Batty’s Bears. This act was delayed in arriving here, as was noted in my criticism of Monday. Not only did the animals not work well, but some of the paraphernalia was delayed, arriving on Tuesday and Wednesday. Batty went to work and got his act going in good shape so that now we regard it as one of the most interesting childrens’ and womens’ animal features obtainable. Whereas the bears do not do anything that can be regarded as an overwhelming novelty, there is not a dull moment in the act. They turn summersaults, walk on barrels and gloves, do see-saw stunts, dancing, eating and drinking in a very ludicrous manner. The big cinnamon bear is harnessed to a wagon containing little black bears, and gets a big laugh from the women and children as it opens the act. The same big bear totes out a basket containing a little baby bear, whose antics are also very amusing. Considering the difficulty of training these clumsy creatures to do anything but catch a stick and do a street dance, the act is a very creditable one and should make good anywhere between 8 and 9 o’clock.
Trained Animal Feature. 12 min. F.S. Four black bears, one cinnamon and one baby bear. Do the regulation stunts including walking on rolling barrels, turning sommersaults, dancing etc. Nothing particularly new or startling in the act, but will make good. As the animals just arrived they worked slowly, but the audience was considerably interested in this novelty. Good closing hand. This act was due to arrive on steamer “Arcadia” three days ago, but the ship was delayed at Newport News. Came by rail with much paraphernalia missing. The act will pull together all right. Will report on it later this week.
On at 1.38, 15 min, full stage; 3 shows. A very good dog act indeed, particularly when price is considered. It is certainly a bargain at $100, for it could open anybody’s show. The small dogs are well trained and cute, appealing very strongly to the ladies and children.
Galletti, Four Monkeys, One Dog. Garden in 3. Time 18 Minutes. One of the best animal acts ever seen here. The Monkeys are well trained, and their musical specialty on the “organ chimes” is a knockout. The part in which the monkeys become barbers is also very funny. A great act for the children, but it proves amusing for the older people as well. A distinct feature on any bill.
With their Wild and Outlaw Horses. 16 min. F.S. A Typical western cow-boy feature, the best I have ever seen on any stage. The things that are attempted have never been seen except in a large open space. Miss Mulhall is a beautiful girl of the western type, and knows horses and the rope like a true woman of the soil. The act opens with a good baritone solo ,well sung by one of the cow-boys on horseback, getting good hand and encore. Thence follows Miss Mulhall’s exhibition with a trained horse and with the lasso. This is followed by a bronco-busting novelty within a fenced space, which is sufficiently exciting for anybody. The act drags a little in spots, showing a lack of showmanship and that it is not yet been brought down to the movement of a vaudeville feature. When it is, it will certainly be one of the strongest closing acts in the varieties.
This is an act something after the order of Ricken’s Dogs, but in this act there is considerably more comedy and the man does equilibristic work also. In some respects, it is a more satisfactory act than that of Rickens as it doesn’t get the audience’s nerves strained and the comedy relives the other work. 12 min. in 3, 3 shows in this house, although a two a day act.
15 min., FS, 3 shows. This act has been very much improved since the try-out here a couple of months ago. The little girl creates quite a favorable impression. She is pretty and bright. The animal acts are not so expert, as many we have seen here, but the little girl has a very charming personality and is absolutely at home with her pets. Moreover, her dogs, monkeys, etc. seem to have been trained through kindness rather than with the whip. There was frequent applause and a very good hand at the close. For the 3-a-day section this is a ‘find’ – and moreover, has a future.
This act was a disappointment. He has no business getting half the money does. He caries [sic] 5 men, who do little else than run about the stage, and get in each others way. The clown is tiresome. Berzac’s Animal act has this one beaten five miles. The act today was streched [sic] out to thirty minutes, which is altogether too long, and the finish was very weak ——— so week, in fact that there was hardly a ripple of applause. He should discharge four of his men, and cut his salary of $200.00. FS, 30 min.
With dogs and monkeys. This act is somewhat crude, but being presented by a little girl, very nice appearance, it makes an especially good three a day offering, and I should advise playing it in that section over the circuit. Would be all right to open the show in the other houses. 15 min. full stage, 2 shows.
Equestrienne act. She has two excellent horses and is dashing bareback rider quite superior to any of the equestrienne acts played here. Was the hit of the bill. 9 mins. F.S.
