Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-09
MAY BE
RACE MANAGER
ACTOR DICK BACK IN HURRY
F?OM THE EAST
Suspicion That Genial Booster OF
Auto Show MAJ Be Called on
to Manage the Santa
Monica Event

Dick Ferris, actor, manager, balloon
list and all around good fellow, VINO re-
turned from Minneapolis last night for
the automobile race and ElkS' week,
may be asked today to act as manager
Of the great contest over the santa
Monica automobile course, partly In
recognition of his efforts through the
donation of the Ferris trophy, but
mainly because of his success in estab-
fishing the last automobile show as
new mark in Pacific ecoast events.
Some dissatisfaction has been ex-
pressed among the automobile dealers
because of a feeling that the magnitude
of tomorrow's event has not been tuliy
impressed on the Southern California
public.
'gThis is the first really great thing
of the kind that has been worked upon
the Pacific coast" said a leading dealer
last night, land because of that 1t Is
to be expected that it will not be ap'
preciated as fully as will be the case
next year. But everything snouid DE oe
done that is possible to have 1t on rec
ord for what it is-for that reason /
am sorry that Ferris was not here
month ago."
The matter has not been taken up
formally, as Ferris did not arrive until
1O:30 o'clock last night. It is possible
that the matter may not be arranged
OfIlcldllYs
Mr. Ferris today to lend his efforts IN
making the race a smooth success. The
management at present is in the hands
of Leon T. Shelter
Eastern races of much less magni-
tude than that projected for tomorrow
are talked about throughout the coun-
try for weeks in advance and draw i'm
mense crowds from long distances. AS
the race draws near 1t is evident that
the dealers expectations are to be
somewhat disappointed in this regard,
although the race undoubtedly will be
more sensational and satisfactory as TO
time than had been anticipated.
Ferris surprised not only the auto
mobile public, but everybody IN Los
Angeles by his handling of the auto
mobile show last January, and as soon
as there was a possibility that he
would be able to leave Minneapolis
long enough to attend the race express
sions were numerous that Ferris
ought to be pressed into service"
81 don't know anything about the
race plans except what / have read In
the Los Angeles papers" said Ferris
last night. "I want to tell you that l
never was so glad to get anywhere In
NV life as to find myself back in Los
Angeles again. You don't know how
this town appeals to you until you get
away. They told me I was making a
nuisance of myself talking Los An
geles while in Minneapolis. That 3
really all I know | expect to stay
here until after the Elks' week is over
and then HE myself to Minneapolis
again until August 2S, when our en-
gagement terminates. You may bet
that we have our Pullman reservations
already booked this way for August
90"
A crowd of Ferris friends rivaling
the number present to greet the de-
layed Eks' delegations was at the
Salt Lake depot last night. They
brought down a ten-foot balloon, but
in his excitement Capt. Fl. d. Ryus lost
the material for filling it, and the bal
loon did not go up when Mr.. Ferris
stepped from the train.
His big touring car had been re-
trimmed and decorated for the occasion
and was at the depot. The party took
automobiles to the Alexandra for a
discussion of the latest local gossip on
Los Angeles. balloons. racing and other
matters which the actor-manager in
sisted on hearing about.