Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-06-27
SIDE LIGHTS on the
CIRCUS BUSINESS

soon as every CnlnS is lOdu0u. DUH
the Barnum and Ringing shows run
in four sections, which necessitates
four crews and four engines. Last
winter there was more or less doubt
as to their. being handled on time,
yet even on their longest runs they
have managed to get in on schedule
time.
The moving of the time one hour
ahead is about the only thing the big
shows are not exactly pleased with,
for the reason that so much daylight
in the evening makes people late in
getting to the show, and instead of the
performance starting at s o'clock, it is
usually $3.50 before the people all get
in the tent for the grand entry. But
this will regulate itself in time, and
it will not be long until things will be
running as smoothly as on the old
schedule.
! i, + /
The only show thus far to exhibit
in this part of the country is the
Hagenbeck- Wallace show, which will
exhibit in Monroe on June "a and Be-
lott on June %. If GAINESVILLE is for
tunate enough to get one of the big
shows this season, it will probably be
the Ringing show later in the sum-
mer.
+ i i +
The expense of taking the big shows
over the road now is very different to
what it was thirty years ago. In my
time with the Adam, Forepaugh show
we had sixty-six cars back of the show
and three advertising cars in advance,
and the trains were always made up
in three sections, which made three
long trains, as all the cars were sixty
feet in length 1t was seldom that our
transportation then was over $3.50 or
$500 move, but now it is seldom
that big show gets moved from town
to town for less than double that
amount. When the contracting agent
makes out his route by way of the
Northwestern or St. Paul line, he con-
tracts for the number of towns with
the railroad for so much money and
then it is divided by the number of
towns, and transportation is paid in
advance every day. In my time in the
business there was only one road that
we did not settle with every day and
that was the Pennsylvania, and wheth-
er we made six or a dozen or more
towns on that line, we would usually
wait until ready to leave that road,
and then send a draft on New York
for the entire amount. This | was al
ways glad to do, for it was my bust
ness to see that the transportation
was paid.
+, i + +
1t is surprising how many men who
have volunteered from the ranks of
showmen are utilizing their various
talents and trades in helping Uncle
Sam to win the war. Ray Thompson,
equestrian director, who just opened
his season with Coop & Lent's circus,
was notified by the government that
he was needed and he at once left for
Camp Sheldon, Miss, where he will
work for an officers commission. Be-
ing a thorough horseman, Mr.. Thomp-
son will offer his knowledge Of horses
and riding in training officers for the
cavalry. He leaves his wife and two
year-old baby with the show, and to
I'm Mi11nY ho will thn
Of his horses. Miller will also as
sumo charge of the arena.
i i + i
Despite the big prices now charged,
Cleveland turned out en- masse to well
come the Ringing circus. The heavy
storms failed to turn back the crowds
that filed the huge tent. Business in
fact has been great all along the line,
the parades getting out on time and
the performance starting as per SEIZED
ule
The draft officials called upon the
show in Cleveland and asked for each
mans classification card. This took
place between performances, at the
cook tent, when most Of the boys had
left their cards in the dressing tents.
1t looked like big haul until things
were explained to the officials, who
imme diately released the boys SO that
they could get their cards 1t took
about thirty minutes for the officials
to find out that the show had no
slackers. Moral: Showmen in the
draft, always keep your registration
cards right about you.
About ten men left the show at
Cleveland to answer the call Of Uncle
Sam. Ottokar Bartik, the ballot mas
ter, rejoined the aggregation at this
point, and the girls gave special dis
play of dancing for him.
+ i ! i
There is a story in the old Second
Reader about monkey that, on the
authority of Mr. Aesop, always burst
into tears when strolling through a
cemetery. When a reporter once
asked him what allied him he sobbed:
81 always weep like that when | am
,