162 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III 



something, it does not need to be home talent, but if you put on something, 

 home talent amusement show, minstrel show or play, musical comedy 

 or vaudeville acts in which the whole community is interested. When 

 you get 100 to 150 people in a circus you are playing to an audience right 

 there of a thousand people, they all have parents and all have relatives 

 that want to see these different ones in the show, so naturally you are 

 getting quite a start on business. 



One other point I was asked to bring up here this afternoon, that was in 

 regard to the afternoon performance. So many people get tired before 

 the afternoon performance is over. That is one reason why the night per- 

 formance of the county fair don't make money. They get tired in the 

 afternoon at the races and afternoon performance, too many free acts, 

 lasts until six or half past in the evening and by that time they want to 

 get away, want to go home. My suggestion is to everybody in the after- 

 noon put on all the races you want to and give them a number of free 

 acts but make them snappy. Give them a lot of pep and when they go 

 home when they are through at four or half past or five o'clock they 

 are not tired; they have time to walk around and see some of the other 

 shows and take an interest in the fair ground itself and visit with their 

 neighbors and loaf around, have their supper or their box lunch. By 

 that time they are ready to stay for the evening show and they want to 

 take it in. 



One of the big features we have at Warren county and have had for 

 several years has been an opening day parade, it is called, or merchants' 

 parade. This parade consists of floats, all kinds of automobiles, wagons, 

 different things fixed up representing each merchant. It has been a big 

 drawing card to the fair on the first day. This parade generally takes 

 place about one o'clock and we have the band and the music goes with 

 it, parade out to the fair ground from town. That is another added 

 feature we have always had. 



I wish to say one of the sad mistakes we made this year which we felt 

 in our pocketbook afterwards was the fact we gave too many compli- 

 mentary tickets. Too many children could not come, could not be in 

 the show unless they were chaperoned; could not be with us because the 

 father was afraid to have them out there at the fair ground at night unless 

 he was there, he had to have a ticket so he could come to take his boy or 

 girl home. Another year we are going to say that is a very good idea 

 and we would like to sell you a ticket for him. 



Gentlemen, I haven't very much else to offer to you, except this, if any 

 of you should desire to put on a home talent burlesque circus in your 

 community I would be most glad to offer you aid insofar as any informa- 

 tion that I can and be glad to help you in any way. This is just some 

 features, we like to pass them one to the other. This circus cost us about 

 $1,500 to put on. I thank you. 



President Hoffman: The disctission will be led by J. Fred 

 Henry, Secretary of the A\^arren Cotinty Fair, Indianola. 



