Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-11-04
PASSING OF THE DIME MUSEUM
Circus Freaks Have Given Way to the
Moving Picture Shows.

Circus Freaks Have Given Way to the
Moving Picture Shows.
Much has been written of the
changes in the theatrical world by the
entrance of the popular moving-pict-
ure show, but the disastrous effect OF
this cheap amusement on the class Of
entertainers know to the public as
freaks" Is not generally known.
But a few years ago, so short time,
in fact, that young men and women of
25 and 80 years cannot help but re-
member them, the dime museums Of
the country were heavily patronized.
Most Of the amusement seekers Of to-
day can remember when their home
town held such a palace" of enter
tainment where they could inspect the
most alarming looking examples of
human life, look over a bewildering
collection of wax works, and listen to
a vaudeville show all for the sum of 10
cents. Who among us of mature years
has forgotten the wonderful glass
blower always to be found in those
days in a corner of the museum, or the
marvellous product of his skill which
he sold as "souvenirs?"
With the increasing popularity of the
moving picture houses, these museums
have, year by year. become less in IA
vor. The armless wonder no longer
attracts. The daring sword swallOwer
cannot even interest the boys, and the
jovial fat lady with her package of
photographs has become a decided
back number
Outside of the circus tents few
human curiosties are now exhibited.
There has been a great slump in the
freak business.
The popularity of nature freaks as
public entertainers was at its height
about fifteen years ago.
Then the living pin cushion, the hu-
man frog and others of like ilk trav-
eled over a circuit of museums two or
more times during a season. They
commanded salaries that would COM
pare favorably with the remuneration
given now to some of our foremost
theatrical stars. Now the human frog
is glad to hop about a fifty-foot tent
for SIS a week, and the living pin
cushion has to stand lots of painful
tests for not more than $50.
Twenty years ago the famous Bow
cry, in New York, was lined with dime
museums. Now there is not one of
these houses in Greater New York. In
st. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton and other large cities conditions
are rapidly assuming the same aspect.
That the moving-picture show has
caused the downfall of the freak is
conceded by theatrical men generally.
The never ending variety of entertain
ment offered by the great rolls of films
is the reason.
1t was at the Gaiety Museum, in
New York, which long since has been
closed. that amateur night was ORR
ginated. Sixteen years ago roughness
and horse-play and cries of Get the
hook" were not associated with anna
teur nights. The amateurs who went
on were the genuine article. Stage
struck girls from the factories, singing
and whistling newsboys and young
plumbers or clerks in BOwery stores
who fully believed they were destined
to he Herimanns or kellars went on
at the old amateur nights at the Gale
ty.
Amateur nights at the Gaiety was
ONLY once a week, but the freaks were
on hand all the time. There were
some more popular than others VINO
had drawing power and following all
their own. There we're the Murray
triplets, for instance, three good-look-
ing young men, dwarfed, who were
carefully chaperoned by their mother.
The fond and watchful mother kept
child's toy bank on the platform at
the leet Oh lHe DcSl-lppNIHS VI ''fS
triplets. When any particularly bold
or forward young girl pressed forward
too closely, watchful Mrs. Murray
would say: IF you think SO much of
Tommy, put a dime in his bank" 1t
was surprising how many dimes would
be forthcoming in the course Of busy
dav and evening
one of the prime favorites in st.
Louis museums was Emma Schaler,
the ossifed girl. She was a bright
girl and pretty so far as eyes and
features were concerned. She entered
the ranks of human Curiosities as the
living skeleton debutante." and as such
starred over the dime museum circuit
east and west and north and south
with James Coffee, the skeleton dude
Eli Rowen, the armless wonder, was
man of handsome face and stalwart
torso. He was well educated and was
undoubtedly one of the most intelligent
| of freaks. He did aCrobatic stunts,
wrote visiting cards and was other
wise a capable entertainer. Occasion