This is a “coon” act introducing three women and two men, and certainly made a great hit here this afternoon. The act is dressed very well indeed and possesses considerable merit. It is, however, somewhat coarser than many of the colored acts we have played, but after some suggested changes have been adopted I have no question but that it will be a very good act. It is full of life and keeps the attention of the audience from the start to the finish. 25 minutes, full stage. Can close in one if necessary.
A man and woman in a sketch, the principal feature of which is the man’s imitations, which are very good indeed and are introduced in a somewhat novel manner. The sketch itself is of no particular strength, but the man is quite a good mimic and gets away with the imitations all right. 18 minutes, open full stage, and close in one.
This fellow was born without arms and he does painting while holding the brush in his mouth. Considering his misfortune, he does very good work indeed, and, while I am not exactly clear at to whether the act will be suited for vaudeville or not, he certainly interested our audience this afternoon. I shall want to see him again, however, before deciding as to his adaptability for vaudeville. 18 minutes; can work entirely in two if necessary.
A man and a woman in a comedy sketch. This is one of those acts in which while there is not a great deal of solid merit, it is still nice to hold the interest of the audience for fifteen minutes, and from a three-show-a-day stand point it is all right in an early part of the show. 15 minutes, full stage, and close with about three minutes in one.
Two black face comedians in an eccentric talking, dancing, and grotesque acrobatic specialty. These people do a pretty good act, but they are not really strong enough for the place in which I am obliged to put them this week. They should be on about 8 o’clock, or 8:30 at the latest, but as they open and close their act in one there does not seem to be anything else to do but put them were they are. They do all right, but it would be much better if they could go on elsewhere. 17 minutes, open and close in one.
In “A Blue Grass Widow.” It is, of course, needless to say that Mr. and Mrs. Nobles are as artistic as they ever were. They have a new woman with them this time who plays the third character for the first time this afternoon, but I think she is the best one they have ever had and is perfectly easy in the part. It is an excellent act. 33 minutes, full stage.
A mighty clever eccentric sketch by a man and woman. They do a little singing, a little dancing, a little burlesque act, and some imitations that are really funny. They keep the audience interested every minute they are on. 15 minutes, open full stage, close with about three or four minutes in one if needed.
Comedy juggler. This fellow comes mighty close to being as good as W.C. Fields. In fact he has more original ideas than any performer in his line who I have ever seen. He is not a very great juggler, but he has some very funny novelties in his act that set the audience howling before he does anything at all. 15 minutes, open full stage, close in 4 minutes in one.
A Dutch comedy sketch. The woman of this act does not amount to very much, but the man is quite a clever Dutch comedian. His dialect is especially good, and once in a while he drops into a line of talk in the German language which was always funny, especially here in New York. He also gives a burlesque imitation of an orchestra leader which made quite a hit this afternoon. It is a good act. 18 minutes. Open full stage and close in about three minutes in one.
This is an Indian woman and her partner, a man. The man opens the act with a few tricks of juggling. The woman comes on then dressed in full Indian style and sings an Indian song in English and in the Indian language; then a character song supposed to be sung by the Indians prior to going upon the warpath, and they close with some fairly good work on a couple of banjos. The costume of the woman, and the fact that she is an Indian makes the act somewhat of a novelty, and it is a very acceptable offering. 15 minutes, open in full stage; could close in one if necessary.
