Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1924-07-17
COULS SONS SHOWS--sBIGGER
AND BETTER THAN EVEK'

Our sister village of Malta is fast
coming into the limelight. The
fact that it is the former home OF
the father of Vice Presidential Nom
inee Dawes, has given it historic
standing. However it is not Dawes
only that is making Malta famous
The village has an institution that
is fast putting it on the map, IN otn-
er ways We refer to CoulsonL $
show, which is an annual event. IL
has from year to year been gettlng
bigger and better than ever" until
it is now clear out of the ordinary
class of shows, such as the Harris
Brothers show which was here last
Thursday
The big Coulson show was Wed
nesday OF last week. For weeks
preparations had been in progress.
and the date of its coming was an
nounced by window cards and hand
bills. Unlike many of the large
modern shows, this show has not
abandoned the street parade, so for
hours the busy streets of Malta
were lined with automobiles, and
pedestrians eagerly waiting for the
big event
At one O'Clock it started 1t ex-
tended considerably over square.
After parading the principal streets
it returned to its starting place
Fred Coulson's yard, where the big
top was pitched. So highly pleased
was the crowd with the street pa
rade, that there was grand rush
for tickets to the "big show"-so
great was it that all could not be
accommodated with seats. The reg
ular admission was sc; reserved
seats Sc extra. This admission, to-
gether with sale of lemonade and
peanuts, brought the receipts up to
better than s12.
The general manager of this fa-
mons show is Austin Coulson, and
upon his shoulders rested the re-
sponsibility-o the whole affair. He
appeared in the parade as all really
great showmen do, in dress suit, silk
hat, ETC. He was also the "strong"
man In the circus, and to give the
program variety gave the audience
an exhibition of his magic, which is
quite clever The various cages and
floats were nicely lettered, the work
OF Offord Richardson, SO no one
could be mistaken as to who or
assistant manager, and also por-
trayed Charlie Chaplin; John Coul-
son, son of Leonard Coulson, was
the elephant; Goodie ,Coulson, the
monkey; Howard Coulson, jr., the
skeleton; Margaret Coulson, the
snake charmer; Christine Frash,
fancy dancer; Mary Elizabeth Coul-
son, Egyptian "harem" and snake
charmer; Eric Coulson and Leonard
Coulson, jr., clowns; Jimmie Ham
bleton, the wild man from Bor-
neo;" Curtis Kennard, Chinaman
Mrs. Thurl Young. fat man; Mrs
Leonard Coulson, fat lady; Mrs
Vera Hensley,. scarecrow; Edward
Ham, acrobat
These characters were all most
cleverly costumed Mrs. Fred CouI-
son served as the wardrobe mistress,
and Mr.. Leonard Coulson of Chica-
go as the parade manager In the
parade, besides the persons and
characters named were to be seen
snakes, goats, wild and tame ami
mails of different kinds, various
fowls of the air, ETC., etc.
The audience, the performers,
and all who had part were more
than pleased with "Coulson's big
show" and well did it sustain it's
motto Of Better and Bigger than
ever" But the best thing about it
all, and which is deserving of spe-
cial mention and comment, is that
the entire proceeds were sent to the
Lorain sufferers-nothing was held
back, even for the expenses. which
were quite heavy.