29 minutes. Mr. Wilder opens his act with a Vitagraph picture of himself in the role of a miserly cobbler who find real happiness in the love little children. The film runs about 16 minutes and is very pathetic. Immediately at the conclusion of the film the orchestra strikes up an inspiring are and Wilder walks out in one with red plush curtains as a background. He received a big ovation at both performances. He tells stories interestingly and it can be said that he held this spot well. The film will be found a real innovation in the way it is used and no one left their seats at Monday’s performance while it was on. It’s by far the best act he has ever given us. (New York)
The inimitable mimic. 32 minutes, open in C.D.F. parlor with grand piano, closing in 3 with special panorama drop and green ground cloth. Miss Loftus gave impersonations at the afternoon show of Nora Bayes, Mrs. Fiske in new show, Elsie Janis in a new show, an English lady riding in a tram car, Jane Cowl in “Within the Law” and Maude Allan in classic dances. It is a peculiar fact that Cleveland has had none of these later day shows, which resulted in the audience being rather unresponsive to her impersonation with that of Rose Stahl in “The Chorus Lady” and added to her repertoire an imitation of Bert Williams in his card game (Syracuse)
14 minutes in four, bare stage, doing dancing, banjo playing, some instrumental work and singing. There is plenty of action and some misdirected energy, especially along vocal lines. Because of their hard work and some of their dancing numbers the trio was well received. (Indianapolis)
Before we criticise the act I want to say that they carry a large tank and it takes six men and one half hours to put the tank together. The tank is so large that three people dive it at the same time. The theater can’t start to put the tank together until the mechanic arrives from the last town, and as he is also the announced he does not leave the last town until Saturday night. The act carries special velvet front and back draperies and opens with the two women and Conroy in artistic poses. Then Conroy poses alone the way Sandow used to do and he uses the same tune “Hearts and Flowers.” He is a well developed athlete and makes an excellent showing. A dark change then gives opportunity to pull away the draperies and the tank, which has to stand in the same spot all week is shown to the audience in a wooden setting. It is well masked in and has anything that Anette Kellerman ever produced beaten a mile. The two girls are excellent. They are good looking, well formed and as far as diving in concerned they do mare stuff than Kellerman ever did. Without exaggeration I think it is the best diving act I have ever seen. It is a splendid closing act and should be put on the big time exclusively. (Atlanta)
24 minutes in one. Songs. In fairness to the young lady, I hardly know what to day. She did not get in the theatre until Monday at 12 o’clock, being an emergency booking after we had lost three headliners in as many days. She started to rehearse and the rehearsal was very bad. This may be partly out fault because of the fact that our orchestra leader has been in bed two weeks threatened with appendicitis. I have never seen a poorer rehearsal. Miss Wynn did not seem to have a clear idea of just what she was going to sing or what she was going to do. The Tuesday morning newspapers roast her to a finish and say that she is not the girl that she used to be. Maybe the Booking Office is to blame for throwing her in here unexpectedly, maybe I am to blame for not having a competent musical director, and maybe the newspapers are to blame because they had to change their notices and ads three times in three days, also their Sunday layout and their photographs. I guess Baltimore next week will give everyone a better idea of just what she is doing at this time. (Baltimore)
Man and woman, comedy skit “Just Nonsense.” 13 minutes in one. This act had to open the show and as a great many people were walking in on them it would not be fair to criticise them, for it is not an act that should ever be placed in the opening position. I think it best to let Philadelphia give their version of the act next week. After the matinee performance the tem came out to me in front and wanted to close. I realized this position was impossible for them but told them to go back and behave themselves, so they are finishing out the week. (Philadelphia)
Greatest wire act in the business. Full stage—13 minutes.
Sketch—“Baseballitis”—2 men and one woman. Double set—two rooms—18 minutes.
Three young men with a grand piano offering some excellent instrumental music and singing. 9 minutes. Drop in one.
Boomerang and Archery Experts—10 minutes.
