The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-20
EVERYONE GETS A SEAT.
Opera Chairs Are Also Furnished Pa
irons of the Barnum g. Bailey Circus.

One of the announcements of the Bar
Birmingham a week from today, attract
ing particular attention is the state
ment that a seat and foot-rest are FUR
nished every purchaser of ticket for the
big show. What this means need not be
explained to any one who recalls the
discomfort and crowding attendant upon
a visit to the ordinary circus.
zone important feature of the Barnum
& Bailey seating plan." said an agent of
the big show, lis the fact that every
ticket issued, whether reserved or not,
has coupon. Where a seat is not re-
served in advance. the admission coupon
does not call for a specific seat, but IN
titles the holder to a certain section. Each
of these sections has accommodations II:
a certain number of visitors and as only
sufficient tickets to fill them are sold,
there is never any possibility of over
crowdine. In the seats ordinarily fur
nished by circuses to those purchasing
admission tickets only. visitors are COM
PEELED to dangle their legs uncomfortable
in ne air, or TO excite the resentment of
others by resting their feet on the seats
in front At the same time the man who
is thus taking advantage of his neighbof
to rest his feet, has the annoyance OF
suffering the same nfiiction from those
behind. BY the new foot-rest scheme
inaugurated by Barnum & Bailey all this
discomfort and cause of ill-feepng is OBJ
Waited. Every seat has an extra board
upon which to rest The feet. This means
the carrying of just double the old num-
Der of planks. but the show has its re-
ward in the increased comfort and conse-
quent satisfaction of the public"
This reform in the seating arrange
ments OF the show also extends to the
higher priced seats. Formerly the reserved
seats were nothing more than the ordi
nary blue boards covered with piece OF
carpet. Then came the crude clap-down
seat, which is still retained by other
shows The Barnum & Bailey show has
some of the slap-down seats, but they are
of an improved pattern and are sold at
am intermediate price. The best reserved
numbered seats are modern, up-to-date.
comfortable opera chairs, placed upon
platform so soldly and substantially con.
strueted that a child could play hide and
seek on ii without danger of injury. The
Barnum & Bailey circus is the only trav-
cling show in the world that furnishes
seats of this character. and while it
means the employment Of many more men
to handle them and the utilization of
several extra railway cars to carry the
paraphernalia the cost has been more
than justified"
There is thought to be little doubt that
those who witness the performance of the
Barnum & Bailey circus when the big
show exhibits in Birmingham will have
their enjoyment enhanced by the manage
ments careful preparation for their COM
fort and safety. The show, it is an
nounced, will present all the new features
here, just as seen in New York during
the opening engagement of the season.
These include the dip of DEATH" the
aerial automobile sensation; the 1.-TWO
Twirls of Terror in which mid-air somer-
saults are turned by daring wheelmen,
the new Peace" spectacle, and a long
list of riding acrobatic. aerial and trained
animal novelties.