Oriental Jugglers. Three in number made up as Japs. They have a good routine of stuff and perform it rapidly. Their juggling is unusually well manipulated. They work with bells, knives, firebrands, etc – and many of their tricks are similar to those performed by the Mowatts. The comedy end of their work is executed by one man who does the apple catening stunt about the same as Fred Pelot. The act makes good from beginning to end and really received as much favorable attention as anything on the bill. 12 minutes palace.
Sketch: “The Absent Minded Beggar.” Man and woman. This act made a distinct hit and is really one of the best things we have had here in the sketch line since the house opened. The old soldier as impersonated by Nugent is an admirable piece of work and it may be recorded to his credit that his efforts to please were crowned with unqualified success. It strikes me that this man is an actor of uncommon ability. He makes every word and gesture count and at no time overdoes things to attain the desired result. The ideas of the sketch is somewhat away from the usual theme.; there are many bright lines in the little play. His wife fulfills the demands in playing opposite to him satisfactorily. 19 minutes.
(Colored) Man and woman in a singing and dancing act that was easily the hit of the show. They both make a good appearance and they both work. The man is a crackerjack dancer in fact one of the best I ever saw. They are free from affectation and simply sing and dance their way into the good graces of our patrons. At the first show they were recalled five or six times. The trombone player in my orchestra at present is Doc Quigley, Mgr. of Al G. Fields Minstrels, incidentally one of the very best eccentric dancers in America, and he simply refuses to play his instrument while this act is on. I questioned him about his laying off and he says he is too busy trying to catch some of the steps of this team. 22 minutes in one.
A hodge podge variety act by man and woman that has some good spots and some bad ones. The man does nothing of moment except to play the cornet and Swiss bells. He springs a lot of comedy leg contortion work that really does not strike home for the reason that it is entirely unlooked for from a man of his general appearance. The woman does some impersonations that are very good excepting the finish in one where she appears as the Rube girl. This portion of her work did not take especially well and I attribute the lack of interest to the fact that she assumes a makeup which instead of being humorous is almost hideous. The act went passably well however and got by. 19 minutes. C.D.F.
6 trained bears that were about as genuine a frost as anything we have ever had in the house. At the matinee they barely got through and at night they failed to make good in any sense of the term. I have not received the salary for this act yet but if it is very much I fear we are cheated so far as Columbus is concerned. At the finish of the act last night there was not a single ‘hand’ a most remarkable feat for a closing act in this house. They perform a few stunts but none of them seem to excite the slightest interest except where one animal stands on its head after which stunt there was a little half-hearted applause. I thought that perhaps the act was so good that my patrons were nonpulsed with its merit but when I inquired among a few I changed my mind. Rocky Pass 11 minutes.
These boys saved the entire show with their acrobatic work and the comedy of the big fellow. The act went big from beginning to end. It is novel and well presented and they deserve great credit for waking up an audience that was on the verge of slumber. Their base ball talk went heavily this being a crazy ball town. 20 minutes in one.
A local boy who has an excellent baritone voice. He sings High C without the slightest effort. Lacks a little in stage presence and style but with experience he will be about as good a single singing act as I have heard in vaudeville. IN fact he is far superior to the usual run of singers. He made a terrific hit here which of course was to be expected in his home town. I believe it would be worth while to try him out in another of the houses at a moderate salary. His second song, “Love Me And The World Is Fine” is the one in which he reaches High C. and he certainly made his listeners sit up and look when he reached up and took this note. 13 minutes in one.
In an admirable comedy “Mazis” which is excellently portrayed by the aforesaid with the assistance of two minor characters. This act made a big hit and they finished very strong. I believe that Miss Stuart when she introduces her songs is a little to “fly”. I noticed that the ladies in the house sort of rebelled atva walk she executes also at the way she handles her skirts. 26 minutes fancy set.
Character Comedienne: Opens with a song “I’m Married Now” which proves to be a positive scream. This girl is very clever and got more laughs than any single woman act we have had since the house opened. Her “Italian” song went fairly well. I think she makes a mistake in finishing with a song in “straight” makeup. It has a tendency to weaken her previous superior work. Suppose that she does it to demonstrate to the audience that she is really a good looking girl. However she was a big hit and I am perfectly satisfied with her. 14 minutes Clio.
“Steps & Stunts” – Man and woman. Cracking good variety act in which two excellent dancers make a positive hit of the first water. They both work hard and waste no time. They went heavily from beginning to end of their time. Can use an act of this kind to advantage any time.
