Valadon

Mr. Valadon goes at his audience from the start. When be Isn't talking, he is pulling American flags out of "the drum that can't be beat" It is rather a mystery why he produces ducks instead of American eagles. His best illusion is called "The Mysterious Cross." A boy tightly roped to a wooden cross, placed inside a cloth covered cabinet, is replaced by a girl in a similar position. The boy is first tied to the cross in front of the audience and outside the cabinet, the wooden piece being removed from it for that purpose. After it leaves the cabinet, a curtain is drawn, shutting off the view of the interior from the house, and this excites suspicion before the trick is per- formed. Any intelligent person will immediately attempt to mentally discover the reason for the drawing of the curtain, and must of a necessity hit upon the substitution idea, which has much to do with spoiling the value. The other two illusions are not complex to anyone at all inclined to study out these things, but the final one receives the most applause, which is very light. The

It may be said that Valadon has a showy act, but not a weighty one in any way. Faster work and no talk would be a big help.

Variety 9:4 (09/28/1907)