Wednesday, February 03, 2021

CONCESSIONS #2


 

15 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Outside garbage joint

Roger Smith said...

Think of the privilege paid for that spot.

Chic Silber said...


Much less than for inside garbage

or more for the BIG X for any item

Tony Greiner said...

Chic, what is a BIG X?

Charles Hanson said...

You can't beat having the X on Floss if you can get it. How sweet it is...Back in the day the Miller Brothers had the concession rights on RBBB Circus (Pre Feld era). How lucky can you get?

Chic Silber said...


The "X" is having exclusive rights

to some item (or several) so all

others have to pay you commision

BIG was just my amplification

Chic Silber said...


The Miller Brothers for those

unknowing were a tribe under

the broad banner "Ali Babba's

Forty Thieves" when control

of so many elements on RBBB

came under Ali Art Concello

Chic Silber said...


Prime locations were often perks

given in lieu of tax free wampum

Such as the #1 inside ticket box

given to Tommy Clarke Boss Props

Tommy also had the "Blue Room"

He smoked very expensive cigars

His son Carlos was my sidekick

for a few Commack engagements

Chic Silber said...


Privilege & P/C can be combined

or can be totally different sums

"Follow the Money" "Pay No More"

Chic Silber said...


Ticket box stands & ticket windows

are always at a height above eye level

There never was anyone better at making

change than Arnold Maley a true master

Chic Silber said...


After Miller Brothers contract

was terminated Willis Lawson

who had been Assistant Manager

under Frank McClosky became

the Concessions Manager

"& The Money Kept Rolling In"

From the musical "Evita"

Charles Hanson said...

I personally knew someone who worked in the Red Wagon on King Bros. Circus (Floyd King Era) with Arnold Maley. She said that Arnold made his money on walk aways and masterful change making (as Chic alluded too). She said the show always received the right count on ticket sales. Mr. Maley also had a colorful past while working in the banking business. Guess he just had larceny in his heart.....

Charles Hanson said...

She also said that the money was coming in so fast at the ticket wagon on the King Show...until they would just throw the money on the floor. Walking in money ankle deep . You can only imagine the rush at the Red Wagon with many walk aways.

Tony Greiner said...

Charles, a coincidence with your comment is that just last night I read a part of Victoria Christiani Rossi's book "Spangles, Elephants, Violets and Me" that concerned the Christiani's business relations with Arnold Maley.

It's a good book too!

Charles Hanson said...

Tony Greiner: Yes Sir, she devoted a whole chapter to the Macon Years and her time at Mt. De Sales, private Catholic School in Macon, GA. Those years were paradise for circus fans...Thought they would never end. From 1949 thru 1953 the money rolled in...sometimes they gave three and four shows a day. Can you imagine?? And making one night stnads to boot.