Page 9

THE SHOW WORLD
9
WHO IS THE BEST CLOWN IN CIRCUSDOM?
'nd
Ro
tir
its
- ros;(
h
ii
a
md.
11
ti'pofic
i     a
thir hoai
tRe
blr
t  rkiothe  '
t rmrc
vre to7 \rgb
r,
albgr ni
es'    ?
:IeI:i
"Hiram" and "Lucindy" have Entertained More
People than Any Comedians in the Profession
"BEST CLOWNS" WITH
INDIVIDUAL SHOWS.
Barnum & Bailey-Horace
Webb.
Ringling Brothers-Al Miaco
or George Hartzell.
Hagenback-Wallace - James
H. Rutherford or Art Borell.a.
Buffalo Bill-Pawnee Bill-Mr.
and Mrs. Bert Davis.
Sells-Floto-Lon Moore.
Mackay European Circus-
'Spader" Johnson.
Mighty Haag Show-Ab John-
son.
RUMORS REGARDING
THE LATE MACKAY SHOW.
There are various rumors in regard
to the Mackay European circus which
closed at Detroit. Mackay thinks, it
is reported, that he was not treated
just right, while the Elks at Detroit
claim that they had to put up nearly
all of the money to organize the show.
Kalamazoo lodge, which was to have
had the show, is said to be out $200
for advertising.  The  Minneapolis
lodge, which was to have played the
show later, is reported to have given
up the idea of a show while the Mil-
waukee Elks hustled around and se-
cured the Norris & Rowe show to
play there this week. H. S. Rowe, the
manager. receives $12,000 for the week,
reporthas it, and the show is saidoto
be giving satisfaction.  One report
has itthe show played to$18000 at
Detroit and that Mackay got $9,000.
"YANKEE" ROBINSON
BILLED AN AIRSHIP.
WESTHOPE, N. D., July 12.-
When the "Yankee' Robinson show
appeared here last Thursday an air-
ship was billed but it failed to be
given in connection with the exhibi-
tion. This and the fact that the show
charged $1 for admission led to what
looked like it might be a riot for a
time. It seems that the show had
some trouble with the authorities like
the Barnum show did at Winnipeg
and determined to teach them a les-
son.
Downs' Wire Show.
OWATONNA, Minn., July 12.-
When the Cole Brothers' show ap-
peared here Saturday a message was
received from Martin J. Downs, bear-
ing his own signature, which indicates
that he is rapidly recovering from his
recent illness.
TORONTO, Ont., July 14.- Ed
Knupp, general agent of the Cole
Brothers' show, arrived here today
for a consultation with M. J. Down4
owner of the show, who is much bet-
ter.
the press of the entire country, from
governors, army officers, civilians,
from leaders of the tented world.
Therein also rests the secret of the
cash prizes and medals he has won
in a multitude of contests for his
finished art.
Nor is Davis alone in his applause
earning abilities. He is most happily
married, and his wife, known to the
profession of entertainment as "Aunt
Lucindy," proves not only a good
foil for him, but has, herself, orig-
inated many of the clever impromptu
funny situations in which they have
been seen.
Entertained Millions.
Davis and his wife hold the record
for having entertained more millions
of people than any professional per-
formers on earth. That may sound
like a broad statement. Here is the
proof-They begin their work at eight
o'clock every week-day morning.
They don their "rube" make-up,
which by the way is so clever as to
fool even the most experienced actor,
and are a source of half-hidden amuse-
ment to the guests of the hotel at
which they stop. They go out into
the street, through the busy shop-
ping district, in many cases followed
by immense crowds. Their work is
tinostentatious. There is no buffoon-
cry about it. It is a distinct charac-
terization of the hayseed type, with
all the average hayseed's ignorance
of city customs.  It is not over-
drawn.   Indeed, both    Mr. and
Mrs. Davis are proud of the fact
that they  have never been    mo-
lested by the small boys who are ever
ready for fun.
If there is a matinee at the circus,
they attend it, paying their way into
the tent of the man who employs
them.  Occasionally, "Lucindy" loses
"Hiram" in the crowd and cries real
tears, winning the sympathy of all
about her until "Hiram" is at last lo-
cated. During the performance, one
or the other of them become excited
at the dangerous exploits of the gym-
nasts and attract the attention of half
the audience by their shouts to the
man on the traneze to "come down"
before he breaks his neck.
Wear Make-Up Six Days.
After the show they continue to be
a source of great amusement until
they arrive at their hotel and retire
for the night.
Their make-up is retained for six
days each week. They work longer
hours than any similar attraction on
earth.  On   Sundays they   appear
The Friars recently entertained one
of the best known circus comedians
in the world, in the person of Bert
Davis, known from one end of the
country to the other as "Hiram Bird-
seed."  It may have been that the
Order of Pen and Play Pilots in-
tended to have a lot of fun at Davis'
expense, in the way, familiar to such
organizations. If such were the case
they were sadly disappointed. Davis
is one of the best educated men in
the circus business today. He proved
his education in a speech he made to
the Friarly gathering.
One is naturally tempted to ask, of
what use is education to a man who
spends his life "in making a fool of
himself?"  The answer rests in the
incontrovertable fact that it requires
a wise man to make a meritorious
comedian.
Davis takes his work seriously and
therein lies the secret of a huge scrap
book full of spontaneous praises from
ABOUT PEOPLE OF THE CIRCUS WORLD
E. Root is treasurer of the Yankee
Robinson show.
Fred Gollmar was a visitor in Chi-
cago this week.
Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Rowe were in
Chicago last Saturday  for a brief
visit.
Ralph Root is doing the local con-
tracting for the Yankee Robinson
show.
Andy Mackay, late manager of the
Mackay circus, came to Chicago last
week.
Steve Miaco, late of the Mackay
circus, came to Chicago when the
show closed.
C. D. McIntire, contracting agent
of the Gollmar Brothers' show, was
a recent visitor to Chicago.
Pop Quinette has the advance car
with the Yankee Robinson show. The
circus consists of fifteen cars back
and one ahead. There is also a box
brigade.
Bert Andrus, contracting agent of
the Gentry show No. 1, has been a
frequent visitor in Chicago recently
as he is making a number of towns
in this vicinity.
Fred Griffin, of the Norris & Rowe
show, came down to Chicago from
Milwaukee, Wis., last Sunday in
search of colored musicians for the
side show band.
Lon Williams donned a new suit
last Saturday night and was looking
his best when he left the city for a
brief visit to the Gentry show No. 1
up in Wisconsin.
C. R. Baker, formerly press agent
of the Forepaugh-Sells show, and
more recently proprietor of the New
Irving hotel at Fond du Lac, Wis.,
has sold that hostelry and is taking
things easy while he "looks around."
He is now at the Metropole hotel in
this city with his family.
Ed C. Warner, railroad contractor
of the Sells-Floto show, was in Chi-
cago recently in consultation with W.
E. Franklin, general manager of the
enterprise.
Miss Manello, one of the troupe of
acrobats with Ringling Brothers', was
compelled to leave the show at Ko-
komo, Ind., last Monday and is un-
der a doctor's care in that city. Mrs.
Clark, of the same show, remained
over with her.
H. E. Butler was in Chicago last
week, being in charge of the third
car with the Two Bill show. Butler
was reported dead early last season
and has the distinction of knowing
what people think of him for obituary
notices were published in several pa-
pers. "The Stake and Chain News,"
of which he was one of the founders,
gave much prominence to his reported
demise.
Alf T. Ringling is doing quite a
good deal of press work this season,
having taken the responsibility of the
handling of the Ringling show work
from the shoulders of any of the in-
dividual press agents. He has been
getting some fine magazine articles
and it begins to look like he would
get the medal if this paper should
decide to determine who is the "best
press agent" in circusdom.
Rube Newton, formerly a clown
with Ringling Brothers', John Robin-
son and the Greater Hagenbeck show,
left Chicago last week for Los An-
geles, Cal., where he goes in search
of health. He has not been well
lately and it is feared he has con-
sumption. The actors' fund provided
him with a ticket and sleeper and
friends at the parks made up a purse
which was expected to cover his ex-
penses en route.
July17, 1oW.
dressed in the pink of fashion and are
generally istaken for strangers by
the hotel management.
They invariablyprecede the circus
parade in a rickety rig, drawn by a
poorly-fed nag. The wheels have
many times been caught in cable slots
thus blockading traffic and attracting
immense crowds. They have been ar-
rested times innumerable, but the joke
has always been upon. the police.
For twenty-two years they have
served the public n their present ca-
pacity, beginning with Frank A. Rob-
bins show in 1887 and 1888, then with
Washburn and Arlington. In 1889,
with Washburn, in 1890 with Joe
McMann's circus; in 1891 with Bond
Brothers; 1892 and for three years
thereafter, with the Wallace show;
for five years with Buffalo Bill; 1
year with Hagenbeck; 1 with Hagen-
beck-Wallace; 4 winters with Elk's
Burlesque Circus and 1 winter with
Midwinter Circus at Los Angeles.
They are now with the Cody-Lillie
combination. They have won prizes
at St. Louis, Omaha and Nashville
expositions.
They haye a beautiful home at Fall
River, Mass., but their time is so well
filled that they rarely see it.
Few performers in the tented sphere
are more beloved than "Hiram" and
"Lucindy."-W. M.
TWO BILL BILLERS
WERE ENTERTAINED.
DANVILLE, Ill., July 13.-Lou
Elliott, manager ofthe W. H.Swan-
son moving pictures at the Grand, en-
tertained the following billers last
night: Lester W. Murray, car man-
ager of Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill;
Walter K. Hill, press agent; H. Mey-
ers, program contractor; F. Maurer,
boss bill poster; R. Armstrong, stew-
ard for the Alliance; Walter Becker,
M. Coughlin, C. Ables, G. Frazier,
F. Harvey, J. McBaugh, W. Ivory, H.
Fairbish, C. McBean, F. Butler, W.
Coats and C. W. Chubb, of the Two
Bill's advance, and Julius Buchbinder,
the traveling agent of "The Traveling
Salesman," which is traveling right
along at the Illinois theater in Chi-
cago.
Disgraceful Brawl.
KOKOMO, Ind., July 13.-Walter
A. Thomas, one of the canvasmen
with the Ringling shows, was com-
pelled to seek the services of a phy-
sician yesterday.  He was driving
stakes when a driver named Dona-
hue came along with a circus team
and Thomas, thinking that he passed
too close to him, objected. There-
upon Donahue hauled off and hit
Thomas in the mouth with such force
that the blow and Thomas' teeth cut
his lips severely. Dr. S. Roscoe Chan-
cellor took five stitches in the wound.
-Armstrong.