Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 36, Number 177, Decatur, Adams County, 28 July 1938 — Page 13

FAIR EDITION

IrEE ACTS TO FEATURE FAIR HERE

Ln Day To Be Love/ty Feature |of Fair Thursday

■ Twin Convention ■ City's History To ■ Held Thursday ■ Fair Week. L IN I’KIZKS ■ and Ik- Th-y ll,ok K -lav. August 4. during ■J tllr free Street Fair and Kral Show there will be K s Mikes and Ikes. Kday-for the first time ■jtv's history—Decatur will Kg.' to those unusually slurKen. the twins. Kurins. tall twins, fat twins K r ,r ones. - all have been Ko’take part in the festiv- ■ the day and all are being ■ chance Io win part of the Lh prizes that is being givfair officials. K| of the success of similar K negbboring counties and Kd Knowing that the counK Lasted numerous twins. Kials decided to stage the ■rst "Twin Convention." King of the prizes will be E winners of various judgKosts The major prize will. Ke go to the most identical ■ those in attendance. ■ youngest pair, the oldest K others of the twins will ■ the prize money. ■ Expect Big Entry Ecutive of the interest ere■in event of this kind, fair ■ ire making plans to handle ■ crowd and a big entry of K county, too. is expected ■ell represented at the conE Several of the twins of ■ county have participated in ■rties at Fort Wayne and ■ communities. ■e afternoon a big street ■ will be held, so that visit- ■ sightseers may be able to ■or themselves the most atBe pair, the most identical ■d their other choices among ■in wing the parade a picnic held for the twins, with fair i in charge of the event i, many of which have al*en received, are to be maillediately to “Secretary. DeFree Street Fair. Decatur, 1" Inquiries will also be ed, if received by the secretime. h all, fair leaders have urgItors to set aside Thursday, bay' of the Decatur Free Fair and Agricultural Show, which they will be sure to ~ o—>y Ride At Fair spected To Afford iig Treat For Kids ss to be a new attraction kiddles at the Decatur Free fair and Agricultural Show ear ' F. E. Gooding, of the ■8 company, has promised, biding, who owns and man-

OUT FOR A LITTLE SPIN *-—: : «mi-

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT Decatur, Indiana, Thursday, July 28, 1938.

: AMPLE POLICE PROTECTION IS ASSURED FAIR ' City, State And County i Police To Be On Duty During Event e 1 1 Ample police protection has been promised for the Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show. 3 which opens here next week on 1 the streets of the city. j The city will be under the surs veillance of three law enforce- ■ ment agents — the city, and state police and the county sheriff’s der I partment. In addition to these three, the i, fair officials will have a number of e special watchmen to aid in traffic work and patrolling. e Dee Fryback, general fair chairi, man. will be in direct charge of I these watchmen. Sheriff Dallas Brown will be in charge of the ’ county deputies. Commissioner Bill Bell will have charge of the state patrolmen and Chief Sephus Melchi will direct the activities of r the city force. » All police activities will again * be directed from one point —a tent on Madison street, directly in 1 front of the license bureau. A special telephone wire will be f installed in the tent for police use 1 only. In addition officers will have 1 the public address system available in event of an emergency. ' | A man will be on duty at all ■ hours in the police tent, with dep0' uties alternating at the post. >1 A number of state police will be 1 dispatched to the local fair from » the Anderson barracks. State roads leading into the city c will also be patrolled, as well as r city streets, in an effort to keep - traffic accidents at a minimum. Last year, and in former street • fairs, criminal activities have been “ effectively throttled by the effi- ’> | clent cooperation of the law en9. forcement agencies, and this year ■ is expected to be no exception. . ages the shows and rides for the ,; company, stated that a number of a • Shetland ponies will be brought , into the city during that week. > The ponies are well-broken and trained for riding or leading, a feature expected to give all young , fair-goers an added thrill at the event. The ponies will be located off the midway in an improvised track, and a number of carnival , attendants will be on hand to pre--1 vent any spills that might occur s among the young folks. v Fair officials and Mr. Gooding e have wagered that the pony ride will be one of the busiest at the i- fair.

ENJOYING THE 1937 FREE ACT THRILL u _ / • ■ I 1 3 iir-e... ■***• ■ 2F •• ■ T'

WORK OF CITY LIGHT MEN IS TEDIOUS TASK Color Os Street Fair Brightened Through Labors Os City Crew One of the most colorful works when completed and yet one of the largest jobs of the fair is that encountered by members of the city light department, whose duty it is to afford the lighting and power facilities. Starting long before others in furnishing tangible evidence of the street fair, the city light crew, under the direction of Martin J. Mylott, city light superintendent, begin their work. This year, the crew started midway in July. Hanging of lines, which will carry the added power to the rides, shows and concessions of the fair comes first for the workmen. This includes the tedious detail of finding a place to string the wires far out of the reach of person or vehicle, thus eliminating the danger to fair visitors. Always not easy to find are these hanging points. Skillful work is required on the ladder and pole, as a crew member climbs high on precarious footing to set the insulated knob. The job must be safe and secure —it must be efficient and speedy—for upon these lines depend the lights of the fair attraction—in fact the fair, itself. Two members of the department will be on constant duty at the fair to make “break-ins”, to repair any short circuits and to further aid in conducting the city’s service to fair-men and fair visitors. To String Lights In addition to this the members of the light crew string attractive criss-crosses of colored lights across street intersections, to lend a more cheerful and inviting aspect to the fair visitors. Multi-colored bulbs are placed In these strings of light lines to aid in "lighting up” the fair. The courthouse naturally comes in for its share of decorations, with bright, red, orange and white lights hanging from its imposing heights.

Pet Parade To Be Unusual Attraction Os Tuesday's Fair One of the most unusual and distinctive attractions of the Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show’ this year will be the pet parade on Tuesday afternoon. For several weeks, entry blanks have been printed in the columns of the Daily Democrat and a large list of proud pet possessors are | expected to exhibit. Mrs. Marion Feasel is chairman of the event and is making final arrangements for the parade. The pet parade, first of the kind ever to be held in this city, will be staged Tuesday afternoon. 1 August 2. Paraders will assemble at 3:30 p. m.. with the parade to start promptly at 4 o’clock. The pet parade is being sponsored jointly by the recreation department, and the Tri Kappa, Psi lota Xi and Delta Theta Tau sororities. Mrs. Feasel, member of the recreation executive committee, and George Laurent, recreation supervisor, are in charge of , the parade, assisted by members ‘ of three sororities. Members of the sororities assisting are Marjorie Johnson, Jeanette , i Winnes, Zula Porter, Janet Schrock, Luetta Smith and Eloise Leonard. Prizes to be presented to winners in the pet parade will be donated by merchants of Decatur, and will be of only nominal cost.' Approximately 30 prizes will be ' awarded. The entry list will be open to ail children" under 14 years of age. Children living in Decatur, Adams and adjoining counties are eligible to enter their pets in the parade. No charge of any kind will be: made entrants. Similar parades held throughout the country have attracted large * i

* — ♦ FIRST TWIN ENTRIES The honor of being the first j to enter the Twin Day contest | and parade goes to the twins I I of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Heimann, jI i who live on Decatur, route one. | | The fair sex also monopoliz- 1I • the honor since the first entries I1 were both girls, Phyllis Ahn | and Jo Ann. The entry from the Heimann j | twins was received by George | Laurent, co-chairman of the j | event on Wednesday. July 20, | | 11 days before the opening of | j the Decatur Free Street Fair j I and Agricultural Show. 1

RED CROSS TO AGAIN SPONSOR AID STATION First Aid Tent To Be Erected For Third Year At Street Fair For the third consecutive year the Adams county chapter of the American Red Cross will sponsor a first aid tent at the Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show. Miss Annie Winnes, chapter secretary and Wai Wemhoff. chapter chairman, have both signified their willingness, in behalf of the chapter, to sponsor the station. Mrs. Oscar Lankenau, who has handled the duties at the first aid station since its inaugural appearance, has again been engaged by the Red Cross and the fair officials. Mrs. Lankenau is on duty at all waking hours of the fair and will be aided by members of the three Boy Scout troops of the city. The Scouts aid in handling patients and keep a strict watch for children lost from their parents. The duties at the tent are varied and range from commonplace to the unusual. Cuts, bruises, burns and other minor injuries are treated. Heat victims, fainting women and aged persons are given first aid at the station until they are able to continue. The station will again be located on the courthouse lawn. Only persons suffering from minor ailments are to be taken to the station. Mrs. Lankenau, fair officials and members of the Red Cross have urged fair visitors to first call a physician in event of a serious injury or illness. The fair officials feel that the amount of first aid given at the station to needy persons has more than paid for the maintenance of the tent in former years. entry lists and thousands of onlookers. Children may enter any type of pet, as the parade is not limited merely to dogs and cats. Special prizes will be given for attractively decorated pets or floats on which the pets are placed. Entries are to be mailed or handed to Mr. Laurent. Deadline for entries, has been set for Sunday, July 31.

Sensational Free Acts Signed To Perform Tvoice Daily During Annual Street Fair Next Week

CRAZY QUILT OF COLOR TO TOP THE FAIR Overhead Flags, Banners To Aid In Making Street Fair Colorful A crazy quilt of color is to form the ceiling for the Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show here next week, according to L. Robert Rhem, Fort Wayne decorator. Mr. Rhem and his aides were once again awarded the contract this year by the fair officials for decorating the city for the event. “Bob”, as he is commonly known by fair heads and many other Decaturites, has become almost an annual part of the yearly fair event here. His first contract for decorating the city came in 1928 when the city staged its fisst street fair in the form of a homecoming. With but one or two exceptions, he has handled the decorations at each street fair since that time. This year, Mr. Rhem promises an entirely new set-up of flags, banners and streamers for overhead lines, as well as other innovations in decorations. Coupled with the striped awnings, paper decorations, colored lights and other paraphenalia of the carnival side of the street fair, a veritable blanket will be formed over the midway of the city's Free [ Street Fair and Agricultural Show. Merchants, too, in getting into j the spirit of the occasion, have been and are dressing up store fronts, and windows for the occasions. Some have taken the job of decorating upon themselves while others, less skilled in the art, have called upon the aid of Bob and his associates. Entranceways to the city’s celebration are to be gaily decorated overhead, so that a visitor's first glimpse of the city affords the atmosphere of carnival and gaiety. At night the scene will be one of light and color. The added colored light lines of the city, the lights of the shows and rides, especially on the Big Eli, playing upon the flags and decorations will reflect back into the sky a combination of colors few artists could picture upon their favorite easel masterpiece. o > —■ ♦ Bees In Free Act Will Bring Crowd —ls Screen Holds A wire netting is expected to be the chief reason why fair-goers will be willing to witness a strange and novel free act for this year's street fair. Fair officials have consented to a daily performance on one of the free act stages, wherein the method of hiving a swarm of bees is demonstrated by Wiliis Fonner, local beekeeper and barber. Fearful lest some of the fair visitors might not appreciate such an unusual, if instructive free act, arrangements are being made to provide a fine mesh netting, which

WITH THE YOUNGSTERS AT THE FAIR Bq ha . . -.hah. ■ ~ • y . * h- • h t~ -•- '— - ■ “• » »•

HOMECOMING IS POINTED OUT A FAIR FEATURE Annual Street Fair Affords Homecoming For Former Residents There’s a joy and pleasure in the annual staging of a Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show, which old-timers assert, is far greater than that of “riding the merry-go-rotmd” or indulging in may of the fair frolics. To many residents of the city it is a week of homecoming, when son. daughter and other relatives, as well as old friends gather in the city. At innumerable times on city streets during the annual event, handshaking and back-slapping is prevalent. Decatur's first street fair was held on the city streets In 1928. That year the fair was known as the "Decatur Homecoining.” Since that time the event has proven to be just that —a homecoming — although the title has 1 been changed. With but one or two exceptions the fair has been ! held each year since 1928, and with no exceptions me fair has been in reality a homecoming. In previous years, a particular ' day of the week has been set aside and designated “Homecoming Day.” ’ Although no individual day has been marked as such this year, ' each day is expected to be home- ’ coming for some individual person ' or group. The fact that many former residents and natives of the city return for the week can easily be discerned by taking a glimpse of former familiar faces that parade the midway during the fair. ’ The homecoming value of the fair is one of the foremost facts considered by the Decatur Cham- ' ber of Commerce each year in staging the event, and may residents of the city and community point out this feature as one of unusual importance. To a disbeliever of this fact, fair ' officials urge a visit to one of the rest booths on the streets or a momentary pause and eavesdropping at a busy corner. o Cat Mothers Rabbit Cleveland <U.R> — Breta, a cat, has substituted a baby rabbit for her five kitten® which were taken away from her. The rabbit has ‘become reconciled to its foster-moth-er. Breta is owned by 12-year old Bob Norbo. o Bluebird Defies U. S. Mails Chillicothe, O. (U.R) — The myst--1 cry of the missing mail from Mrs. James Wood's box has been solved. A bluebird, having a nest in the box didn't want letters cluttering up its home, so they were tossed out. is to surround the entire cage. Four local rugged individuals, whose fear of the stinger-carrier litjle insects is said to be unheard of. have promised, to aid in the demonstration. Mr. Fonner has promised an un--1 usual treat to fair-goers —if the screen does the trick.

SECTION THREE

Crowd - Drawing Attractions Contracted By Decatur Fair Association For Annual Fair. “CANNONBALL” Free acts—among the greatest of crowd-drawing attractions at a fair are not neglected at the annual Decatur Free Street Fair and Agricultural Show. The Decatur fair has gained a reputation in past years for the splendid free attractions, and advance notice on acts selected for the 1938 fair indicates no letdown in this respect. The fair association has gone to considerable expense to contract high class, sensational acts for the week of August 1-6, and the thousands of persons who attend the fair are promised real attractions. Headlining the list of this year’s acts is Captain Von Fendrick, known throughout the world as the “Human Cannonball,” Human Cannonball The captain is shot from the mouth of a monstrous cannon for a distance of 200 feet, and every performance of this hazardous feat is fraught with danger, from the tremendous concussion of the cannon and the ever-present chance that once he emerges safely he will be injured in landing. Capt. F redrick has appeared throughout the world, having toured Africa, Asia. Australia and Europe. Last year he was -brought to the United States, direct from Europe, by the Hagenbeck-Wallace circus. This is the captain's first independent American tour, and he is booked to return to Europe immediately at the close of this season. Diving Revue A high dive is unequalled as a thriller at a fair. The “Bench Benturn diving revue,” is a versatile troupe of diving champions and comedians, and is noted as one ot the most famous of the shallow water high dive type acts. These beautiful young stars present an exhibition of swimming and diving stunts that embraces the entire realm of water activities, in its broadest sense. The actual high dive is the feature of the act and this plunge is made through a seething mass o£ fire at night. Wells Brothers The famous Wells Brothers, for years featured circus stars, will present their original comedy bar act each day and night of the fair. They use the traditional, three hickory bar rigging, but have invented and perfected an entirely new routine of tricks, gymnastics and comedy situations. Twice Daily All of the above free acts will be presented twice daily starting Tuesday, August 2. A portion of! the free act program will also bo presented Monday evening, following the official opening parade. Members of the free act committee are William Linn. John L. DeVoss and Dr. Ben Duke. o Pear Tree Bears at 130 Years Hiram, O.—<U.R> — A pear tree, known to be nearly 130 years old, still produces a crop each year.