THE SHOW.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 17 November 1930, Page 16

THE SHOW.

♦- —— big decrease in gate receipts. SATURDAY ?UGHT IX SIDESHOW ALLEY. Saturday was the last night of the carnival in Side-show Alley at the Show Grounds, bat patrons were sliv. The attendance for the whole day was Jess than, half what it was last year, the gate returns! being only £6O. compared with £,lio. The total gate receipts for tUe Slio» were £OO7 less than for last year, the preliminary iigures Fhew.:ig that £-.11 •v;is taken this year an. 1 . :n l.'-U-Perhaps a bettor eoicpurisc-a oi" attendis provirierl hy tii-' 1 for :hr two principr.l days r.lo'.ie. t':.; figures f«r the past sis years being: First See ond day. day. Total. £ £ & IS&S (Royai) 330 .. -- 417 ISO/ 1027 (Royal) .. 621 2014 0235 ]926 .. " 2060 321 i 19C9 „ 638 2378 30SG 1330 147 2042 2489 The record established at the 192S Show has yet to be equalled. Clearing Up. Those at the grounds during the day oa Saturday were mostly workers busy clearing the litter of rubbish wliich People's Day invariably leaves behind. By nightfall much of the stock and other exhibits had gone, so that the showmen did not have to compete with these counter-attractions. Where crowds had congregated on Friday, silence and • larkness reigned on Saturday niglit, the brilliantly illuminated alley alone remaining as the centre of the carnival. The showmen realised it was their last rhance for the time being and took ■ onsiderablo paina to tell their audience that it was also theirs to see all manner of amazing sights if they would •■'just step inside," but their declamations—amounting in some cases almost to entreaty—left many of tho bystanders unmoved. Both men .infl women were busy telling the people; what a handsome profit they could expect if they would only hazard a modest shilling on a game of skill. Chocolates i-e.rtainly seemed easier to win than usual, for the promoters declared that they did not want to havo to take them home again. Then there wero tlio varied attractions of the " merry-go-round" type bedizened with multicoloured lights with a fanlaro of music to enhance the effect and add to the attraction. ApArt from theße, -which did fair business, those stands which offered a prize in coin or kind—generally chocolates —appeared to attract more patronage than those which were exhibiting one or more of the 'wonders of the world, which the proprietors declared would give a thrill well worth the price of admission. Showmen Cry their Wares. With voices somewhat husky after three days' sustained shouting, the showwen proclaimed their wares as enthusiastically as ever. They worked hard. Megaphones carried their voices afar, while the clanging of cymbals and tiie beating of drums were all aids towards securing an audience. Once, hnv:::g drawn 3 knot of people, (hey brought their principals from within, on to the bcx beside them, claiming that their particular fcat3 or capabilities wjre •'the envy of tho world"; they had confounded the experts, they said. After vuch glowing testimonials, many of the spectators could not resist stepping infiide, so persuasive is the art of tho showman. Value for -their Money. In the circumstances this was iu> mean achievement for tho people plainly were intent on getting value for their money, so that, unless the arguments were convincing, spectators walked on to invest where they knew what the return would be, should they win, or where they knew they were suro to have an "experience," for each arc of the circle has its own particular thrill on tho round-abouts. For the showman, useless expenditure of voice moans frittering away his chief asset, so, before closing time on Saturday night, some of them, esteeming further effort unprofitable, folded their tents like tho Nomads, and went off into the night, to return next year.