New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-10-21
AUTO SHOWS HISTORY.
JAMES C. YOUNG FOUNDER
SeUeasth annual Exhibition an the
Garden in January.

was the iQoa OF the
held in this country. It was James C. Young the
secretary treasurer of the Madison Square Gar
den Company, who away back in 1900 first grssped
the Importance Of the automobile industry and con-
ceived the idea of national exhibition in New
York. How Mr.. Young to his conclusion and
how hard ne fought against almost insurnountaoIe
obstacles until he succeeded in putting on the first
automobile show, in November OF 1900. VIII be OF
intense interest to the present day automobilist
was from 1894 1898 that the bicycle craze and
industry were at their height IN this country. In
each of these years colossal bicycle show was
given in Madison Square Garden Cycle enthusiasts
from all over the country attended these SHOWS
and manufacturers literally fought with one an
other 10 obtain space for exhibits Toward the
close of the nineteenth century however the oicycie
fever which had made pedal fanatics OF haf the
country's population. began TO wane. and the man
ageent Of bicycle show found 1t difficult IN 1888
and 1900 to fill the garden with exhibits.
The last bicycle show was held in January 1SoV
and the late Frank ". Sanger. the general mai
ager of the Madison Square Garden Company
which gave the show persuaded dozen auto
mobile concerns to make exhibits, as the bicycles
were not sufficient to fill the garden IL was oui
ing this show that Mr.. Young stroled INTO ING
garden and noticed that nearly all the spectators
were grouped around the automobile exholIs
while the bicycles were almost deserted. Then and
there in the fertile brain Of Mr. Young the auto
mobile show had its birth.
He at once proposed to Mr.. Sanger that the
Madison Square Garden Company give show ex-
clusivelv for automobiles The latter. however
frowned upon the project. saying that the industry
was too young and fearing that the company
might lose money such an exhibition MT
Young however, nothing daunted, went ahead with
his plans during the winter and early spring OF
1900 He made list of the automobile concerns
which had exhibited in the last bicycle show and
asked these if they would go into show exclu-
svely for automobiles. All were enthusiastic over
the project.
In February 1900 Mr.. Young received letter
from the Automobile Club OF America, asking on
what terms he would consent 10 put on an auto
mobile show Nothing, however, came OF these
negotiations.
Frank X sturgis. the president of the Madison
Square Garden Company, dropped into Mr. Sanger's
office one afternoon while Mr. Young was urging
his pet hobby A general discussion on the ad-
stability of an automobile show and its possible
success followed Mr.. Young advocated the show
with great vigor. Mr. Sanger afraid there
were not enough automobile concerns to I'LL the
garden. Mr.. Young urged the scheme. and Mr..
Sturgfs said: you certainly very enthusiastic
over this Mr. Young" and then and there it was
agreed to give the show
The Automobile Club Of America agreed to CO.
operate with the Madison Square Garden Company
and help sell the space, When the first call FOR
exhibitors went out in June of 1850 only dozen
manufa cturers- sent favorable answers. and these
were mostly the concerns which had exhibited in
the last bicycle show II looked If the first.
automobile show would have to be conducted at a
heavy financial loss. and might prove fail
ure Small wonder that Mr. Young felt blue. He
kept steadily at work all summer, however. and
by the manufacturers were hauled into
line. Personal solicitation was required in many
cases and often it was like pulling teeth TO get
them in. These strenuous days for Mr..
Young, but he had guaranteed the success of the
show, and he kept at the task until success crowned
his efforts
The first annual automobile show was held in
Madison Square Garden during the week of Novem-
per ~ 1870 and was an IaqQslined success from
public. The big Garden was comfortably filled
with exhibits. though nothing, OF course like the
shows that followed. Only thirty-one ALTERNATING
There were no foreign exhibitors in the first
show. The Garden was crowded at every session
ceeding shows have been. The cost OF putting the
first show S1O00. outside of the decorations.
one or the features of this show was a track
around the Garden on whlch the cars were shown.
and never repeated Obstacle and reliability
on this track There was also a loan exhibition in
connection with the show in which the motor cars
America were on public view; The grand total of
exhibitors including automobile accessories makers
The second annual automobile show was held in
Ninety-three exhibitors took space in this show.
spices Of the AUTOMOBILES Club OF America In this
exhibit was a Mors car, shown by Foxhall P
chimes. Darracq car, a Napier, Renault and a
Daimler Cannstatt machine. No foreign exhibitors
The third annual automobile show which was
held in Madison Square Garden January Il to o.
was the National Assocla ton of Automobile Manu-
facturers, and the third show was held under the
auspices Of the new association. The list OF eX-
hibitors IN the third show totalled l5O. The first
foreign exhibitor took space IN this show, the Paris
Automobile Company, represented by Henri Four
nier.
Madison Square Garden on January l6 TO 2S. 1904
Over two hundred exhibitors took space. including
many foreign manufaeturers ~, This show was held
under the same auspices as the previous one
RV the time for the fifth automobile show, which
was held in Madison Square Garden on January "A
TO 81 1906 the automobile industry had grown TO
sI,ch gigantic proportions in this country that
drsda of would be exhibitors were unable TO secure
snaca No less than go exhibitors were accom-
nlodated in the big amphitheatree;; 1housanos OF
peope docked 10 the show from al over the world
one thing was demonstrated by The 1905 show, and
this was that in five years the automobile industry
in this country had grown 70 suen vast size Lhat
the hundreds Of manufacturers or motor cars and
accessories. -, .oos ..--~r,- -,
q was decided to hold two shows simultaneously
in New York The sixth national automobile snow
was held in Madison Square Garden on January
I9 to 90 1906 under the auspices or the Association
0T licensed Automobile Manufacturers. over two
hundred exhibitors were represented in the Madi-
son Square Garden show last year ea =. =, ,,..,u
Square Garden January u to %, will be con-
Quoted under the auspices OF the Association or
son Square Garden Company, ana promises to
break all records for all eutomobie shows IN this
or anv other country. No less than 1900 VIII se
While howard OF 10000 will be spent by the show
ccrmitreA for decorations. Many or these VIII
be imported especially for the Garden snow
AUTOMOBILE RACES POSTPONED.
The autornobus RACES which were to have been
held at the Empire City track yesterday were