PROCEEDINGS IOWA STATE FAIR MANAGERS ASSN. 39 



Take the concessions. Our concessions men run to twelve o'clock 

 at night, do an immense business. I think this is one of the most 

 important propositions that the county fairs can take up. We all 

 know fairs are getting more expensive. We know the stock interests 

 want more money in the stock department. We are increasing pre- 

 miums in the stock department that do not add anything to the out- 

 side gate. You don't charge them anything more for entrance as a 

 rule, but it takes that much more money. I will venture to say 

 stock premiums for the last five or six years have almost doubled. 

 Where is this revenue going to come from to pay these extra stock 

 premiums unless you have something that brings the people in at the 

 gate to pay this ? I tell you, gentlemen, this night show proposition, 

 if properly handled, is one of the greatest propositions the county fair 

 can have. 



President Estel : Gentlemen, I think this subject has been quite 

 thoroughly covered. It seems the overwhelming opinion of those 

 present is that a night show is very profitable to all fairs. The Sec- 

 retary will read the next question. 



Secretary Wilkinson : The next question is, "Are there any fairs 

 who make an attempt at collecting for the night show from those 

 who remain on the grounds after the afternoon performance? If so, 

 in what manner ?" 



Mr. Mullen: I tried it once, that was enough. 



Mr. Clark, of Grundy Center: At our fair this year we tried 

 something new, after a good deal of discussion. We canvassed-in 

 our night show and charged no admission at the front gate and 

 charged thirty-five cents for admission to the amphitheatre and also 

 seated our track, and I will venture to say we had more people on the 

 grounds at night than we did in the day time, and we filled every 

 available space that we had to seat people. Our concession people 

 were much pleased, and there was hardly one of them on the ground 

 but what wanted to sign up for next year. The night fair had not 

 been a success for us until this year. While we didn't make any great 

 amount of money on it after deducting our expenses, lights and 

 various things, we were only perhaps a little over a hundred dollars 

 out on the night show, we established the fact a night show could 

 be made to pay. 



President Estel : Is there a fair secretary present that remains 

 alive who ever collected or is collecting from those on the ground a 

 second time? The question is sufficiently answered. We will have 

 the next question. 



