Blind pianist and vocalist. Of course there is a large amount of sympathy felt for this fellow; still, he has a very good baritone voice, and, I think, would make good even if he were not blind. He always goes very well indeed in this house. 9 minutes, open in two and close in one.
Black face comedian. This is a performer whom I have never been able to see personally, but as it is evident that no one else agrees with me I presume that I must be in the wrong. I have not played him for a couple of years solely because I cant see where he amounts to anything, and I felt the audience, the last time he was over the circuit, felt the same way. I heard of the big success he was making in the West, however, and took a chance of booking him, and it is evident that he has made a strong impression in all the other houses and he went very nicely here this afternoon; so that is about all we care to know about him. 20 minutes in one.
Introducing her statue horse in a series of pictures. The act went fully as strong, if not stronger than last week and somehow seemed to look better. This may be on account of the horses having become more familiar with his surroundings, but he seemed to hold his poses better this afternoon than he did last week. There is still considerable room for improvement in the stage settings, but everything has been done that could be except getting him a new outfit, which, of course, is out of the question for he would not pay for it. I feel, however, that we are noticing her discrepancies much more closely than the audience. 10 minutes, full stage.
KR 3 – Two colored men appearing for the first time on the circuit. They are very good indeed. They have got quite a bit of original material and they know how to do it. They had a very hard place on the bill, but they made good to the fullest extent. 20 minutes in one.
GHR 2 – Two attractive appearing young women who do a remarkably clever musical act. One of the women was formerly of the team of “The Tobins”, the male member of which died in Australia, and the other one is the wife of Harrigan the juggler. They have put together a very good act; in fact, as a straight musical act I don’t know of anything that has gone any better in this house with the exception of Musical Dale and Lillie Western. 19 minutes, open full stage and close with about three minutes in one.
YRR 2 – Black face comedians in an eccent[ric] comedy and acrobatic at, closing with the supposedly invisible wire which used in this connection always seem good for a laugh. They were very strong here this afternoon, their finish especially making a big hit. 14 minutes, open full stage and close in one.
GRR 3 – A man and a woman in a comedy sketch; the man impersonating a bell-boy and the woman a guest of a hotel. Purcell was formerly of the team of Purcell & Maynard, and he is a clever little performer. The woman does not amount to very much, except as a feeder for him, and she does that well enough to be acceptable. 15 minutes, full stage; close with about 3 minutes in one.
HR 3 – With his collection of card tricks; some of the things that he does are a little sort of the marvelous, and it has always seemed to me that he never seemed to get all out of them that he ought to do. However, he went quite strong with the audience, and it is a first-class act. 19 minutes in one.
NH 3 – These are the same poodles formerly worked by Ed Doherty, who died about a year ago. They are now handed by his widow, and they somehow seemed to me to go much better this afternoon than I ever saw them before even when Doherty was handling them himself. They obey her perfectly, and being so diminutive they appeal especially to the ladies and the children, and, taken as a whole, it was a very acceptable act. 16 minutes, full stage.
GRR 3 – Two men and a young woman in a little singing sketch called “A Japanese Honeymoon.” They have a very pretty stage setting indeed. One of the members has a fairly good voice, and judged from the standpoint of a three-show-a-day act it is all right, …a much better place than third or fourth on the bill. 24 minutes, full stage.
