The Marietta Daily Times, November 28, 1930
Come to Marietta Thursday
The people of Washington County and all surrounding communities are invited to come to Marietta Thursday, December 4, at which time there will be presented on the streets in the business section of town, some of the greatest free attractions ever before offered in this part of the state. Albert Ritchie of Wheeling, world's superman, will demonstrate his amazing strength for the entertainment and bewilderment of the thousands of visitors expected to be here.
This giant of physical stamina will place a rope around his neck, attach it to a string of ten trucks loaded with 200 pretty girls, and pull them over some of the business streets. This will occur at the noon hour starting at Front and Greene streets.
Later in the day he will place a long bar on the back of his neck and allow 16 men to suspend their weight from it. At another period he will dance with a dozen or more young women standing on a large plank resting against his head and shoulders. Another feature of Ritchie's program will be a tug-o-war with 50 men, which will be staged on the streets Thursday.
Ritchie has demonstrated his skill and endurance to the entire satisfaction of Marietta's business and professional men during the past three weeks and there is no doubt that he can do all the things he sets claim to. He bends large pieces of iron pipe on his neck and straightens them by vicious blows on his abdomen. With his bare hand he can drive a spike through a one-inch plank and extract the spike with his teeth. Planks of most any size are splintered into kindling wood when Ritchie strikes himself across the head with them.
In connection with this event, Marietta merchants are offering special inducements, which will make the day not only pleasant but profitable for all who come to the city on Thursday. Don't fail to come. You will regret it if you miss the free show to be given by Albert Ritchie, the world's superman.
Time of Public Appearances: 10, 12, 1:30, 5 and 7 P.M.
Thousands on Streets for Stunts
The Marietta Daily Times, December 4, 1930
Nearly 300 girls, young men and children had a novel ride through the streets of Marietta Thursday when Albert Ritchie pulled by his neck the load estimated at many tons, and gave his patrons a "buggy ride" from the Hotel Lafayette to the Auditorium. Thousands of interested spectators watched the show.
Ritchie's unusual feat was part of the free program that Marietta merchants arranged for the large crowds of people who came to the city Thursday morning for the first annual Gala Sales Day sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. The streets were crowded with spectators and incidentally the stores took on a real Christmas shopping aspect that is expected to be beneficial to all concerned.
The free program of events was started promptly at 10 o'clock, just as Ritchie had promised. His first stunt was to throw away money along the streets. Small coins rattled and splashed over the sidewalks in the wake of Ritchie and there was a mad scramble for money.
The free ride started at 12:30 o'clock and ended shortly before 1 p.m. Nine trucks of the Railway Express Company were used. They were lashed together in a long train. Ritchie lay on his back on a motor truck ahead and a rope around his neck pulled the trailing express trucks. Girls and boys and even men and women piled on for the ride and the entire route was lined with spectators while hundreds of others walked along just to see that the thing was "on the level."
It was carried through in realistic fashion and after the ride was finished Ritchie took the young women who had made the ride to the matinee performance at the Auditorium where they were his guests.
