These people surprised me, for the last time they played here I was not especially favorably impressed with their act, but the walked on this afternoon and made quite a pronounced impression. They first sing a medley which I think is about the best constructed thing of the sort I have ever heard. They tell a lot of “gags” and stories in a manner somewhat different from the ordinary talking team, and close with more singing. They made quite a hit this afternoon and are an exceptionally good team. 12 minutes in one.
A couple of colored men in a combination act introducing baton and gun spinning, with a little acrobatic work on the side. I hardly think the audience are able to decide whether they are negroes or Arabs, and they really do about as good gun and baton manipulation as I have ever seen. Their costumes are neat and pretty and the whole act, although short, makes an agreeable offering among the three-show-a-day turns. 8 minutes, full stage.
A young boy and girl in a singing and dancing act. As is the case with nearly all dancers, their singing is pretty tame. Dancing invariably destroys the voice, but they are certainly exceptionally good dancers, and while perhaps not as artistic and dainty of him that impresses the audience. 10 minutes in one.
Character singer and comedian. Tommy is a much better singer than he is a comedian, and barring some rather disagreeable mannerisms he always manages to get away with his song. He tells few stories which, while not especially brilliant, are harmless, and in an unimportant place on the bill does very well indeed. 13 minutes in one.
Japanese juggler and barrel tossing. He is one of the oldest as well as one of the most reliable of the Japanese performers in the business. He can always be depended on to make good in almost any place on the bill. Naturally, we put him on early because he has played the circuit so often, but I have never known him to fail in arousing interest. 17 minutes, full stage.
A man and a woman in a comedy acrobatic act. The man being one of the original Borani Bros., and the woman the female member of the old 3 Nevarros act. The man is not at all offensive, and the woman is as dainty as she ever was when with the original team. It is a very clever act indeed and received a lot of applause. 12 minutes, full stage.
Following McIntyre and Heath, these people had a very hard place on the bill, and as the afternoon audiences commenced to thin out about a quarter after four, it is hardly fair to criticize their act too severely. They have a lot of very good material and created a lot of laughs, and if it were possible for me to put them on about two o’clock they could be credited with a hit. 16 minutes in one.
[They] give their old act, “The Georgia Minstrels.” It is almost superfluous to make any comment on this team, but, if possible, they went stronger this afternoon than they ever did in this house before. They have a lot of new hits to the act and it is unquestionably the funniest black faced specialty before the public. 34 minutes, open full stage and close in one.
Monologue, impersonations, and stories. She went very nicely here this afternoon, but I can easily understand why she would not be very strong in Boston. A New York audience is much more receptive than that of any other city on our circuit. They come here to be amused, and if there is the least glimmer of ability in a performer he or she is bound to reach them before they get through. She was on a little bit late this afternoon, and that is a fault that will be remedied tonight. Aside from that, there was no trouble with the act at all from a New York standpoint, and after I have changed places with her and Chas. Kenna, she will be all right. 17 minutes in one.
For the first time I have been able to get a line on this man’s act, and I can easily understand… Keith booked it. I think it is unquestionably the most attractive magic act that I have ever seen. As it has already been in the other two houses on the circuit it is needless to say that everything he does is novel and original. So far as this house is concerned, he has made a strong impression. Everything that he did was received with strong applause. In my opinion, the only thing that is needed to make it one of the greatest acts in this country is just the method of presentation which Mr. Keith had in mind when he booked the act; that is, that it be done in a thoroughly Oriental fashion from start to finish. The name “Howard Thurston” should be thrown aside entirely, and he should be given some Asiatic title that would be attractive. He should make up in a thoroughly Oriental manner, both as to face and costume, and sink his identity entirely. If he will do this and change one or two small details, it seems to me that he will be able to make almost as good a hit as any artist in his line that has ever appeared in this country. As it is, every act that he did this afternoon was received with a hearty round of applause. As the other houses have said, he is extremely slow in his work and does not put a great deal of life or animation into anything he does, but is her were in an Oriental makeup this fault would not be as nearly apparent and would be accepted as an eccentricity. 16 minutes, full stage.
