11 Mins.; Full Stage. Two young Spanish dancers, probably the most authentic of any of the so-called Spanish performers. These two are brother and sister, the former a dancer unexcelled by any steppers who do this type of dancing. His partner is rather heavy but is improving, so that now she gets her share of the applause. The boy does some twirling of the feet that is bound to go over. The couple open with “Malaguena and Bollero,” a very much Spanish affair in which. The click of the castanets figures largely. The girl follows with “El Garotin,” another of this style in which she does considerable bending and squirming. They use “La Cucipanda” next, closing with a whirlwind trot. This last is the only American movement in the act and they handle it capably. These young people should be working steadily, as the boys is a natural dancer and his sister has possibilities.
“Kloroform N.G.” (Special Drop). Val Trainor has a new vehicle that is bound to make the, laugh. A special drop on a railroad station in a tank town is used. In itself this is good for a laugh or two. Mr. Trainor is a drummer with dancing shoes as his line. He jumps off the train and bumps into a comedy miss who tells him she is an artist’s model. After some talk they tell their names, learning they were childhood friends. He speaks of his shoes, and says that he will demonstrate them. This he does with a little dance. Finally they decide to get married and end with singing “Home to Indians.” Lots of business that is certain laughs. Trainor does some magical stuff with the changing color of his gives, which will also gain them interest. His partner has a string of slang that can bump to best of them. As a laughing of comedy two-act Trainor and Helene are there. They can fit into any bill.
11 Mins.; Three (Special Set). Musical Chef is a man who plays a number of instruments without any particular class to any. His main idea is to have each instrument encased in some article of the kitchen. He takes a pot from a stove and it is a banjo inside. He then goes from one thing to another, ending up with a bassoon disguised as a hatrack. Others used are a saxophone, one-string broom, and a clarinet. “Chef” has an act which is going too slow at present. It should prove big time material with more snap. Musical turns along similar lines are not uncommon, though the most familiar have been of the farm yard.
10 Mins.; One. The Society for Preservation of Cruelty to Animals can not get after Ford for working his dog harder than he does himself. He is a worker and he has a clever dog that shows good training. The man sings and dances, of which some of the latter could be dropped. The act opens with a “souse” number, the dog following his master. Ford then sings and dances. Some of the harder steps he attempts miss. The dog goes through the usual routine of canine cleverness. The big trick is the throwing it in the air and having the dog land on two feet in the man’s hand. That would be a good finish, but an encore is too quickly given. One of the usual fox terrier breed of dogs is used. The turn should please. It was a success in the second spot at the Hudson, Tuesday matinee, the audience going exceedingly heavy on the applause thing.
In “Nature’s Nobleman,” three men and a woman. Scene, bookstore. The story is this: A blind Confederate General in Washington, where the store is located with his daughter and colored slave. He is there for three months trying to see the War Secretary to have his son who is held a prisoner at the military hospital, released that he might take him home. He has been advised to see President Lincoln but refuses to go because he hates the President. The act opens with his daughter and the owner of the bookstore talking of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. The owner leaves and the General enters led by his slave. His daughter reads Lincoln’s famous address without telling her father who spoke the words. After a while she leaves him alone to prepare a cup of tea. They have been living above the bookstore since they came to the city. While the blind soldier sits alone Lincoln enters. He engages in conversation with the soldier who tells him of the purpose of his visit to Washington. Without disclosing his identity Lincoln signs an order calling for the release of the General’s son and leaves the store without giving the soldier an indea [sic] of who his is talking to. Presently the daughter and the bookman return and then they learn by the note the General has that the President was in the store. Muttering his great thanks the General takes back every harsh word he ever said about the Lincoln and as they all rejoice the curtain closes the act. It went very big. Special set, 25 min.
In their new singing comedy, “Fixing Dad,” two men and a woman. Scene, parlor. Man and woman opera singers, married five years are visited by the wife’s father who doesn’t know of her marriage. The father has no use for the man who is her husband as he played a trick on him when a boy. After some persuasion the old man is won over by the husband’s singing of several Irish songs. The act closes with the husband and wife doing a little grand opera. There is quite some comedy between the wife and her father. Both singers possess good voices. The act went very good. C.D.F. 19 min. in one 5 min, time of act 24 min.
Two young girls of pleasing personality, giving several songs and imitations with piano accompaniment. Their voices are pleasing. Presume they would be capable of doing better, if the act were staged properly. However, the jury seemed to appreciate their endeavors. Fourteen minutes, in one.
Gymnasts. Really too good to sacrifice in this position. They give a series of new and original stunts in gymnastic work, using a balancing board, each appreciated and given a rousing hand. Could be used further in two. Six minutes.
Talking movies, showing “The Descriptive Lecture” retained the second week and the “Quarrel Scene from Julius Caesar,” both excellent films. While the audience does not give the subjects any great amount of applause, presume they are appreciated. Business is big, probably due to the exceptional strong bill surrounding the pictures.
Presented by May Tully’s Players, one woman and three men. Scene bachelor’s apartments and as curtain rises the four are seated about a table closing a whist game. When accounts are figured up the host has won a large sum, one guest and his wife break even, and the remaining guest loses all the host has won. The big loser can’t pay. He hasn’t the money. The other player, his friend, agrees to pay his losings [sic]. While he and the host leave for another room to draw up a note the loser and the wife depart for their clothes. During their absence the host returns and throws the room in darkness by turning off the electric light. When the guests return he lights the room and dramatically announces he has been robbed of a large sum from a small safe that stood at one side of the room. Each of the guest [sic] excepting the wife submits to a search. The crime is finally fastened on the young husband and he finally confesses he entered the darkened room and robbed the safe. At this point the big loser takes a hand in the matter and shows up at the host as a blackmailer and a card cheat. He announces he is a detective employed by the wife without her husband’s knowledge to trap the host who has been collecting blackmail from her husband for years by means of information which the husband fearer might cause his wife to leave him if she ever learned. The scheme is exposed, the husband absolved of all blame and as the curtain goes down the host is handcuffed to the detective. There are many interesting situations and it holds the audience from the beginning. The act went good. C.D.F. 22 min.
