News Items from The Kansas City Journal ~ Old News That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

January 15, 1910

NOSE PARTY AT HIPPODROME.

Finding Matching Nose Was

the Problem.

Another novelty entertainment was given at the Hippodrome last night in the form of a nose party. False noses in pairs were given out to all skaters, one of each pair to men and women. The problem was for the man to find the wearer of the temporary nose matching the nose worn by him. This feature provoked unlimited fun and the evening was spent skating after the grand march had been negotiated by the nose-matched pairs.

Labels: amusement, hippodrome, skating

October 6, 1909

INJUNS TACKLE THE TICKLER.

Apaches Exhibiting at Electric Park

Take in the Thrillers.

Not even the stolidity of an Apache Indian could withstand the whoop-compelling thrills of the scenic railway, dip coaster and tickler at Electric park last night. At the invitation of the management the thirty aborigines from the Dulce reservation in New Mexico, exhibiting at the Missouri Valley fair and exposition, took a chance on, in and through the various concessions.

The tickler didn't take their breath. Quite the contrary. Their lung power was in no way impaired. Tubful after tubful of the original Americans rolled down the course through the winding alleys on the polished incline. Their yells were a menace to every eardrum within several blocks.

Mr. Heim treated the Apaches to every thrill to be experienced in his big collection of amusements. To show their appreciation or to open a safety valve as an outlet for some of their pent-up exuberance, the Indians in turn treated the management and the crowd to their repertory of snake dance, bear dance, fish dance, lizard dance, and other zoological "hops."

Two of the warriors have records. Washington, who is 97 years old, was a scout with Kit Carson, and Julian, 93 years old, fought with Geronimo. A week ago in Pueblo, Col., Peafalo, one of the young braves, married Juanita, a young woman of the party. She is a daughter of one of the warriors named Alaska.

Labels: amusement, dancing, Electric park, Native Americans, visitors

October 4, 1909

SHOWS NEEDLE WORK

BY WOMEN CONVICTS.

Both are Serving Sentences in Kan-

sas Prison for Murder -- Exposi-

tion at Electric Park Is

in Full Swing.

The attendance at the Missouri Valley Fair and Exposition in Electric park increased from 8,000 Saturday to more than 20,000 yesterday. Nearly all of the visitors in the afternoon were from out-of-town, while the city folk predominated last night. All of the exhibits are in place, including the chickens, of which there are more than 400 coops.

Several attractions were added yesterday. The exhibit of the Kansas state prison was opened. It shows the binder twine made at the prison and some needle work by women prisoners. Among that class of work is a piece of work completed by Jessie Morrison, who is serving a life sentence for the killing of Mrs. Olin Castle of Eldorado, Kas. Another bit of fancy work made by a noted woman prisoner in the Kansas penitentiary is a pillow cushion cover finished by Molly Stewart, convicted of the Schneck murder at Ottawa.

The dog show will open Wednesday, as will the flower show. In order to protect the exhibits,a fire engine station has been installed in front of the German village. Joe, the Kansas City fire horse which won first place, with Dan, another Kansas City product, at the international fire congress under direction of George C. Hale, former fire chief, is on exhibition. The animal is now 32 years old.

At 8:45 o'clock tonight "Alligator Joe" is to be married. His real name is Warren B. Frazee. The bride-to-be is Miss Cleopatra N. Croff. The marriage is to take place in the alligator farm. It will be public.

Labels: amusement, animals, Electric park, Fire, penitentiary, wedding

September 26, 1909

NEW ACTS AT HIPPODROME.

East Side Place of Amusement Opens

for the Season.

The Hippodrome, at Twelfth and Charlotte streets, opened for the season last night and nearly 5,000 persons attended, the roller skating rink and the dance hall, both remodeled and redecorated, drawing the most patronage. Last night's visitors saw a brand new Hippodrome. There was a greater floor space, better illumination and a bigger variety of attractions than ever before. The new ball room, which has been latticed and banked with satin roses and artificial shrubbery, aroused the admiration of the Hippodrome dancers.

Last night's visitors found plenty outside the dance hall and the skating rink to interest them. There was the Vienna garden, a new permanent feature, which seems destined to meet with favor. Free continuous vaudeville is offered in the Vienna village, which is laid with tanbark and inclosed by lattice work. Elston's dog and pony show was another new attraction that offered many novelties.

The Great La Salle, one of the most daring of roller skate experts, was the big arena attraction last night. La Salle makes a thrilling descent on a 60 per cent incline from the roof of the Hippodrome, and his exhibition belongs in the division of hair raisers.

Numerous concessions along the Hippodrome "Boardwalk" offer plenty of diversion. The place will open this afternoon at 2 o'clock and the performance will be continuous until midnight.

Labels: amusement, Charlotte street, dancing, daredevils, hippodrome, skating, Twelfth street, vaudeville

September 13, 1909

FOREST PARK CLOSES.

Many Improvements Will Be Made

Before Next Season.

Yesterday was the closing day at Forest park. Last night ended a most prosperous season; in fact, the most successful that the park has ever had. The largest day of the season was May 15, when over 26,000 people passed through the gates.

The park will open early in April next year and immediately a number of changes and improvements will be made. Carpenters will start in next week to tear down old buildings and in their place erect new and up-to-date buildings. There will be a new theater erected in the southwest corner of the park. The swimming pool will be improved. A number of new riding devices will be installed and plans are being prepared for the erection of a stadium where sporting and athletic events will be held.

"The success of the park this year was due to the reduction in price of all the salable things and rides," said Manager O'Donnell yesterday. "The 5-cent limit, as it was called, proved the drawing magnet. The same price will prevail next year and the public will not know the place when it opens again."

Labels: amusement, forest park

September 7, 1909

NEGRO FAIR POSTPONED.

Rain Causes Delay of Events Sched-

uled at Independence.

Business at the negro fair was declared off yesterday on account of rain at Independence, and the chicken and chitlings, prepared for the occasion, went begging.

The horse races were also declared off, and will be run today provided the track can be gotten into shape.

Dr. W. R. Petteford, a southern negro banker who is president of the Penny Savings bank of Birmingham, Ala., will deliver an address today at the negro fair which opened at Independence.

Free attractions are offered in the way of slack wire and trapeze performances. The fair will be open day and night throughout the week.

Labels: amusement, food, Independence, race, visitors, weather

September 1, 1909

FUN FOR THE LITTLE ONES.

Children's Play Room and Shoe De-

partment Opens at Robinson's.

With the opening today of Robinson's new shoe department for children, the girls and boys of Kansas City will be presented with one of the finest "playgrounds" they have ever known. A merry-go-round, swings, whirligigs, a slippery slide, punching bags, hobby-horses, and a great big rocking boat -- all built especially safe and strong, will be turned over to the children to romp and play while their mammas buy their shoes.

And the parents, too, will be interested in this new shoe department for children, for it is a big store in itself, occupying one entire floor and filled from floor to ceiling with an immense stock of children's footwear of every description.

All parents are cordially invited to bring the children today, to see the new playroom. They will be welcomed whether they need shoes or not, and a Japanese toy will be given free to every child.

Labels: amusement, children, retailers

August 30, 1909

JAPANESE CARNIVAL AT FOREST.

At Night Park Is Lighted With

10,000 Lanterns.

An elaborate display of Japanese lanterns is to be seen this week at Forest park. Nearly 10,000 of these vari-colored transparencies are distributed over the park, and when illuminated at night make an imposing sight.

Owing to the cool weather the ballroom was the objective point yesterday. There is an entire change in the vaudeville bill.

A pleasing and difficult act is that of the Kaichi Japanese troupe of acrobats. "The Climax" is performed by Mlle. Gertrude La Morrow, who not only dances but sings as well. Elliotte an d Le Roy, in a comedy sketch, are amusing.

Tonight is souvenir night for the women at the carnival.

Labels: amusement, dancing, forest park, music, vaudeville

August 30, 1909

HADLEY WILL OPEN

INDEPENDENCE FAIR.

OLD FASHIONED COUNTY SHOW

IS ON TODAY.

For a Week Products of Farm Will

Take Precedence Over Thrill-

ers -- Special Features

Are Attractive.

There was a bunch of tired men in Independence last night who seemed happy in their fatigue. They were the directors of the Independence fair and everything was ready for the opening this morning. The fair this year is going to be just as it has always been, an old-fashioned county affair where the products of the farm take precedence over thrillers of summer park invention and where a prize hog looks a whole lot better than a motor car, for the time being.

And if exhibits are to be counted, the Independence fair is better off this year than ever before. It has been a good year on the farms of Jackson county, and for that reason the exhibits are going to be the largest in the history of the fair. The mountain of pumpkins, a yearly feature of the fair, is to be cooked into pies and distributed to visitors as edible souvenirs. That is to be done on the last day, Saturday.

HADLEY TO OPEN FAIR.

The fair is to have executive recognition and it will be opened at 10 o'clock this morning by Governor H. S. Hadley. The governor will make his speech at that time, after the salute of Battery B of Kansas City has been fired. After the speech of the governor, the battery will maneuver and the fair will be on in earnest. The gates will be open at 7 o'clock in the morning.

The directors have offered purses aggregating $10,000 for the race meeting, and there is a good list of entries. Independence is on three racing circuits and more than 200 horses will strive for the various purses. There will be from one to three races a day.

SERIES OF SPECIAL DAYS.

Admission to the grounds is to be free this year and as an added attraction, there is to be a fireworks display every night. A band will give a free concert every night. Zach Mulhall's Wild West show will be there.

There is to be a series of special days. Tomorrow is to be a special racing day and there will be an extra race for an extra prize. Thursday will be Kansas City day, when Kansas City exhibitors and Kansas City exhibits will have full sway. Friday will be Old Settler's day. Many of the old settlers of Jackson county and the counties surrounding will attend the fair on that day. Saturday is to be pumpkin day.

Labels: amusement, animals, fireworks, food, Herbert Hadley, Independence, military, music, pioneers, races, Wild West shows

August 20, 1909

PEOPLE DEMAND MORE MUSIC.

Alderman Lapp Bears a Message to

Mayor From Constituents.

"The people out my way in the Seventh ward are demanding two more weeks of music in the parks," said Alderman J. G. Lapp to Mayor Crittenden yesterday.

"And I am happily in accord with the people not only of the Seventh ward, but in every ward of the city on the band proposition," replied the mayor, "but it is a question of finances. I am not fishing for a deficit in the treasury, and I know the good people of the city are of a like opinion. If I could have my way about it $10,000 would be appropriated ever year for music in the parks, but there are so many things that the city must look after we have to nurse and be careful of the revenues.

"I'm sure if you would use your influence with Gus Pearson, city comptroller, he would dig up the money from somewhere. Two more weeks of band music would cost only $1,026," urged Lapp.

"All right," promised the mayor, "I will see what I can do with the comptroller in the morning. I'm for music in the parks so long as the weather will permit."

Labels: amusement, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden, music, politics

August 19, 1909

PYROTECHNICS AT ELECTRIC.

"The Burning of Moscow" and Rus-

sian Dances Featured.

So successful has been "The Fall of Messina" at Electric park that the management has arranged for and prepared another immense and impressive pyrotechnical spectacle. This will be known as "The Burning of Moscow," and will represent the great conflagration which destroyed the Russian city incident to the invasion of Napoleon Bonaparte and his troops in 1812. The fireworks that will accompany "The Burning of Moscow" will be even more spectacular than those used in "The Fall of Messina."

The first performance of "The Burning of Moscow" will be given Sunday night, and the last performance of "The Fall of Messina" will be given Saturday night. Don Philippini's Band will play a programme tonight.

Labels: amusement, Electric park, fireworks, music

July 26, 1909

STRANGE ADVENTURES

OF TWO SMALL BOYS.

SAW SIGHTS AND FRIGHTENED

THEIR PARENTS.

Johnny and Tommy, 10 and 8 Years

Old, Respectively, Had High

Time While Folks Had

Visions of Kidnaping.

TOMMY BEELS.

Without permission of their respective parents, Johnny Sinclair, 10, and Tommy Beels, 8 years old, took a day off from home and spent the whole of Saturday night and Sunday in wandering about the towns and parks surrounding Kansas City, much to the consternation, grief and anxiety of their families.

When the boys were missed Saturday night it was learned that they had gone with an employe of Electric park. Mont Shirley, 29 years of age, who has a longing for the companionship of small boys, being evidenced by his having led other urchins on several days' tours of the surrounding country on previous occasions.

Johnny Sinclair is the only son of Aaron Sinclair, janitor of the Boston flats, 3808 Main street. Johnny's father gave him a dollar Saturday noon and told him to do what as he wanted with the money.

BOYS WENT TO PARK.

Barefooted and without his coat, Johnny looked up his younger friend, Tommy, youngest son of H. T. Beels, 107 East Thirty-ninth street, and proposed a trip to Electric park. Tommy was willing and thought it best not to go into the house for his hat and coat, for his mother might thwart their schemes. So the boys left the Beels home about 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.

When 5 o'clock came Mrs. Beels missed her son. Within a few minutes, however, he telephoned his mother that they were at Electric park and were going to take a boat ride with a man whom they had found congenial. Mrs. Beels told the boy to come home immediately.

Tommy had other views in the matter and when Shirley suggested an extensive tour of the city, to include Kansas City, Kas., Lansing, Leavenworth, Forest, Fairmount, Swope and Budd parks and all at his own expense, the boy readily fell in with the plan. Mothers were not interviewed.

Dire thoughts of drowning, kidnaping and disaster beset Mrs. Beels when her boy did not materialize at supper time. Persons in charge of the park were questioned and it was learned that the two boys had gone away from the park with Shirley. None knew where.

SEARCH PARTIES ORGANIZED.

Mrs. Beels, at midnight, went to the Sinclair home and inquired there for her son and learned that Johnny Sinclair was also missing. That was the first idea of Johnny's whereabouts which the Sinclairs had. Search parties were organized and the park secured.

Yesterday morning a young man went to the Sinclair home and told that he had seen the two boys and Shirley at the Union depot and that they were going to St. Joseph and H. L. Ashton, a friend of the Beels family, who is well acquainted with the mayor of that city, called him over long distance 'phone and had the town searched for the runaways. Then came a telegram that the three had been seen early Sunday in Leavenworth.

Meanwhile Mrs. Sinclair and Mrs. Beels were beside themselves with fear and anxiety for their children. They secured the promise of the park authorities to drag the lake in the park this morning, and the search for the missing increased in strength and vigilance each hour.

Shirley's family had been notified of the disappearance, and Charles J. Blevins, Shirley's brother-in-law, hastened to Leavenworth, hot on the trail. He returned empty-handed.

TELL OF JOLLY TIME.

About 11 o'clock last night the boys returned home, dusty, wet and tired. They had a wonderful story to tell of their trip and adventures. They had been through every park in the city, and seen the National cemetery and Soldiers' home at Leavenworth from a car and had a jolly time in general. Saturday night was spent in Kansas City, so Tommy Beels says, and the three went to a rooming house. He did not know the location. Late last night Shirley gave the two boys their carfare and put them on a Rockhill car at Eighth and Walnut streets and left them.

Shirley is said to have a habit of giving young boys a good time at his own expense. Two years ago, it is claimed, he took two boys to Leavenworth and stayed there for three days, after which the boys returned safe and sound.

Shirley works in the park and every Saturday he has been in the habit of spending his week's wages upon some boys whom he might meet. His brother-in-0law, Mr. Blevins, said that Shirley is nothing but a boy himself. When he was 4 years of age, according to relatives, Shirley fell upon his head, and he has remained stunted, mentally, ever since. Shirley longs for the companionship of children, and he is attractive to them since he plays with them and talks with them as though he were 9 rather than 29 years of age.

INTERVIEW CUT SHORT.

Johnny Sinclair, nervous, excited, scared and tired, last night told a clear and fairly consistent story of how Shirley and Tommy Beels and he passed the time between Saturday at 2 p. m. and 11 o'clock last night, when the boys returned home.

In the main details Johnny clung to his story. He fell asleep while being questioned by his father, and that ended the questioning. In substance, he says:

"Shirley invited Tommy and me to go to Swope park, while were were at Electric park, where he was working. We went to Swope park with him and in the evening we went down town and went to several nickel shows.

"Then we went out to Swope park again, but late that night. Shirley wanted to go down town to cash a check. When we got down town the saloons were all closed, and we finally went to bed at a place near Eighth and Main streets.

SAW LEAVENWORTH SIGHTS.

"The next morning we had a nice breakfast of beefsteak and potatoes and coffee, and then we went over to Kansas City, Kas., and there we took a car for Leavenworth. We saw the penitentiary and the Soldiers' Home from the car, and the National cemetery, but we didn't stop there.

We went to Leavenworth and spent the time just running around. That's all we did. I was never there before, and it was fun. We had a dinner of bologna sausage and cheese, and about 8 o'clock we started for home."

Besides the fright which was occasioned the two families of the boys no harm was done, except one of the boys was forced to take a hot bath and swallow a dose of quinine after he reached home. Johnny's original $1, which started the trouble, remains intact. Shirley stood the expense on his pay of $12, which he drew from the park on Saturday afternoon.

Shirley lives one block southeast of the park.

Labels: amusement, children, Electric park, fairmount park, Leavenworth, Main street, missing, runaway, St.Joseph, Swope park, Thirty-ninth street, Union depot

July 24, 1904

"JOY RIDES" FOR CHILDREN.

Youngsters Will Be Given Treat by

Kansas City, Kas., Citizens.

Joy riding will be engaged in next Saturday by 100 children living in Kansas City, Kas., and the automobiles will be furnished by private citizens. The Salvation Army is behind the movement to take the little ones away from the dirt and smoke for several hours and whisk them around the boulevards and parks.

Max Holzmark, a Kansas City, Kas., furniture dealer, has undertaken the task of securing the automobiles for the Army. His friends will be asked to loan machines and drivers for the afternoon. If there are not sufficient automobiles to hold all of the children it is believed some will be given a long street car ride. The Metropolitan has been asked, and tentatively has agreed to furnish two street cars for the occasion.

Labels: amusement, automobiles, children, Kansas City Kas, Salvation Army, streetcar

July 19, 1909

LURE OF THE CIRCUS

AS STRONG AS EVER.

CROWDS STREAMED THROUGH

SHOW GROUNDS YESTERDAY.

Performers Were Not in Evidence,

as It Was a Day of Rest.

Parade in Downtown

Section.

WE ARE ALL "SMALL BOYS" TODAY.

PARADE STARTS AT 9:30
The route is north from the grounds, on Indiana avenue to Fifteenth street, west of Fifteenth to Walnut street, north on Walnut to Fifth street, west on Fifth to Main street, south on Main to Fourteenth street, east on Fourteenth to Grand avenue, south on Grand to Fifteenth street, east on Fifteenth to Indiana avenue, south on Indiana to the circus grounds.

You have heard people say that the circus is no longer the magnet it once was, but if you were able to persuade yourself into this opinion, take a car out to Seventeenth street and Indiana avenue, where Ringling's circus city is encamped, and behold your mistake; for it's dollars to dill pickles that you'll suddenly be bereft of your enthusiasm.

Crowds streamed through the grounds all day yesterday just because it was a circus that held all the charm that circuses have always held in the popular heart. Big red wagons; forests of pegs and guy ropes; great hollow mountains of belying canvas; roustabouts seeking a minimum of warmth in the scant shade of the vans; squads of cooks and scullions making the next meal ready for the circus army vendors of cool drinks and hot meats, barking their wares; the merry-go-round, grinding out its burden of popular airs, all these things to be seen and heard constituted the lure that drew perspiring thousands to the show grounds, even though no performance was given Sunday.

PERFORMERS' REST DAY.

It was remarked that few of the performers could be seen on the grounds.

"That's because it is their day off," said one who has eleven years of circus experience behind him. "They're at all the parks and other places of interest. More of them are in church than you would guess, too."

No one was allowed in the menagerie yesterday and the animals had the big tent largely to themselves and their keepers. Beasts ranging in disposition from mild to fearsome, crouched, paced and slept behind the bars. A large herd of elephants was lined up on one side of the tent and the huge pachyderms stood quietly swaying their trunks, and munching the wisps of hay they would now and then tuck under their proboscises.

Jerry, the Royal Bengal tiger. lay peacefully asleep in his cage. He is the Apollo Belvedere of the feline species. Out of all tigers and near-tigers in captivity, he was chosen as a model of his kind for the two bronze guardians of the entrance of old Nassau hall, Princeton.

TIGER AS A MODEL.

Jerry was chosen as a model by A. Phimister Proctor, the sculptor, who was commissioned by the class of '79 to replace the two lions that now stand before the famous old hall.

Weather and undergraduate ebullience made their marks on the lions and the class of '79 decided to have them replaced by two bronze tigers which will not only be more durable but more emblematic. They will be presented to the university by the class next commencement week.

Two performances will be given today, the first at 2 o'clock in the afternoon and the second at 8 o'clock at night. The parade will start at 9:30 a. m. The circus will give two performances at Manhattan, Kas., Tuesday.

Labels: amusement, animals, circus, Fifteenth street, Fifth street, Fourteenth street, Grand avenue, Indiana avenue, Main street, parades, Walnut Street

July 19, 1909

WRESTLES WITH CROCODILE.

"Alligator Joe" Gives a Novel Act

at Electric Park.

An attractive programme of amusements is offered by Electric Park this week. Perhaps the most noteworthy is Gargiulo's Italian band which has been engaged to prolong its engagement until next Sunday. Of the new things, however, the one that will probably attract the most interest is the nightly wrestling match between "Alligator Joe," proprietor of the alligator farm and one of the largest crocodiles in his collection. Costumed in a bathing suit "Joe" plunges into a tank of water and mounting the crocodile's back fights with it until it is sufficiently subdued to be led from the pool.

There is a new vaudeville show in the German village. The bill contains a wide variety of entertainment. The programme includes Kelly and Lewis in a novelty balancing and juggling act, Ethel Hunter, a Kansas City violinist, who has made a pronounced hit with music lovers; Murill Window, a singing comedian; the Hamlins, who dance, sing and play a variety of instruments and the American Singing Four, a splendid male quartet.

Labels: amusement, animals, daredevils, Electric park, music, theater, vaudeville

July 18, 1909

KIDS WAITED ALL

NIGHT FOR CIRCUS.

RINGLING'S BIG SHOW CAME

EARLY THIS MORNING.

A Big Crowd Watched Transfer of

Four Train Loads of Wonders

to Grounds at Fifteenth

and Indiana.

ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS IN THE RINGLING BROTHERS' MENAGERIE.

The great circus of the world -- the one which has made the name of Ringling Brothers a household word -- is here. It rolled into Kansas City quietly before daylight this morning. A good big crowd of the circus faithful, old and young, were in waiting at the railroad yards and gave a royal greeting to the sleepy-eyed workmen and unloading caravans. Many of the kids had been up all night to be sure they would not miss anything. It took four special trains to transport here the great army of people, horses, elephants, wild animal cages, parade features and enormous mechanical effects.

It was a strange sight to see forty elephants lumbering along a quiet roadway in the gray light of early dawn. The keepers had their hands full keeping the venturesome youngsters away from the amiable beasts, and when the big animals were ranged in a circle at the grounds waiting until their place in the menagerie was ready, the trailing kids were apparently in a seventh heaven of delight.

It took about two hours to transfer the immense equipment to the grounds at Fifteenth street and Indiana avenue and about the same time is required to erect the twenty tents that constitute the circus city. The big canvas in which the performance takes place is the largest ever made, and the menagerie tent is almost as big. There are 650 horses with the show and in the dining tents are served 3,000 meals a day.

"DARWIN," THE MISSING LINK.

The Ringling tents are perfectly waterproof and the illumination is beautiful. Even the menagerie cages have each a power light, so that the wild animal rarities may be scanned with keener interest. In this valuable department is "Darwin," the missing link, a man-sized ape that feeds on oranges and grapes, shaves himself, likes music, plays cards and ball and is a stout prohibitionist. The human-like creature has caused much comment, both humorous and serious.

This is the twenty-fifth anniversary of Ringling Bros, in the circus business, and the ring acts are mostly European novelties and sensations. Two-thirds of the 400 performers in the programme are announced as making their first appearance in America. The Ringling show has always presented an exceptional and satisfactory list of acts, in which refinement and novelty have been leading characteristics. In fact, the tone and individuality of this big show have brought it to the first place in the circus world.

ALL NATIONS REPRESENTED.

There are acrobats from Persia, riders from Italy, gymnasts from England and Germany, jugglers from Japan, dancers and equilibrists from France, and specialists from twenty-two countries of the world. Acrobats that do tricks on the back of a running horse, which have heretofore been considered difficult on the firm foundation of ground; a man who walks on the top of his head like other people do on their feet; gymnasts who turn triple somersaults in midair before they alight upon swings or recover hands; horses that jump through beer casks, drink out of mugs and unharness themselves and go to bed like a man; pigs that climb ladders and shoot the chutes; elephants that can act out humorous skits with amazing intelligence; horses, dogs and ponies that are educated beyond human belief, and a lot of other things that are out of the common and entertaining, if not astounding, are in the varied circus bill of 100 numbers.

As a thrilling climax a ponderous automobile is driven down a sheer incline, and, shooting into space about twenty feet from the ground, turns two complete somersaults before landing upon a distant runway and wheels with terrific momentum into the racing track. A daring young French woman is seated in the car and steers it in its dreadful plunge and revolving flight. This is the most nervy and puzzling sensation every brought forward by circus ingenuity.

Two performances will be given Monday at 2 o'clock and 8 o'clock.

Labels: amusement, animals, automobiles, children, circus, daredevils, Fifteenth street, Indiana avenue, visitors

July 8, 1909

TO OPEN FIRST MODEL

PLAY GROUND TUESDAY.

Band Music and Flag Raising Pro-

gramme for North End Model

Recreation Park.

There will be many smiling little faces in the North End next Tuesday. This will be the opening of the city's first model playground at Independence avenue and Charlotte street. In the morning there will be a flag raising in which the children will participate. In the evening a band will be on hand to make music for the occasion.

The grounds are situated on a lot 85 x 100 feet. On it is a pretty shelter house, 20 x 75 feet, where children may play out of the sun and where mothers of the neighborhood may rest in the evenings. The place may also be used for neighborhood meetings.

There will be eight shower baths with hot and cold water, an indoor baseball and basket ball court, sand pits where the children may jump, and sand piles where the little ones may play and make tunnels. There will also be teeter-totters, a merry-go-round, a giant slide, hickory turning poles and rings. In all there will be twelve pieces of the most modern outdoor playground apparatus. All of this was made possible by money furnished by the Kansas City Playgrounds Association. The K. C. A. C. will furnish a male director and the Kansas City Women's Athletics club will furnish a young woman to look after the instruction of the girls on the playgrounds.

Labels: amusement, Charlotte street, children, Independence avenue, Kansas City Athletic Club, music, North end, organizations

July 6, 1909

TURNS A SOMERSAULT AT 80.

Grandpa Brueckmann's July 4th

Antics Amused the Children.

The German Baptist Sunday school, Seventeenth and Tracy, held its annual basket picnic at Budd park yesterday. A crowd of children, with hands joined, danced in a ring, while a man stood in the center and sang a German holiday song. At the end of each verse he would do something and each one in the circle had to imitate him.

With the children, and apparently enjoying himself as much as they, was Henry Brueckmann, 80 years old. He made faces, clapped his hands, pulled his neighbor's hair and did everything suggested by the leader, until the latter turned a somersault. The children all went over in a hurry, and then besieged "grandpa" to turn one. And Grandpa Breuckmann, 80 years old, did turn a somersault -- a good one, too -- much to the delight of the children. There were 140 at this picnic.

The Swedish Methodist church Sunday school, 1664 Madison street, headed by O. J. Lundberg, pastor, and the Swedish mission at Fortieth and Genessee streets, held a big basket dinner in the east end of Budd park. About 150 enjoyed themselves.

Not far from them the Swedish Baptist church Sunday school, 416 West Fourteenth street, with Rev. P. Schwartz and a delegation from a Swedish church in Kansas City, Kas., headed by Rev. Carl Sugrstrom, was holding forth about 300 strong.

There were many family and neighborhood picnics in the park.

Labels: amusement, Budd park, children, churches, Fortieth street, Fourteenth street, Genessee street, holidays, immigrants, Madison street, ministers, picnics, Seniors, Seventeenth street, Tracy avenue

June 28, 1909

DROP OF 22 DEGREES.

Downpour of Rain Accompanied by

Fall in Temperature.

Thousands of park-goers who were busying themselves eating ice cream cones and other frozen delectables at the amusement parks about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon noticed a sudden fall in temperature as dark thunderclouds rolled up from the west and spread across the sky. In less than twenty minutes the thermometer showed a drop from 90 to 72 degrees, and in another hour the upper end of the tiny mercury column pointed to 68 degrees.

With the first cool wave regiments of women with dainty outing hats and dresses remembered they had not taken the precaution of bringing their umbrellas and followed closely by the male straw hat brigade charged upon the street car landings.

Word to the effect that more cars than usual were needed at the parks was met promptly by the street car officials. Cars with trailers were rushed to the rescue. Many of the pleasure-seekers found shelter in them before the real downpour came.

According to the local weather bureau 1.16 inches or rain fell.

The storm occasioned some apprehension yesterday evening in Kansas City, Kas. Telephone wires suffered, and numerous accidents of a minor character were reported.

The home of Horace Chandler, 627 State avenue, was struck by lightning. The chimney was demolished, and about an inch of soot was spread over the carpets and furniture in two rooms. Mr. Chandler was asleep in a chair opposite the chimney when the lightning struck, but was unhurt.

Labels: amusement, Kansas City Kas, State avenue, streetcar, weather

June 14, 1909

OLD MAID'S CONVENTION.

It Is the Top Liner of Fun at

Forest Park.

Families with their baskets occupied the benches and tables under the trees on the lawn of Forest park yesterday and it was a gala day for the children.

The Old Maids' convention opened their regular sessions and soon got down to business. It is not a beauty show, to say the least. To call it such would be going from the sublime to the ridiculous, but their parody sessions on woman's rights and other subjects pertaining to woman, perhaps, furnishes the visitor with more genuine fun than most musical comedies. The idea is truly original, if nothing more. the convention hall was crowded all day and the Salome dance was a scream, being so different from the Gerturde Hoffman dance as to make it ridiculous.

For the first time there this season free vaudeville and new motion pictures were introduced. Quite a novel act was presented by Chris Christopher, a singer of German songs and a trick violinist. The Gee-Jays, the human marionettes, closed the bill. Two reels of motion pictures were also on the bill. The big new attraction is the exciting ride device known as the Humble Peter. It is built on the order of the tickler, only less jolting is the experience.

The entries for the aquatic sports on Wednesday are coming in fast and a large number of contestants competed for the prizes.

Labels: amusement, dancing, forest park, moving pictures, music, theater, vaudeville

June 10, 1909

NEW BAND AT ELECTRIC.

Twelve Soloists and 43 Other Musi-

cians in Conway's Band.

Electric park is to have a brand new band next Sunday -- one that has never visited Kansas City before. It is the band of Patrick Conway, successor to the famous Gilmore. It comprises fifty-five pieces and will be accompanied by twelve soloists, one of whom is a vocalist. Conway is recognized as one of the most efficient of the American leaders.

Saturday night of this week a novel exhibition will take place in the Alligator village. It will consist in giving the alligators their first meal since they arrived in Kansas City. More than 500 pounds of raw beef has been ordered for the orgie. Alligators are fed only once in every several months and when the time comes around they are extremely voracious and show energy that is in direct contrast with their accustomed lethargy.

Only five more concerts will be played at the park by Ferullo's band. The farewell programmes are especially interesting.

Labels: amusement, animals, Electric park, music

June 7, 1909

SWIMMING RACE AT PARK.

Two-Mile and Half-Mile Contests

in Fairmount Lake.

Several thousand persons lined the banks of the lake at Fairmount park yesterday afternoon to watch the boat races and swimming races that were a part of the park's free attractions for the day. And while these thousands were watching these attractions, a few more thousands were seeing the vaudeville show, and others were keeping the concession men and ticket sellers busy.

Sunshine, a rising temperature and the knowledge that no rain was in sight -- that was the reason for the crowd.

There were boat races of a half-mile, a mile and a mile and a half. Then the big event, a race of two miles, was pulled off. It was between William McPike of Warrensburg and C. L. Gardner of Hannibal, Mo. As the contestants fought for the first place the crowd on the bank cheered and picked winners. After several spurts, Gardner finally won the race. A swimming race of one half mile was also one of the interesting events. It was between J. J. Williams and F. R. Polland of this city. Polland won.

The vaudeville show yesterday afternoon was entertaining. The bill included Huffell and Huffell, singers and dancers, McLane and Simpson, comedians and Arthur Browning, a dancer.

Zimmerscheid's orchestra gave two concerts, one in the afternoon and one at night.

Labels: amusement, boats, fairmount park, music, races, swimming, vaudeville

May 31, 1909

MORE ROOM FOR VAUDEVILLE.

Bandshell at Fairmount to Be En-

larged to Accommodate Crowds.

The vaudeville show at Fairmount park for this week was well liked yesterday and last night. workmen will begin today to construct more tiers of seats in the bandshell amphitheater, so that the extra crowds will be accommodated. The bill this week includes Rand's dog circus, Meyers and Mason, comedians and kickers and Tachakira, a Japanese wire walker.

Although the weather was a bit cool, that didn't interfere with the opening of the beach yesterday and several hundred persons were in the water.

Special preparations have been made at the park for the crowds today. At 9 o'clock tonight a fireworks display will be shown on the side of the lake opposite the boathouse. The vaudeville show will be given twice in the afternoon and twice at night.

Labels: amusement, fairmount park, fireworks, theater, vaudeville

May 30, 1909

SWIMMING AT FAIRMOUNT.

"Come On In, the Water's Fine,"

Says the Press Agent.

If the sun shines today -- and the weather department says it is sure to this afternoon -- it will bean the beginning of the swimming season at Fairmount park. The sunshine of the last few days has warmed the water to a very comfortable degree and with the improvements that have been put in on the beach, the water should be very enjoyable today.

Today a new weekly vaudeville bill begins at the park. Rand's dog circus is one of the principal acts, consisting of a troupe of thirty dogs that do nearly everything except talk. Of course, they bark as a substitute, but that isn't admitted as conversation. Among the dogs is "Marvelous Ted," a wire-walking dog. Meyers and Mason are comedians of the unusual kind. Tackahira is a Japanese wire-walker and does many things that are novel. There are to be two shows this afternoon and two at night. Between the shows Zimmerschied's orchestra will give a programme.

Tomorrow is Decoration day and that means a large crowd at Fairmount park. Because of this and because of the day, the park management has arranged a fireworks display which will be given at 9 o'clock at night. They pyrotechnics are to be fired from the balloon grounds, across the lake from the boathouse, and will include about everything in the fireworks line that can be exploded at night. Of course, there will be the usual pinwheels, skyrockets in bunches. Roman candles by the box and many novelties. Four vaudeville shows will also be given tomorrow.

Labels: amusement, animals, fairmount park, fireworks, holidays, music, swimming, vaudeville

May 23, 1909

FAIRMOUNT PARK OPENS.

A Balloon Race One of the Features

Advertised for Today.

Fairmount park opens today. This afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, the free attraction that has given the park a part of its popularity -- a balloon race -- will be given. The race is between L. M. Bales of Kansas City and R. V. Porter of Minneapolis. The management of the park has announced that there will be a regular schedule of races at the park this summer. The free vaudeville which will take the place of the band this year is also to be another one of the important features of the park. The bill is to be given in the band shell, twice in the afternoon and twice at night on Sundays and once in the afternoon and twice at night on the week days. It includes this week the Gee Jays, a European novelty troupe, Anisora and Leonita, M'lle Triende, a rolling globe artist, who has been featured for several seasons with circuses and Abdallah, the Arabian gymnast.

There are several new concessions at the park this year and among them is "Darkness and Dawn,' something new in the scenic line.

Of course the lake is still going to form one of the main amusement places this year. Last season, at the early part of the season, many thousand small fish were brought from the fish hatcheries at St. Joseph and placed in the lake. These have grown considerably during the winter and have made fishing much better. The bathing beach has been improved and the boating facilities have also been made better.

Labels: amusement, balloons, fairmount park, fishing, vaudeville

May 23, 1909

ELECTRIC PARK OPENING.

South Side Amusement Resort Be-

gins Its Season Today.

Among the offerings for the first week is Ferullo's band, that splendid organization which has won enduring popularity in Kansas City, whose music is as distinctive as is the conducting of its gesticulating leader, Francesco Ferullo. And then there are the sea cows. Unless you have lived on the coast of Florida you have never seen one of these monsters, whose heads are like that of a gentle bovine and whose tails can kill a shark with one stroke. Alligator Joe is as proud of his sea cows as he is of his hoary alligators.

The tickler, the dip coaster and the scenic railway have been so extensively improved that each will provide even more sensations than formerly. A swim in filtered water can be enjoyed in the big tank at the north end of the park together with a sand bath in the recently built beach.

The German village and its vaudeville will be as interesting as ever. The bill for the first week includes: The Gafney troupe, singing and dancing; Anna L. Scannell, toe dancer; Dick and Barney Ferguson, comedy singing and dancing; Grace Passmore, the woman with the baritone voice; and the Iskawa troupe of Japanese acrobats.

Labels: amusement, animals, Electric park, music, swimming

May 19, 1909

RUSSIAN COUNT TO SERVE TEA.

Unique Feature of Loretta Acade-

my's May Day Festival.

There will be a real live Russian count in charge of the serving of Russian tea in the Japanese booth this afternoon at the May Day festival at the Loretta academy, which is to be given by the alumnae of the school. The festivities will begin at 3 and will be opened with a May pole dance given by the youngest scholars in the academy.

From the minute the dance is in progress until 8 o'clock this evening there will be something doing for the entertainment of the alumnae and also for the undergraduates. Four May pole dances will be given, two by the little ones and two by the girls in the upper classes. An orchestra will furnish the music and the various booths, in charge of a chaperon and attended by numerous pretty girls, will be some of the other attractions.

The women in charge of the entertainment are very proud of the fact that a Russian count, who is in the city, has kindly volunteered to present and assist in the serving of Russian tea. The tea is to be brewed in a samovar and the presence of Count Rolanskyvitch of St. Petersburg will add a tinge of realism to the booth. He will be introduced by Jacob Billikopf.

The various booths will be the Dutch, Colonial, Candy, Magic Well, Wayside Inn, Japanese, Handkerchief, the Married booth and the one presided over by three of the prettiest girls recently graduated and who will tell fortunes of all comers. The candy booth will be conducted by the girls of 1909 and the girls of the class of 1911 will rule over the Magic Well.

Labels: amusement, children, dancing, food, Jacob Billikopf, Jews, music, schools, visitors

May 16, 1909

FOREST PARK ATTRACTIONS.

Ritter Sisters' Lady Orchestra Con-

certs Afternoon and Night.

Commencing today the patrons of Forest park will be offered as an added free attraction the well known Ritter Sisters' lady orchestra. They will give concerts in the pavilion every afternoon and night and will also render the incidental music for the new feature motion pictures that will be shown in the pavilion all this week. The pictures are all new subjects and the manager of Forest park guarantees that they are shown here for the first time in Kansas City. Pleasing programmes will be rendered by the Sisters Ritter, both afternoon and evening. Children's day was well attended at Forest park yesterday and the little ones all enjoyed the many new devices, especially the Giant Slide or Human Niagara.

Labels: amusement, children, forest park, moving pictures, music

May 1, 1909

OPENING OF FOREST PARK.

There Was Good Attendance in

Spite of Cool Weather.

After 200 men and boys had worked from daylight until 7 o'clock last night, Forest Park was put in readiness and opened to the public. In spite of the cool weather there was a good attendance. The riding devices, which are now 5 cents instead of 10, were liberally patronized. The admission to the park has also been reduced to 5 cents this year.

In the Jolly Follies building there are 100 free devices. The pavilion was opened last night and free vaudeville was given in the open air theater. The vaudeville bill will be given at the park this afternoon and evening.

Labels: amusement, forest park, theater, vaudeville

April 25, 1909

FOREST PARK'S OPENING.

Everything Has Been Brightened Up

Since Last Fall.

Forest park, which opens next Saturday, has undergone many changes for the better since it was closed last fall, according to Manager James Anderson. "Humble Peter," the "Human Roulette Wheel" and other novelties have been introduced, and the free vaudeville acts are promised to be bigger and considerably more classy than those of the past. The skating rink has been remodeled and converted into a ballroom.

Probably the best of the added features, from a fun-seekers' viewpoint, is the "Jolly Follies" pavilion, ninety feet wide and 290 feet long, containing over 100 new amusement devices and said to be the largest pavilion of its kind in the country.

The moving picture show will be there, but it will have its educational advantages. "A Trip Across the Isthmus of Panama" is the title of one of the pictures to be thrown on the screen, to be accompanied by the swaying motion of water and the roar of a passenger train.

Labels: amusement, forest park, moving pictures

January 1, 1908

OLD CUSTOM SAW REVIVAL.

Flour Was Thrown on 'Change by

Frisky Members Yesterday.

There was fun on 'change yesterday and lots of it for a time. The furious frolicking and cutting up didos by the grain "boys" on 'change that was a feature of the closing day of the year a decade ago, but was put down by the more sobersided, was again revived. Near the hour of noon someone loosened a black cat from a bag in the grain pit and dropped a little paper bag of flour with it. This was a signal for a shower of paper bags filled with flour, and the more dignified ran to cover, but not before most of them had been pretty well whitened.

This was followed by the loosing of a greased pig on the floor. Some of the sobersided thought that it was disgraceful, but most of the members were glad to see the "boys" come back to life. Who started it no one would tell. It was generally thought that Frank Logan was not innocent, and W. W. Cowen got credit for a share. "Billy" Grant was very sober and said nothing.

The last of these frolics, until yesterday, was about ten years ago, and it was so boisterous that the authorities put a stop to them. At that time G. E. Thayer and Harry Reed were alive and, with W. W. Cowen and "Billy" Grant, the last day of the year on 'change was made to howl, and everyone wore his oldest and most dilapidated apparel. But yesterday most everyone was taken unawares. One of the telegraph boys caught the pig and was allowed to keep it.

Labels: amusement, animals, history, New Years

December 20, 1908

ALL ATTRACTIONS OPEN.

Everything Now in Fine Running

Order at the Hippodrome.

Every attraction at the Hippodrome, Twelfth and Charlotte streets, was thrown open to the public last night for the first time since the accident nearly a month ago, when a portion of the roof fell in while workmen were engaged in remodeling the building. At the time of the accident, Kansas City's winter park, as the Hippodrome has sometimes been called, had been running only about one week and its patrons were just beginning to appreciate the attractions offered. The opening last night, when hundreds of people crowded the large building, was but an evidence of what the public think of the entertainment offered.

The Hippodrome offers to Kansas City amusement seekers just about every form of entertainment usually found at the summer parks and has the advantage of having all the various forms under roof and in a building well heated and ventilated. The wild animal show, one of the attractions which has been open from the very first, continues to be one of the principal drawing cards and divides favors with the vaudeville performances and skating rink. The Ferris wheel, crazy house, Japanese balls, shooting gallery and dance hall are also well patronized.

That portion of the roof which was damaged by accident has been repaired in a most substantial manner and has been pronounced perfectly safe by the building inspectors and fire department. The Hippodrome will be open for business every day and night.

Labels: amusement, animals, Charlotte street, hippodrome, Twelfth street

October 24, 1908

STADIUM RINK OPENS TONIGHT.

One of the Finest Skating Floors in

the Entire West.

The Stadium, one of the most perfectly appointed skating rinks in the West, will open its doors to the public tonight at Thirty-third and Troost. A balcony covering 500 feet has been provided for the accommodation of spectators. The Stadium boasts of a new impropved floor, measuring 300 feet, which is hte only one in the city having corners and ends raised. The auditorium will be brilliantly lighted. Music will be furnished by the White Star band of ten pieces, lately returned from a tour through England.

Labels: amusement, music, skating, Thirty-third street, Troost avenue

September 25, 1908

WILD WEST FOR AUTOISTS.

Miller Brothers Entertain Kansas

Cityans at 101 Ranch.

ONE HUNDRED AND ONE RANCH, OK., Sept. 24. -- (Special.) So tempting was the programme arranged at Miller Bros.' 101 ranch by the Longhorn Club, and so desirous were the Kansas City autoists in the Southwestern Reliability run to see all the Wild West features on the bill., that the officials of the contest voted to lengthen the scheduled stop at the ranch an hour and a half. This was the the first change of the schedule since the run started. It was made necessary by the enthusiastic clamor of the autoists who were prepared for and received the greatest treat of their trip at the ranch.

The cars had made a hard morning run over roads that were seas of mud, but from Bliss to the ranch the race-course-like pikes afforded the first opportunity of the day for smooth riding. The cars arrived in ones and twos after 12:30 o'clock, and as fast as they came in the famished autoists were seated at a banquet table where all the good things of the ranch were served.

Later there was a programme of "sure enough" Wild West events -- steer riding, roping, broncho busting and fancy riding.

There was a badger fight which was the real sensation of the day, the badger being pulled from his lair by Ted Collier of Kenosha, Wis., driving a Rambler car. The autoists were compelled to tear away at schedule time, but the officials had a great trouble getting them to leave. Several arranged to return to the ranch for a visit after the completion of the tour.

Labels: amusement, automobiles, oklahoma, races

September 24, 1908

CROWDS AT THE FAIR.

Six Thousand Saw the Atractions at

Independence Yesterday.

Crowds at the Independence fair yesterday were doubled over that of the opening day. Six thousand paid admissions were received. The airship made the usual flight. Women crowded the art department and textile exhibits, but the greater of the crowd gathered around the mountains of bread which came from all over the state to contest for a prize -- bread from Carthage, Platte City, Memphis, Palmyra, in fact from several different states. Machine and handmade bread was in competition.

Today wil be Kansas Cityday and some of the best races have been reserved for this day. The county offices will be closed to permit employes to attend the fair.

Labels: airships, amusement, food, Independence

September 20, 1908

FAIR OPENS NEXT TUESDAY.

Independence Has Made Preparations

for a Gala Week.

Independence is to have its third annual fair beginning next Tuesday and continuing for the balance of the week. There will be something doing every minute as plenty of special attractions are provided. The judging of stock etc., will be done in the forenoon and the afternoon will be occupied with harness and running races, to be followed by an airship flight by Charles Strobel of Toledo. He promises to make the flight from Independence to Kansas City if favorable weather prevails.

The grounds cover fifty acres and the seating capacity for the races is 6,000. While the fair is promoted by Independence people and is called the Independence fair it is generally looked on as a Jackson county fair.

Labels: airships, amusement, Independence

September 7, 1908

NOW ITS A HIPPODROME.

New Amusement Planned for

Twelfth and Charlotte.

Within a few weeks Kansas City will be in possession of a real hippodrome. Already the spacious car barns of the Metropolitan company, at Twelfth and Charlotte streets, have been leased for the purpose, and from now until the building will have been transformed into a wonderland of beauty hundreds of workmen will be employed.

The Hippodrome Amusement Company, with T. J. Cannon at its head, is responsible for this innovation in Kansas City's amusements. Mr. Cannon for several years was connected with the New York hippodrome and Luna park at Coney Island.

Having a floor space of 96,000 feet, the old car barns afford ample room for the project. The roof will be torn off and raised eight feet, making it sufficiently high for the performance of aerial acts. The gallery will have a seating capacity of 7,200, and the whole interior of the hall will be brilliantly lighted with arc and incandescent lights.

The interior of the building will be arranged so as to resemble a mammoth midway, most of the concessions having their entrances and exits from it. It is the intention to bring one of the largest herds of trained elephants in the country here, all of which will be seen in Elephant Path, and can be ridden for a small consideration.

Among the numerous amusement devices will be an aquarium, zoo, and animal sh ow, the latter two being received from the best specimens in the Bostock animal shows. There will be the famous razzle dazzle from Luna park, Coney Island, the second of its kind to be erected in this country, while one end of the building will be devoted to the gondola, an amusement device said to be the thriller of them all.

In conjunction with the concessions there will be two free exhibitions of some sort each week, and it is said to be the intention to spare no expense to procure the very best obtainable. These acts will include the famous automobile thrillers of circuses now on the road, high wire acts, dare devil bicycle acts and others.

Labels: amusement, bicycles, Charlotte street, hippodrome, Metropolitan Street Railway Company, New York, Twelfth street

August 23, 1908

DRINKS MILK

UNDER WATER.

Graham, the "Human Fish," the At-

traction at Fairmount.

Graham, the "Human Fish," is to be the free attraction at Fairmount park today. A large glass tank, filled with water, is used. He descends into the water, and while under the surface eats and drinks a bottle of milk. To do this he must exhale enough air from his lungs while under water to correspond to the amount of air displaced by the milk. Graham gives an exhibition of a drowning person, showing the various actions, from the time the person falls into the water until he lied apparently dead at the bottom, showing the struggle under water. The shows will be given near the circle swing and will take place at 3 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon and at 9 and 10 o'clock at night.

Fishing is still good at the lake and so is the bathing. The concessions are all doing a rushing business and the band has a full programme for the day.

Labels: amusement, daredevils, drowning, fairmount park, fishing, food, music

August 12, 1908

HEARTSORE FOR HER BOY.

Mrs. G. W. Dorsey Is Ill Because Son

Has Run Away.

A broken-hearted mother is waiting the return of her 13-year-old son who disappeared from the home Friday night after attending the fireworks display at Pain's show with his father. While watching the fireworks Fred Dorsey, son of G. W. Dorsey, 4815 East Seventeenth street, met Frank French, 15 years old, and the two boys left the grounds together. Frank French returned home Sunday morning, but left again that night. He refused to tell where he had been, but denied that Fred had gone away with him.

Fred Dorsey started to run away once before. Last summer he left one afternoon, but when it began to grow dark he changed his mind and succeeded in reaching home before bedtime. He received a good spanking for that, and his father stated last night he believed that the boy would be afraid to return home if he had run off for fear of receiving more severe chastisement. His father said he would forgive the boy if he would only come back, as the boy's mother is ill from worrying about him.

Labels: amusement, children, missing, Seventeenth street

August 12, 1908

BIG CROWDS GO TO CIRCUS.

Performance That Is Usually Seen

Under a Large Tent.

The show tent of the Sells-Floto circus was filled to its capacity at both afternoon and evening performances yesterday, and everyone seemed to enjoy the efforts of the regiment of performers to entertain. Every seat within the tent was occupied long before the time for starting and, with few exceptions, all remained in their places until the final spectacle, the driving of fifty horses by a single woman who stood on the back of one of the horses.

The fun section of the show was composed of fifty picked clowns, and during their occupation of the arena there was something doing all the time.

Aerialists in troupes gave the customary daredevil stunts at the top of the canvas.

Labels: amusement, circus, daredevils

August 7, 1908

DUCK DOCTOR AND PREACHER.

Dr. Mathias and Dr. McGurk Among

Indians at Indian Creek.

When Dr. E. L. Matthias, probation officer, and the Rev. Dan McGurk of the Grand Avenue M. E. church went out to the boys' camp on Indian creek Wednesday, they expected to have a pleasant time. They did until they went in swimming.

As soon as the two men had joined the fifty-five boys in the swimming pool there was a concerted rush and both Dr. Mathias and Dr. McGurk reeived the ducking of their lives. Both fought, but the odds were too great. Yesterday Dr. Mathias was exhibiting a few scars of the battle.

Judge H. L. McCune of the juvenile court also went to the camp. He had an intimation of what was coming and refused to don a bathing suit, to the great disappointment of the boys.

Labels: amusement, children, doctors, Dr Mathias, Indian creek, Judge McCune, ministers, swimming

August 3, 1908

MAYOR CRITTENDEN

TO FIRE FIRST BOMB.

WILL INAUGURATE THE FIRE

FESTIVAL MONDAY NIGHT.

Pain's Wonderful Al Fresco Exhibi-

tion to Be Seen at Fifteenth

Street and Kasnas Avenue

for Two Weeks.

Mayor Crittenden will fire the first bomb at 8:15 tomorrow night, inaugurating Kansas City's fire festival at the circus grounds, Fifteenth and Kansas avenue, starting Pain's wonderful al fresco production of "The Carnival of Naples."

For days the workmen have been fitting the grounds for the spectacle, and laborers have been toiling with the scrapers and shovels, with scythes and mowers, with pickax and post driller, getting ready for the fairlyland transformation.

The special train of twenty cars arrived yesterday, containing the equipment and company with which the production will be interpreted tomorrow night. In less time than it takes to tell, the sections were being hauled to the circus grounds, where teams and many men were ready to begin the herculean task of unloading the enormous stage settings, paraphernalia and amphitheater.

The scene last night was wild and weirdly picturesque. Amid the arc-lights, which presented the picture of a brilliant cluster, there shone what seemed to be a constellation under a tropical sky.

All night long the workmen labored under the skilled direction of Chief Pyrotechnist James Cunliffe, to erect the enormous scenery settings. Wagons were loaded to the guards with enormous bulky packages of canvas, poles, frames, stacks of seats, dozens and dozens of cases of every imaginable size and description, and six-horse teams whisked them all around and about the grounds.

Monday night will be Kansas City night. Mayor Crittenden will be there, occupying a box and at a signal, he will press a small button and lo, Pain's magnificent spectacle of "The Carnival of Naples and Eruption of Vesuvius" will have commenced. Mayor Crittenden's photograph will be shown in fireworks, which will be appreciated by all true Kansas Cityans.

Reserved seats for all performance on sale at the Owl Drug Company, 920 Main street.

Labels: amusement, Fifteenth street, Kansas avenue, Mayor Crittenden

July 21, 1908

CIRCUS DRAWS THE SAME

SWEATING, HAPPY CROWDS.

That It Always Does in Its Far Be-

tween Visits -- Its Wonders

Remain Ever Fresh.

Little small boys and big small boys, little girls and big girls; whole families were happy yesterday, happy with that kind of happiness that comes only once or twice a year. The little ones were happy openly, the big ones in a proper, staid sort of way, but all were happy for the same reason. It was circus day. It doesn't make the little bit of difference whether one is in the old country town or in the city, circus day is circus day the whole world over. On that day nobody cares anything about anything but the circus. What's the use in denying it? Everybody knows how everybody else feels.

"The great and only Barnum and Bailey Circus" pitched the tents of its little city out on Indiana avenue, just south of Fifteenth street. They say they were the biggest tents in the world and nobody who was there yesterday denied it.

Of course the "cutest" thing in the whole show was the baby elephant. They had him in a cage where not even a peanut could be slyly smuggled to his everready, ridiculously small trunk. Then there was a baby camel and other baby animals and giraffes, sleepy, aristocratic looking animals, and zebras and just about every kind of animal that has ever been exhibited in a menagerie.

In the "big tent" all the old acts were in evidence and many more. The aerial and equestrian acts were exceptionally high class, the clowns were just as funny as ever, the hippodrome races were wildly exciting, the automobile somersault act, which brought the performance to a close, was beyond a doubt the most daring, most hair-raising feature ever presented in a circus tent in Kansas City. Two big automobiles are drawn high up onto a steep track. In each is a young woman. At a given signal both machines are released and, with a roar and a rush, start on their downward course. The first one leaves the track and, rising high in the air, turns a complete somersault, alighting on a platform some distance away. While it is in the air the other machine jumps across the gap in is well away. Only by the most careful timing and adjustment, it is possible for the one to clear the track before the other comes crashing down. A collision would mean a tragedy that would be frightful to contemplate. but the two young women who ride in the auto don't seem to mind in the least.

The Barnum & Bailey circus has come and gone At two performances it packed its great tents to their capacity and nobody has yet been heard to register a "knock." It's a great big, smashing good show, and it's probable that if it were to be here again today just as many thousands would go as went yesterday, and probably a lot of them would be the same ones who went yesterday, too.

Labels: amusement, animals, children, circus, daredevils, Fifteenth street, Indiana avenue

July 20, 1908

LITTLE RUSSIAN PRINCE

FINDS HIS AFFINITY.

BUT THE PRINCESS WEE-NEE-

WEE LOVED ANOTHER.

Case of Love at First Sight at the

Circus Grounds Yesterday --

Public Proposal by Midget.

"Big Top" is Up.

THE RUSSIAN PRINCE.
He is 32 Years Old, 26 Inches Tall, and Weighs 16 pounds.

It as a case of love at first sight with the Little Russian Prince. Often he had heard of Princess Wee-nee-wee, but he had never seen her until yesterday afternoon.

The Little Russian Prince is 32 years old, weighs 16 pounds and is 26 inches high. His affinity is a dark skinned young woman of similar dimensions, though somewhat smaller. Her height is 17 inches, she is 18 years old, and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. Princess Wee-nee-wee travels with the Barnum & Bailey circus. The prince is connected with the vaudeville circuit which makes the parks.

Last week the prince heard that Wee-nee-wee was to be in Kansas City yesterday and so delayed his departure from Carnival park in order to pay her a visit. Out at the show grounds the freaks' tent had just been raised when the prince walked in and inquired for Wee-nee-wee. When the princess's maid brought her out to see the prince they stared at each other for a moment, then the prince boldly put out his hand in greeting.

So struck was he with the midget's appearance that he immediately proposed marriage.

"How do you like me?" he asked. "Wouldn't you like to be my wife?" The prince had made his little speech without a blush and seemed dreadfully in earnest. Wee-nee-wee was painfully embarrassed and, despite her dark color, she even blushed. Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered about the midgets and the little woman was becoming very uncomfortable. She wasn't used to receiving proposals among so many people, so she took her suitor into another part of the tent. From behind the curtain, parts of their conversation could be overheard.

"I have lots of money," urged the prince, "and I can show you a fine time. You need not go with the circus any more."

PRINCESS WEE-NEE-WEE.
She is 18 Years Old, 17 Inches High and Weighs 7 1/2 Pounds.

"I have lots of money, too," answered the princess, "and I don't need you or your money. Anyhow, I am in love with Captain Jack Barnett, and he loves me, too."

Captain Jack Barnett is a midget just about the size of the prince. He is exhibited in the freak tent with the princess and they have been traveling companions for many months. So, when the prince learned that an ordinary captain had been the successful suitor for the little princess's hand, he gave up in despair.

As he left the tent he was heard talking to his manager who had gone with him to the circus grounds.

"I supposed that Wee-nee-wee would not be as small as they all said she was or that she would be mighty fat," he said. "But she is not fat and she is just as small as anybody can be. She just came up to my shoulders when she stood up by my side. Wouldn't we make the prize couple, though?"

Outside the freak tent there were thousands of persons who had visited the grounds to see the circus unload and to catch an occasional glimpse of the elephants and camels as they were being led to the menagerie tent.

Inside of the menagerie tent, or jungle top, as the circus men call it, the animals were being fed and the wagons polished for inspection which they will receive today. One of the most interesting sights inside the jungle top was a baby camel, 6 weeks old. When this camel was only two days old his mother stepped upon his left foreleg, breaking it above the fetlock. The camel would have to be killed, but since it was white and there is no other white camel connected with the circus, a great effort was made to save it.

It was placed in a cage and as much care taken of it as if it were a child. Every hour the little camel has to be given milk from a bottle, and he usually insists upon two bottles.

Next to the baby camel is a baby elephant, 2 weeks old. The baby elephant is also fed from a bottle and has a special attendant. These young animals created much excitement and amusement among those who were standing near the tent.

The circus train was late in its arrival yesterday morning and the "roustabout" gang worked overtime. Within fifty-five minutes after the tent gang as on the circus grounds, the menagerie tent had been raised. Quickly in succession were put up the cook tent, the stable tops and some freak tents. All day yesterday the gangs of men were busy getting the big tent in order and it will be stretched today. The tent for the big show i said to e the largest circus tent in the worked and from the looks of the ground which it is to cover it seems as if there were much truth in the statement.

It was necessary for five patrolmen under a sergeant to be present on the grounds yesterday in order to take care of the immense crowd which had gathered. The curious people insisted on getting in the way of the workmen and in taking an occasional peep under the menagerie, but the officers handled the crowd well and no more serious disturbance was reported.

Labels: amusement, animals, circus, police, romance, vaudeville, visitors