A man and woman in a comedy juggling and dancing act. As a small act, from a three-a-day show standpoint, it is a good turn, but while I was obliged to give them two shows this trip around in order to get them at any reasonable sort of salary, it is not by any means a two show a day act, but is all right in this place on the bill. 10 minutes, full stage.
The dancing violinist. This man does some trick work on a violin which is all right, and closes his act with a violin song and dance which really makes quite a hit. He is the only performer, whom I ever saw attempt this specialty, who could come any where near doing it. 11 minutes in one. NH.
In a regulation talking act. One man in white face, and the other black. These people are reliable at all times, and while it is not at all a great act, they always manage to please, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule. They got a lot of laughs and held their audience closely to the finish (and they were on quite late). 18 minutes in one.
In their sketch entitled “Hester’s Promise.” This sketch is, as it always was, a very artistic bit of work. The woman is neat and dainty, and Bellman himself is a good singer and a fair comedian. The tough dance at the finish is especially strong and closes the act in great shape. 23 minutes, full stage.
These two old time performers seem to have got a new lease of life, and the offering that they gave us this afternoon I consider really better than anything they have ever done. Ward manages to extract a good deal of humor out of his character of the judge, and while Curran’s voice is not as good as it used to be, he still seems to get hold of the audience in a way; and in his characteristic way as two different persons really develops quite a bit of ability. The weakest part of their act is the close in one which they really ought not to do, but as it is very valuable to use we have got to stand for it. 29 minutes, open full stage, close in one. YRR.
A man and woman in a rural comedy sketch, or rather a sketch which introduces a “rube” in the comedy section of it. It is an especially satisfactory offering and makes a big hit. Barry has a great deal of personality and is quite a good singer, and the woman looks neat and feeds him all right. 23 minutes, open full stage, close in one.
A young woman doing a spectacular drapery dance, and I agree with the other houses on the Circuit that she is very poor indeed. If I had got her first, I should have closed her or materially reduced he salary, but she was recommended to me very highly, and the act was booked with the idea that it was quite a big novelty. This only emphasizes the fact that all new acts should open in New York first, and I have endeavored to carry out that idea so far as possible, but once in a while circumstances are such that I have to send them elsewhere, and, of course, the people in the other houses are not thoroughly in touch with the circumstances on Monday and don’t know what to do. The act is not positively bad, but simply mediocre. 10 minutes, full stage.
Crayon sketch artist. This man pays special attention to the comedy end of his work, and attempts but little artistic drawing. As a consequence he gets nearer to his audience than any man in the same line whom I have ever seen. In fact, he makes quite a hit in a very poor place on the bill, and, if I could do so to advantage, I would most certainly shift him down later. 8 minutes in two.
A man and woman in an act which introduces a little dancing, a little singing, and a little acrobatic work. I had been of the opinion that there was considerable instrumental work, but the only thing that he did was his old imitation of a railroad train on a drum, a small accompaniment to his song with the bells, and his playing of the chimes while balancing himself with one hand on the steeple of the church. It can be called a fair act. 17 minutes full stage.
Mr. Thatcher had a lot of new material, the most of it being exceptionally good. He seems to have lost none of his ability to present an act in an original way entirely peculiar to himself, and while he did not go especially strong this afternoon, I agree with Boston that it is about the best act he has given us in the last two or three years. 15 minutes in one.
