New-York tribune., 1912-01-22
D|SMANTL|NG BIG SHOW
Fine System in Clearing Garden
of Huge Motor Trucks.
ALL OUT IN THREE HOURS
A Feature of Annual Automobile
Display of Which the Pub
lie Sees Little.

Something Of the work or preparing for
an automobile show may he seen by the
man who happens 10 he in the vicinity for
a week or two before the opening, and
certainly the results of that labor are open
to all while the show is in progress. But
there is one feature Of tho annual display
Of which little is seen. That is it's hurried
disintegratlon. which is nightly dvcrtinS
10 the observer who doesn't mind the loss
of a few hours sleep
Many OF the visitors al Madison Square
Garden on Saturday night decided that
they would wait for the actual breaking up
OF the big truck exhibition. They did-for
a tme-until the watchful Pinkertons no.
ticed that tho outsiders were getting IN the
way ~ the workmen. and then there was a
general shooing out. much as the galleries
~ the structure ara cleared during a six
day bicycle race. Some OF the loiterers pro-
tested that they were looking for work.
"Oh. you want iob:' the Pink would
say An right Just 90 through that door
on tho side" once through the door the
loiterer discovered that the job consisted
in getting back into the Garden. SO strong
was the desire on the part OF exhibitors 20
get through with what has been the most
strenuous show season In history that they
hardly waited for the official closing hour
before beginning preparations for the big
getaway"
II was Jus, 1890. during the progress OF a
stirring ragtimc selection. that some ono
cried: shows over" Instantly the signal
horns and bells on cars In all parts OF IN"
Garden began 10 sound, many Of the sales
, men gave impromptu exhibitions OF IN"
turkey trot." and from the galleries came
a perfect storm of advertising literature.
individual drinking cups. newspapers and
ANYTHING else that would lutter 20 the
main floor. The hilarity kept up for fifteen
minutes. and then. by common consent.
although Il was not yet II o'clock. tho
show OF 1919 became matter OF history.
Promptly on the hour an army of brown
suited Garden employees appeared on the
main floor and began tho work Of gcttins
the cars out and simultaneously hundreds
OF contractors employees began 10 strip the
structure Of It's decorations. First went the
pcdestals that carried the names OF cars
next the rows upon rows Of electric bulbs
that made the Garden so brilliant durinE
the show. Following on their heels were
men who ripped down bunting AZ II II were
tissue paper. while others carried out and
stacked In the lobby the hundreds OF desks
and settees that had served during the two
weeks display.
Meanwhile here was amazing cclerity M
| the removal of the huge trucks. Cumb"r'
some as they appeared on the floor th'
largest were handny got under way 10y ioui
. o- five men. one man on the seat aud a
f,w 10 furnish momentum. and the truck
would move quickly to the wide outlet N
nth street and disappear into the night.
When the main floor was cl'aIe" t"'
gangs whisked out OF tn" way the stairs
that stood in the temporary elevator shai's
and the work OF clearing the irst gallery
OF cars was begun. with each car as the
elevator descended, the accessory exhibitors
from both galleries managed 10 load Don
or two OF material. so that both OF thes'
floors were practically cleared at the same
time with both elevators In use the clear
ance OF cars averaged about one "A minute
In fact IL took Just three hours to move
the entire l75 vehicles
To-day the contractors will install two
donkey engines on the main floor OF the
Garden and will begin the removal of the
tons OF structural steel composing the
framework of the temporary galleries. by
to morrow afternoon they hope to finish tho
Job, and then the interior OF the big show
place will look as It did before they in
yaded H. four weeks ago.
II would be unfair TO dismiss the Garden
show Of 1912 without IA tribute TO the work
OF Mero l.. Downs. under whose personal
supervision every detail of the two weeks
exposition was conducted. For months be-
fore the show Mr.. Downs gave his entire
time TO the preparations. During the prog
( ress OF the exhibition he was constantly on
the 20, and he saw 1t through TO the finish
for on Saturday night and Sunday morn
ing he was the busiest man at tho Garden
He has the satisfaction OF knowing that II
was the most smoothly conducted and TN,
most successful automobile show. In its
I every phase, that was ever held in New
! York.
! The White truck and trailer, loaded Will
seven and half tons of yellow pine, which
! was one of the most distinctive exhibits o
! a.. r.rIcn truck show left Vcstprdn