Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-13
DUNDY NDTHONPSON AFFAIR
HeW York Herald Gives Detailed Account
Of Why They Quit HippOdrUms.
FAILURE TO Paw WAS THE CHIEF CAUSE
oHahan ana His FRIEND Are PlsnninE
"vanity ,FaAE,' = new -Anuae-
ment Enterprise at 'r
Fort eeorEs. -

Thompson ana Dundy are no longer man
ayers OF the New York Hippodrome. the
colossal amusement enterprise started by
these two westerners that made old
Gotham sit up and cape. They are still
4 the big noise at Luna Park, but stories
Nj falling fortune at that Coney island in
sHutlon have drifted into Omaha. Light
attendance is said to have been the rule
this summer and there is a tale Of $4,000
sunk by Thompson In a mountain gorge"
attraction that has refused to work up
TO date. ''- $500 De-
stiIl. while It seems fairly certain at this
distance that Thompson and Dundy have
met reverses, they are by no means down
and out and are planning an all-the-year.
round enterprise at Fort George TO be
called vanity Fair Nine acres OF
eround already have been purchased for
this affsr, which is another project Of
unusual novelty.
As seip Dundy grew up In Omaha and
started his career here, the doings Of him
self and Frederick Thompson have always
been keenly watched In this city.
This is the story the New York Herald
prints on the subject
Those who are familiar with affairs in
amusement circles in this city expressed no
surprise yesterday when Il was officiaiiy
announced, that the firm of Thompson 4
Dundy had retired from the manaeen1ent
OF. the New York Hippodrome. Rumors OF
successfully established the largest amuse-
ment enterprise in the world to give UP the
months. Stories that there has been a mis-
understanding between Thompson & Dundy
dro,,,t ana those s. VINO are financing the Hippo
There are several reasons given for the
designations of Messrs. Thompson and
Dundy. II was stated officially that they
have retired from the active management
Of the HlppOdf'6me iif orderato devote their
sme T,, to 10 ,. SsssE large enterprises in the
through the large afnoant Of work and time
necessary IN thp niAna eerAent OF the Hippo
drome. While this Is the reason given by
officers of the company and Mr.. Thompson
for the oifante it Is said that the United
SIsrSS stsles Really company John w Gates,
ciers are Dissatisfied with the returns they
are getting on the etpital they Invested
IL is said that the financial interests of
the concern are dissatisfied because no divi-
dend has been declared on their holdings,
although the receipts have been up to -all
turns from business standpoint. and It is
said take exception TO many Of the expenses
incurred IN the last season. Mr., Thompson
denied yesterday that there was any fric-
ton between himself and Mr. Gates owing
to the large expense bill incurred on Mr..
Ihompson's recent trip to Europe In search
of features for the Hippodrome show
No Change In, Entertainment.
After a meeting OF the board Of directors
OI the Hippodrome company the other day
the following statemsnt was issued
Al meeting Of the Board of Directors
Of the New York Hippodrome, held today,
Mcssrs. Thompson, and pundy presented
TsssStSEs "a fSs s SEs dEeSrs and
aud the same were accepted. Messrs
thompson and Duhdy are desirous OF con.
K centrating their energies upon their other
y amusement enterprises including Luna
iork' and The management Of the New
York Hippodrome is now in the hands OF
DrOgpnf nffiRarS NJ he IIinnndrntaaa .4nrti.
pany. At the meeting W. II. Chesebrougt
was elected president. The new officers OF
tempated to make any change in the style
OF entertainment to be giyen at the Hippo
drome hereafter" ~ t-4. ,s :.
There is, no foundation whatever for the
siolies that Mr. Dundy and I-have resigned
through friction with the people who are
backing the Hlppodfome Mr.. Dundy and
considered tgivtng up the management
Off until later. Now, after had arranged
for the entire production Of the show up e
Ja'GlaTy l next and matters were IN suct
sha$e- that very little will have to be &C.
compshed by the new management,
Thought II the best time to retire and die
so. Mr.. 'Duhdy ana have purchased uinS
acres of ground IN Fort George and have
been trying to fnd opportunity for perfect
which we intend % start there by mex
April or May. -
Work Too Much for Him.
81 have found that between working OF
these plans and attending to my duties a
the HippOdrome and Luna Park 1 have has
4. too much work. / have been compelled 4
- work from ffteen TO eighteen hours n da,
since Luna Park opened, and although
like work u 50 on at that rate will sooi
have TO give up.
although 1 have given up the activ,
management OF the Hippodrome still re
tain an interest in ". from seHtimenta
as well as a 1nancial standpoint. / TAX
pride in sfSillg that Mr. Dundy and mysel
have succeeded In establishing the greates
amusement enterprise In the world and nov
leave il in the very best condition and ol
good paying basis. Aside from this W
still hold S55GoQo Interest in the company
] have been reluctant TO leave the Hippo
drome, but when I conceived the idea o
the Vanity Fair project at Fort George
about six months ago, found that l. coul'
NOT give the necessary time and attention
tolal the enterprises"
In repudiating the stories that there wa
dissatisfaction with the financial ddminis
tration OF 1.-The Hippoarone. Mr.. Thompson
produced n statement from the auditor O
the company which shows net income 10
the last season OF more than $4,000. Thi
lis iup 10 April H. and the sum will be In
creased when the May profits are added