The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-17
OPENING NIGHT
DRAWS A CROWD
AuspiciouS Beginning for the
Orphans Home Carnival
SHOWS WELL PATRONlZED
Gaskil Company Has Many Attrac.
tons Worth Seeing, and EspIan-
ade Has Been Greatly I'M
proved-some Features.

A regular first night crowd turned out
last night to welcome back to Birmingham
the great Gaskil shows. 1t was as if the
crowd was meeting with old friends, yet
there is much of the show this year that
is new. In fact the whole aggregation
has a spe and span appearance and the
crowd last night seemed to enjoy every
minute of their time The wild animal
show, larger and better than ever, came
in probably for the largest patronage.
The wonderful acting of the lions, pan
Their, and tiger under the leadership of
Captain Ricardo and Captain Dwyer, held
the audience that visited the big tent
spellbound. Two lady trainers, Mile Mar
tina and Miss Louise Hogenbeck, also
deserve credit for showing they made
with a group of lions and tigers.
The dog and pony show of Professor
Woods, was another attraction which did
a large business. This show Is something
out of the ordinary and the work done
by these little animals is one of the fea-
lures of the carnival.
Two old friends Lii" the big elephant,
and the camel, are both on hand and were
kept as busy carrying loads of merry
makers.
A new show to Birmingham Is the ping
pong girls, really beautiful lot OF sing
ing and dancing girls, who give perform
ance of merit. Roberta, an old faVorlte'
but with a new show and a clever COM
pany, was given a splendid reception.
Then there is the Hindoo mystery, the
House of Trouble, the Glass Blowers and
others. All are good and all come in for
their share of visitors.
Country Store Success.
The Country Store bids fair again to RI
val any of the attractions as money
maker. Mrs c. C. Flemming' VINO Is
this years chairman, has stock Lasat at
least 'looks the goods and she has sur
rounded herself with ladies who are bound
to make the store a success. Mrs. Frank
White was in charge last night and was
assisted by Mrs. j. McCarty and Mrs
Theiman. Judging from the rushing bus
mess when the store opened, its success
seems assured.
A carnival would not be complete with
out merry go-round, and a Ferris wheel.
They are both here, and got their share OF
attention.
The Grecian stadium, or Circus Royal
as 1t is called, is the big feature of the
carnival The performance offered here
is one of the best of its kind ever seen
here with a similar organization. All the
acrobatic tumbling and aerial acts are
l Of prafSp The
special features are Prince Yantaurkey
little Jap, on the high wire and slide
for life, and FELTON,, the high diver, who
goes up a little higher each year. This
season he dives off a ladder 105 feet high
into a tank of water three feet deep.
Looping the Gap.
The big act of the entire bill. how
ever. Is Oscar Babcock in a dare-devel
ride around the loop and jumping the
chasm. The frame work for this feat
I is of a different character from that of
any similar arrangement built for bicycles
and the performance is In every way the
most daring and sensational ever seen
here. From a point perhaps the highest
ever placed for such an act at mile
minute down the narrow track he
comes, curves upward and flies out
through space, landing safely on a sup
port thirty feet away. The momentum of
his wheel carries him out OF sight of
his audience for the moment. The crowd
holds it's breath from start to finish, but
when 1t RECEIVERS itself the shouts of APP
plause can be heard for blocks.
Last nights crowd caught up the gen.
uine carnival spirit and got plenty of fun
out of everything in sight Much credit is
due to the management for the way the
crowd was handled. 1t is also to their
credit that there is nothing Objectionable
| in the entire show.
The charity carnival. no doubt, will be
! great success.
Owing to the late arrival of the Gaskll
shows yesterday 1t was found impossible
to get ready for the high dive and the
loop-the-gap act last night, but begin
ming today these sensation features will
be presented twice daily for the remainder
| of the week.