davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
Rhd Painted Scenes at Conev Shirt Seeved Reality Pulls Many Leve
The Great City Depends Largely for the Amusement Of
Throngng Thousands Upon Myriad Mechanical Convances
MANY of Which Herewith Described Which You Would
Never See in Thousand Trips to "The Islam"

then sent down, humping against stuoby
posts and revolving round and round. Yes,
the people revolve as well as the bowls.
They don't call it the Turkey Trot' for
nothing.
The only thing behind the scenes in the
animal show is long row of cages But
for that matter, you can see how animals
behave "off stage" If you go to the me-
nagerie at Central Park. Nor is there any
behind the scenes" to the Baby InCuba-
tor Nor is there anything worth while
concealed in the Virginia Reel or the Dew
lis Gorge. You know what the Virginia
Reel is. You pay for the privilege of being
bumped around worse than you ever were
in the "TiCliler.'
The Devils Gorge is little more inter
esting. 1t takes YOU in scenic railway
car through a series of darkened caverns,
where at intervals stage pieces flash into
light There is Port Arthur and Hell. OF
course, the two are inseparable, but there
are many other scenic effects all achieved
by lights. set figures and scenery. Not very
much behind the scenes" to that, unless a
system of hidden tin relectors and myriad
yarcolored electric light bulbs shining
with different effects on the different sec
lions of the landscape, is new to you.
With Fire" a Crack Of Doom" type of
illusion, however. it Is very complex. En-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

may ride on il as many times as you Ike,
for az the helter-skelter entertains people
at Luna, so does the wheel at Steeplechase.
Indeed, Tilyou likes the device that brought
him popularity so well that he is using II
I'm another form. Where the crowd Is deep
est and the laughter is sErill you VIII ma
this modification. II Is called the human
pool table" You see people shoot down
curving rattan slide. At the bottom of II Is
a great surface OF smooth wood. on this
surface are placed close together a score OF
wheels much in appearance like the human
roulette" But they are smaller, only four
feet i'm diameter More, they reyolve In diff
ferent directions so that person shooting
on 10 them out OF the mouth Of the slide Is
tossed here and there. from one wheel to
the other. rolling over and over until he
brings up in a heap against the ropes.
And below this polished surface lie the
instruments that create the fun. To each
wheel is attached an individual motor.
Some run clock-wise; others counter clock
wise the whole producing the confusing
effect of glistening wood spinning in DIFF.
ferent directions.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

between the rollers are the troughs Of the
waves" And just as they are hidden from
you, so is a little house, where a motor
generating the power for il all, stands
watched by an engineer.
But there is another mechanical device al
Luna. I mean the "Cakewalk." This is
composed of two narrow bridges of the
type you'd expect TO see spanning some
little travelled canyon Of the West Also
they are parallel. To the spectator those
who venture upon them are made to walk
as II they were cake walking" Always
the bridges are shooting back and forth and
always the floor space is rioting before
ones footsteps
Those on the "Cakewalk" never see the
complex system of levers that CONTROLS II
ALL Branching out from motor these le-
vers zigzag sideways and downward. eX-
banding and contracting as the bridge
swings and giving to its plankinS the dis
turbing motion. They used to control the
"witching waves with mechanism OF
this sort, but now they use rollers.
But let us see how another trick is
worked at Luna. Down the gaudy street
from the "Cakewalk' you see building,
painted red and white. on which the words
kiss Waltz" are written In big letters over
the door. Here are a number of tubs,
series of tracks and band When all the
tubs are filed with passengers-two in
tub-the band begins playing. A push from
an attendant and the tub rolls over a
series OF tracks. Foot by foot 1t begins 10
gain a swaying motion. Also its general
course-quick turns. but gradual swing
is such as would be followed by couple
Waiting And that's exactly how the
tracks were laid. A man and woman
danced the waltz with some coloring on
the soles of their feet. thus marking the
floor. In their wake the tracks Were laid.
low the theory OF the kiss Waltz is that
when people I'm the tub feel they are going
over they will grab each other. In front
of the building is a sign which says: "A
place for girls to bring their bashful
beaus"
Let the people amuse themselves" says
Thompson.
And they're building another new ride at
Luna OF course, IL is called the Turkey
Trot" II is like the ''Tickler"-the old
stunt of wooden bowls filled with people
drawn to the top Of an inclined plane and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

tering, you are in 4 large hall. dimly light
ed. You are impressed. 1t is very quiet In
fact, the whole effect upon you is as 1t
should be before a spectacle of this sort.
After a laughing course around the park
you are brought up with a shock against
the tragedy about TO be shown. BY this
time the doors are thrown back and an au-
diencc comes pouring out. You notice their
faces. They seem uneasy disturbed-the
faces of people who have just looked upon
something which gripped them
Then you take your seats, and as the
theatre darkens the play chats what 1t is
a wordless and a characterless play begins.
You see a city-a big city, The day Is
ending. The sun is setting; the walls and
roofs of the tall buildings are becoming
rose-colored in the afterglow Then the
painted sky darkens into night. Lights
begin to twinkle in some of the buildings.
In twos, In threes. windows show their
squares of opaque yellow.
A lecturer talking solemnly tells you
that the city is the wickedest Of all time
worse, even. than Gomorrah. II wouldn't
surprise him If a judgment were visited.
Then a tiny glow of light appears In one of
the buildings. Brighter and brighter 1t be-
comes until. bursting into flame, it shoots
up the walls. A fire has broken out. Other
buildings ignited by the flying embers begin
to show their red spots. Soon the city Is
ablaze. and you watch in horror as It burns
to the ground. And, like those who saw 1t
before you, you will more than likely leave
your seat strangely disturbed.
But from behind the scenes" II is so
different You see the buildings like col
Iapsible toy houses You see great trough
lined with asbestos, in which a fire does
burn. You see many and vari-coored
electric ught bulbs aud the tin rehectors
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
Mechanics at Work IN Machine Shop ct Luoa

that cast their glow upon city and sky
You see the levers by which the buildings
are made 10 sway and fall. You see the
instruments by which the kissing and roar
ing Of the flames are made possible. In
fact. you see nothing but mechanical toy
worked. it seems. by some man just pulling
strings.
But enough OF Luna. Excepting the
"Witching Waves" the Cake Walk and
"Fire!' 1t is all rather obvious. But let us
go down Surf avenue until we reach a great
white building. whose upper sides are as
CLASSY as studio roofs. 1t is Steeplechase
Here, indeed. is place where some Hurty
Is always pulling the strings. But before
seeing II listen to an anecdote about It's
proprietor. He Is George G. 1flyou. and.
like Thompson. ne lets the people amuse
themselves" That's the idea of the new
Coney that was born ten years ago. Before
the Island used to offer great many
things that were old fashioned and great
many more that were vicious, That was
before Tilyou came. That was when Nc
Kane, the political boss of the Island. want
ed the dives maintained so that he could
graft from them. Tilyou wanted clean
amusement, and he got It. He became a
proprietor of Steeplechase Park. McKane
became the proprietor Of quiet little cell
in the penitentiary. And this Is how the
idea of the clean Coney" came TO be q
don't take the responsibility for this story
IL came to me from the Tilyou press asent)
One day Tiyou. walking along the beach.
saw some boys playing on an upturned cart
one of them seated on the wheel would be
twirled around BIZ the others until he fell off
on the sand. Tilyou watched. And as he
watched he conceived the idea OF the
human roulette wheel" That was the first
chance for the people TO amuse themselves.
He built a great wooden wheel driven
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

~ My if you go there blind TO its en-
chantment DO you realize that II is
~ a great city Of make believe. Only
il you approach its minarets and towers
its facades cleaning in bright paint us
avenues and byways choked with people
only if you approach them with strongly
premeditated desire TO peep behind the
scenes" does the artifciality of the place
impress you. Even then you have to steel
yourself to keep from forgetting that you
are only there rnsympathetically and TO
find out how it ell is done. For Coney ISL
and is in the Far Ayost. 1t is the dream
city where every year millions of people
frolic like children.
Detraining, you are near place of many
colors that lies against the northern SKY
in fat silhouette of papier mache noun
tains and gorges, of tall buildings ana
bright colored flags. This is Luna. Last
winter, for reasons best known to them
alone. the management dropped the other
appendage, park" From surf avenue you
see that it is newly painted in white and
red. You see at the entrances girls with
white Jackets trimmed with red braid ana
with blue skirts. II is different. Before
that you saw women sitting in charlots'
They (the women not the chariots, L mean
wore broad brimmed, red-feathered hats
Behind them there used to be scarlet
coated, helmeted men, who watched the
gates like Cerberus. But now the men are
gone The girls in the braided coats both
sell and take the tickets.
This hint that Luna has changed is borne
.out as you enter. Where the sloping rooted
Japanese tea gardens used TO be you see
an open space stretching back TO the la
COON The names above the entrances 10
many of the show buildings have been
changed. Within are new attractions. The
taste of a jaded public must be pampered.
You see big red crescents hung everywhere,
You see tracks glistening in the sunshine.
Wherever you turn there are tracks-rides'
rides, rides For that is the keynote OF
Luna-to ride, whether 1t be on the Scenic
Railway or down the smooth rattan of the
Helter-Skelter.
But everywhere you see the same old
crowd, the same eager grown-ups and chill
dren passing their money into the box
offices and receiving the little thrills and
pleasant surprises for which they have
come. A careless company; that's not the
word: a careless army they, who do not
mind even if the big mountain is thing
Of canvas and wood even If the destruc-
tion of a city is only imitation. Instead
they go rollicking along, under the de-
Icious spell of the island.
But know the press agent well enough
TO have him take you through the little
doors where only employees can go, and II
all seems so different; for then you are be-
hind the scenes Then you may see Illusion
stripped naked. You may see the hundred
and one ways by which the public IS
amused Also, If the press agent wants TO
talk he may tell you the stories of some
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

ship saw scenery on all sides of them re-
volve earthward. This made them think
that they were being carried up into the
clouds. Thompson always makes people
think that they are doing something, but
they are not.
How he succeeded you know. You know
how The Trip to the Moon" was the
feature of the n-Amerfcan Midway.
You may know that he met Elmer Dundy
there. You may know that they formed
partnership and on May IS, 1902, organized
Luna Park. Contrary to general opinion
they took the name from Dundy's young
sister, not from Thompsons "Trip to the
Moon" At the end of the year they had
realized 80 per cent on an investment OF
$2,5OOOO0 That was the beginning. That
was why you see Luna so big and so bright
to-day. Since then Dundy has died. His
death was most unfortunate for Thompson.
Dundy's mind regulated the business side.
Ills was a head for figures. Thompson
with his fine Imagination, designed and car
ried out the illusions. His was not head
for figures.
Not long ago | asked Thompson TO give
me his recipe for amusement park success.
Let the people amuse themselves he
replied. Its the psychology Of older peo-
pie wanting to play like boys and
girls. Take the "Helter-skelter." That is
only the cellar door elaborated People
slide down II like they used TO years ago.
Take all the scenic railroads 1t is just
the old exhllaration of Jumping into the
hay loft in barn. They shoot through
the air. and they like il. And with the
more pretentous amusements. the big cleo
trical displays like the Crack Of Doom,
they are tricked again. They imagine they
are seeing something which they are not.
Yes, it's Thompson's way 10 let the peO-
pie amuse themselves" But let us see how
he helps them He did 1t with the heller
SHELTER by simply building a cane slide. BY
the way. he pointed out that half the pop
ularity Of this device was due To the pres
ence OF those who watch. Always at the
bottom of the long runway is a crowd,
packed sometimes twenty deep, looking and
laughing at those who come boiling down.
With the "WitchinS Waves" though, he
had to do something more intricate. This has
a canvas-covered surface, painted to repre-
sent muddy water. and by machinery made
to unduate as water is supposed to DO.
carrying oddly shaped boats. As a matter
of fact. they are nothing but heavy, iron
trimmed wooden surfaces equipped with
wide double seat Also, there is a wheel
by which they are steered. When pas
senger boards one and is sent away his
troubles begin. He is Immediately tossed
about-a skiff rocking in steady swells.
And always as his boat rocks IT is urged
forward. on and on until turn Is made,
and. coming down a parallel channel he
finds himself where he started
Now this is done by a system OF rollers.
These rollers hidden by the thick surface
of the water" give the boats" the impetus
that sends them ahead. The depression
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

of these Illusions. how they came to be and
how they are worked
And that is what l shall tell here-what
the press agent and others (thank Heaven
told to me.
But before seeing these things let us con-
slider for a moment the unique status Of
the place. DO you know that when the sea-
son closes. about the middle OF September,
over twenty millions of people will have
visited Coney? These figures are based on
last years statistics. More, the crowds
will have come from all parts of the coun-
try. Coney. you see, is a national show
place. 1t attracts in just the same way
as do Niaraga. the Yellowstone, the Gar
den of the Gods. Moreover. these same
people will spend nearly $5O,Oooooo. That's
what they spent last year. The adding ma
chimes said so. Adding machines speak the
truth. For although Paris has a carnival
in mid-Lent Coney has one every day from
mid May TO mid-september.
Now we are ready to take up the differ
ent sections, which let us agree TO call
three First there is Luna, then Steeple-
chase. then the mass OF little buildings
without the walls of any great amusement
park There used TO be four but that was
before Dreamland became too hot and
burned down.
And now we are back at Luna. over the
entrances, wider this year. we see revolv-
ing three big. red. white and blue PIN
wheels AT night they are ablaze with light.
And digesting the statistics that over
million and a half electric light bulbs
twinkle about the park. that 1900 persons
are employed there and that two hundred
attractions await the visitor. we shall noE
look behind the scenes IN some OF the at
fractions. But 10 do that we had bet'u
meet Frederic Thompson.
Years ago q won't tell you how many
lived in Nashville. He was a mining eLgi-
neer, and, OF course, young. lie is now the
manager OF Luna.
Ten years ago they held an exposition at
Nashville. CThis anecdote is necessary be-
cause II explains the methods by which
Luna works) The promoters didn't rent
all the exposition buildings. Thompson got
one for a song-whatever money that
means In II he exhibited an illusion. 1t
was called 1.-THE Trip to the Moon" Spec
tators seated on the decks of a wooden air.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

But walk farther down the park You
go through a narrow door, you follow
narrow passageway. Then you come out
on a broad walk which runs along the
platform. On the platform you see a clown.
He attracts your attention by pointing an
old musket at your head. Watching him,
you walk on Suddenly you feel great
gust of wind sweep up through a grating
II you are man your hat blows off, high
into the air. II you are woman-it is un-
fortunate. But nobody minds at Steeple-
chase. To look offended would be to give
the laughing crowd more enjoyment. And
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

by motor. About II, as the sides OF bowl.
he raised barrier of wood. faced with soft
cushions The wheel was filed with peo-
pie the motor started the crowds gathered
about were ready to laugh. Then. one by
one. thrown by centrifugal force, those on
the wheel shot Off, and, sliding across the
smooth boards, brought up in a heap against
the cushions.
At first Tilyou charged 10 cents TO ride
on this wheel lie made $4,000. II gave
him the nest egg from which Steeplechase
was Matched To-day you don't have to pay
anything to ride on the wheel. Also you
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07
Aniroa Ready for Morning Rehearsal the Animal Circus

one season. Yet OF all the people WIZ y.
their five or ten cen;s-whichever .s.v
he told me that not one was sore "A
appreciated the joke that was p'a's ~
them. and got their moneys worn
watching tie others who were taken w. ne
But let us leave Steeplechase-'ea,'V ling
big amusement parks. For only by y', ~.
that third broad division OF the ISLAND, ~
sideshows, do we see how gooo' o'e .y,lk
ioned illusions are made. Let u ,bs
down Surf avenue. and, turning one -
----- 5.fgac,
Continued on seventh psSs ~
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-07

that simple device has its hidden side. too.
Way UP aloft perched on a huge elephant
is man who operates a compressed air
machine. When he sees you over the
grating he turns on the gust When you
have passed over he turns IL off
Then there is the attraction that gives
the park it's name. or course, I mean the
steeplechase. where. riding wooden horses
on tracks, you race around the park and
get free ride II you win. This attraction
consists of a loop of track running uphill
and down. over bridges and under them.
II is what is called a gravity scenic rail.
way" The heavy wooden hobby horses
move as a barrel rolls dOwnhill You ike
the steeplechase? Perhaps you would care
TO know the INSIDE story" Ct how ii came
to be. Listen:
Once upon time there were two men
who operated merry go-rounds al Coney
Also, they were on opposite sides Of the
street on certain day Tilyou, who lived
at the island. sat watching them. He saw
that the merry-go-round across the street
was always crowded, just as the other was
always empty He wondered why. Then
he noticed that the crowd went where the
! horses moved up anu uONHs LIE llOA SVS W
the deserted merry round were station
ary And as he watched, he thought how
much better il would be IL the horses were
10 move all around So he began 10 plan
/ HIS Steeplechase-the principle OF the MGR
ry-gc-round amplfed. Also, when II Yves
completed. he found that Just as the CROWDS
left the stationary hobbyhorses for those
that moved up and down. so did they leave
the merry-go-round FOR his Steeplecnase
At one end of his park you see deep
depression in the floor. 1t is in the shape
OF a bowl. with smooth wood. Ike the
Roulette Wheel" People run down the
sides and then try TO run up. They can
not Always they slip just before they
reach the top and go sliding down. Always
there is a crowd laughing al them
You know why the bowl was put there!
one day Tilyou. i'm the pantry OF his home.
saw a mouse The mouse in some way had
got on the bottom OF a big kitchen bowl
As Tilyou watched. the mouse tried 10
climb out by running up the sides Always
the mouse fell back-just like the people 90
In Steeplechase.
And there are the california Red Nlns
Bats" They are on a raised platform N
a box covered with a wire grating so tha'
as you think they cannot fly out You
climb a littl, eight OF stairs 10 have look
at this rare species. the Red Wing Bats
You look. grin sheepishly and come down
Then you watch some one else look. ana
when YOU see their expression you laugh
and. pleased. go your way. The pats are
! lust two red bricks. Such is Tilyous recipe
! for amusing the people.
Take them in. play tricks on them maze
them feel foolish and then give them inc
pleasure of seeing others hoaXed and you
have a successful amusement park No
| told me
| And Tilyou is right. one time he charged
admission TO see his Red Wing Bats ne
made many thousands OF dollars fror' them
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-20
KNOCKERS TO HOLD FORTH
AT THE ELKS' FESTIVAL
Interesting Program Promised fo1
Observation-Disclosures
in Charge.

Tonight will be knockers night" at
the Elks' spring festival.
This title has been selected because the
direction Of entertainment will be in the
hands Of r. N. Whitehead, q prominent
member of Washington Lodge Of Elks'
who Is also identified with the Knights Of
Momus, often called 1.-The Knockers"
and he promises a program Of wit. satire
and music appropriate to the occasion.
The assistance Of special talent has been
secured. a monologue has been written
for the occasion, and it il expected the
evening will be one of the notable ones
of the festival
rathskeller, and the music for the vocal
oddities to be interpolated In the skit
will be rendered by the Marine Band
Orchestra. Samuel Richards. chairman
of the board Of control for the festival,
promises other special features for the
evenings entertainment. to be- carried
out In other parts Of the building.
There was another large attendance at
the festival last night, when the members
Of the Ancient Order Of Hibernians and
Kallipolis Grotto. No. IL, Mystic Order Of
Yelled Prophets Of the Enchanted Realm,
made merry in unison. in the interest Of
tons. of the two organizations came
early and remained late. They were
shown many courtesies by the committee
of men and women that met them on
their arrival. The flower girls are said
to have green carnations" for. the Hiber-
mans and roses of ruby hue for the
Kallipolitans.