Pianofriend Minstrels
Nine people and four pianos and a set of scenery. Act seemed to arouse considerable enthusiasm today and pleased. Several of the vocal numbers were well applauded. Own set in 3. Time 28 min.
Tascott
America’s Greatest Coon Shouter. There is no question of the ability of this man to put over a coon song. In his line of work he is inimitable and should be able to please any audience as well as he pleased our audience today. Street in 1. Time 9 min.
Walton & Brandt
“Her First Game.” Man and woman in a talking act supposed to describe the feelings of a young man who tries to explain a ball game to his partner. Might possibly get by in a town which supports a team but their stuff fell absolutely flat with the audiences here today. Finish with a song. Olio in 1. Time 12 min.
Libby & Zanora
Comedy Cyclists. A capital opening act for any house. The straight man does some of the niftiest tricks I have ever seen in a bicycle act while his partner introduces some inoffensive comedy. Can close a small show or open a big in good shape. Garden in 4. Time 11 min.
The Four Norins
Fancy swimming and dancing. These people have an act that ought to prove a positive sensation in vaudeville. The argument may be raised that swimming acts are becoming rather chestnutty but here is one that is away beyond all others, and, in my opinion, is the greatest novelty act in vaudeville at the present time. Two men and two women go through a series of fancy dives, some of them almost hair-raising in their execution, that held the audience spellbound today and created more talk than any act we have ever put over in this house. One of the girls does some of the most wonderful diving I have ever seen. The girls are not beauties but they sure can dive. A little subdued comedy is introduced by one of the men that gets some laughs. At the present time the Norins are carrying an equipment of scenery that the artist must have charged by the foot and slapped in all the extras he could. As a result the scenery was altogether too large for our stage and caused a bad wait before we could get the act started this afternoon. On a big stage the scenery, with its cyclorama, its leg drops, the waterfall effect and the other accessories will serve to make this one of the most attractively staged swimming and diving acts in the business. Own set in 4. Time 18 min.
James B. Donovan & Rena Arnold
“The King of Ireland and Queen of Vaudeville.” I have never seen Donovan fall down with an audience yet and I have played him a number of times. He has a personality that makes itself felt and his Irish stories, clean and inoffensive always got over in good shape. Miss Arnold looks nice, dresses becomingly and makes three changes. Our Monday afternoon crowd is coldly critical but Donovan kept them howling for 18 minutes and then had to go back for a 6 min encore that is pretty old but went over in good shape. Street in. time 18 min.
Roberts, Hayes & Roberts
“The Villain Still Pursued Her.” This is one of the best travesties on a melodrama I have seen since Harry Hampton came over with “The Melodrama” some years ago. Before the right kind of audience the act ought to go with a scream but a goodly portion of the “wise” Monday jury this afternoon failed to get the numerous fine points to the act. Roberts was never funnier than as the “dying child” and the other members of the company were good. Attic in 3. Time 23 min.
“The Man From the Sea.”
This act, written by Paul Dickey and Chas. W. Goddard and produced by Maurice Campbell, had its first presentation here today and held the audience spellbound. Never have I seen an act in vaudeville that has gripped an audience as did this one today and the interest was intense during the 18 minutes of its presentation. The scene is laid in a wireless station at Cape Fear, North Carolina, with a terrific storm raging outside. The operator on duty keeps getting a call for C.F. and decides to answer. The reply comes “Off Scarboro Reed, nine fathoms deep” and signed Carroll Brown. From another operator he learns that Brown and Bradley Wolf had both loved the same girl and had cut the cards to determine which would leave the other free to woo her. Brown loses and starts away in a storm but is supposed to have wrecked off the reef. On the night of storm the message had come over the wireless that Brown would return on Wolf’s wedding night. The wireless keeps flashing the message and the operator summons Wolf on the phone and delivers the message. Wold arrives at the station and orders the operator to return to the house with his fiancé and be careful that the automobile does not skid over the sea wall. Wolf has been in the station but for a few minutes when Brown, “the man from the sea” returns. He accuses Wolf of treachery and insists upon again cutting the cards for the girl, stating that if he wins he will take her back with him “nine fathoms deep.” Brown wins and as the card is turned the phone rings and Wolf is informed that the automobile has gone over the sea wall and the girl is drowned. Brown vanishes into the storm.
While the act is weird it does not have that gruesomeness that might be expected. It is finely acted, the cast being above the average while the storm effect with “real rain,” etc., is the best that I have seen staged. It seems to me that properly worked this act could be heavily featured anywhere and will create discussion. Certainly there is no other act like it in vaudeville today and those managers who are constantly crying for novelties would do well to consider this one. Own set in 3. Time 18 min.
Lewis & Chapin
“The College Boy and Girl.” Eccentric dancing and talking act in 1. Conflicts in a degree with the opening act. Had hard work getting the audience this afternoon but went much better at night. Olio in 1. Time 16 min.
Edward Decorsia & Co.
In “Red Ike.” A western comedy sketch that is full of good stuff and one of the most attractive settings I have seen in vaudeville. Sketch is lively, full of action and the lines are bright. Could go down further in the bill and more than make good. Good value for any house. Own set in 3. Time 18 min.