the James A. Morrow Show, to do her pedestal contortion and Spanish web act.
M. J. Burke, of Chillicothe, Mo., has joined advance car No. 2 of the Hagenbeck Show.
The advance force of the Frank A. Robbins Show has been notified to report at Stableton, Stanten Island, April 12.
Al. Baker, alto player, has closed with the Barlow Minstrels to join the Sells-Floto Shows.
The Wallace Shows do not make Indianapolis, as announced in last week's issue.
George Tardy and C. S. Lane are in the animal department of the Ringling Show.
Gus E. Shubert has been engaged as steward with the James A. Morrow Shows.
Fred Gaster and Ed Smith have signed with the Campbell Brothers' Show.
Archie Whittle, formerly connected with the Ringling Bros.' Circus, was burned to death March 16, in a wreck on the Rio Grande Railroad.
Col. Cummins' advance force is as follows: W. E. Ferguson, general agent; A. E. Mosely, railroad contractor; A. J. Dixon, local contractor; Harry Lewis, assistant local contractor; Chas. Phillips, press agent in advance; P. W. Harold, manager of advance car No. 1 with twenty billposters; D. J. Lelyden, manager car No. 2 with twenty billposters, and S. C. Mass, manager car No. 3 with ten billposters.
The big feature of the Hagenbeck Show is "Carl Hagenbeck's East Indian Perahera," a colossal congress of athletic acrobats, necromancers, snake-charmers, sap-wallahs, sword swallowers from that enchanted land. Their costumes and curious conveyances accompany them.
James A. Morrow, who has been associated with Sig. Sautelle and who recently closed with the Cummins' Wild West, is organizing a show at Homer, N. Y. He has purchased a car load of horses, and ordered tents, lights, wagons, etc. The Morrow Show opens at Cortland, N. Y., May 11.
The Lucky Bill Show will shortly open its season. The lineup of the entertainment is as follows: Brow, the hoop and wire artist; the Whitlarks, contortionists and trapeze performers; Eddie Landis, buck dancer; the Musical Grangers, Blonde Dunlap, song and dance artist; May Dunlap, musical directress and piano player; Wm. Newton, hippodrome rider and drum major; Rube Hibbard on revolving ladderes, etc.; Sid De Clairville, trap rings; Prof. Rogers' ponies and dogs; Mrs. Rogers' clown pony, Cupid, and in addition, a number of trained ponies which Lucky Bill has purchased.
Harry Gray's place, the Capitol, at 209 W. Fifth street, Kansas City, is a professional headquarters for the circus fraternity. The walls of the Capitol are literally covered with old photos representing the circus groups in the '60s and '70s, and new pictures are finding positions in the building. Harry used to be advance for the Ringling Show, and also traveled with the Lemen Brothers, and the New London shows.
Clinton Newton, press agent with the Sun Brothers' World's Progressive Shows, writes that two death-defying thrillers to be featured. There will be ten equestrian acts and fifteen clowns. Orrin Hollis is equestrian director.
Last week Major Gordon W. Lillie purchased fifty head of horses, bronchos and pretty ponies to be used in the Fairyland Spectacle, also new chariots, tableaux and floats. The new tents will arrive next week.
The Blande Sisters write from San Antonio, Tex., commending the management of Rojers [Royers?] Mexican circus for the treatment they received. We quote from the letter: "Our contracts called for two weeks' notice, and return tickets to the United States. The show was sold March 12, and in addition to our salaries we were given pay for two weeks extra, in lieu of notice. We also received return tickets for America."
The Hagenbeck Show is using a courier this year that is a dream. It is twenty pages, 11 1/2 x 16 1/2, with a cover lithographed in colors. . . .
Archie Whittle, whose fall from a trapeze caused him to leave the Ringling Brothers' Show last season, and to join the Ben Hur Co. in California, and who was afterward convicted of forgery in Colorado, was killed in the Rio Grande wreck, March 16, while in the custody of a penitentiary guard. His body was taken to his home in Chicago for interment.
There promises to be a hot time in Paducah. The Van Amburg Shows are there April 28, Cole Brothers May 2, and Sells-Floto May 3.
Manager W. H. McFarland is making preparations for the Wallace side show. The interior of the tent will be elaborately decorated with brass rails and posts, plush and satin draperies and flags of all nations. Jos. W. Callis is assistant manager and Chas. Mack, D. H. Lano and D. F. Emery are ticket sellers. The talent is as follows: Mazie Lano and her troupe of performing dogs; the Gonzales Sisters, Mexican knife throwers; the Burtons, levitation and magic; Tarlton and Tarlton, musical artists; Geo. Mullivan, tattooed man; Lady Theo, black art; Jas. J. McNulty, punch and lecturer; Mle. Corine, second sight artist; Jno. Zouboulakis, plastic wonder worker; the Cliffords, L'Avaleuse De Savres; the Clarke Brothers, bag punchers and Miss Mary Rhodes, electric lady. In the Turkish Theatre is the following: Minas Simon and Geo. Pool, musicians; Beatrice Lesie, Ethel Delmar, Irene Seibert, LaBelle Fatima and Mlle. Callis [Cailis?], Turkish dancers.
P. G. Lowery's Famous Nashville Students and Colored Band consists of the following musicians: Thos. May, cornet; H. P. Washington, trombone; Tonie Victor, alto; Wm. Jones, trombone; Jas. B. Hall, baritone; Wm. May, bass; Whit Viney, bass drum; Jno. Carson, snare drum, and Fred Richardson, clarionet. P. G. Lowery is manager of the minstrel show which has the following: Sally Lee, Oma Crosby, Essie Williams, Mrs. Thomas, E. Lowis, Geo. Thomas, Harry Crosby, T. Barefield, Whit Voney, J. Hall and Arthur Wollige.
The Washburn and D'Alma Show will have four cars this season.
Billboard, April 7, 1906, pp. 20, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
A member of the Cole Brothers Shows in Birmingham, Ala., writes: Since our call in The Billboard, Manager Martin J. Downs's mail has been deluged with acknowledgements. The No. 1 advertising car, with manager Harry Curtis and twenty-two men departed this week on its summer's trip. Within the next few days a large consignement of meat and hay-eating animals will arrive, and with these additions Cole Brothers' menageries will be second to none. E. N. Water left Sunday for Cincinnati where he met a large number of billposters in The Billboard office a ticketed them here. Joe Berris announces his new school of menage and cake-walking horses will make all others look like a soiled two spot. Sideshow manager John E. Ogden and a force of men are at work arranging the stages and interior decorations for the annex. The new parade wardrobe arrived last week. All new canvas will be used this season and is expected here by or before Saturday. The Pullman sleepers are being fitted up with new mattresses, bedding, double-length stock and flats, in their triple coats of paints and varnishes.
T. R. Ceballos, the circus performer, died at his home in Bridgport, Conn., March 20, at the age of sixty-three years. Death was due to kidney and liver trouble. In his younger days Mr. Ceballos was known as a balloon ascensionist. He toured the world three times, traveling through Australia, India, China and Japan with Orrin Brothers Circus, Cuba, with Pubillones, Brazil with Hadwin & Williams, the West Indies with the R. H. Dockrill Circus and he toured America and Europe with the Barnum & Bailey with which he was connected for many years. Mr. Ceballos also managed his own shows through South America. The deceased leaves a wife, known professionally as Mlle. Zarah, who accompanied him through his travels, two sons and a daughter. Mlle. Zarah has retired and is traveling with her son and daughter, known as the Ceballos Twins, who have been with Klaw & Erlanger's Humpty Dumpty for the past three season. The other son, Nicholas, is in Porto Rico with Edna and Wood Co.
From Younger Bros.' Show. Capt. Billy O. Nichols arrived in Dallas, Tex., March 25, with twenty head of trained steers direct from the famous Y. B. Ranch, where he has been working them for their act. Tommy Rahanne is on hand with his five high-diving mules. Jack Joyce has signed with the show and will bring ten cowboys. He will be boss of the arena. On April 1 twenty Indians will leave Valentine, Neb., for headquarters. They will be accompanied with Jack Younger. Kino and his troupe of Japs have arrived. Tom and George Younger are en route with twenty-seven head of spotted ponies. The Younger Brothers have succeeded in securing the old Indian chief, Geronimo. He will be featured in the Indian Village. Geo. R. Wells will act as contracting agent. W. E. Luton, known as Claremour Bill, is in line with his bucking bronchos. They are from Indian Territory. Lew First will have charge of the advertising department. While riding a bucking horse, Archie Cinner sustained a broken leg and is at a hospital in Dallas. J. C. Murphy will be the general announcer. Nannie Shafer, the bucking horse rider is with the show. Twenty-three Shetland ponies will soon arrive from Indianapolis, Ind. The Five Flying Belvodes have signed, one of the greatest aerial acts. A consignment of seats and canvas has been received. Three cars are en route from Chicago. Steve Hicks, better known as Rocky Mountain Steve, expert rifle shot, will be with the show. Homer Biggs, Pat Chisman, Frank Cobalka and Bill Harr, all of Lawton, Okla., have signed to do bucking horse riding.
The Indian Bill Wild West and the Cole & Rogers Shows have been amalgamated under the title of the Jones Enormous Show, under the direction and ownership of Augustus Jones. The winter quarters are at Verona, Pa., (ten miles from Pittsburg). The first consignment of paper has arrived and is being stowed away in the lockers of their new 65 foot advance car. Proprietor Jones is now in the west, where he will purchase forty head of heavy draft horses. H. Stanley Lewis arrived last week from Geneva, O., and has assumed charge of the force of painters. The show this season will consist of sixteen cars, with one car and a box brigade in advance. Extensive additions have recently been made to the menagerie.
A member of Snyder Brothers' and Hall's Circus writes: Everything is ready for the opening, April 24. Fourteen snow white ponies have been added to the show and some of the best wild west acts have been engaged. Milton Dowker will lead the cowboys. Lyman Adell's educated horses, dogs and goats will be with us again. Jess Bateson will conduct the band of fourteen pieces; William H. Duke will have charge of the side show and zoological department, and Geo. Howard will pilot the show. Chas. Snyder will again fill his old position as equestrian director, and Emmett Snyder will be general director. J. P. Hall will be treasurer and will lead the parade with his beautiful team of spotted ponies. Jack Boyd and wife are here ready for the opening.
The advertising contingent of Sun Brothers' World's Progressive Shows consists of the following: Pete Sun, general agent; C. S. Clarke, local contractor. Advance car No. 1: R. C. Woods, manager; Jack Bledsoe, special agent; Bert Moore, boss billposter; Fred Bowers, boss country billposters; F. D. Oppenheimer, lithographer; Michael Noonan, bannerman, and Fred. Riley, Earl Scott, C. B. Linville, Simpson Snipe, H. M. Munson, Mr. Patterson, Wm. Maxton, J. J. Hawk, Thos. Wilson, John Betz, Add Tolson and Jas. Hill, billposters. The advertising car is 60 feet in length, entirely new and elaborately furnished.
A member of the Great Barlow Show writes: This show opens its nineth season with twenty head of stock, fifteen trained dogs, four goats and fine ponies. The performers are Frank Decker, Arthur Howe, Barlow Family, Sam Echols, principal clown, and Ira Newman, musical director. The show opens April 28, and will tour northern Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania. Thos. Taylor and son are in advance.
James W. Beatty, manager of the supplementary and side show with the Sun Brothers' Circus, arrived in Savannah, Ga., last week. A magnificent new front of novel design, a strong bill of vaudeville acts and a European freak will be features of this department.
Frank Schramm, the original California Frank, who introduced the wild west feature under canvas, is now located at the National Stock Yards, East St. Louis, Ill. He is in a position to furnish upon short notice wild west stock of all kinds.
Howard w. Damon will have the management of the dining camp with the Cummins' Wild West this season. A. D. Moreland is constructing for him a handsome cook house wagon. He will also have a bakery in connection with his department.
J. C. Mitchell Bremer (Peanuts), who had the privileges with the Sun Brothers Show last season, was a Billboard caller March 27. He remained in Cincinnati until April 2, buying stock and departed for Savannah, Ga., for the opening April 14.
M. R. Williams as general agent, A. Williams as agent, Hugh Coyle as press agent and Wallie Wilson as treasurer, have signed with Mackays' European Circus. The annex and privileges have been leased to Richard Louis of Geneva, Ohio.
The Flying Fishers and the Flying La Vans have signed with the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
The Great Cole Show will this season have a feature in the Russell Trio of tight wire artists. This act has been in preparation all winter, and consists of William Burns, Walter Russell and Claude C. Silverton, late of the Silverton Trio.
The Great Wallace Show will have one of the best equipped barber shops on the road this season. It will be conducted by Chas. O. Sipe, a tonsorial veteran, who leaves a good position at Nashville, April 23, to join the show.
Chas. E. White, business manager of Gus Hill's Smart Set, is at liberty to go with a circus. He has been connected for five seasons with the Pawnee Bill Wild West as manager of the cook house and various other departments.
The Herrmanns are closing their vaudeville dates three weeks early in order to join the side show of the Cook & Barrett Circus. They will do magic, marionettes, punch and judy, etc.
Having signed with the Sells-Floto Shows, Flossie LaBlanche has given up her spacious studio of physical culture at Irving Place and Seventeenth street, New York, for the summer.
Phil. Stinson, assistant carpenter of the Grand Opera House, Evansville, Ind., has signed for the advance with the Robinson Show. He was with car No. 1 of the Wallace Show last season.
Fred Welcome, hand balancer, and Miss Pearl Forepaugh, trapeze artist, closed with Shipp's Indoor Circus recently, and will be indentified with the Forepaugh-Sells Show this season.
The Norris & Rowe Shows, after a big four days' run in Los Angeles, Cal., struck stormy weather at Redlands, and were tied up by wash-outs, losing several dates.
M. B. Williams writes that he will handle the business for Mackays' European Circus this season, and his brother, Ralph, will assist him.
Whitey Lykins goes with the Robinson Show this season instead of with the Robbins Shows as was announced in their roster.
Col. West reports a good winter season for Aga, who will be with Robinson's Ten Big shows this season.
Roy Fortune will do his comedy slack wire act with the Haag Show this season.
John Harper will have charge of one of the Sells-Floto advance cars.
Will Ament has joined the Cole Bros.' Circus as a billposter.
Sam Sanders will soon join the John Robinson advance forces.
The Great Beno has signed with the Van Amburg Shows.
At ten o'clock Tuesday morning, April 8, the Sells-Floto train was loaded for the first time for Wichita Falls, Tex., the first stand the show makes this season. Among the people with this big show are the Peerless Potters, Kitty Druger, Lew Sunlin and wife, George Sunlin, the Marvelles, the Alpine Family, the Martell Family, Cecelia Fortuna, Harry Dio and wife, Herbert the frogman, William Marks, Sassara, William Rentz, John Carroll equestrian director, Blanche Hilliard, William Dutton, Mam'selle Hildo, the Tybells, Stokes and DeCarlo Troupe of five aerial performers, Clements and McAllister, Chris Zeitz and his performing herd of elephants, Clara Ruel, the Earl Sisters. It requires twenty-six cars to carry the show this season, which speaks volumes for this western giant that only four years ago had four cars and a little dog and pony show.
Billboard, April 14, 1906, pp. 7, 9, 19, 22, 32, 33. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Havana Letter. Pubillone's No. 1 show has closed; No. 2 still out and doing well. We visited Senor Tattali's Payret Circo at Jesus DelMonte, a suburb of Havana, last Monday and found it doing well. Holman Brothers, the Tattali Children, Levette, the juggler, Johnny Fernandez and the trained leopards are all doing well with the Tattali Show. Two Cubans scored the greatest hit by introducing the Cuban national dances - a cross between the Zulu war dance and a coochie. There is no quarantine in southern parts excepting New Orleans, La. We have been here twelve weeks and leave for the states April 14 to join the Wallace Show for our second season with them. - D. H. Lano.
Nellie Revell is one of the very few women to assume the role of press agent for a circus. She has been making good in vaudeville this season, but she will shortly close her work to become press agent for the Cook & Barrett Show. Miss Revell was born in the south in 1873 and received her education at Springfield, Ill., afterwards taking up newspaper work. In private life she is the wife of a Chicago business man, and her two daughters are declared to be pocket editions of herself. In Miss Revell's new venture vaudeville will loose what the circus gains.
The Devawter Trio, Ora, Lillie and Clarence, are club jugglers. One feature of their act is an exchange of clubs while two are on the floor and the third one is on the slack wire. Last season this trio was the leading act with Snyder Brothers & Dowker's Circus. They are open for engagements after May 1. Permanent address 50 Jackson street, Huntington, Ind.
Marriage. Lewis Snow, billposter on car No. 2 of the Sells-Downs forces, and Miss Laura P. Davis, at Terre Haute, Ind., March 25.
Marriage. Mannie Forepaugh, equestrienne, and Wm. R. Lownie, of Philadelphia, at that city, April 2.
James Stitt, trapeze performer, died April 1 in Mercer Sanitarium at Mercer, Pa. He was thirty-six years old and had been a circus performer for twelve years, traveling with the Wallace, Huntings and other big shows. He was noted for his thrilling feats on the trapeze. He is survived by his parents, three brothers and two sisters. [another notice says he died at New Castle, Pa.]
Henry Sifiey [Sifley?], well known in the circus field, died at his home in Toledo, Ohio, April 1, of a complication of diseases. He had been in the circus business for thirty years, having traveled with leading tent organizations of the country. Mr. Sifiey was fifty-one years of age and leaves a wife, daughter and many friends. He has been with the circuses for the past thirty years.
L. B. Clark, nephew of M. L. Clark, of the Great M. L. Clark shows, died March 23, at San Antonio, Tex. He leaves a wife, mother and three brothers.
The Washburn & D'Alma's Trained Animal Show opened at Richmond, Va., April 9, for a weeks' engagement. The roster is as follows: D. G. Markell, ring master and principal trainer; J. W. Brownlee, treasurer; Lew Foster, boss canvasman; Thos. Watson, boss hostler; Nick Family, calliope player; Burt Artist, trainer and wardrobe; Billy Waggon, master of transportation; H. M. Martin, chandelierman, and E. S. Andrews, general agent with eight assistants.
The Elstun Brothers' United Shows open at Kansas City, Kan., April 18, exhibiting there three days at Union Place in the heart of the city, under the auspices of the Children's Home. The Elstun Brothers are residents of Kansas City and the show winters at Midland Park. The organization consists of trained animals, dogs, ponies, goats and monkeys, gymnastic and aerial acts and a select concert band under the direction of Prof. Howard. Senatore, the disrobing horse featured by the Barnum & Bailey Show on its European tour, will be featured with this show. The organization will travel by wagons. General agent Miles Berry is busy looking after the interests of the show.
J. M. Busby, manager Cook Bros.' Show, writes: We opened April 29, 1905, and have been out ever since showing under canvas. We didn't have time to close and had no place to go if we did. Just kept the show out to keep the people from working. No one has given the manager a gold-headed cane, and he made no speech. The Eagles have not attended in a body, and there was no great spread after the show. We played no return dates and turned no one away that had the price. Our cook is the hit of the show. She gets two encores daily and a lunch on Sunday. Everyone is well and happy. This is a one-car aggregation, but it's a car wide and a car and a half long.
The roster of Rice & Davis Consolidated Shows: F. D. Dunlap, manager; H. A. McAllester, contracting agent; Prof. Thos. Trapani, leader of concert band; Leroy and Hazelton, comedy sketch; L. T. Goodley, hand balancer; Geo. W. Snow, musical instruments; Albert S. Casidy, hoop roller; L. L. Strait, singing and talking clown; E. Parker, song and dance and juggling artist; Fred. J. Lanzendorfer, treasurer; Harry Fuller, ticket taker; Mrs. F. D. Dunlap, charge of reserved seats; Fred and Miss Lola Thompson, in charge of refreshment stands; Art Dolby, boss canvasman and Gus Trestular, boss hostler.
The roster of advertising car No. 1 of the Great Sells-Floto Show is as follows: C. R. Coleman, manager; H. M. Mason, boss billposter; H. Johnson, charge of lithographs; Kid Mohr, C. Berg, O. Wiley, C. Parker, C. Guy, W. Sunther, W. Raddigon, C. Gechter, R. Rippon, T. Morton, A. Turrell, W. Didseu, E. Hopper, T. Hannum, T. Judge, H. Wright, F. Worth, C. Hayes, S. Pratt, J. Sullivan, G. Steadman, F. Hasson, S. Edwards, J. Mays and J. Maguire, billposters; C. Vershoyle, assistant lithographer; R. LaHaute, stenographer; W. White, paste maker, and J. Jones, porter.
Chas. Sanders, known as superintendent of stock with the Floto Shows for two seasons, will have charge of the same department with the Cummins Wild West the coming season. Mr. Sanders arrived in Geneva, Ohio, on the 10th inst., and immediately started his men rounding up the baggage horses of this company into condition for the season's tour.
The roster of the Gentry Brothers' advance car No. 1 is as follows: L. B. Williams, general agent; F. Hennesy, local contractor; Albert Ball, car manager; F. C. Sterns, boss billposter; R. Famsey, Jess Cowell, L. Henshaw adn B. Bowen, billposters; A. Jackson, cook, and R. Riddell, programmer.
From Frank Adams' Southern Railroad Shows. We closed at Alexandria, La., March 31, after touring the states of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana, We open April 15 or 20.
W. E. Holmes, manager of side show with the Cole & Rogers Circus for the past three seasons, has signed as superintendent of the Riggs Wild West, and his wife, Leota, will have the lions in the side show.
Elmore C. Fain and W. J. Wilson left Lexington, Ky., April 2, to join the Forepaugh-Sells Show, the former to have charge of the drum and bugle corps and the latter the side shows.
Norris & Rowe struck stormy weather at Redlands, Cal., and were tied up by washouts which compelled the cancellation of several stands. They had four good days at Los Angeles.
W. K. Bailey writes that the Mollie A. Bailey Show is drawing good business in Texas. A twelve-pound baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Bailey at Houston, March 25.
J. C. O'Brien will handle the privileges with the Campbell Brothers' Show again this season. He will be assisted in the management of the side show by A. L. Salvail.
John G. Sheehey left St. Louis Sunday to join the Hagenbeck Show as treasurer. Mr. Sheehy has been managing the Grand Opera House.
The Riding Rooneys are with the Barnum & Bailey Show.
Ed DeLong and Fred Rube Mason will be with the Gentry Brothers No. 2 Show this season, clowning and advertising.
Beatrice Leslie, Spanish toe dancer, goes with the Wallace Show again this season, her second with the show. Capt. C. W. Riggs was in St. Louis last week buying horses for his wild west show.
The Riggs Wild West, of which C. W. Rigg is manager, opens at winter quarters in Augusta, Ga., April 27.
F. W. Blasser, the original Frank Bloom King, goes with the Forepaugh-Sells Show this season.
Basil McHenry has been engaged as twenty-four hour man with the Ringling Brothers' Show.
Budd, the clown, and his trick dog, Buddie, have signed with the Robinson Show.
Allen C. and Mazie Belford have signed with the Frank A. Robbins Show.
W. B. McGinnis will be with the No. 2 car of the Campbell Brothers' Show.
Gentry Brothers played to two packed tents at Jackson, Tenn., April 4.
The Campbell Brothers' Show will have twenty-seven cars this season.
Billboard, April 21, 1906, pp. 14, 20, 24. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Geo. Klein, clown and equestrian director of the Van Amburg Shows, died at Marietta, Ga., Tuesday, April. 10.
Samuel Carothers, the well-known trap drummer, died in St. Louis, Mo., April 6, and was buried in his native town, Grayville, Ill. He was with the Wallace Shows for three consecutive seasons and traveled with many other shows. Last season Mr. Carothers was with Price's Floating Palace.
Frank D. Eggleston, of the team of Conger and Eggleston, died at his mother's home in Syracuse, N. Y., April 4, of tuberculosis. He had been with Walter L. Main and many other tent shows.
The Sells-Floto Show trains left Denver, Col., Tuesday, April 3, at 6 p.m., for a nine hundred mile run to Wichita Falls, Tex., the opening stand. The latter place was reached Friday at 7 a.m., April 6, the show train having stopped at Trinidad and Amarillo to feed and water. The two performances at Wichita Falls were in reality dress rehearsals, but the populace turned out en masse. The real opening occurred at Ft. Worth, April 9, when the excellent weather continued and attendance was immense. There are a number of innovations this year. One of these was an act by a number of trained bulls. The stunts of the elephants brought demonstrations of applause. Among the performers that scored hits were the Ty-Bell Sister, the Alpine Family in double wire stunts, the Martells, bicycle experts, and others.
The winter quarters of the Kemp Sisters' Wild West, at Lamar, Mo., is a scene of activity. G. P. Kemp has gathered together features rarely found with a like organization, having taken over the attractions of the Spencer & Holiday Wild West and several features of the Mills Bros. Show. The four Mexican steers exhibited at Madison Square Garden by the Miller Brothers are among Mr. Kemp's new acquisitions. Other features are Feagan's Family Band, composed of six cowboys and six cowgirls; Col. Vic Cody, and May and Jennie Cody, rifle shots; Indian Joe and Charley Brown, a village of Sious Indians, Gen. Fermont's old coach, and others of interest. The company numbers 200 people, and it takes 150 horses to transport the show. The show opens at Lamar, May 5, and will tour the north and west.
Notes from the Frank A. Robbins Show. General manager Frank A. Robbins reports that everything is in readiness at the winter quarters to leave for the opening which takes place April 25 at Stapleton, Staten Island. The paraphernalia has bee overhauled, several new tableaux for the Tribunal of Nations added, many new cages built and the menagerie enlarged. A lot of new draft horses have affived, also some ring stock and menage horses. The big new calliope built by Nichols & Co., has arrived. Jack Cousins will be equestrian director, instead of Wm. DuCrow, and Jake Hindman will be boss hostler. Since our roster last appeared in The Billboard, Belle Clark, Fred R. Runnels and the Great Gaspard have been engaged for the big show and Lillion Allen for the side show.
Chauncey W. Riggs, manager of Riggs' Rough Riders Wild West & Historical Frontier Exhibition, which opens in Augusta, Ga., April 27, is at the National Stock Yards making a large purchase of spotted bronchos out of a collection aggregating 4,000 head, in the largest horse market in the world. Mr. Riggs is selecting the finest specimens to complete three carloads recently purchased at the Kansas City Stock Yards. Two spotted Arabian mules purchased at $1,500 are maong Mr. Rigg's purchases. Frank Schram ("California Frank") is of material assistance to Mr. Riggs in the selection of his stock.
Jas. A. Morrow's Big Show opens May 10. Geo. B. Beckley has his force in readiness for the advance. Acts engaged last week were Irwin's Dog & Monkey Circus; Eolis, lady athlete; Bob Heyman, Ta Thauma, Harry A. Stone, Colburne and Grenache, Z. Zeno, the Malverns and Adams and Grant. The show is routed through New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
After giving two performances at Jellico, Tenn., April 2 to capacity audiences, the Texas Bill Show left for Corbin, Ky., to take on new property and increase the show from two to five cars. The show remains in Corbin about three weeks, and will start out all new. There will be a new side show to take the place of the one lost in Alabama. The Texas Bill Show has been playing to good business in the south.
Geyer's Big Show, now in the northern part of Texas, has been on the road one solid year, and have not closed once in that period. The aggregation consists of thirty people, band and orchestra and are now headed north for their summer tour. Chas. Geyer is proprietor and manager, Mrs. Chas. Geyer, treasurer and Agnes Geyer, soubrette.
Frank D. Eggleston, of the team of Conger and Eggleston, well-known circus performers, died at the home of his mother in Syracuse, N. Y., April 4, after suffering with tuberculosis for six months. Mr. Eggleston traveled with Walter L. Main and others. He was the son of the late Soll Eggleston.
David E. Imler (Shorty), who was engaged as chef with the Campbell Brothers' Show, recently sustained a broken leg, and will not be able to keep his engagement with the show. He is at his home in Corona, N. M.
Tarlton and Tarlton, musical artists, have closed a ten weeks' engagement over the Novelty Circuit, and will open with the Great Wallace Show April 28, doing their act in the vaudeville annex.
S. Schlup, the veteran circus man of New Philadelphia, Ohio, will not be with any show this season, owing to ill health. Instead he will spend a period at Mt. Clemens, Mich., where he hopes to recuperate.
Jack McCoggswell, who was with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show last season, will have charge of the ring stock with the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers show this season.
Tom L. Wilson, the press agent, left Jamestown, N. Y., last week to join the Cummins Wild West in the capacity of contracting press agent.
Geo. Robinson, "Spot" Flynn, Sam Clark, Harry Martin and Ed Curby, all of St. Louis, are with the Ringling Show again this season.
Thomas During (Dutch), last year trainmaster with the Wallace Shows, this year has the trains with the Great Cole Show.
Willis McNaughton, of Albany, N. Y., has joined the business staff of the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show.
Dan Bolder, the trap drummer, will be with the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers Circus band. Chas. Krause and Harry Wilson leave St. Louis shortly to join the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
Billie M. Mitchell is equestrian director of the Kemp Sisters Wild West.
J. S. Springer has joined the John Robinson Ten Big Shows. Ted Galbraith will be with John Robinson's Ten Big Shows.
The Great Cole Show opened in Birmingham, Ala., April 12.
C. F. Mack has signed with the Wallace Show.
Silas M. Brooks, formerly a well known showman and aeronaut, died in Collinsville, Conn., last week. In 1848 Brooks made a set of curious musical instruments, and with several associates he appeared as a headliner with P. T. Barnum and his Druid Band. Later Brooks had a large circus. During the engagement at Memphis, tenn., the aeronaut, Paulin, was taken ill and Brooks made the ascension. He made 187 ascensions after that. Brooks married a bareback rider, but after the birth of their child, they separated. The showman plunged into dissipation, and wound up his existence in the poorhouse.
Billboard, April 28, 1906, pp. 5, 22, 32, 33, 34. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The Hagenbeck circus opened unusually early this spring, but has been greeted with large crowds. It was first in Cincinnati, Wheeling, Pittsburg, Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, making some long jumps to head off opposition.
T. J. McCreary gave up his place on the Hagenbeck No. 1 car on account of illness, and is at his home at Latrobe, Pa.Henry Nichols, who operated the act known as Musliner's Educated Hogs and Sheep, died April 18, at his home in Jackson, Mich. He was 28 years old and had been with Forepaugh & Sells Bros.' Show and John Robinson's Circus. For the past two seasons he had been on the vaudeville stage. Mr. Nichols was a model young man and his demise, which occurred from consumption, will be mourned by a host of friends in the profession.
Miss Jennie Page, a circus performer, was shot and killed in the Kaiserhof Hotel, at Chicago, April 10, by a jealous lover. Her home was in Pontiac, Mich.
The Van Amburg Shows. In the leaping tournament, in which Bell and Van Dell, double somersault leaper led a school of a dozen, each excellent in his line, there appeared a juvenile, a girl, Daisy Kimball, a mere tot, who went over five horses and the big elephant, turning two times as she swept gracefully through the air. She rushed down the incline, vaulted into the air, hands foremost, as though diving into water, quickly drew herself together, twisted around in a knot like a bal [sic], and dropping upon her feet, faced her lookers-on with a happy smile. A double trapeze act by the Leons should not be overlooked. Ben Beno, on the tight wire; Larke and Adams, in a novelty act; Josie and Clar Kimball, Charles Cook, who did the double somersault on that fast race horse, the performing elephants; Miss Kellog, on the flying rings; Miss Gertie Lewis, the sailor perch; Hatsua, the barrel and parasol juggler; the Bell Brothers, aerial workers; the school of educated poodles; the Milletts; Snyder, the contortionist; Miss Kate Bowers' high school horse, Glencoe, were some of the circus features seen in Atlanta.
The death of George W. B. Kline, a brief announcement of whose death at Marietta, Ga., on April 9, appeared in last week's Billboard, was due to heart disease. Mr. Kline was in execellent health apparently a moment before his death. He was equestrian director of the Van Amburg Show, and was beloved by all who knew him. Interrment was had April 10, at Marietta, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows. D. P. Phillips, on the show, writes: Arrangements will be made to erect a monument to his memory. Mr. Klein was without doubt, the oldest clown in active service. He spent a number of years with the Barnum Show and clowned in Klaw & Erlanger's Country Circus; he has been with various tented enterprises for forty years. Very little is known of his family. His wife, Mamie Kline, is with the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
The Mizuno Troupe of Japanese artists joined the Campbell Brothers' Show April 28 for their sixth season with that organization.
"Doc" Waddell writes for the Robinson Show: George Aiken, traffic manager, stole the march on several other shows and secured "shut-out" contracts on several railroads. We will have opposition from the Forepaugh-Sells Show at Portsmouth, Ohio, an old Robinson stronghold. We bought up all the billboards in Portsmouth, and the other people were forced to tack canvas up on side walls and paste their paper on it. The newspapers wrote this up as a new wrinkle, and Robinson, not to be outdone, shipped elephants to Portsmouth and used them for billboards. The school children were permitted to ride the elephants free. We open April 28 at Lancaster, Ohio. The show has a number of big foreign acts this season.
A member of the Pawnee Bill Show writes from Canton, Ohio, under date of April 14, as follows: The parade will be a revelation, our Far East feature having been greatly augmented by the addition of a herd of elephants, Phillipine cattle, carts, etc. L. F. Nicodemus has arrived and assumed the office of general superintendent. John D. Carey has been busy the past week looking after the billing in Pittsburg. The show opens in Canton April 28, after which we play Pittsburg three days on the Arsenal grounds. Mr. Evans, superintendent of stock, arrived today from Chicago with a carload of stock.
Car No. 1 of the Ringling Brothers Show: Frank Estes, car manager; W. H. Hoskins, boss billposter; Chas. A. Betts, F. Jones, E. L. Patrick, Mr. Wahnsiedler, J. Whitmore, Geo. Kugler, C. McDonald, M. Coughlan, I. E. Lyons, J. L. Kavanaugh, Ira Koch, E. Benzinger, Ed Guyon, John Jilson and Pop May, C. O. Damon and Robert Clark. J. E. Lyons was elected steward on April 15.
People who have visited the winter quarters of the Bonheur Brothers' Show, at Carmen, Okla., are surprised at the many improvements under way. It will be a railroad show this season. They have a sixty foot car that is a palace of comfort and beauty. Equestrian director T. J. Oatman, of New York City, is en route to Carmen with a carload of trained stock and paraphernalia. Howard Bonheur has a force of men manufacturing reserved seats at their own factory. They have a troupe of Shetland ponies that are beauties. The leader of the herd, Sunrise, gave birth to a mite of a colt on April 11. It is jet black and its mother is pure white.
The roster of advance car No. 1 of the Great Wallace Show: A. J. Coffin, car manager; Bertram Wheeler, boss billposter; Dan Malone, assistant billposter; W. M. Scott, lithographer; Harvy Hall, porter; F. Burton, A. E. Herbest, P. Vandernior, J. Quirk, W. Gilby, K. S. Waite, H. Schaffer, H. Moiser, Al Hall, E. O. Fansher W. A. Lane, F. Harrison, H. Howard, H. O. Hoxie, W. J. Wedge, J. Blair, Ed Bluskie, C. C. Chiverount, billposters, and F. Smith and W. Nisson, lithographers. The car left Peru, Ind., April 12. A big crowd was at the depot and the band furnished the music.
The Swift Brothers Show opened in Golden Gate, Ill., Saturday, April 7. Bad roads interfered greatly with travel the first few days. Speed, the high-diving dog, is making his usual daily dives. This is his fifth season with the show. The organization consists of an Uncle Tom's Cabin and a dog and pony show. They carry a band and give a street parade.
R. J. Mercer has signed as local contracting agent of the Cook & Barrett Shows.
The advance force of the John Robinson Show: Oliver Scott, general agent; George Aiken, traffic manager; M. C. Service, special agent; Gilsey Abrams, route rider; H. I. Ellis, contractor; L. H. Heckman, manager car No. 1; F. F. Smith, boss billposter; Geo. Nelson, B. F. Miller, Edw. Kindley, C. Hayes, Frank Rockefeller, C. H. Richards, Robert Mann, E. H. ___, Harry Huber, E. H. Lake, Phil W. Stinson, Geo. Massonne, J. L. Spenger, Frank Smith, Harvey Bell, W. H. Brown, Jas. Neeves, Jess Nolan, Herbert Glanton, and Willard Capin. Nick Cook is pastemaker and Elmer Perkins is programmer.
Gollmar Brothers' car No. 1: W. H. Delly, car manager; E. L. Marden, boss billposter; C. D. Bewder, lithographer; Ira Shrock, programmer E. Coll, boss country route; J. D. Andrews, contractor; and Wm. Swan, John Carr, G. Longnecker, S. Slayton, E. Davidson, Fred Keller, C. Garnett and H. W. Morton, billposters.
Harry Clark, who for many years clowned with the Walter L. Main Show, has signed with Cummins' Wild West. Mr. Clark has also secured the advertising privileges with the Wild West. He will be assisted in the latter work by J. E. Zimmerman.
Andrew Mackay, proprietor of Mackay's European Circus, writes: We have signed the Reed Sisters, equestriennes; Mme. Leona Bonne, aerialist; Four Pulaski Brothers; Prof. Thomas Clark's Dog and Pony Circus, and the Reigler & Zeigler Trio of Head Balancers.
Prof. Antonio Oliveto and his Royal Italian Band Roma left New York, April 23, for Lancaster, Ohio, to join the John Robinson Show. His No. 2 band opens with Francis Ferrari the first week in May. No. 3 goes with the Great Chapman Show, opening in Pittsburg, May 7.
Good Friday was unlucky for the James Shelby Shows, for on that day the circus suffered a blowdown, which did considerable damage to the sidewalls. However, they made their Saturday stand and enjoyed their Easter dinner just the same.
Frank A. Goldie, the magician, who was contracted to go with the Gollmar Bros.' side show, has been forced to cancel his engagement on account of kidney trouble. He will undergo an operation, and will likely be confined to the hospital for some time.
Kid Koster has signed as special oppostition agent with the Great Cole Show. Brigade No. 1 is as follows: Foster McLeod, E. C. Moore, Milo Edwards, Clyde Kant, Jack Noble, M. Whallen, Harry Raymond, M. K. Jones and W. T. Murphy, manager.
The roster of the advance car No. 1 of the Great Cole Show is as follows: Harry E. Curtis, manager; Chas. E. Martin, head billposter; F. W. Brusso, assistant billposter; C. D. Anderson, bannerman, and F. J. Krause, head lithographer.
Lee Parmalee, acrobat and aerialist, has joined the Freed & Perrine Consolidated Shows, making his third season with them.
The McCarver Bamboo Trio opened for a six weeks' engagement with the Orrin Brothers' Show, April 15.
Hi Trout, the old clown, has opened a restaurant in Penn Yan, N. Y., where he would like to meet his old circus friends when they are in that section.
F. B. Schneider, of the Seibel Bros.' Dog & Pony Show, renewed old acquaintance during the recent engagement in Birmingham, Ala.
Decatur, Ill., last week, the Great Cole Brothers' Show plays there April 30, and the Wallace Show on May 9.
The Snyder Wild West Show will open at Rosedale, Ind., April 25.
Jack Auslet, formerly connected with the Rapides Theatre in Alexandria, La., is business manager for the Geo. Milam Wild West Show.
Rhoda Royal's menage stock, in charge of Capt. Sharp, is with the Hagenbeck Show.
Harry Green, who has been managing the Garrick Theatre, Burlington, Ia., for the past six months, has joined the John Robinson Circus.
Dan K. Rice, the aeronaut, has doubled with his brother, George, and together they are putting out a one ring circus.
Frank Southall has the peanut and popcorn privileges with Siebel Brothers' Show.
Berndt Spaler, clown and jockey, goes with the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' Show again this season. He was with them last season.
Jas. Duval, clown, has closed with the Van Amburg Shows, and is resting a few days in Cincinnati.
The Three Olifans, Fink, Phone and Shrimp, are meeting with success with the Hagenbeck Show.
Andrew Adams, known at Kokomo, is en route with the Mighty Haag Show, having the balloon privilege.
Araminta May writes that she has signed to go with Campbell Bros.' Great Shows for the season 1906.
Chas. Clarke, known as Buckskin Will, has signed with the Campbell Bros.' Show.
Topsy and Flora Mitchell have sold their business at St. Louis, Mo., and joined the Sells-Floto Show.
Ed Bluski left Cedar Rapids, Ia., April 14, to join the Wallace Show.
Earl Krim has joined the Forepaugh-Sells Bros.' advance forces.
Billboard, May 12, 1906, pp. 22, 32, 33, 34. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
James McKinney, known as The Lord, who was prominent as a side show manager, died in New York City, May 2, at St. Vincent's Hospital. The deceased was about sixty years old and had been connected with some of the largest circuses in the country. He managed a side show with the Sells Bros.' Show during their tour of Australia in 1888. His remains were taken to Rochester, N. Y., for interment.
The Great Wallace Show inaugurated its twenty-third season at the winter quarters, Peru, Ind., April 21,. In the roster are the Tourbillion troupe of cyclists, the St. Leon Family, the Eight Wonderful Zaretskys, the Four Boises, "Alec" Lowande, Wm. Devan, Winnie Sweeney, the ___, Art and Dot Adair, Maude Earl, Delno, Garnel Troupe, Trolly Car Trio, Anita Faber, Hazel Earl, Camille Stirk, Kelly Brothers, Lloyd and Wilkes, Joe Litchel, the Ortaneys, and Takasawas Japs. Among the clowns are Artie Adair, Ganeveo and Theol, Lou Moore, Fred Delmont, and Art Jarris. This year the circus will be transported on forty cars made up in three special trains. The side show has forty-five performers, including the Cliffords and other well-known artists. The opening night an inaugural dance was given in G. A. R. Hall, Peru, by the attachees of the circus. The dance was in charge of Bert Cole, the general advertising manager of the shows. McFarland's side show band furnished the music. It is proposed to give a dance each Saturday night throughout the season. Proprietor Wallace having sanctioned the same.
The roster of the Great Cole Brothers Shows performance: Prof. John Berris, equestrian director; Chas. W. Tenny, musical director; the Seven Dellameads, presenting works of art of both ancient and modern sculptors; William Winslow and Roy Earle in mule hurdle acts; DeEspa, double somersault leaper over camels, horses and elephants; performing elephants directed by Barney Keyes and "Spik" Goodale; Lynda Geal [sic?] and LaPalat, equestriennes; Garry Vanderbilt, Del Feugo, Robe Norton, Jean Deforest, Frank Lavell, Burt Cook, Roy Alexander, Burt Sutton, W. Winslow, Sy Linger, Roy Earl, Brizzon, Spangles, Footit and Sandey, clowns; the Three Cristiannas, equilibrists; the DeEspas, Aerial Shaws and the Goyts in difficult feats on the double trapeze; Prof. Joe Berris and Lillian Schaffer and their high school menage horses; ___, contortionist; Mr. Lander, bounding ropes; W. Shaw, swinging perch; DeEspas, breakaway ladder; the Three Stydes, Bison, contortionist; the Three Russels, wire performance; LaVions, flying trapeze artists; the Laffel Trio, aerial bars; the Cordonas, casting act; Mike Rooney, bareback somersault rider; William Rolland, somersault equestrian; Rochetta Brothers, barrel jumpers; Miss Eva Clark, swinging ladders; the Goyts, revolving ladders; Miss Oliver, swaying ladders; William Rolland, jockey act; Miss Linda Zeal [sic?], hurdle act; the Peerless Pachaco Family; Miss Birdie Rolland, four horse expert; Miss Rose Shaw, driving from one to four horses; the Marvelous Onofroff Family, bicycle riders, and nine events on the hippodrome course.
The Texas Bill Wild West opened its season at Corbin, Ky., April 28, after a rest of only three weeks, during which time the show was increased from a two car to a six car outfit. The features are twenty-five Sioux Indians from Rosebud reservaton; Capt. F. E. Bennett, champion shot; Harry A. Davis, who does shooting from a slack wire and trapeze; W. H. Cahoon, horseback shot; Mexican George, fancy shot; a detachment of cavalry, eight cowboys, headed by Amos Clayton; four lady riders and a troupe of Japanese acrobats. The annex is under the management of W. C. Lane and is replete with curious attractions. Col. W. U. Montgomery, as usual, will direct the show.
J. S. Stimmel, of Springfield, Ohio, will put on a two ring society circus this season for the benefit of lodges. This is the fourth annual tour of this aggregation. He will carry a one hundred and five foot round top with two fifty foot middle pieces, and will show one week each place. They will carry their own band and orchestra and twenty-one feature acts. The show opens at Springfield, Ohio, May 28, for the K. of P. Lodge, and from there will tour Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania. J. S. Stimmel is general manager; W. S. Eakins, advance representative, and C. L. Smith, master of transportation.
Rolla Fox has sold a half interest in the Rolla Fox Vaudeville Circus to M. Quale, a real estate man of Hancock, Mich., and the show will be known this season as the Fox & Quale Trained Animal Co. The opening took place in Chicago May 7, and the show will play lots in that vicinity until July. John ___ has broken in a herd of twelve steers which will be a feature. They will carry eighteen ponies fifteen dogs, four monkeys, six goats, three pigs and a twelve piece band. The organization will travel in two sixty-foot cars and the performances will be given under a seventy-five foot round top with two fifty foot middle pieces.
The Great LaMont Show opened its season April 28, at Salem, Ill., to turnaway business. The show gives a fine parade. Prof. Buckley's band of fifteen pieces is a hummer. Sunday morning the show started for Kinmonday, the friends of the show people accompanying them to the train and bidding them a farewell.
The roster of the advance car No. 3 of the Great Sells-Floto Show: F. C. McMann, manager; Edward Norris, boss billposter; Chas. W. Parker, head lithographer; Chas. Hargreave, Ed G. Hamblin, Harry Hook, C. W. Anderson, Earnest Francis, R. B. Springer, A. E. Johnson, Ted Mulvehill, Geo. Slade, W. B. Lewis, "Bauldy Pauf", W. J. Page, billposters; Fred Redfield, banners; Geo. Mayer, programmer, and Ben Reynolds, porter.
The roster of the advance car No. 2, of the Cummins Wild West Show: B. J. Layden, manager; Walter Ray, boss billposter; W. E. Graves, boss bannerman; Robert C. Myers, lithos; Philip Frank and Wm. Rathburn, programs; Newton Smith, chef; Harvey Hall, porters, and L. Snow, H. Lousch, Geo. Nic, H. Groves, J. Roach, Frank Warick and Sam Houstings, billposters.
Floyd Trover, general agent of the Cook Brothers R. R. Show, left the organizaton April __ in Missouri to spend a two weeks' vacation at his home in Beaver Falls, Pa. He rejoins the show at St. Louis.
Leon Morris' Trained Animal Circus is getting its share of praise. Coffee, the trained bear, dined and wined with the society people at Detroit, made calls and did other stunts.
The roster of Gentry Brothers advertising car No. 2: F. D. Ganigus, manager; Harry Beltz, boss billposter; J. P. Miller, excursion agent; J. B. Nycum, banner man; Frank Harris, lithographer; J. Eviston, programmer; Grant Waters, chef, and Jack Watson, Guy Dickerson and Bob Smith, billposters.
Al J. Gillingham, formerly manager of privileges with the Pawnee Bill, Walter L. Main and the W. P. Hall shows, is now owner of the Vaudette Theatre at Grand Rapids, Mich., and is also interested in the concessions at Romona Park.
Lou Williams, a circus musician, died in Urbana, Ohio, April 28, of consumption. He had been with Barnum & Bailey, Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and others. Mr. Williams was thirty-nine years old and a wife and child survive him.
The Orton Brothers Show, wintering in Des Moines, Ia., will not open until June. Their big top will be sixty foot with two twenty-foot middle pieces. The family band will continue to be the feature.
Washburn & D'Alma have decided to add another flat car to their equipment. Their show is now of sufficient size to be handled in railway freight departments.
Mlle Ada Castello, equestrienne; Dan Castello, jockey, and Chas. Castello, human fly, have signed with the Mackay European Circus.
Chas. Beldin has signed with the Rigg's Rough Riders Band, to play slide trombone.
Notes from the Bert Silver New Tent Show. Our new show is a tent wagon affair and we carry a seventy-foot top and two thirty foot middle pieces. The roster: Bert Silver, violin and cornet; Mrs. Bert Silver, treasurer and ticket seller; Laura Silver, cornet and illustrated songs; Francis Silver, magician and clarionet soloist; Pearl Silver, vocalist and solo alto; G. Earl Silver, juggler and baritone; Little Dick Silver, boy juggler and hoop roller; Dan Rice and his Barnyard Circus; Stone and Hamp, double traps and breakaway ladder; Claude Fairman, slack wire; Otto DeVare, sword swallower; Tone and Mon Cayo, Japanese perch; Frank V. Carpenter, Irish and black face comedian; Leonzo, legless wonder; Clara Carpenter, high-wire dog; Snow and Sibley, knockabout clowns; Elange La Rocque, tuba; R. M. Reynolds, trap drummer and Ed Cross, advance representative. Everything is in readiness at headquarters in Standish, Mich., for the opening May 10.
Frank D. Reavis, boss canvasman, better known as "Sloppy," died at the home of his parents in Princeton, Ind., may 3 [8?], after suffering seven weeks with pneumonia and Bright's disease. Last season Mr. Reavis was with the Hall Show and this season was to go with the Sells-Floto Show, but was taken sick a few days before his time to depart for Denver. Mr. Reavis was well known among circus people and was well liked. Interment was had under the auspices of the Order of Eagles, of which the deceased was a member. The Forepaugh-Sells Show played Princeton on May 3 and several of the boys visited their friend just before his death.
The Frank Ashton Show opened its season May 7 at Freehold, N. J. The executive roster: Frank Ashton, sole owner and manager; J. W. Foster, general agent; Herbert Johnson, equestrian director; Jack Klein, treasurer; Antonio Martinelle, leader of band; Martin McGlorey, manager side show; Andy Watts, boss canvasman, and James Thomas, boss hostler. The performers are: Paul Herbert, principal rider; May Miller, lady rider; Prof. Stadford's trained stallions and ponies; S. Gilberto, Oppie Walton, Jim Friese, Fatty Carpenter and Geo. Siegrist, clowns, and the finale spectacle, entitled The Coronation of Gloria.
The roster of the annex of the Great Van Amburg Shows includes the Camm Bros. Royal Marionettes, Punch and Judy and magic; Mme. Rose, snake enchantress; Dot Assai and Inez Bell, serio-comics and song and dance artists; Mad Vereona, second sight artist; Geo. Reed, monologist; Margarette Sisters, fancy dancers; Vaugh and Mosley, musical act; Ladies' Quartet, Shelby's Big Brass Band and Jubilee Singers; Louis Bush, boss canvasman; Col. J. Caine makes the openings and Alf. Gaines, Will Woods and Hiram Slim are ticket sellers.
The roster of Pawnee Bill's car No. 4: H. J. Fisher, manager; Wilbur Winn, boss billposter; Max Gordenstein and Ike Hayes, banner agents; Sam Mosley, lithographer; John Papest, assistant; Geo. Vanderslice, Geo. Beanstifer, Walter Graab, Jos. Herrity, Claude Dallas, John Foley and W. McKaughton, billposters; Hugh Gray, chef, and Harry Daily, porter.
Mlle. Vera Marinella, of the Great Marinellas, was forced to leave the Hagenbeck Show at Lancaster, Pa., temporarily, to have her hand treated. A scratch from a broken wire caused the injury and blood poisoning set in.
The DeGraus' write: Hayden and LaLonde, trapeze and revolving ladder artists, and Harry DeMarlo, contortionist, closed with the Hagenbeck Show at Philadelphia, and we joined at Lancaster for the concert. Out little daughter is the hit of this part of the entertainment.
James McKinney, side show manager, who accompanied the Sells Brothers' Circus on its trip to Australia n 1888, died Wednesday, May 2, at the St. Vincent Hospital, New York City.
Chas. Bartine has opened a cafe, The Bartine, at Connersville, Ind., and will not be in the show business this season.
During the evening performance of the Great Cole Show at Mattoon, Ill., last week, a heavy wind and rain storm interfered with the performance and caused the last half to be omitted. Business, however, was great.
Alfredo and Cerita write that they are making good as one of the features of the side show of the Hagenbeck Circus. Their marionette act is one of the best.
Adonis Faybio closed his vaudeville season May 5 at the Elita Theatre, Muscatine, Ia., to go with the Kennedy Brothers' Show.
Harlan S. Mankin has signed with the Gollmar Brothers Show to do his fifteen foot pedestal act.
Thos. Alton has joined the Rigg's Rough Riders as contracting agent.
Billboard, May 19, 1906, pp. 22, 36, 37, 39. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Robbins' Tent Burned. The breaking of a lamp and the explosion of a tank of gasoline at New Rochelle, N. Y., on May 11, caused a stampede among the audience witnessing performance of the Frank A. Robbins Show and almost completely demolished the big tent. The fire started about nine o'clock. Mlle. Reinal was being hoisted to the top of the tent to perform her Dip of Death act when the rope struck a big gasoline lamp and sent it to the ground. The fire spurted in every direction and struck a barrel containing gasoline. The explosion which followed was accompanied by a blinding flash, and the burning fluid was scattered. A panic began. People dropped through their seats and were injured on the cross beams. The animals became wild. John Sullivan, a keeper, sustained a broken ankle in his endeavor to save some of the trained stock. The tent was a high one, stockly built of heavy canvas, and big beams. The flames shot up through the center, buring a hole first in the tip. The shooting spirals of fire could be seen a great distance. It is estimated that $1,000 will cover the entire loss to the show.
The Elstun Bros. United Shows have been open for three weeks playing lots in Kansas City, Mo. All equipment is new and twenty-six head of ponies are carried for ring stock. They also have twenty-four draft horses, fourteen wagons and a troupe of educated birds and monkeys. Miles Berry is acting as general agent with three assistants; H. T. Doak is equestrian director; Frank Elstun, manager; C. D. Elstun, ringmaster; Charles Elstun, treasurer, and Prof. Wm. Howard, band master. The performers are J. Wisharde, E. D. Zarro, Mabel Butterworth, McCoy Family and Frank and Lena Brown. D. Myers is boss canvasman with ten assistants; Charles Miller, boss hostler, and Chef Shaw has charge of the cook house. This wagon show looks like a winner.
Sun Brothers roster: George and Pete Sun, directors and manager; George Sun, acting manager; Pete Sun, general agent; C. S. Clarke, contracting agent; R. S. Woods, advance car manager; Jack Bledsoe, special agent; Bert Moore, boss billposter; James Cherry, superintendent; Clinton Newton, press agent and adjuster; Henry Richards, boss canvasman; Ben Botts, boss hostler; Lew Williams, master of transportation; Dr. F. A. Smith, veterinary surgeon; Lew Collins, assistant supt. of canvas; Arville Clark, boss property man; Harry Baxter, chandelier man; James Stewart, manager of dining tents; Wm. Randolph, forage agent; George Gardner, manager lunch car; Chas. Haberlich, blacksmith, and Wm. Parker, night watchman.
The big show performers are: Orrin Hollis, equestrian director; the Carl Lamay Troupe, the Seven Smilettas, Marvelous Lamberto, Nettie Hollis, Minnie Ashburne, Josephine Brown, W. C. Clark, Wilbur Plank, Senter Stanley, Frank Wright, Chas. LaNotre, Melrose and Nashti, the Des Crepeny Aerialists, J. D. Stoddel, Three Smiletta Sisters, Wilbur Marion, Master Melvin Hollis, and Prof. Walter Ashburne. The musican contingent is: Prof. Frank D. Berst, director; John Dusch, Eugene Walker, Joe Fox, Geo. Wheeler, W. P. Lovenzen, Arthur Bryant, Harry Deihm, George Ream, Howard Runkel, Jack Siegrist, Jack Gratton, Howard Aspike, Edw. King, Harry Knight, Frank Lanore, Jack Bailey, John Badger, Bet Rango, V. A. Nier, Jack Rodgers and John Dock.
The side show people are James W. Beatty, manager; Prof. C. F. Brown, musical director; Frank Neill, boss canvasman, and Prof. Silvers, lecturer. Attractions: Mayfield Sisters, Mino Veola, the Great Maurice, Prof. Silver, Prof. Mundell, Mlle. Clyo, Mme. Keene, Cole and King, Musical Annette and Prof. Brown's band and orchestra. The refreshment stands and confectionery store are conducted by J. C. Mitchell Bremer (Original Peanuts). Col. H. H. Sylvester has the advertising and lunch car privileges. The new canvas for the show arrived at Evansville, Ind., and will be used there for the first time on May 19.
Notes from the McDonald Brothers Shows. We are still in Georgia playing to good business. Our menagerie is the best ever and our parade the talk of the towns where we play. We have eleven rigs in addition to the mounted people and a good band and organ wagon. We have ordered two more cages, a ticket wagon, a pony trap and six tableaux. We will shortly add two elephants. Four men are in advance. We received our new tent from Baker & Lockwood on June 1. Our forty people are all happy. The weather is fine in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Forepaugh-Sells Circus advance car No. 1: H. Graham, car manager; F. O'Donnell, press agent; L. O. Gleason, W. H Bedwards, lithographers; E. Sherwin, programmer; Hank Getz, boss billposter; P. Scanlan, B. Mast, L. Taylor, H. South, H. Matson, R. McConnell, G. Gustafson, F. Cullan, E. Davis, H. Barnthouse, F. E. Green, W. Smith, R. Patchin, D. Scanlan, E. Geiger and P. Hurst, car porter.
The roster of the No. 1 advertising car of the Cook & Barrett Show: Robert J. Mercer, manager; Ed. Cunningham, in charge of paper; Harry Bradford, lithographer; Geo. Smith and Jack Tague, bannerman, and Chas. Pailing, Otis Stewart, Billy Clark, Dick White, George Cameron, Harry Summers, Frank Rowland, Jack Hall, Ernest Lehman and Harry Webb, billposters.
Prof. H. Wilson, animal trainer, was killed at Havana, Cuba, recently, while breaking in some stallions for a high diving act. Prof. Wilson had been a trainer for fifteen years. Interment was had at Havana.
The Cummins Wild West Show jumped from Youngstown, O., to McKeesport, Pa., and gave the parade on time. Parneye Steffan, lady lecturer and announcer, joined the Cummins' Wild West May 7, at New Castle, Pa. Big Bill Yenney, of Piqua, O., joined the Cummins' Wild West at Youngstown, Ohio, April 30.
J. E. Noble will be general agent for both the Nickel Plate and the Golden Gate shows this season. Both open in Chicago, the former on May 17 and the latter on May 28.
Jones Enormous Shows and Pawnee Bill played against each other on May 7, the former at New Kensington and the latter at Tarentum, Pa.
Bert B. Cook, who has been clowning with Cole Bros.' Show, has left that organizaton and is at his home in Warren, Pa.
From Norris & Rowe. Tom J. Myers, press representative of the Greater Norris & Rowe Circus, writes from Eugene, Ore., on the progress of the show: "Tody begins the ninth week of what has proven one of the most remarkable seasons. That we are still intact after a series of earthquakes, remarkable for their intensity, several wrecks of passenger trains both ahead and behind us; wash-outs, land slides, rain, bridges washed away, and kindred misfortunes. We were in Vallejo, just across the Bay from San Francisco when the earthquake occurred. We omitted the night show at Vallejo and gathered upon the hilss and watched San Francisco go up in smoke. I lost my beautiful home, but recently completed with all its furnishings, my pictures and books, the collection of years. My folks spent two nights on the ocean beach, and finally escaped to Almeda, where we have another home.
"For a week after the earthquake we played towns adjacent to San Francisco, giving a portin of the receipts each day to the local fund for the sufferers. When the weather was fair we had good business and after leaving the immediate zone of the affected district, we met with our usual uniform good business. Carson and Reno, Nev., were very good and since then we have beaten last season's receipts in nearly every town visited. At Grant's Pass, Ore., May 4, Princess Olga, one of our Turkish troupe of dancers, fell from the camel she was riding in the parade and suffered a broken limb and severe fractures. We placed her in a good hospital, with skilled nurses and a surgeon and made her as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. Mrs. Rowe stayed over to personally look after the sufferer. In Rosenburg, Ore., May 5, Princes Nouma, the midget, was publicly united in matrimony with Frank DeRum, one of the attaches with the show. Walter Shannon, manager of the privileges, was best man and Master of Ceremonies. In Santa Rosa, Mr. Gray, formerly of the Sells & Gray Show, was a welcome visitor. In Roseburg, William Eiler spent the day with us. After a short tour of the Sound Country we will go into British Columbia and then eastward over the Northern Pacific."
The roster of the excursion car of the Campbell Brothers Great Consolidated Shows: W. M. Vance, manager; Frank Campbell, boss billposter; E. N. Smith, Wilber Wynne, Carl Tuffley [Tuffiey?], Geo. Kline, Ray Craig, Chas. Maurose, Will Brown, billposters; Emory D. Proffitt, lithographer, with Ray Palmer and Joe Reed as assistants; C. E. Jones, programmer; Frank Rock, pastemaker, and C. E. Smith, chef.
The roster of the advertising forces of Pawnee Bill's Wild West: John D. Carey, general agent; Jos. M. Howard, assistant agent; Robert Clements, railroad contractor; Wm. A. Wallace, special agent; John A. Boyle, manager car No. 2; Ralph Derringer, boss billposter with twenty assistants; Robt. Simons, manager car No. 4; Wilbur Winn, boss billposter with twenty-five assistants, and "Kid" Mills and E. D. Naughton, special opposition agents.
Billboard, June 2, 1906, pp. 24, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The roster of the Gollmar Brothers' Show: the Maxwell-Nelson Troupe, aerialists; Noetzel Family, high wire artists; Lizzie Rooney, equestrienne; W. F. Wallet, rider; Smith Brothers, acrobats; Itilay Horner, tight wire; Maxwell Nelson and Griffith, aerial bar; Gustie Brandon, juggling; Ollie Miller, equilibrist; E. E. Turner, juggler; Petit Family, acrobats; Flying Nelsons, trapeze artists; Eckhoff Brothers, revolving ladder; the Brandons, revolving ladder; Harlan S. Mackin, contortionist; S. Nancello, contortionist; Phil Clifford, comique; Mlle. Arnold, rider; Mozetto [Mosetto?] Troupe, casting act; Emery Stiles, trained elephants; Viola and Gerturde, aerialists; Londown Troupe, statuary artists; Arnt Augustad, contortionist; the Leardos, acrobats; Allie Gustad, equestrian; John Jardot, rider; Chas. Rooney, rider; George Wood, menage act; Fred Franklin, menage act; and Harry Brandon, Bert Smith, George Wymann, V. Swifte, Wm. Donohue, Dick Walton, Phil Clifford, Chas. Petey, Fred Arlington, Arthur Lelond, Geo. Bradford, Harry Bradford, _. H. Powell, James Wetzel, Joe Eckhoff and W. S. Griffith, clowns.
Mackay's European Circus opened its season May 27 at Toledo, Ohio. Hugh Coyle is doing the press work.
Mary A. Sells, divorced wife of the late Peter Sells, was married in Kansas City, Mo., so it is reported, on May 12, to George H. Edwards, of that city.
Notes from Gay's One Horse Circus. We opened at Belleville, Ia., on May 10, for three nights to capacity business. We will play the smaller towns through Iowa and Illinois. We carry a 55 foot round top with a 40 foot middle piece and a 50 foot horse top. We carry ten wagons, three chariots, a clown cart and twenty-six head of stock. Our roster: Gay Billings, proprietor and manager; Mrs. Essa Billings, treasurer; Chas. Barnes, advance; Roy Cook, band leader with seven men; Ralph Talbot, boss canvasman with five assistants; Perry Daman, boss hostler with two assistants; Bill Spiven, props; Mrs. Farrel, cook with two assistants; the Three Nickelsons, head and hand balancers; Prof. Carl Clark and his trained ponies and dogs; Grover Ranck, contortionist; Myron Bacon, slack wire; Ralph Talbot, traps; Eva Billings, contortionist; Eva Billings, buck and wing dancer; Bacon and Bacon, sketch team; Ethel Billings, skirt dancer; Gay Billings motion pictures, adn Elmer Henn, Perry Lewis, Ross Brading, Claude Daniels, Finley Morrison and Charlie Farrel, band men.
Notes from Rice Brothers Shows. We opened at Sioux Rapids, Ia., on May 19, where we gave two performances to good business. We carry a sixty foot round top with a forty foot middle piece and a fifty foot round top for a dressing tent. We use six wagons for transportation and carry thirty people. Our roster: Rice Brothers, proprietors; Don K. Rice, manager; Frank Smith, equestrian director; Walter Savidge, slack wire; Fred Von Seggin, trapeze; the Wrest Family, acrobats; Geo. Rice's educated pigs; Geo. Jones, contortionist; Rice Brothers' comedy mule act; Ernest Shimberling leader of band; Otto Bethke, Ed. Myhre, John Simmons, Frank Johnson, Sam Byers and Ike Simpson, musicians; James Wilson, boss canvasman; Chas. McDonalf and Frank Mung, property men; and Gus Milliams, boss hostler. We carry three free acts, viz.: Don Rice, balloonist; Prof. Savidge, high wire, and the diving dog Tip. We play through the northwest this season.
The members of the Great Wallace Show enjoyed a dance at Pittsburg, Kan., Sunday evening, May 20, in the Elk's Hall. There were thirty-five couples present, who danced to the music of the McFarland Orchestra.
G. Deatrich is doing great work ahead of the Lowery Bros. Dog and Pony Circus. The show tours Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Hugo Herzog and his troupe of stallions joined the Frank A. Robbins Show last week as an extra feature. Herr Herzog will also introduce a novelty statute menage act called The White Knight.
It is rumored that a prominent showman, who has been in retirement for several years, is negotiating for the interest held by the late W. H. Gardner in the Hagenbeck Shows.
Edward Arlington and Harry Patter met at Montreal last week and arranged with the Canadian Ry. for non-conflicing routes for the Barnum & Bailey and the Great Cole shows.
Miss Dolly Bancroft and Fred Bickel, both of the Jones Enormous Shows, were married in Kittaning, Pa., Saturday, May 19.
W. E. Ferguson has contracted through New England for the Cummins Wild West which goes as far north as Portland, Me.
The Hagenbeck Show makes a straight run through Canada, jumping from Medina, N. Y., to a city in Michigan.
Geo. Atkinson joined the Great Wallace Shows at Peru, Ind., April 28, as press agent and announcer.
The Wallace Shows gave a fine performance in Ottawa, Kan., May 1, to good business.
Col. Billy Barlow, Dutch clown and comedian, is with the Mighty Haag Show.
The Noxon Sisters joined the J. S. Stimmel Society Circus on May 27.
Johnny Rooney, aerial artist, has joined the Ringling Brothers show.
Eugene Berry and Harry Pilkington are with the Pawnee Bill Show.
Billboard, June 16, 1906, p. 20, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
On Monday, May 28, the Stimmell Society Circus opened its season at Springfield, Ohio, for the K. of P. Lodge, and in spite of inclement weather turned people away. They carry a 105 foot round top with two fifty foot middle pieces. The roster: Conser's Dog Circus, the Guthrie Family on the trapeze and Roman ladders; Wooley and Piers on the aerial triple bars; Ben and Lewis, novelty ladders; Sinclair and Carlisle, double wire walkers; Bartone, contortionist; Samoya, cloud swing; Manuel, Roman rings; Wright and Cooper, barrel jumpers; Stapleton and Chaney, hat spinners and foot jugglers; Courson and Tibin, tumblers; Barton, single trapeze; Corrigan and Hayes, singing and dancing comedians; Noxon Sisters, singers and dancers; and Kirby and Smith, knockabout clowns. Prof. Theo. Stout, bandmaster, has the following musicians: Paul Lieban, Earl Dunn, Arthur Anderson, Chas. Monroe, J. H. Morgan, Antoine Bessee, E. W. Nence, Mike Quine, E. C. Egger, Clifford Jefferson and J. M. Brown. C. E. Cannon has charge of the side show and carries a 40 by 70 foot top with an eighty foot double deck front.
Notes from the Kemp Sisters Wild West. Since our opening May 5, at Lamar, Mo., we have played to good business. Our roster: G. P. Kemp, owner and general manager; G. O. Fritz, secretary and treasurer; Krank Kemp, boss canvasman; Abe Kemp, assistant; Mrs. G. P. Kemp, supt. of reserved seats; Mrs. Abe Kemp, reserved seat ticket seller; Rocky Mountain Hank, general announcer and manager of concert; Col. Victor F., Miss May and Jennie Cody, riders and sharp shooters; Col. Vic. Cody, arena director; Arizona Charley, E. Holliday, Col. Spencer, C. C. Lee, Jess Oppinger, Tony Grimes, Jack Shafer, A. Stewart, Al Folk, Geo. Carvor adn La Welker, rough riders; Mida Kemp and Ethel Brown, lady riders; Prof. Dolph Voight, slack wire; Col. Spencer, supt. of Indians; Prof. Feagan's cowboy and cowgirl band of fourteen pieces, and Chas. Fick and wife, rube clowns. J. Fritz has charge of the refreshments and Mida Kemp has the Indian bead souvenirs. The concert consists of Rocky Mountain Hank in comic songs; the Codys in an impalement act; the DeAlvens, expert shooters; H. Sidinberg, singer and dancer, and D. Voight, juggler. Al Reed and family has charge of the cook house; Geo. Carver is wagon boss; Chas. Brown has charge of stock; H. A. Morgan is general agent; Floyd Hill, twenty-four hour man. Our route has taken us through Kansas and Missouri and we have showed all towns, large and small. Business was a little light in Kansas on account of the coal strike. At Independence and Odessa, Mo., we played to packed houses. The comedy feature of the parade and big show is the work of Charles and Ethel Fick, the Missouri rubes, who use a horse and donkey to the best advantage.
The side show of the Al F. Wheeler's New Model Shows under the management of Will T. Miller, is doing good business for a wagon show. The roster: Mme. LaNora, fire dancer and human bomb; Spauldie, the mathematical dog; Clio, snakes; the Great Perrino, untamable lion; May Glen, second sight; and Will T. Miller, magician. A cub lion occupying a cage with a lamb and a dog is in the annex.
The roster of the side show with the Jones Enormous Shows: Al. Anderson, manager and orator; G. Burkhart, lecturer and magician; Mrs. G. Burkhart, mind reader; F. Mexicano Griot, lion tamer; Mr. and Mrs. Bickel, comedy boxers; Lizzette, snake charmer; Miss Octalia, song and dance; H. Bankroft, female impersonator; a colored band of nine pieces; R. Star, doorkeeper; C. Elvords, J. McBride and Bill Smith, ticket sellers.
Geo. Day, formely known as Lousay, the strong man, with the Sells Show, has opened an electric theatre in Xenia, Ohio. His wife assists him in the management of his enterprise.
The opposition brigade of the Sells-Floto Shows is composed of W. R. Musgat, general agent; Harry Johnson, Willie Moorehead, Harley Wright, Otto Essenger, John ___, and H. C. McDonald.
The Reno-DeGar troupe of aerialists and acrobat, William, Marie, Harry and Walter, are maing a hit with the Harris Nickel Plate Shows in Chicago.
Flying Merriam, aerial gymnast, has joined the Seibel Brothers' Dog & Pony Show, to feature his aerial loop act in the concert.
W. J. Winterburn has a show on the Chicago lots which he is operating as Harris' Nickel Plate Show.
Col. Cummins packed them in on Decoration Day at Schenectady, N. Y. Hagenbeck's turned them away on the 28th.
The following letter explains itself: Ware, Mass., June 6, 1906. Editor The Billboard. Dear Sir - To the many friends of Billy Vogt for several years treasurer for Barnum & Bailey, Ringling and Walter L. Main shows, we wish to notify them that he opened with the Cummins Wild West, and has not been well from the start, not able to do his work. We finally left him at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mass., very ill, with we believe, some kind of kidney trouble. His friends around the show raised quite a sum, and left the cash subscribed with him, and we are going to send him the amount subscribed as soon as collecte, but this may not last long, as his illness, we fear, may be indefinite. If any of his old friends wish to correspond with or assist him, letters will reach him at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mass. Yours very truly, The Cummins Wild West Exhibition Co.
When the McDonald Brothers Show played Charleston, Tenn., recently, a gang of toughs entered the show grounds with the avowed intention of "cutting her down." A close watch was kept on them and they were prevented from doing any harm until night when one of them succeeded in cutting one of the main guy ropes, letting the pole fall in. The canvasmen at once drove the men away after a quick fight in which one of the toughs was killed. The man who did the kiling left for parts unknown and Harry McDonald, one of the proprietors of the show, was arrested for the crime. Upon a hearing he was released, but only to be re-arrested. He was tried this time by a judge who was a relative of the dead man and was bound over under a $5,000 bond and the show attached for $10,000. Mr. McDonald concluded to give no bond and his attorney instituted habeas corpus proceedings. Judge H. C. James released the prisoner pronouncing him not guilty. The courtroon was packed and when the verdict was given the crowd cheered the judge and congratulated Mr. McDonald. The band wagon was manned at once and a performance was announced for the evening. The tent was packed. This was one time that the villain got what he deserved and a showman got justice.
Albert Gaston, the singing and talking clown, is in his third season with the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows.
James H. Daly has closed with Talbott's Fighting the Flames and has joined the Gentry Brothers Show.
Billboard, July 7, 1906, pp. 9, 20, 21, 22. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The Bloomer Girls with the Great Wallace Show, Marie Elser, Sadie Connors, Maud Earl, Emma Stickney, Anita Faber and Florence Jarvis.
Roster of the Great Aiton & Anderson Show: Thos. Aiton and C. E. Anderson, sole owners and managers; C. W. Black, general agent; N. C. Jackson, press agent; Frank Woods, manager car No. 1; N. W. ___, manager car No. 2; Mrs. C. E. Anderson, treasurer; H. Yockey and R. C. Hanks, ticket sellers; N. J. Kelley, twenty-four hour man; R. C. Stewart, manager dining tent; "Whity" Ross, boss canvasman; Freed Jones, manager kid top; Jack Rose, train man; Hart and ___, Roman rings; Chas. Johnson, singing clown; Staford Sisters, bareback riders; Edith Johnson, traps and bounding wire; Geo. Acton, mule hurdle rider; Dan St. Leon, four horse rider; Millie LaToure, calliope player; Rose and Rose, impalement act; Hitt and Hitt, song and dance; Ada Moulton, aerial bars and traps; Nellie Adams, contortionist; Homer Hall, principal clown, with Chas. Yorke, Chas. Adams, Frank Tate and Bob Kester, comedy producers; Fred James, stilts; Carrie James, Edna Conroy, Anna Hall and Lottie Lemas, society acrobats; Anderson's troupe of dogs and ponies; Harris and Woods' troupe of performing elephants, a white band of twelve pieces under the management of Jack Sampson, and a colored band of ten pieces under the management of Chas. Brown. It is a twelve car show, and since the opening in Utica, N. Y., on May __, it has played three weeks in New York, two in Canada and then back to U.S.A.
Chester J. Monahan and "Kid" Lewis joined the privilege department of the Sun Brothers Show at Franklin, Ind., recently.
John F. Doherty, who was with the Barnum Circus long before it became a railroad show, and who drove the personal carriage of the great showman, died Friday, June 22, at his home in Bangor, Me., at the age of eighty-two years.
Jas. A. Morrow's Big Pavilion Shows is doing a good business in New York State. The show carries twenty-four head of stock, eight baggage wagons, two passenger wagons, one advance wagon and manager Morrow's private carriage. There are forty-two people with the show.
Mrs. F. Bichel, better known as Dollie Bancroft, and now in the side show of the Jones Enormous Shows, celebrated her twenty-first birthday one day last week and the attachees of the show presented her with a diamond pin.
Foolish Ford, the clown, closes with the Cummins' Wild West and joins the Great Cole Show on July 9.
The McDonald & Campbell Show is preparing for a tour of Texas under a fifty by eighty top.
M. L. Man has joined Mackay's European Circus band as solo tuba.
Gentry Brothers played Fairmont, W. Va., July 4.
Notes from Kemp Sisters Wild West, Indian Congress and American Hippodrome Show. The show is just commencing its tour of Illinois, where it was organized twenty-five years ago by G. P. Kemp, who is still owner and manager.
Roster of cook tent with the Carl Hagenbeck Greater Shows: L. Lang, chef; H. Powers, J. Burgess, E. Thompson, C. Korning, E. George, J. Modermot, camp fire; W. Smith, repairs; T. Campbell, head waiter; E. Medbury, bread table; Geo. Seymore and E. Johnson, bosses' table; M. Ryan, J. murry, J. Watkinson, J. Knobell, A. Sincoe, J. Conning, H. St. Clair, J. Anderson, H. Miller, J. Kenney, E. Campion, M. Daly, N. Smith, Joe Hoffman, J. Murphy, T. Ryan, C. Larrance, L. Anderson, B. Beverly, W. Lawson, T. Morris, P. Jones, H. Bell, A. Dumston, R. Franklin, D. Wendel, J. Taborn, J. Morris, F. Keets, H. Dunken, E. Douglas, H. Edwards, and C. House.
Roster of car No. 2 of Barnum & Bailey Show: A. C. Abbott, manager; V. Cooke, secretary; G. Frazier, boss billposter; C. J. Sullivan, Thos. Murphy, H. Glattly, Theo. Thatcher, Wm. Croupe, G. West, S. Wilkinson, Mr. Corbett, M. Goodman, A. Cohen, W. Cochreen and E. Tice, billposters; A. C. Sprague, bannerman; Chas. Loverick, assistant; F. Batterson, lithographer; Joseph Rosenthal, pastemaker; B. R. Clawson, Arthur Fitchett, chef; Edw. Tolles, waiter, and L. Ward, porter.
As the Robbins Show train pulled into Woodsville, N. H., June 22, a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Al. G. Belford, sketch artists. The little lady was christened Lottie Winona Belford, in honor of Mrs. Jack Cousins and Winona G. Robbins. The performers raised a purse of $152 and presented it to little Lottie.
The clowns with the Great Cole Show are: Billy and Robert Winslow, Tom Long, Eugene Ritchie, Ed Sylow, Richard Williams, Billy Langer, Frank F. LaVell, Sam Nelson, Wm. Roseman, Wm. Robinson, George Hill, Roy Earl, Tim Sweeney and Ruba Derker.
Petro Florenz, acrobat, and Miss Olga LaMont, of the LaTroupe Carmen, both of the Barnum & Bailey Show, were married June 23, at Boston, Mass.
Lowery Brothers Circus has been enjoying splendid business since its opening March 29. G. Michaels, formerly connected with the Hertig Seamon Circus, is now in advance for the Lowery Brothers.
Billboard, July 21, 1906, pp. 14, 24, 26. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Norris & Rowe Wreck. Tom J. Myers, press representative of the Greater Norris & Rowe Show, writes from Deloraine, Manitoba, July 12: On July 1, while running at a high rate of speed, the Norris & Rowe Show train was wrecked at a point five miles north of Saskatoon, Sask. Five flates left the rails, some running into the prairie. With the exception of six sea lions, no animals were killed. Eight cages, four tableau wagons, harness and chandelier wagons, the new ticket wagon and a number of smaller wagons were completely demolished. The Canadian Pacific is replacing the damaged property as rapidly as possible.
The Norris & Rowe dressing room, as well as the workingmen mourn the departure of little Miss Ethel Adams, one of the Stirk Family of bicyclists and revolving trapeze artists. She has returned to New York to supervise the the ballets, costumes and dances of a big musical production. The baby camel born recently is in fine health. Frank Miller is breaking in a new two-horse act. He has a promising apprentice in Miss Grace Morten, who made her debut in the arena this season with Norris & Rowe.
The Nott Brothers have purchased the Jones-Adams New Century Electric Show and have converted the same into a one-ring circus. They are now playing North Carolina. They carry a complete electric light plant and show under a sixty foot round top. The performance consists of tumbling, slight of hand work, clowning and an up-to-date electric show. Business has been impaired because of much rain, but they are doing pretty well.
Roster of the advance of the Great Cole Show: E. C. Knupp, general agent; Harry Potter, railroad contractor; W. T. Murphy, local contractor; W. Rose, forage agent; Harry Curtis, manager car No. 1; Fred Bates, manager car No. 2; Kid Koster, manager car No. 3; Bert Foster and E. W. Watters, special agents; G. W. Bowers, route rider, and C. Thompson, twenty-four hour man.
The Washburn & D'Alma Show put up a splendid performance and turned people away at New Bedford, Mass., July 2-4. The fifty trained ponies seemed to be the hit of the show, but the trained dogs, elephants and monkeys came in for a share of applause. On July 4 the main tent was blown down and considerably damaged, but the performances were given just the same.
Both the Kemp Sisters Shows will play fair dates this season. The No. 1 show is filling dates for Kentucky and the South, while the No. 2 show will play the Middle and Eastern states, opening at Salem, Ind. The shows will play behind side walls, and will furnish the band and some free acts.
The clowns with the Campbell Brothers Show are Shorty Boggs, Dan Randall, Max Dillae, O. E. Dops, Wilson and David, Wm. Wallace, Chas. R. Dean, Great Mentor, Fat David, Clarence Mason, Gus Kraft and Mrs. Dean's big boy, Skip.
James N. Sechrist, manager of the Yankee Robinson Circus, was a caller at our Chicago offices, Saturday, July 14, and reported fine business. Mr. Sechrist purchased a lot of circus equipment in Chicago.
The Cole Show claims the record for fast billposting for this season. Four men of the No. 1 opposition brigade are said to have put up 3,600 sheets out of Niagara Falls, N. Y., and all were single routes.
Howard and Arch Webb, of the Beloit Band, have joined the Yankee Robinson Circus, with whom the former has the leadership of the band. The show is touring southern Iowa.
Bonheur Brothers claim to have the smallest well-formed Llama Island pony in existence. It weighs fifteen pounds and goes by the name of Alva.
Stick Davenport, of the Campbell Brothers Show, purchased two fine gray horses on July 6, paying five hundred dollars for them. Good business in Michigan in spite of much opposition.
The Cowboy Band, which closed with the Texas Bill Wild West at Akron, Ohio, has joined the Seibel Brothers Dog & Pony Show, and is making a hit in the parade.
Mackay's European Circus has been experiencing some very bad weather in Ohio, but they left Uhrichsville on July 6 in pretty good shape.
Paul Branchard has joined the Wallace Show and is creating a sensation with his revolving finish.
"Doc" Crosby has joined the Yankee Robinson Shows, as special announcer.
Hattie Richard is not with the Bonheur Brothers Golden Mascot Show.
Billboard, August 11, 1906, p. 14, 19, 24, 25, 26. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. T. H. Webb, manager of the band with the Yankee Robinson Show, and Miss Henrietta Frank, of Waterloo, Ia., at Centre Point, Ia., last week.
"Hi" Trout, who for years delighted the crowds as a clown with Dan Rice, "Yankee" Robinson and the Van Amburg Show, and at one time a member of the "Cal" Wagner Minstrels, has opened a restaurant at Penn Yan, N. Y.
Tom Fay, one time boss canvasman with the big ones, who was recently sent to St. Charles, Minn., on a subscription raised among the circus boys by his friend C. D. Lynn, of the Campbell Brothers' Shows, reports that he is recovering and the doctors give some hope of pulling him through.
W. H. McFarland, manager of the annex with the Great Wallace Shows, has been under the weather for some time with an attack of malaria, last Thursday left the show at Crown Point, Ind., and went to Chicago for treatment at the Mercy Hospital.
C. E. Edwards, who has been with the Jones Enormous Shows, is in Harrisburg, Pa., arranging for a long season south for the Cole & Rogers Show, which will continue to be a two car aggregation. James I. White is proprietor and Mr. Edwards is manager.
Harry L. Thurman and Miss Della Abell, musician and singer, respectively, with the Jones Enormous Shows, were married July 16, at Uniontown, Pa., by Rev. C. A. McGee. The ceremony was performed in the lion's den. Both parties are colored.
Sammy Nelson, known as the diamond clown, and Richard Williams are meeting with success in their comedy acrobatic act with the Great Cole Brothers' Show.
Harlan S. Mankin, contortion act, is one of the hits of the Gollmar Brothers Show this season.
Chas. Fick, of the team of Charles and Etheyl Fick, is equestrian director of the Lentz & Robenson's Show which opened its season July 28. Col. Weaver is manager and T. J. Cannon is general agent.
"Kid" Foster has closed with the Cole Brothers' opposition brigade and has taken the advance of Elmer Walter's A Millionaire Tramp Co.
James G. Wesson, known to the circus fraternity as Jim West, committed suicide in the Windsor Hotel, Schenectady, N. Y., Monday morning, July 30, by shooting himself in the brain. Wesson closed with the Hagenbeck Show in Chicago and journeyed to Schenectady, arriving there Friday. He seemed to be unsuccessful in securing suitable work and a letter written to his wife in New York just before the deed would seem to indicate that the well-known clown was melancholy and despondent, saying he was sick and unable to work and that he would be better off dead. There was no domestic trouble. Wesson clowned for thirty years and was one of the best fun-makers in the ring. He was forty-seven years old. In 1875 he joined the Forepaugh Show and was with it and the Ringling Show for a number of years. This spring he opened with Barnum & Bailey at Madison Square Garden, N. Y., but in May he joined the Hagenbeck Show at Buffalo and remained with it until the Chicago engagement. The deceased was a member of the Waterbury, Conn., Lodge of Elks and the Schenectady lodge took charge of the remains. Mrs. Wesson left New York for Schenectady immediately on receipt of the sad news.
Waterbury, Conn., July 29, 1906. Editor The Billboard. Dear Sir - Will you kindly correct in your next issue the statement that I am advertising solicitor with the Main-Cummins Show. I am not and never have been an advertising agent for the Main-Cummins Wild West and control the advertising privileges of the parade. Mr. Zimmern is solicitor and Mr. Clark has the program. Yours truly, H. Stanley Lewis.
Roster of the Yankee Robinson Show: Fred Buchanan, proprietor; C. W. Buchanan, manager; J. N. Sechrest, assistant manager; Everett Hayes, general press agent; H. G. Marmon, assistant press agent; A. D. Sharp, treasurer; J. D. Bowers and Wm. Donohoe, ticket sellers; Joseph Cook, front door man; Joseph Huxford, door messenger; Harry LaVan, equestrian director; Fred Lassere, assistant director; T. A. Webb, leader of band with Archie Webb, director; Emery Didam and Wm. Young, cornet; L. D. Johnson and J. O'Brien, clarinet; R. S. Gipple and T. H. Webb, alto; Cupid Pennington and W. French, trombone; Wm. Boswell, baritone; Mrs. Nelson Lewis, bass, and Mrs. B. Richardson, trap drum; Mrs. Fred Cevene, single traps; Dalton Brothers, revolving ladders; Bernhardt and Young, comedy acrobats; Cevene Brothers, tight wire artists; Fred Lassere, contortionist; Robert Percifield, slack wire; Earl Powers, traps; Tivana Sisters, expert rifle shot; Prof. Buckley's troupe of trained dogs; Mons. Joseph, modern Sampson; James Riley, Henry Jones, Fred Holehan, Geo. Taylor and Frank Skinner, clowns; Thos. Gill, canvas man; Daniel Spayd, supt. cook tent; Chas. Lamont, props; Ross Ashcraft, boss hostler; L. J. Ring, agent in advance with two lithographers, four billposters and four country agents, and H. W. Boswell, twenty-four hour man.
Geo. W. London, of Greenville, Pa., has purchased the Tuttle Olympic Show, and the right to use the name for the balance of the season. Mrs. A. F. Tuttle, who has been managing this wagon show for the past fifteen years, retires with her husbanc to her home in Linesville, Pa. Mr. London will manage the show for the balance of the season. Mrs. Tuttle has not decided what she will do in the future. After visiting her daughter who is with the Payton Sisters Co., she may settle down and live easy for the rest of her life or she may decide to put out another show.
While performing on the high wire with her husband at Michigan City, Ind., Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 1, Mrs. Edith Smith, of the Ringling Show, lost her balance and fell a distance of thirty feet, sustaining three broken ribs and a compound fracture just above the right knee. An ambulance was called and Mrs. Smith was hurried to the St. Anthony Hospital.
Notes from the McDonald Bros. Show. On June 27 we arrived in Morristown, Tenn., for a three weeks' rest and repairs. Four new cages and three tableau wagons were ordered from H. L. Witt & Son, a new firm. When we left Morristown, July 13, our show had almost doubled in size. We also added two new sleepers and ten head of stock. We are now two weeks out and banner business has been done at every stand. Mme. Stockney joined at Morristown with her dogs and ponies, and Billy Reid joined to do the concert and principal clown. The band is under the leadership of Geo. Laffree and is composed of Chas. C. Wylie, cornet; Ed. V. Raymond, clarinet; H. L. Barlow, trombone; W. H. Snyder, baritone; Al. S. Harris, bass; R. C. Gee and H. Mullens and Chart Witt, trap drummers. Billy Rising has closed with the show and is now in Knoxville. Mrs. McDonald leaves today (July 31) for Huntington, W. Va., for a few weeks' vacation at her home. After we play Huntington, W. Va., Aug. 29, we again head for the south for the winter.
Dan S. Fishell, press representative back with Barnum & Bailey's Show for the past three years, will resign from that position about Aug. 21, to accept the management of the Garrick Theatre in St. Louis.
The Hargreaves Railroad Show made a record on Sunday and Monday, July 29-30. Leaving Van Buren, Me., Sunday morning at 12:30 they reached Ft. Kent, Me., a distance of 236 miles, at 3 p.m. Sunday. Unloading, they raised the menagerie top by five, paraded at 9:30 Monday morning, gave a performance at eleven, another at 2:30, and were loaded and on their way to Ashland, the next stand, by seven.
Oren L. Lemmon, who toured the country in the early nineties as clown with John Robinson's Ten Big Shows and some of the other big tented enterprises, is now living in retirement at Vevay, Ind. He also at one time had out a successful concert company. Mr. Lemmon is now in the repairing business.
The roster of the Campbell Brothers advance: A. G. Campbell, general agent; Wm. Gilman, contracting agent; W. H. Quenett [sic] and C. C. Fletcher, special agents; Geo. Allen, manager car No. 1; Frank Campbell, manager car No. 2; C. C. Pettengill, twenty-four hour man, and Wm. E. Burkhart, route rider.
Billboard, September 1, 1906, pp. 16, 24. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. Frank Fourhorns, of the Pawnee Bill Wild West, and Miss Mildred Fredericks, of LeGrangeville, N. Y., at Asbury Park, N. J., Aug. 15.
The Greater Norris & Rowe Circus finished its Canadian tour at Emerson, Ont., Aug. 5, and has since visited the Iron Range territory in northen Minnesota. They will put in the next two weeks in Wisconsin and Illinois. Thompson & Vandiveer are filling an order for a complete new canvas outfit for this show, to consist of a 150 ft. round top with three 50 ft. middle pieces; menagerie, 80 ft. round top with six 30 ft. middle pieces; side show 70 ft. round top with two 30 ft. middle pieces; dressing room tent 60 ft. round top with two 30 ft. middle pieces; horse tent 70 ft. round top with two 30 ft. middle pieces and a cook house, 40x80 ft. The big top has already arrived and the balance of the canvas will follow in a few days. Uncle George Wormald, who has had charge of the canvas for several years, was recently joined by Jack Pfeiffenberger. Former equestrian director Jos. Geisler has recently taken charge of the ticket wagon, and John Carroll, who joined at Ashland, Wis., Aug. 15, will direct the performance in the future. The Alpine Family were added to the program Aug. 14, and the Flying Banvards and Koplin Brothers joined Aug. 18. Boss hostler John Foley has recently purchased a car load of fine "chunks" and several carloads of property purchased from W. P. Hall will reach the show in the near future.
Roster of advertising car No. 1 of the Great Wallace Show: G. J. Choffin, car manager; "Kid" Wheeler, boss billposter; Ed Bluskie, M. Schaeffer H. Mosier, B. Deschane, H. O. Hoxie, Robt. Eldridge, F. Burton, Z. Luckensmeyer, W. R. Cuff, C. Guy, W. Gilby, T. Hannum, Frank Rich, Chas. McDonnell and Wm. Scott, billposters; F. Smith and Willie Wauk, charge of lithos; John Blair, program, and Geo. Bush, porter.
Roster of advertising car No. 1 of the Sells-Floto Show: Ralph Root, manager; O. Connelly, boss billposter; A. LeRoy, banners; C. Moorehead, lithos; C. Thompson, assistant banners Harry Reed, Harry Trenton, Geo. Rhoades, C. O. Tinsley, H. M. Mason, Fred Burnell, A. King, Rippen, F. Terrill, W. Morton, billposters, and W. S. Phillips, porter.
Spencer & Holiday's Wild West, organized Aug. 6, is playing to good business in Indiana. Among the performers are Spencer, Holiday, Oklahoma Jess, Happy Jack and Frank Longsuit, riders and cracksmen; Rube Snakes, fun maker, and Do. Jennesen, announcer.
The Curzon Sisters, billed as The Flying Butterflies, with the Hagenbeck Show this season, are booked for twelve weeks at the New York Hippodrome, opening Nov. 26.
Bronson's Band, with the Hagenbeck Show, is doing a before performance stunt and Ray LaPearl, vocalist, renderes some popular songs. The Jeunesse Doree Troupe, a European act, managed by Ottokar Bartik, is an added feature of the performance.
Flossie, the high diving dog with the Bonheur Brothers Golden Mascot Shows, missed the net one day last week and struck the ground with her shoulder. However, the plucky performer was ready to go on the next performance.
Four cars of the Hagenbeck Show train were derailed en route from Owensboro, Ky., to Evansville, Ind., Aug. 15, and some of the cages were thrown from the cars; neither man nor animal suffered severe injury.
McCue and McCue, acrobats and hand to hand balancers, joined the J. Augustus Jones Show at Washington, D. C., Aug. 13.
Billboard, September 8, 1906, pp. 16, 24, 25. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
A. O. Goldthwait, for two seasons with the Hagenbeck Show, has charge of the front of the Hippodrome, a feature of the Fall Festival in Cincinnati.
Roster of Jones Enormous Shows: J. Augustus Jones, manager and proprietor; Wm. T. Harrington, general superintendent; Ned Wilson, secretary and treasurer; Albert J. Anderson, manager side show; E. Jones, candy stands; Clarence Erickson, manager privilege car; Mrs. Martha Jones, reserved seats; Peter Long, band leader, with twelve musicians; Arthur Troutman, band leader side show with seven musicians; J. Duncan, boss animal man; J. Garnier Rushingberger, boss hostler; J. Portland, master transportation; C. L. Erickson and J. W. Stair, front door ticket takers; Clint Riley, Tom Fanning and John Barton, reserved seats and outside tickets; and John McBride and Phil Ross, side show ticket sellers.
Elmer Parleth, circus musician, who traveled with all the leading shows for many years, died in Chicago, Aug. 27, and was buried at his home in Urbana, Ohio, Aug. 39.
Cole Bros.' Show. Should M. J. Downs decide to retire at the close of this season, the success he has attained this year as proprietor and manager of the Great Cole Bros.' Show would place him high among American showmen. On the program are found the Dellameades, the Christiannas, the DeEspas, Aerial Shaws, the Goyls, Sylow, Lander, Lillian Schafer, the Russels, Marvelous LaVions, Laffel Trio, Cordonas, and numerous others. Prof. Chas. H. Tinney's Band renders the music.
On Aug. 27 the Jones & Adams Show became the James Adams New Century Shows, Mr. Jones severing his connection with the organization. Mr. Adams intends to take the show south for the winter. With him are the Hardell Trio, the Two Arnolds, Charles and Iza, Fournea and Schroy, Linegar Brothers, DeMaro, Paula and Leona, Sam Hunter, Wilbur Spitzer and Dan Johnson. Chas. M. Hunter has charge of the band.
Walter Graman, a driver with the Van Amburg Show, was dragged half a mile last week at Waverly, Ill., and rendered unconscious, though his condition is not now considered serious. Mr. Graman was riding a horse and leading five to the lot when the equines became frightened; he was thrown from the horse, but he became entangled in the reins and friends picked him up a half a mile distant. He was taken to the hospital.
The Stimmel Society Circus closed a successful summer season Aug. 25, at Xenia, Ohio, and the property was shipped to winter quarters in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Stimmel's other interests necessitated the closing of the show early this season, which is the fourth year for this organization.
The Sells-Floto Shows will open for an extended run in the City of Mexico the first week in November.
George E. Buscey, a musician with the Seibel Brothers Show, was run over by a freight train at Kenosha, Wis., Aug. 21; both legs were amputated and he died shortly afterward. Mr. Buscey's home was at Dodge Station, Ia., where he leaves a mother and brother.
"Stick" Davenport, rider, now with the Campbell Brothers' Show, has just finished breaking in two fine principal horses. He is using one of them and Cecil Lowande is using the other.
George W. Rollins, of the Rollins Show, which is playing a summer engagement at Riverview Park, says he has gone the Hagenbeck Show one better, and is now featuring the only lady bareback ostrich rider in the country.
Chas. C. Blue closed with the Reed Brothers' Show, Aug. 21,and signed to do his aerial act over the Kennedy Circuit of fairs.
Arthur J. Hirschler has succeeded J. E. Allen as program representative with the Barnum & Bailey Show.
Larrivee and Lee have joined the Ringling Show concert for the balance of the season.
Chas. Fick has closed with the Lentz-Robinson Show, and is now looking after the stock with the Gentry Show.
Billboard, September 15, 1906, p. 28. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
John Martin Speyer, a circus rider, was sentenced last week in Kansas City, to hang, Sept. 21, for the murder of his little boy. The case has been previously outlined in these columns. It has twice been carried to the Supreme Court, where a new trial was ordered in each instance. Another appeal will be made by Judge W. Riggs, of Kansas City, who has conducted the previous trials without fee. He maintains that Speyer was insane when he killed the child, and that the fact of his being a showman serves to prejudice the jurors before he was tried. . . .
Col. William Hagan, well known to the older generation of showmen, died at him home in Auburn, N. Y., one day last week. Of late years Col. Hagan had not been in the best of health and this summer he was stricken with heart failure. Excitement and strain brought on by hurrying to meet some old friends at the train caused his sudden death Monday. Funeral services were held at Auburn Aug. 26. For many years Col. Hagan traveled with the John Robinson Show. He was also connected with the Gentry Brothers, the Sells Brothers Show and other circus organizations. Col. Hagan was a native of Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Lano, who returned July 24 from a six month's tour of Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama and South America, are now a feature in the concert of the Frank A. Robbins Shows. Mr. Lano has the ticket box No. 1 on the side show and is making concert announcements. Mrs. Lano's pugilistic terriers and performing monkeys are making good in the concert.
Miss Leah Blondell, lion tamer with the John Robinson Show, celebrated the twenty-third anniversary of her birth Sept. 4.
Wm. Harrod, clown, recently closed with the Hagenbeck Show because of his wife's illness. He will be located for the winter at Smitte's Buffet, 145 East Randolph street, Chicago.
John ("4 Paw") Foley is boss hostler with the Norris & Rowe Show, with James Babcock, assistant.
Billboard, September 29, 1906, pp. 30, 31. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Mystery still surrounds the shooting of Mrs. T. R. Clarke, performer with the Great Cole Show, who is now resting at the hospital in Staunton, Va. At times the woman's condition appears to improve and again the attendants think she is dying. It is claimed by some that the young woman was shot by her husbanc, but there has as yet been discovered no reason why he why he should have taken such action, as their married life of two years had always been most pleasant. Mr. Clarke is absent and his whereabouts is unknown to the authorities. The show people say the shooting was accidental and all indications point to this solution of the case. Mrs. Clarke is an aerial performer and has been with the Great Cole Show for six years. She is twenty-two years of age.
Cincinnati, Sept. 10, '06. Editor The Billboard. Dear Sir - Chas. B. Reid, of Baltimore, an old-time circus billposter, having been on the road for the last twenty-five years with all the big and little ones, am at last lying here dying of consumption. I may live a week or three months, no one can tell. I wish to make an appeal through your paper to the Billposters of the country for a little help, as I have not one cent in this world. - Chas. B. Reid, St. Francis Hospital, Queen City Ave., Cincinnati.
Mrs. Charles Smith, the trapeze performer who was injured during the engagement of the Ringling Show at Michigan City, Ind., Aug. 1, left the hospital at that place Sept. 15, but she sill is unable to walk without at drutch. She has gone to Danville, Ill., to remain until she is again able to perform.
The clowns with the Carl Hagenbeck Greater Shows are: Abe Johnson (Everybody's troubled), Shorty Wallace (Little Buttertop), Frank Ellett (German band), Carl Mayo (Careless German), Mose Davis (Dog Pie), Al Olifant (Sharkey), Al Sandberg (Comique), Schrimp Stanton (The Goose), Paul Steiner (Hickory Sticks), John LaMothe (Woodchopper), Will LaMothe (Jester), "Butch" Clark (Bladders), Paul McCulloch (The Fad), Horace Webb (Boss), Lil Kerslake (Pigs), Reuben Castang (Goats), Bert Davis (Farmland), Roy LaPearl (Yoddler), and Xavier Bartock (Bohemian Kaiser).
Notes from the McDonald Brothers Shows. We are playing Kentucky to big business. Martinsburg was our banner stand. Here we were forced to omit half of our performance as the tent was packed to the ring bank. Last Saturday at West Liberty, Ky., Chas. McDonald, Chas. Walker, Chas. C. Wylie, R. C. Gee and and Joe McAliser were taken into the order of Missing Links. John Teets were visitors with the show last week. Next week we jump into Tennessee with Georgia and the southern states to follow.
The roster of the Pawnee Bill side show: Harry Wilson, manager; Mrs. Wilson, palmist; Handy, juggler; Talio, strong man; Leon Foster, female impersonator; Mlle. Juliene Cole, snake enchantress; King Cole, magician; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bene; LeMan and Sieda's opium den; Wild Rose, and others. Geo. A. Baldwin and Geo. D. Tarbox are ticket sellers.
Billy LaMothe, of the LaMothe Trio with the Hagenbeck Show, celebrated his thirty-eighth birthday recently.
Abe Johnson, mule rider with the Hagenbeck Show, will spend about three months this winter with his friend Carl Mayor, also of the Hagenbeck Show, on the latter's newly purchased orange farm at Redlands, Cal.
The Hagenbeck Show lost both performances at Joplin, Mo., Sept. 12 because of a heavy windstorm that put both the menagerie and the big tent temporarily out of commission. At the close of the Hagenbeck Show Ernest Wallace (Shorty) will spend a few weeks at his home in Fulton, N. Y., before opening on the Keith Circuit.
The Four Freres Karely, Hungarian riders with the Carl Hagenbeck Show, will return to their native country at the close of the circus season.
Mart Steffan closed with the Cummins Wild West at Boonville, N. Y., and is now managing the Royer Brothers' Next Door Co.
John Fuller and Flo Richmond, both of the Hagenbeck Show, were married during the recent engagement at Columbus, Ind.
The Three Irwins are in their sixth week with the Mollie Bailey Show in Texas.
Larrivee and Lee are in their sixth week with the Ringling Brothers Show, closing the olio in the concert.
Charles Neale and Nellie Currier, of the Robinson Show, were quietly married at Elizabeth City, N. C., Friday at noon, Sept. 11 [14?], by the Rev. W. H. Sheak. The ceremony was performed beneath a large maple tree and only the intimate friends of the couple were present.
The Gollmar Brothers Show report good business through Kansas and Oklahoma.
Billboard, October 6, 1906, pp. 15, 28, 29. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. Edward Daley, press agent with the Gentry Brothers' Show, and Miss Lena Lee Quinn, non-professional of Fitzgerald, Ga., Sept. 25, at Fitzgerald.
Alpha W. Meskimen, one of the musicians in Iowa, died Sept. 12 at his home in Manchester of turberculosis. For a number of years Mr. Meskimen was a member of leading orchestras of the state and at one time he traveled with the Ringling Brothers' Show as cornetist.
It is reported from Harbor Creek, Pa., six miles distant from Erie, that Ed C. Knupp, of the Great Cole Bros.' Show, has purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land along the Lake Shore and Nickel Plate railroads, the same to be used for wintering the shows in the future. Work will be started immediately on the large ring barn and other buildings.
Owing to the illness of Mr. Leon, the Leons, gymnasts, were obliged to close with the M. L. Clark Show, and they are now resting at their home in Knoxville, Tenn.
Will T. Miller has closed as side show manager with the Al. F. Wheeler Show and joined the Miles Orton Show in the same capacity. Mrs. Miller is featuring her fire act in the annex.
Will Delavoye, of the Sells-Floto Shows, writes that he is now the proud possessor of a seventy-five acre farm at Pensacola, Fla.
Joe M. Howard, assistant general agent of the Pawnee Bill Show, has closed to join Jacobs & Jermons' burlesque attraction.
Chas. Sparks, manager of the John H. Sparks Shows, recently purchased a small elephant from Sol. Stephan.
Dode Fisk's Dog & Pony Show closed a successful season Oct. 3 at Eichland [sic?] Center, Wis.
Billboard, October 13, 1906, p. 26. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Eva Clark, the performer who was shot at Staunton, Va., Sept. 6, passed away at the Kings' Daughters' Hospital, Staunton, at 8:30 p.m., Oct. 1, after having undergone two operations. The story of the accident is familar to Billboard readers. During a scuffle for the possession of a revolver between her husband, Lum R. Clark and Joe Richards, she was shot in the abdomen. Mrs. Clark was with the Cole Brothers' Show two years. Previous to that she was with the Robinson Show for a number of seasons, and during the halcyon days of the old Commodore Concert Hall in Cincinnati she was a favorite there. . . . Mrs. Clark is the daughter of Mrs. Alice Addair and Lee Howard, of the Howard Troupe.
On Monday night, Oct. 1, the circus winter quarters owned by Walter L. Main at Geneva, O., and in which the Min Show and the Cummins' Wild West equipement was installed, burned to the ground with a large part of the contents. The fire broke out in the early hours of the morning and is thought to have had its origin from defective electric wiring. The show had just been brought in from the road and the proprietors were contemplating taking out part of the paraphernalia for a southern tour. It is known that one workman perished and it is believed that several others lost their lives in the fire, as they were sleeping in the winter quarters preparatory to going out on the road again. W. E. Ferguson, general agent of the show, was a spectator of the conflagration. He estimates that the loss will reach $20,000. The insurance on the buildings is $9,000, but no insurance had been placed on the show equipment as it was only temporarily housed. Many of the horses, including the black stallion ridden by Col. Cummins, were lost, together with other paraphernalia. The cars were saved as were the elephants. The southern tour has been abandoned.
Barnum & Bailey Shows during the past week encountered severe storms and floods in their southern territory. They lost Clarksdale, Miss., on the 2nd; Greenville on the 3rd, and Vicksburg on the 4th.
Prof. C. W. Mack, known to every member of the circus profession, last week celebrated his fiftieth anniversary as a Punch and Judy manipulator. Prof. Mack is now sixty-two years of age. He has been with all the big circuses.
As a result of a shooting affray in which it is reported a negro with the Cole Bros.' Show shot three men, killing one and injuring the others at Manning, S. C., Oct. 5, a mob was formed and the sheriff avoided a lynching only by spiriting the prisoner away and ensconsing him in the penitentary. With the excitement already incident ot race troubles in the south, it would appear to be a good policy for shows going south to carry only white workmen. [see Oct. 20, 1906, below]
Bert David and Millie Owens have been re-engaged with the Hagenbeck Show to do their rube act again next season.
Wm. Sheaver, bagpipe player, has been making good all season with the Pawnee Bill Show, and his little Caledonian Band, consisting of himself, Jesse Corbett and George Ward, has been a hit in the parade and on the lot.
It was inadvertently stated in these columns recently that Billy LaMothe, of the LaMothe Trio, with the Hagenbeck Show, had celebrated his thirty-eighth birthday. It should have read his "twenty-eighth" birthday.
Billboard, October 20, 1906, p. 32. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Thomas Samwells, who enjoyed an international reputation as an animal trainer, died in the hospital at Shreveport, La., Oct. 4 at the age of eighty-one. The showman had been ill but a very short time. Thomas Samwells was born in Maidston, County of Kent, England, in 1825, and as his parents were show people he was literally brought up in the business. After the parents died the brothers continued to manage the show and took it to all the important towns of England. Thomas devoted most of his time to the training of animals and so prominent did he become that Mr. Sanger of the Sanger Show engaged him at the highest salary paid an animal trainer up to that time. In 1872 Mr. Samwells came to America with the Jarnett & Palmer Black Crook Co., bringing with him a dog and pony act that became the sensation of the Old Niblo Gardens. He afterward made extensive tours into Mexico, South America, and South Africa. The deceased leaves a wife who attended him during his last illness, and a son. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the son of the deceased will confer a favor by addressing C. H. Feldner, Milam street, Shreveport, La.
James Fleming, Mark Monroe, Jame Delandy, J. L. Porty, James Wilson and Ed. McCabe, of the Cummins' Wild West this season, have gone to Cleveland, O., where Mr. Fleming will open what was formerly known as the Troopers' Home.
Kemp Sisters' Wild West is now in winter quarters at LaMar, Mo.
It appears that the negro who did the shooting at Manning, S. C. recently, was justified. He was simply protecting a woman performer from some ruffians who had taken a fancy to her.
The Orton Brothers' Show will shortly go into winter quarters at Des Moines, Ia. Next season they will carry a small menagerie.
Harry Parish, master of transportation with the Cummins' Wild West this season, has accepted a similar position with the Norris & Rowe Show.
Grant Allmon writes that he is in his twenty-third week with the Al. F. Wheeler Show as principal clown. He will remain with that organization until Dec. 1. Major Caillouette is in his twenty-third week with Al. F. Wheeler New Model Show, presenting his unicycle, wire and baton acts.
After two years as contracting agent of the Campbell Brothers' Show, Wm. Gilman is taking a rest at his home in Lancaster, O.
Alberto, the flexible marvel, en route with the Beach & Bowers Minstrels, has signed with the Forepaugh-Sells Show for next season.
The LaMothe Trio have been re-engaged with the Hagenbeck Show for next season. They will appear in a new act.
The Washburn & D'Alma Show has closed its season and gone into winter quarters at Corona, N. Y.
King Cole has left the Pawnee Bill Show.
Billboard, November 3, 1906, p. 14. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Ed. Marvelle (McLaughlin), one of the Three Original Marvells, and recently of the Marvelle-LeCon Troupe, died at Newark, N. J., Oct. 25 of typhoid fever. He was stricken ill during the engagement of the Barnum & Bailey Show in Mobile, Ala., where he left that organization. The remains were interred at Salem, Mass.
The Yankee Robinson Show closed its season Oct. 9 and pulled into winter quarters at Des Moines, Iowa. Next season, according to present plans, the roster will read: Fred Buchanan, proprietor; C. W. Buchanan, manager; Everett Hayes, press agent; T. A. Webb, leader of band; D. M. Spayd, superintendent cook house; Thos. Gill, boss canvasman, and Ross Ashcraft, boss hostler.
The remains of Thomas Jacobs, an employe of the Forepaugh-Sells Show, arrived in Shamokin, Pa., Oct. 22, having been shipped by the management of the show from Fayetteville, Ark. Mr. Jacobs was trampled to death by the elephants at Fayetteville. His mother took charge of the remains in Shamokin.
Gentry Brothers' Show gave two performances at Cameron, Texas, Oct. 13, to fine business.
The Rice and Davis Show closed Oct. 11 at Ashville, Pa., where it will winter as usual. Manager and owner F. D. Dunlap announced that the show will go out in two cars next spring.
Thomas During, trainmaster with the Sells-Floto Show, writes that he will be with that organization all winter as it will not close.
The Carl Hagenbeck Show lost Nacogdoches, Texas, but packed tents greeted it at Shreveport, La., Oct.18.
The Dan Rice Circus will make its winter quarters at Greenville, Iowa, it having closed a successful season at that place.
Billboard, November 10, 1906, pp. 32, 34. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
The third section of the Hagenbeck Show train was wrecked at Tiger Creek, a small place about elevn miles from Hot Springs on the morning of Oct. __. The train was probably moving too swiftly around the curve. The wheels of a flat car left the track causing the derailing of six cars. A smashup followed. Fortunately no lives were destroyed, but a boy was probably injured for life. Hot Springs and the next stand were lost. Three flat cars were completely demolished, one containing baggage wagons was forced in two in the center and the sixteen wagons flew in every direction, several being broken to bits. A boy named Kenney, from Columbus, O., who had been working on the outside stands, was thrown down the embankment and imbedded in a mass of broken paraphernalia, wagons, etc. The showmen worked to rescue him and succeeded in getting him out alive, but it is feared that the youngster was injured internally; his legs were fractured. The sleepers were in the rear of the section, but they escaped with a severe shaking up. The aroused showmen and performers were struck with consternation when they discovered that just back of them was another train coming at a high rate of speed. They jumped down the embankment, but the engineer in the on-coming train stuck to his throttle and reversing it he stopped the train as the engine was almost touching the last coach of the derailed section, preventing a second wreck. None of the animals being on section three, that part of the show escaped injury.
Jule Keen, for the past twenty-five years treasurer of the Buffalo Bill Wild West, died Oct. 31 at the Ashland House, New York City. Mr. Keene recently arrived from Europe to find his wife in a dying condition, and his own health, which had been bad for several years, broke down completely. Mrs. Keen died Monday; the showman sank steadily until the end on Wednesday. Jule Keen was born in New York City sixty years ago. At the early age of twenty he became a popular minstrel and later he developed a talent as a German dialect comedian.
Sam Milam [Milan?], in advance of the Wallace Show, was run over by a train at Peyton, Ga., and instantly killed one day last week. Milan was in Atlanta during the day and it was understood that he was going to Chattanooga. In some way he stumbled on the railroad track. In his pockets were found a flask of whisky and a card bearing the name of a lady of Atlanta. The body was brought back to Atlanta and identified by her.
William Vaughn, who became famous as the "living skelton," and as such traveled with Robinson's and a number of other large circuses, died at his home near Lancaster, Ky., Oct. 29, at the age of sixty-five. Interment was had at Paint Lick.
W. M. Scott, the lithographer, familiarly called "Scotty," and who has been with the Wallace Show for the past fifteen years, was married Oct. 22 to Miss Blanche Reynolds, a young woman of Monticello, Ind. They are now in Newport News, Va., "Scotty's" native town.
Al. F. Wheeler's New Model Shows closed a successful season of twenty-six weeks at Rising Sun, Md., Nov. 1, and went into winter quarters at Oxford, Pa.
Joe Ellet of the Ellet Troupe, with the Hagenbeck Show, was injured at Memphis, Tenn., and forced to close with the show. It was a dislocation of the ankle.
The Forepaugh-Sells Show closes its season Nov. 11 at Water Valley, Mass., and the first section of the special train will arrive at Sellsville, O., the winter quarters, Nov. 15.
The Barnum & Bailey Show will close the season at Richmond, Va., Nov. 17, and ship direct to Bridgeport for the winter.
C. Z. Bronson has signed his band with the Hagenbeck Show for next season, making his second with that organization.
The Great Wallace Show closed its season Nov. 5 at Greenfield, Tenn.
The Frank A. Robbins closed Nov. 1 at Eston, Md.
The Gollmar Brothers Show closed at Charleston, Mo., Oct. 31.
Manager C. N. Thompson, of the Hagenbeck Shows, has engaged Billy Mauck for superintendent of the menagerie during the Mexican trip. The new superintendent hails from Columbus, O.
Billboard, November 17, 1906, pp. 32, 33, 34. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Not desiring to go into Mexico for the winter, Col. Charles Seeley has resigned as manager of the Sells-Floto Shows.
Mollie A. Bailey celebrated her sixty-fourth birthday, Tuesday, Nov. 6, at Hubbard City, Tex. Her show is now winding up its season and will soon be in winter quarters at Houston, Tex.
W. H. McFarland, manager of the Wallace side show this season, last Sunday left West Baden, Ind. for New Orleans to join the Hagenbeck Show for its Mexican tour. Mr. McFralland will have the Hagenbeck side show next season.
The Cole Brothers and Dowker Circus, which has previously wintered in Terre Haute, will this winter be at Evansville, Ind.
The Al. G. Barnes Animal Show will winter in Omaha, Neb. Mr. Barnes having established a winter zoo there.
Arthur Borella writes that he has been re-engaged for next season with the Barnum & Bailey Show.
The Hagenbeck Show is being re-organized in New Orleans and will leave Nov. 17 for Mexico.
W. C. St. Clair has been re-engaged as special agent with the Forepaugh-Sells Brothers' Show.
The Dan Rice Show is wintering at Sioux Rapids, Ia.
The eighty-fifth season of the John Robinson Show came to a close Saturday, Nov. 10 at Southern Pines, N. C. This season the show traversed twenty different states and traveled 30,415 miles.
The LaMont Brothers' Show, which closed its season Oct. 6, is now at its winter quarters near Salem, Ill. It was a successful season and the tour covered four states.
Billboard, November 24, 1906, pp. 32, 33. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
John Hanna, "Old Black Horse Joe," passed to his reward last week at Bridgeport, Conn., where, becoming despondent over the rapid encroachment of disease, he took carbolic acid and was later found cold and lifeless. For twenty-five years Joe was an employe of the Barnum & Bailey and the Buffalo Bill Shows, driving a team of eight horses. He went to Europe with the Buffalo Bill Show, but he had the misfortune to be severely afflicted with rheumatism and his engagement over there was not the most pleasant to him. He returned with the other show people two weeks ago and journeyed to the old stamping ground at Bridgeport, where he took lodgings at William O'Hara's house on Wall street. Chas. E. Meredith, of the Tigers, officiated at the funeral ceremonies, after the body had been identified and claimed by Jack Platt and Jake Posey, of the Buffalo Bill Show. Mountain Grove Cemetery received the remains of the deceased showman, and his old friends acted as pallbeareres; they were Alfred Pluss, John Costello, Oscar Peloy, David Van Cleaf, William Ruthmeyer and Thomas Cupwell. Joe Hanna hailed from Indiana, Pa. He left no known relatives.
For its Mexican tour the advertising car No. 1, of the Hagenbeck Wild Animal Show will be as follows: W. S. Dunnington, manager; Geo. Edgar, secretary and stenographer; Jack Scott, boss billposter; Jas Lyons, assistant; Vic Stout, and F. J. McFarland, lithographers; Ed Boyce, programmer; Henry Mercier and Jas. Miller, banners; Chas. Sellers, J. E. Simpson, W. S. Wheelock, Owen Connelly, Geo. Levansaler, M. McCabe, E. P. Malloy, Oscar Wiley and Harley White, billposters; George Ernest, paste maker; Pete Harney, porter; and "Jack," the bulldog.
The circus train carrying the Great Cole Brothers' Show was wrecked near Ashburn, Ga., Thursday, Nov. 10, delaying traffice on the Georgia Southern for about six hours. A broken truck caused the mishap; five cars were badly smashed and a sleeper was derailed. Some of the show property was destroyed, but no lives were lost nor did anyone suffer physical injury.
A troupe of trained dogs belonging to James Dawsen, formerly of the Buckskin Ben Show, were recently killed in a railroad wreck in Tennessee, and the report became current that Mr. Dawsen was killed. That was erroneous, as the showman is alive, he is en route with the National Amusement Co., featuring his canine actors.
Rigg's Wild West Show passed through some terrible weather at Corning, Ark., Nov. 13, but came off with a little balance to the good. This show continues to grow, being increased last week by the arrival of Miss Annie Schaefer, champion lady bucking horse rider; W. H. Dillingham, who holds the record for roping and tieing a steer, and Buffalo Vernon, who was featured by Cummins in St. Louis. C. F. Shaple and wife and J. C. House are recent additions to the band.
The Kennedy Brothers Show reports good business. They report the death of Frank Rosenthal, who passed away at San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 18, of tuberculosis. Mr. Rosenthal was a side show talker. W. T. Kennedy visited the Great Van Amburg Show at Lufkin, Tex., Nov. 10. A camel and bull have been added to the animal contingent of the Kennedy Show.
Mr. and Mrs. Henri DeGreau, who with their little daughter are known as the Three DeGreaus, are in Philadelphia, where they have opened a school for ballet girls and where the daughter is attending high school. They enjoyed their season with the Hagenbeck Show.
Joseph Callis, formerly assistant manager of the Wallace side show, and his wife, known professionally as Cleo Corlette, are resting at Hot Springs, Ark., after a successful season with the Wallace Show.
Flody Bernard and Maude Ransford, of the Ringling Show, were married in Winnipeg, Can., July 14.
Harry Green, who spent his tenth season with the John Robinson Shows, returned to Cincinnati. Harry's "Rube" is known wherever the Robinson name is familiar.
Fletcher Smith, calliope player with the Frank A. Robbins Show this season, is now musical director for the Mason Brothers U. T. C. Co.
Harry Parrish, formerly train master of Cummins Wild West and of the Norris & Rowe Show, will assist Thos. During with the Sells-Floto Show on its Mexican tour.
The team of LaGette and LaFleur, with the Ringling Show this season, has been dissolved and Miss Mamie LaFleur is in Chicago.
Edward Webber, of the Buffalo Bill Show, visited his parents in Harrisburg, Pa. last week.
Col. Geo. S. Cole has signed again for next season as special representative of the John Robinson Ten Big Shows.
Joe Chiswell is resting at his home in Lamar, Mo., after a season with the Gollmar Brothers' Show.
Edward Kennedy, former circus ticket accountant, has opened a parcel delivery business in Harrisburg, Pa.
Ringlings closed their season Nov. 19 at Jonesboro, Ark.
Fred A. Hodgson has been engaged as manager of the Hagenbeck Show in Mexico.
The Forepaugh-Sells Show closed its season Nov. 17 at Water Valley, Miss.
Wayne and Doane will remain with the Hagenbeck Show this winter.
Its fourth winter in Texas is the greatest ever for the Chas. Geyer Big show. Manager Geyer received severe injuries to his foot recently and is forced to use crutches, but it is not likely he will be incapacitated from business for any extent of time.
The LaComa Brothers are resting at their home in Akron, O., after a season with the Snyder Brothers and Hall Show.
The Ellet Troupe of aerial bar performers will be one of the features of the Hagenbeck performance in old Mexico this winter. The act has been engaged for next season with this show.
Billboard, December 1, 1906, pp. 32, 33, 34. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
While en route from Pleasant Hill to Hernando, Miss. last week, the M. L. Clark Show suffered great damage due to heavy rains and high water. Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Clark and their baby were washed from their carriage. They were rescued by P. Walsh, Alfred Freeman and Sam Madison, but Mr. Walsh is now missing. A man and two mules were drowned, and "Dago Tony" of the band is also missing. The show rested at Hernando ten days.
Notes and roster of Wiedemann's Big Kit Carson Show. Our business has been excellent all fall in Oklahoma and Indian Territory; we had plenty of opposition, but we got ours. It was laughable to see the shows rushing for Texas and when they bumped up against the high railroad rates the bowl went up. We had three shows jump past us in one day, all trying to get to Texas first; well they got there and went up against $40 for two cars, $25 for one. So far we have side stepped the high rates by going into Arkansas and Louisiana. But we will soon have to tackle the high tariff, and what is more, I am informed from a reliable source that all the roads in the central and western states are contemplating a raise in the spring. The Cotton Belt Ry. in Texas are not satisfied with forty dollars for two cars; they want fifty, and in addition to that, if you have a tent, seats, etc. in your baggage car, you have to pay freight rates on that besides the fifty dollars for movement of cars. The Queen and Crescent Ry. are putting up the plea this season that they can not handle private cars only at stations where they have to switch engines stationed to switch cars to and from trains, so that will keep the majority of the shows off that line.
Our roster: Thos. F. Widemann, Nellie Wiedemann, E. Cott Senter, George Vickers, Bob Sutton, Minnie Sutton, M. R. Smith, Ger Smith, Claude Smith, Colorado Cotton, Bunt Huckins, Frank Wery, Claude Lamborn, Si Hayden, Fred Herniman, Glenn Cutler, Wm. Laskey, E. C. Belleville, Albert Roseman, Louise Roseman, G. F. Millard, Frank Tanner, George Hawn, Wm. Prieve, Tommy Vaugh, Jack Brown, Ed ___, Charley Scott and Carl Dickens. Al G. Frazee and Gus Pullman are in advance.
When the Pawnee Bill Show pulled into Winchester, Tenn., it was snowing and sleeting; the afternoon performance was given without incident and in the evening a specialty program was given in the opera house. At McMinville the following day they found more snow and Major Lillie decided to close the season and go into winter quarters at Nashville. Cumberland Park was secured through the services of "Bud" Horn, a Nashville man and calliope player with the show; the stock were either put to pasture of in the fine buildings used for the state fair.
The Chicago offices of The Billboard were brightened last Thursday through the presence of Col. Charles Andress, who returning to his home in the "Windy City," after a season with the Barnum & Bailey Show, is making his headquarters in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Andress will leave for their country estate in Kansas for a brief visit in the near future.
Mlle Amy, sword swallower, closed Nov. 7 with the Hagenbeck Show at New Orleans and is spending the winter in New York City where she is entertaining her mother, who recently arrived from England.
Leon Washburn, proprietor of Washburn's Dog and Pony Show and of four Uncle Tom's Cabin Shows, has erected a fine three story building on his newly purchased hundred acre farm near New Brunswick, N. J. It will be used for housing his animals during the winter.
Thomas Rankine, chief orator for the Carl Hagenbeck Shows will make his headquarters in the Windy City this winter; he has been re-engaged with the Hagenbeck Shows for next season.
The Stubblefield Trio are taking a week's rest with friends and relatives in St. Louis, after a season with the Ringling Show. They will work in vaudeville all winter.
Albert C. Weston, Hebrew comedian, announced his re-engagement with the Carl Hagenbeck Show for next season.
Soo See's Clown Band has made a hit with the natives of Mexico. His wife is also a big attraction in the annex of the Sells-Floto Shows as Lulu, the tattooed wonder.
The Al. G. Barnes Animal Show and Zoo in Omaha, Neb., opened Nov. 15 and business was good.
E. M. Burk, traffic manger of the Norris & Rowe Show, and Miss Martha C. Rhodes, a non-professional of Chicago, were married at El Paso, Tex., Nov. 15.
J. M. Hewitt, with the Great Cole Show this season, is running a skating rink at Connersville, Ind.
W. C. Lane, with the Texas Bill Wild West this season, will spend the winter as business representative of the Great Raymond Show.
Frank A. Stuart, formerly of the advertising car No. 1 of the Campbell Brothers Show, is now treasurer of the Ferris Comedians.
M. B. DeOesch closed with the Hagenbeck Show and joined the Sells-Floto Show without losing a week's time.
Barnum & Bailey, Limited, held its annual meeting in New York City, Friday, Nov. 23, and two new directors were added to the board, making the governing body now number five. The new members are J. T. McCaddon and W. W. Cole. Geo. Starr is succeeded as managing director by Mr. Cole, who will direct the Barnum Show and the Buffalo Bill Wild West in the future.
On another page of this number is an advertisement offering the Wallace Show for sale. It is stated that the show will be held for a limited time pending its sale as a whole, after which the entire property will be closed out at retail.
Al. J. Gilligham, for a number of years one of the leading circus privilege men, now interested in a circuit of vaudeville theatres, with Rhoda Royal will put on a winter circus in several prominent cities.
Fred A. Hodgson will join the Hagenbeck Show at Laredo, Tex. Mrs. Hodgson joins her husband Dec. 10 in Laredo.
Peter Harris, late of the Hargreaves Show, is in advance of the Dunbar Goat Show, playing central Pennsylvania.
Billboard, December 8, 1906, pp. 14, 32, 33. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. Harry Williams, privilege man with the Great Cole Show, and Miss Reta LaForce, oriental dancer, Nov. 27, at Savannah, Ga.
Martin Downs New Winter Quarters. The new home for the Cole Brothers' Show, located six miles out of Erie on the Lake Shore and the Nickel Plate railroads. The site was selected by general agent Ed Knupp, who superintended the building of the various structures. The animal building has a frontage of 600 feet and runs back 180 feet. The front is of stone and there are concrete floors throughout.
Cardenas, Cuba, Nov. 23, 1906. Editor The Billboard. Dear Sir, We wish to deny for the American artists now with this show any reports that may have reached The Billboard office regarding the failure of the Circus Fenix in Havana. Although we had close opposition with the Pubillones Circus across the street, we did three weeks of successful business at the Grand Theatre, Payret, Havana. On Tuesday, Nov. 20, we opened at the Theatro Otero in Cardenas to S. R. O. business. We were to be here for only three days, but shall remain until Sunday night . . . There are six American acts with the Circo Fenix: the Arizona Troupe of four; Percival and Wilson, Abacco, Johnnie DeCrow, Delila and her animals and ourselves. Very respectfully, The Aherns.
The Sells-Floto opened its engagement in Mexico City, Mexico, Nov. 24.
Messrs. Tate, Havlin, Middleton and Fuller held a conference at the Havlin Hotel, Cincinnati, Nov. 28, arranging plans for the enlargement of the Carl Hagenbeck Shows next season.
Zach Mulhall, the wild west showman, who was sentenced to a term of imprisonment for ___ a bystander in an altercation on the pike during the World's Fair at St. Louis, was on Nov. 20 granted a rehearing in the Criminal Court of St. Louis.
Dave G. Pollock, late assistant side show manager with the Walter L. Main and Col. Cummins' Show, is with Col. Scholt's Dog and Pony Show, a feature attraction with Pubillone's Circus. Mr. Pollock reports business good with the show, which is composed mostly of performers from the States. Mr. and Mrs. Pete Barlow have the Barlow Hippodrome elephants. Others are the St. Leon Family, Miss Elsie St. Leon, the McGinleys, the Frantz Troupe, the Lanoles, the Griff Brothers, the Burtinos and Mlle. Loubet, loop the loop artist.
Charles Clawson, showman of Elkhart, Ind., was killed last week at Plainville, O., by a Pennsylvania freight train; he evidently not hearing the warning whistle. Mr. Clawson closed with the Robinson Show at Southern Pines, N. C., and came to Terrace Park, O., asking for work. He was told that there was nothing he could do and he was last seen by J. G. Robinson walking up the railroad track.
The Barlow Brothers Show is now located in winter quarters at Benkleman, Neb., where they closed the season Nov. 24. This is one of the neatest wagon shows in the business.
Alfredo and Cerita, with the Hagenbeck Show all summer, are engaged with the Sells-Floto Show in Mexico.
Ernie J. Houghton, who has been handling the trains for the Hagenbeck Show this season, is located on his farm at Lewisburg, Tenn.
Col. Frederick F. Cummins will head a show of his own next season. He denies the rumor that he is to be identified with the Walter L. Main interests.
Harry E. Anderson, formerly a contracting agent with several circuses, has embarked in the poultry business at Magnetic Springs, O.
Berndt Spahr, clown and jockety is at his home in Canal Dover, O., after a season with the Forepaugh-Sells Show.
W. M. Scott, of the Wallace Show car No. 2, will settle down at his home in Newport News, Va., for the winter with his bride.
Billboard, December 29, 1906, pp. 16, 30, 31, 32. Note: Billboard has typographical errors, and the transcription will have additional typos. Information should be checked with additional sources. Underlined word, transcription may not be correct. Unreadable word indicated by ___. Some items may not be circuses or circus-related. Some items were not transcribed.
Marriage. Berndt Spahr, clown and jockey, and Miss Victoria Clifton, concert artiste, both with the Forepaugh-Sells Show this season, recently at Memphis, Tenn.
Marriage. A. Butterworth, of the Pawnee Bill Show, and Miss Florence Mustiger, a non-professional, recently at Brantford, Can.Campbell Brothers' Show started the season April 28, and closed in Mansfield, La., Nov. 23. The tour of 30 weeks (lacking two days), embraced Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Indian Territory, New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana. The show covered 16,300 miles. The show consisted of twenty-seven cars, of which two were in advance, and there were 310 people with the organization.
Edwin Aloysius Braddock, circus billposter of Newark, N. J., died at his home, 298 West Locust street, Saturday morning, Dec. 15, as a result of a contracted cold. The funeral services were held at the St. Francis de Sales Church on Monday morning at nine o'clock, and interment was had in Cedar Hill Cemetery. Mr. Braddock was born Nov. 3, 1872, and he succeeded his father as billposter in Newark. At various times he was connected with the advance of the Gollmar Brothers, Beverly's Wild West, Jno Robinson, the Ringling Brothers and the Forepaugh-Sells Shows.
Both of the Gentry Shows have been sold to M. W. Savage, a capitalist of Minneapolis, Minn. The sale of the shows was the result of long deliberation on the part of the Gentry Brothers. The right to use the Gentry name, synonymous with the best in dog and pony shows, went with the property. Though M. W. Savage is the buyer ("Ike") Spears, the showman, will have the active management of the shows. One or two of the Gentry Brothers will remain with the shows through next season at least.
Chas. Scott, of the Forepaugh-Sells Shows, was badly injured in a street car accident Tuesday evening, Dec. 18 in Columbus, O. He is not expected to live.
The Ringlings do not get possession of the Hagenbeck Shows until after they come out of Mexico. The transfer of the property will be made at New Orleans. The Ringlings are not interested in the Mexico venture.
Ralph Peckham, excursion manager of the Ringling Shows, is enjoying the winter with his family at his rural home near San Jose, Cal.
Alton Osborn has returned to his home at Sturgis, Mich., after a season of forty-two weeks with the Norris & Rowe Shows.
The Millettes are at their home near Greensboro, Ga.
W. J. Langer has signed again to do his bounding wire and clown work with the Great Cole Brothers' Show.
The Snyder Brothers & Hall Shows are at their winter quarters at Terre Haute, Ind. The past season was successful, it having lost but three night stands and eight matiness during the entire twenty-nine weeks of travel. Four states were played, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
C. A. Hite, with the privilege department of the Sells-Floto Shwos, stated that he would winter at Ironton, O.
F. J. Frink has been re-engaged as general agent of the Al. F. Wheeler New Model Shows, his third season with Mr. Wheeler.
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