Sensational Balancers. Man and woman in one of the fastest working and most daring balancing acts I have ever played. Some of their tricks are most thrilling and they started the show off in rattling good shape. Good enough to close a small show. Fcy in 3.
“Chinatown.” This is Ashley, formerly of Mathews & Ashley; Lee, formerly Wynn & Lee. It was rather hard going for a few minutes at the start today but succeeded in catching the attention of the audience and holding them throughout. Act is very pleasing, a novelty, and the parodies take them off in great shape. Own drop in 1. Time 21 min.
“20 minutes Lay-Over at Alfalfa Junction.” A novel “rube” sketch that kept the audience howling with laughter throughout its presentation. Milton’s rube is a clever bit of character work and he had the audience with him right from the start. The girls look well and add tone to the act. The finish with the saxophones took them off to hearty applause and they were forced to respond to an encore. Own set in 3. Time 17 min.
“On a Side Street.” Mr. Miles was the comedian of our summer stock company and received a warm reception on his entrance. Unlike other “stock favorites” Mr. Miles is entering vaudeville with a vehicle that is a distinct novelty and there is no other act “just like it” in the business. A novel set is carried showing a street scene with a brown stone front house and an apartment house adjoining. The story has to deal with a Southern girl who has had a spat with her lover and has run away from him, taking refuge in the doorway of the brown-stone front. The boy attempts to follow her but is corralled by a plains-clothes man. The janitor of the apartment mixes in, much to the discomfiture of the police office. After getting rid of the latter by telling him the girl has run off through the passageway leading to the apartment house, the janitor learns the girl’s story and decides to help her. When the lovers are reunited the officer returns and has a run-in with the boy and insults the girl with the result that the janitor turns the tables on him in an amusing manner and the curtain comes down on a big laugh. Mr. Miles playing the janitor in excellent style and he has surrounded himself with a capable company. Managers on the lookout for novelties would do well to look this act over. Own set in 2. Time 17 min.
Refined Entertainers. Two men in a fast violin and piano act in 1 that went big this afternoon and proved one of the most pleasing features of the bill. The boys look nice and their selections range from grand opera to rag-time. Will do nicely in this spot anywhere.
“Mixed Drinks.” A knockabout singing, dancing and talking act that got by in this spot. Most of the material is ancient and the mistaken identity thing is rung in for laughs. Act would no doubt be a big hit on the small time though I question if it would hit a Metropolitan audience very hard. C.D.Fcy in 3. Close in 1, 2 min.
“Professional Try-Outs.” Scene supposed to be in dressing room of theatre with the girls waiting to try out their acts. They run over their songs in the dressing room. Act hardly one to open the show but the songs of Miss Smith and the “kid” recitation of Miss Henshaw went over well this afternoon. Some of the dialogue is a little slow and has been cut since the matinee with the result that act went much better at night. Fcy in 2. Close in 1, 3 min. Time 18 min.
A patriotic military act that is well known to all mangers. Made a terrific hit and closed the show in splendid shape. Own set in 4. Time 11 min.
“The Pinochle Fiends.” An amusing blackface act that scored an unquestionable hit today with their patter and their wrangle over a game of pinochle. Street in 1. Time 20 min.
“The Justice of Gideon.” 5 people. This is a dramatization of a story that appeared in the Saturday Evening Post about a year ago under the same title. The characters are of the rural type. Holt is cast as a village justice of the peace who has loved a young girl for years but has not dared speak of his love. A young fellow in whom he is interested becomes involved in a village scandal and to save him from arrest the Justice makes good the amount of the loss, taking the money from the savings with which he hoped to buy a home and get married. At present the sketch is rather long and talky and lack action. The story, however, is a pretty one and when the playing is quickened a trifle will prove a most acceptable offering in vaudeville. Holt sees now where certain speeches may be cut without affecting the story and this is to be done this week. The act is admirably acted, all of the characters being well sustained, and the little sketch has been well staged. Own set in 3. Time 25 min.
