The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-09-14
JOHN ROBINSON'S SHOWS
HERE SEPTEMBER 20

HEkE SCI lLMBEk 70
There has been a circus atmos-
phere in town ever since John Rob-
sons advertising car No. /, gaily
painted an flashily lettered, rolled in
here from Bristol and was shunted
on siding near the Southern depo.,
where il has since been the cynosure
of many curious eyes. II is the No.
l advance advertising car of the John
Robinson Ten Big Shows which are
scheduled to appear in Johnson City
on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Although on what is reported to he
the S9th annual pilgrimage, il has
been many years since the John Rob
inson Circus last visited this part OF
the country. The stamping ground"
of The John Robinson Shows is back
in the Middlewest and more particu~
larly that part of the South below the
famous Mason and Dixon Line Down
there the name OF John Robinson and
Ilne vast tented amusement enterprise
that it represents is a sort of institu-
ton. The natives, white and "cullud'
alike, come mighty close to swarm
by the name of John Robinson, if such
thing rs possible, and certain it is
that Nhen the coming of the ltobn-
son Shows is announced, any "opro-
sition circus in that same territory
is Up against tough prOrcsili' L from
box office angle.
| 1t has been said by good authority
that the average Southerner Obstin-
ately refuses to be convinced that the
John Robinson Circus is not heap
better than any other canvas covered
show and will invariably pass up he
rival orf anizatons and content them
selves to await the coming of their
favorite, an event that is looked for
quite rs eagerly and expectantiy as
the annual home county TAI.
In size and quality, the John Rob
inson Shows are said to compare very
favorabl! with any other travelling
'whitetop' outfit now on the road. The
attractions in the main tent, in the
big do, Bile menagerie and outside in
the sideshows are multitudinous and
of a high grade, according to the re-
ports that have preceded the show
here.
The management promises the ira
ditional free street parade, always a
welcome announcement for the small
boy, little Miss and for the average
grown up as well.
A pretty good idea of the high es-
TEEN and reverence in which the ne
gro element of the South hold the
John l.obinson Ten Big Shows may
be gained from an incident that oc-
Cured last fall in Columbia S. c., and
which was subsequently related b.
one of the leading daily papers Oh
that Ci!y:
The john Robinson Circus had not
yet pad Columbia its annual visit and
a rival tented outfit had anticipated
the RoF inson date by arranging for
a local exhibition. The flaring pos
tiers of the competitor were put up 30
plen,ifully and cCnspicuously as TO
arouse the curiosity of a very old and
gray haired darkey who CHANGED to
g lettering along while the energetic
billposter was at work and who stop
ped view he DESCRIPTIVE announce
ments.
The hustling knight of the brush
had just stuck up the last sheet of
a big double date reading Sept. /"
when the elderly cullud gent asked a
passing ebony hued acquaintance to
read to him the bold lettering on the
papered sign.
circus, Ell? Huh-well. read it to
me, son; what's dat dey say about ,
new SHOVE"
The Cbligng interpreter then pro-
Il ceeded to give the wording in the
clearest manner that his limited
knowledge of the English language
would permit and then finally CON
clndeG with the impressive Inc
greatest show on earth" and the date
lof course.
There; dat will do" commandincly
interrupted the reverend "son NJ
Ham, as he was observed to muse
thoughtfully for second or so.
'Cept one; yes and | knows who
dat on els, too; OATS de ole John
Robinson Circus what Use been ewine
to see desc last fifty years or mo.
can't fool dis old chicken nohow.o
This is the same identical John
Robinson Ten Big Shows that are bi,l
ed to appear in Johnson City on Sen
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