The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-06-03
REAL COMEDY
IN CIRCUS LIFE
Manager Of se||s-f|oto Shows
Sees Funny Incidents

IF George AIDE or George Cohn want
| the real inspiration for the best comedy
| that was ever written, they can find it
at the front door of a big modern
circus" says Frank Tammen, manager
of the big Sells-Floto shows, or "The
Circus Beautiful which gives two ex-
hibitions in Walla Walla today.
II don't believe" continued Mr.. Tam
men, that 1 could stand all the trials
and vigors of circus life if it wasn't
for the constant and infinite variety o
comedy that comes to the main en-
trance daily.
ITO begin with, there are all sorts
! and conditions of people who have the
most ingenious pleas and appeals to
get in for nothing-but of course their
little confidence games make an old
story to most people who know any
thing about circus life.
"a constantly recurring pest. yet full
of good comedy, is the big overbearing
woman with a small mild husband and
chain of wild-eyed children, who has
| made up her mind to get most of them
| by the doorkeeper without paying the
25 cent fee. And maybe you think it is
an easy thing to stop her?
mot on your life! We have to keep
| one of our strong men at the front
door, not for the bold bad man we are
liable to encounter, but to check the
| anward march of the anti-race suicide
Amazons who insist upon taking their
| youngsters in for nothing.
"The other night in Boise one of
these masculine women with four
dirtyfaced kids stormed the front door.
She had tickets for two of the young
| sters but the other two she was bent
on putting through with flying wedge
Of course 1 stopped her, and then there
| was an argument. Finally she pro-
duced 25 cents for one of the children,
but pointing to the other one she said:
"'You wouldn't charge me for that
| little thing. would you? She'll go to
sleep as soon as we get inside and
| won't even look at the show
"Of course I'm human, and the child
passed.
Another funny thing happened in
, Provo. Now, I've heard all sorts of
excuses from people who wouldn't go
| to show because they had to pay
| from remarks about the size Of the
| hump on the camers back to the fam
Gus Jacksonville excuse as to Why the
| town folks don't like show people-but
the Provo man holds the record.
after he had been out in front of
the tent for about 20 minutes friend
came along and asked if he was going
in.
"'No sire-ee,' said Herb, those there
tents are too big for me-
And that's the way it goes every
day of the season."
There was a fine street parade TIL
morning about 1890 o'clock and at the
matinee the big tent with it's 5000 seat
ing capacity was almost damned.
The big Sells-Floto shows talent
comprises more exclusive feature acts
than has even been seen before under
canvas with any one organization. The
program includes the peerless Potters
International aerlialists, direct from :
three years engagement in Europe.
The COrrieaS (fOur in number) IA
nous family of equestrians are I'M
douptedly the champion bareback rid
ers of the world as a family. Their
riding is truly phenomenal and beyond
/
Jeanesse Dorre troupe from the
Royal circus of Munich, in a beautiful
fencing, dancing and musical transfor-
nation act, under the direction of Otto
kar Bartik.
Cecil Lowande, artistic principal
somersault, bareback riding, difficult
and intricate exploits on the bare back
of a swift-running horse. Miss Low
ande is Americas greatest equestri-
enne.
Clemings and McAllister, in wonder
full exploits and artistic evolutions on a
skilfully balanced breakaway ladder.
O'DOle, the great, in thrilling aerial
| leaps and dives from the apex of a
! long and perpendicular ladder, this ar
| fist accomplishing backward, single,
double and triple somersaults before
reaching the ground.
The Alpine family, English acrobats.
| in a new novelty in IAN aerial double
| wire act cakewalks, high jumps,
three high walks, f1ip-fiaps: in fact, a
new sensation on high wires; the Royal
Japs of superhuman grace and daring,
/ 1.-the and timber limbed, bringing every
feature of gymnastic dancing, acrobatic
| art into play. Physical culture of the
highest art is embodied in the groups
and companies of acrobats presented
! this wear by the Sells-Floto shows.
| There will be another performance
tonight at 8 O'Clock, doors open at