Evening star., 1926-08-22
CONEY ISLAND SAD
At BARKERS' LOSS.
Police Traffic Rule Pushes
Noted BaIIyhoos Off
of MidWays.
BY BRADLEY W. TRENT.


NEW YORK, August 2I.-Coney
Island is going about it's supposedly
mirthful ways with something of the
doleful mien of professional pail
bearer.
The world famous amusement re-
sort at New York's doorway has been
feeling sad enough just in contem.
piation of its poorest business season
In many years, due to the tardiness
of warm weather and the recent sub
way strike. But that wasn't the
worst. The police stepped in with
some new ideas in traffic regulations
land now there will be no more
ballyhoos al Coney Island.
One who has never heard and
seen Coney's deep-voiced barkers. as
they coax dimes and quarters from
the pockets of the crowds at
midWays, may not appreciate just
what this means TO the old resort.
1t is suspected that many a veteran
Snowman broke right down and
cried when he heard Of the police
commissioners order.
Crowds Will Miss Them.
Coney Island has been trying to
untangle it's growing traffic and the
barker was ruled out by the police
in the interest of better traffic con-
troll. Folks would linger and listen
| to the spiels Of the barkers in front
of the sideshOws and the police said
they were staggering the traffic
With around $4,000 motor cars and
500 900 people visiting the resort on
Sundays, the jam of wheels and feet
becomes terrific.
Time was when you could go to
Coney Island with only subway fare
in your pocket and get an evenings s
free entertainment just listening to
the barkers' Zine" But no longer
will "Bosco' and the Bearded Lady"
be proclaimed in strident tones along
the boardwalk.
One old time Snowman almost wept
as the writer asked him how Coney
Island regarded the police edict.
MY Snowman spirit falters at the
thought of destroying the ballyhoo.
ne said. Much has disappeared thai
was traditional at COney Island ana
for which 1t was unique and famed
the world around. Like the Prince
Albert coated spellbinder of the
political hustlings, the distinguished
gentleman with the shiny alpaca
suitings who lectured before the
world Of wonders has gone his sad
way.
Golden-V Voiced Spieler.
1T was this golden-v voiced gent
who. standing alongside the mysteri-
Gus young woman asleep in the mid
air, assured you that it was his
superior power that kept her afloat
in the ether, and that for the price
of n dime, 10 cents, you could step
right inside and see more Of this
amazing aggregation of wonders"
The old Snowman sighed aloud.
so passes into glory another insti-
tuition" he said 1T leaves in soli-.
tary and sartorial grandeur that
| Demosthenes of all ballyhoo takers.
! Lee Graham of circus fame, who,
rain or shine in any CLINE, always
appeared as highhatted Beau
Brummel with "A Bryan flow of elo-
uuence to back up the pictured ban
ners of the wonders beneath the tent. y
| Back Of Lee Graham are a host
of famous ballyhoo men. One who
recently died waS' Eddie of Coney
! Island" who, on his little platform.
talked with an earnestness that
made dimes rattle on the ticket shelf
! like a Summer shower Men have
! come and gone in Coney Island whose
spiels were fire money getters,
Semi whose gestures and nall =
whispered voice always sold the
| tickets in an air of mystery.
Perched i'm Palm Tree.
The late George Blotz. better
| known as the ABA "a ba man. came
| to work carrying his own palm tree,
perched II in front of the show and
then dressing himself up in monkey
| clothes, sat in the leaves OF the tree
and threw rubber coconuts at the
| crowds about him. All the world
remembers Bamboola, the wild
Zulu" who, clothed only in breech
,lothcloth and carrying a spear. stood
before the Bostock animal show.
| Bamboola wore his brown make up
and war paint once week and then,
washing up after hard Sunday
went Up into the Bronx to visit his
family.
1t was the ballyhoo man who bel
lowed wide the fame of "Jo-Jo. the
dog faced boy." "Zfp-what Is it,
"the wildman Of Borneo." Princess
Wee Wee, only q inches tall. the
boy with the lions name. Elsie
the electric lady George, the turtle
boy" and sadie. the sword swal-
lower" and scores of other freaks
at Coney Island.
The march of progress, has brought
I'LL I'D H a fsn