I can’t for the life of me understand why so many people have said that this is a new act, or a better act than the one they did last season. As a matter of fact, it is exactly the same act with the change of a couple of songs and the introduction of a very short Hawaiian dance by one of the men, and the elimination of some good dancing by one of the three former members. I think the payment of an increase of salary to these people this year is one of the biggest impositions we have had. I am saying this in spite of the fact that it is a good act and was quite well received. 15 minutes in one.
There is material here for a very good act. I don’t think it is particularly well done, and the song they introduce In One at the finish of the act is not only superfluous but suggestive, and after two or three changes of lines, we practically eliminated the whole songs. The act was fairly well received. 18 minutes opens full stage. Closes in one.
Well known team with a new Scotch act which is no better than their former offering. Got lots of laughs but were hardly strong enough for the next to closing position, which they held at the matinee. I would not advise giving them any more money than I am paying them. 13 minutes in one.
This act is rather disappointing. There is nothing particular to commend it in either the sketch or the playing. Moved up to this spot after the matinee. Does no harm on the bill, neither does it amount to anything. 19 minutes. Full Stage.
Two men. Opens in one with a little eccentric dancing, followed to a full stage Chinese set and horizontal bars. Their dancing is fair; their bar work very good. Good opening act. 13 minutes.
I banked very hard on Mr. Morton to give us a lot of laughs, and there again was disappointed. As a matter of fact I think he had a great tendency to let our show drag. He didn’t say one thing that was funny or worthy of a laugh, consequently, he got no laughs. He may be all right in New York, but I think not in any provincial towns.
In “Close Quarters.” A very good sketch, excellently played. Things of this kind mean nothing on a bill unless surrounded by very good comedy – which I thought I was going to get, but didn’t. I don’t want to say that the act is not all right and worth playing. It can not be depended upon to draw any business. 17 minutes full stage.
Here was a very big disappointment. They have a sketch that is fairly well written and Bob Harty plays his smaller of the two parts very well indeed, but Johnny Johnson overdoes his work so much that the whole thing is spoiled. A very inferior offering. 21 minutes in two.
Mr. Kellogg pleased a great many of the audience, and seemed to tire many others sitting around me at the Monday afternoon performance, and others were squirming in their seats Monday night. There is too much talk in his act which does not demonstrate anything. If he could be induced to cut it down fully five minutes, the act would be more pleasing to the audience. I think he has a certain draft, and is worth playing in towns of this kind about one every five years. 23 minutes full stage.
Miss Howard fared only fairly until she got down to her Charlie Chaplin impersonation, which consumed about three minutes of her time and which got her considerable applause. The rest of her work is very mediocre, and “smacks” somewhat of burlesque. Taking into consideration entirely her reception by the audience, she is about worth what I pay her. I am getting her at a special figure, which is $75 less than her regular contract price. I am afraid that those managers who pay her more than I do will be imposed upon. 17 minutes in one.
