The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-08-07
CIRCUS PROVES
DISAPPOINTMENT
Six Thousand or More People Receive
Bitter Disappointment at Hands
Of Ringling's Circus. "
NO STREET PARADE GIVEN
inefficient Railway Service Given As
Excuse for No Parade and Only
One Performance.

Ringing Brothers circus was a bit
ter disappointment to 5000 or more
people who came to Denison yesterday
to witness the worlds greatest show
To begin with it was an unusually hot
day with the mercury we'll above the
century mark, but in ~spite of this one
of the largest crowds ever seen in
Denison gathered. People began to-
arrive as early as o'clock, hoping to
see the big circus unloaded from the
three special trains. BY noon the
streets were packed and automobiles
were parked even out into the resi-
|dence districts.
The first disappointment was when
lit was announced at IL o'clock that
there would be no free street parade,
but the crowd took this good natured-
ly, thinking of course that the big
show would open at o'clock. How
ever at 2 O'Clock it was evident that
it would be some time before the big
tent would be in place and announce.
ment was then made that the per-
Torrance would begin at o'clock BY
that time hundreds of people had be-,
come disguised and left for home. 1t.
was not until 4:30 that the doors were,
finally opened and the people permit.
ted to enjoy the fine menagerie out in
the broiling sun. No effort was made
to put up the menagerie tent, the AMI
NAL wagons being strung out in the
open air, surrounded by canvas
fence. The menagerie was a big att
traction and would have been enjoyed
under more favorable circumstances.
The circus itself was good, although
one had feeling that it was being
put on in hit and miss style. 1t was
la typical one night stand exhibition.
Some of the features were excellent,
especially the presentation of In
Days of DID, in which several hundred
people participated. The costumes and
settings and electrical effects were
far above anything ever witnessed in
Denison. a#.5
The evening performance was call
ed off and before the main show was
over the menagerie had been moved
from the grounds to the railroad
tracks.
The management gave several ex-
|cuses for the poor showing in Deni-
son, the principal one being the In
efficient railway service between Dem
ison and Des MOines where they show
ed the day before. The circus was
loaded on the three special trains on
Monday night in Des Moines at the
usual time, but was delayed enroute.
The first train reached Denison Tues
day morning at 1870, but the last sec
ton did not pull into the Northwestern
station until almost ~ o'clock. The
wagons were unlOaded In the North
western yards and pulled across the
town to the I.sC. grounds, where the
tents were pitched Hundreds OF peo-
pie witnessed the unloading OF the
three big circus trains. The, show IS
handicapped this year owing to the
shortage Of labor, 1t being almost I'M
possible to secure enough laborers to
do the necessary work. AT Des
Moines, so the Review was informed,
forty-three laborers were taken up by
government officials and indicted IN
to the army Ringing Brothers have
the reputation Of having the best and
largest circus on the road, and people
expected it to be up to the Ringing
standard, but were of course disap-i
pointed. 1t will not be surprising If
the show is forced to disband before
the close of the season owing to war
conditions.
The circus, left Denison last evening
for Omaha, where they are showing to-
day. ~. /.