The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-13
'TroeedyHits Other Shows
BY JACK GAVER

NeW IOTk, July lS!-NOF)-Etcp" resentative circuses around the country gave a split decision today on the matter, of whether the fire tragedy of Ringing Brothers and Barnum & Bailey in Hartford, Conn, week ago had affected ate tendance. The homogeneous of only two of six circuses boiled said definitely that receipts were off as result of public reaction to the fire.
 The Clyde Beatty Russell Broth CTS circus, which closed l0-day stand in Portland, Ore, last Sunday, reported that 1t was virtually un- affected in the closing days of the engagement. The show was quick to notify the public that 1t was using fireproofed canvas.
 The Cole Brothers show, which is now in Minnesota, drew good crowds in a two-day stand at Du- luth this week and bad weather the second day was no handicap. Busi- nes sgenerally has been normal since.
 The Arthur Brothers circus played to capacity in Pendleton, Ore, on Tuesday night and 1t felt no re- action in Spokane, Wash, where 1t was last week at the time of the Hartford fire. The management reported that attendance so far has been better than 1t was last year Most towns the show is making are now providing special fire protection.
 The Daley Brothers circus, now playing Wisconsin dates, was one Of two giving definite bearish re- ports. officials said the fire had affected their business consider ably" but they would give no fig pres. They said there had been expressions of uneasiness by patrons, some of them making special in- quiries about fire protection, and that the customers generally were restless and prone to complain about things that thmey never mentioned before.
 Receipts Off
 An anonymous official of Bond Brothers show currently in south eastern Pennsylvania, said receipts were off about 70 per cent since the fire but he expressed a belief that this condition would pass soon. Te said their big top was not water proofed with a paraffin-gasoline mixture as the Ringing tent ale legedly was.
 Rob Stevens, owner and manager of Bailey Brothers show now in New England, said attendance had dropped considerably since the Hartford tragedy and that he had received similar reports from other circus men. However, the drop was laid mainly to weather condi- tions, he added. The show was 800 short of capacity in North Ad- ans, Mass, Tuesday night. In Greenfiled, Mass, today the city authorities insisted on extra fire protection, and assigned ten fire men and two piecec of apparatus to the show.
 While the Ringing management has made no definite announcement, the concensus among outdoor snow people here Is that the circus will not get back on the road this sea- son, granting that the lost equip ment could be replaced quickly. The litigation tying up circus prop. erty in Hartford and the suits for damages, which are expected to run into several million dollars are viewed as making 1t impossible for the management to get the show working again this year.
 Full Salary
 The circus personnel, Tn Hart ford pending further investigation moves. is still under full salary, ac- cording to Matt Shelvey, national head of the American Guild of Va riety artists, the AFL union to which all performers belong. Shel vey sent a union representative to Hartford last week to inquire into the needs of the membrs and he reported that James A. Haley, vice president, and George w. Smith, general manager, assured that the employees would be paid fully so long as they have to remain in Hart ford.
 Under the AGVA contract with Ringing Brothers the fire was an act of God and the management cannot be held Unable to continue payment of salaries. At present most of the show people are living in the Circus Pullmans but a few have found private quarters. The ,.aoes &Avak ak kha NiVrlfS Int ig hninQ