Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-10
ISIS UNVEILED.
An Appeal Reporter Gets Some Glimpses
Behind the Scenes of a Well
Managed Circus.
An Interview with Mr.. w. W. Cole
Interesting Facts, Figures and
Fancies.

Those who look upon the wonders of q
circus, who see the agile tumblers the
braWny gymnasts, the daring trapeze per-
formers, the reckless rope-dancers, the thrill
| ing equestrians the finely dressed lady
riders; who witness the absurd antics of the
clown and listen to his quips and guirps
and comic songs, cannot realize that the
glitter, the romance and the fash of the
quickly following entertainments are all the
result OF cool business tact and skill. The
idea OF facts and figures seldom enters the
mind of The circus visitor. 1t seems
to him that the whole thing is a sort
Of holiday for the actors aud the clowns
1t was with no desire Of dispeliug the illu-
sion that an APPEAL reporter called upon
Mr.. w. w. Cole, the circus proprietor, and
asked him TO unveil the wondrous Isis of his
circus. Mr.. Cole very willingly answered
all the queries of the reportorial interroga-
ton point.
GLOW does the South compare with the
North as field for circusez?" asked the
scribe.
ait is much more expensive South than
North, and we have larger audiences North.
Consequently, we have to charge higher
price OF admission in the South. Expenses
are 100 per cent. greater in the South than
above the Ohio river. Our principal ex-
penses are in advertising and printing. So
great has the necessity for advertising grown
ploy forty men in this department"
"What do you pay irst-class stars?"
"a good lady rider gets from 500 10 $500
per week. Her personal appearance and
ability of course are taken into considera-
ton. There is great scarcity of the srti
Gle. Good male riders get from $3.50 TO
$3.50 per week. They are also scarce. Good
bareback riders are the best paid people in
the business"
"Circus men, then, are better paid than
actors?"
Eyes, sir. Our leading people are better
paid than leading actor, and our subordl-
mates likewise. Leapers get from SIS to
800 per week; good gymnast, 500; good
tumblers, SIS; lady rope dancers, 500. The
latter are the most difficult TO get in the
whole business / know of but three lady
rope-dancers in America. Usually they APP
pear also in riding act. Some of our
best riders, however, appear in only one
act"
"How many employees have your"
"About 225"
"What is the machinery of circus?"
"We have canvass, horse, train, dressing
room and animal departments. Each Of
these departments has superintendent.
When we have to leave town, the first thing
we do is TO take down the animal tent and
convey the animals TO the cars, which
we do during the circus performance.
Then we remove the circus canvas, take IL
to the ear; then the horses, men and wagons
60 10 the same place, and the performers
have Pullman sleeper. We have our own
cars, which we carry everywhere. When
we arrive in a town in the morning the frat
wagon off is the camp outfit concern, which
is sort of travelling hotel, provided with
tables seats and all the necessary outfit Tor
cooking and feeding. We have regular
cooks, walters and stewards, and feed our
own workipgmen. The performers go to the
hotels"
"How many performances do you give
daily?"
Casually too. We have strict rules for tine
government of employees. They are com
PEELED TO behave themselves and be prompt
in their duties. The rules are printed and
put in different parts of the circus. Usually
they are excellently kept, and the discipline
is enforced. The workipgmen are paid twice
a month, the performers by the week"
"What are the daily expenses OF running
q circus"
"In Tennessee, for instance, our expenses
average $500 per day. OF course in place
like Memphis they will be increased to about
$780, on account of advertising, licenses,
ETC."
allow do you get your animalsW
81 have an extra supply in New York that
/ draw on. / get them from Europe. There
mall. They send out expeditions to trap
them. The most valuable animal is the
hippopotamus, which is worth from $4,000 10
$4,000, including a duty of thirty per cent;
the elephant comes next, valued at about
$4,000: lions are worth from $500 to $3.50,
according to age"
SHOW are lions caught"
"They are usually caught in nets as cubs
and then raised and trained. 1t Is a rare
csss that an old lion is caught, though some
times 4 mother is taken with her young"
"How long have you been in the circus
business?"
81 have been circus proprietor for twelve
years. My fret venture began in Quincy,
Ill. l had a email circus that travelled over
land by wagons. Now we could not pos
sibly move except by railroA I'd. The pro
been rapid. 1t is much larger than
it used to be. We spend and take
more money. The risks are greater now,
and the profits would have been good gross
receipts ten years ago. The past year has
been bad one for the circus, owing to bad
weather. Only the more solid Institutions
were able to tide over and make profitable
season. There have been more failures this
season than usual"
"What is the future Of the circus~
at looks as if we would have to 60 back
TO wagons II the railroads don't lower their
rates. Cirouses, however, are bound TO live.
1t is style of amusement which the people
must have. The mensgeries are fifty per
cent greater now than the menageries that
used 10 travel alone. Years ago one ele-
plant was big thing; now we have eight
or ten. The fact that the circus Is incress-
ing in dimensions will not in my opinion,
injure the business. The bigger The show,
the bigger the receipts"
"How many months do you travel?'
about eight. We take four months 10
renevate and get additions. The entire ma
terial of circus is exhausted every Eve
years. wardrobe lasts six months. II it
we're not Tor our four months breathing spell
circuses would b. much smaller than they
are. We would have no chance to go
abroad"
How about the profits during the year%
"Crcuses eau make from $4,000 TO $780,
600 per year. And they can lose similarly
nos f ann ~