This is a pretty good monkey act although not as good as I expected. Monkeys are funny, in any case and these have a little novelty in the Chinese Laundry Scene together with some of the usual monkey tricks. 13 min. full stage, 2 shows.
Three trained Shetland ponies and half a dozen trained collies and fox terriers. There is nothing remarkable about this act. In fact it is inferior to many animal acts we have played. 13 min. F.S.
9 minutes, full stage. Wood. Miss Bradna dresses very well, has nice looking horses and does an act away from all other horse acts that we have played. It is a riding act and something of a novelty to vaudeville.
2 shows, 16 min, full stage. Exhibiting three horses doing a variety of ‘stunts’, including a horse that goes to bed and one that does some high school steps. Started out a little slow, but went very well and closed strong. Should be a good act for the children especially and pleasing to grownups.
30 min, FS. This act has a great many vey good points, but is also lacking in others that are essential. First of all, it is too long, even cut down from 40 min. to 30. Morris and his men do seem to have such a strong hold on the act that the several stunts follow each other with rapidity and dash such as is necessary in an animal act. Palpable imitations of Berzac’s features, notably the revolving table, were also patent. For all that, there are some very good things in this circus feature. The bear on horseback, for instance, and the dogs doing the high-jumps, were strongly applauded. After it has gone through a month or two of hard work and a constant hammering down in time, this will prove one of the best animal acts on the circuit.
First appearance in years. This man has greatly improved. Act consists of ponies drilling, monkey doing a society act on a pony, bear waltzing, dog doing a somersault on pony’s back while galloping. The trained bear is immense. He jumps from a bridge on both sides of the stage to the pony’s back, which is quite novel for an animal of this nature. He also salutes at the command of his trainer, which is quite a scream. His leaping dogs are good, but not as strong as some we have had. The wrestling part of the act was cut out of the account of illness of ‘Banner,’ which he claimed was injured yesterday. The act is good in spots. He introduces an Englishman in eccentric makeup, who does some pretty fair acrobatic stunts with a little comedy sandwiched in between, which seemed to amuse a little. I presume if this man had a large stage with better facilities of handling his ‘props,’ he could do a pretty fair act. Acts of this nature does not appeal to the male portion of the Union Square audience. 21 min.
20 min, FS, close in1. This is one of the very best children’s acts that have to-day, although it did not vary from the work which was done here at the last appearance last September. Every one of their stunts was applauded. Would like to see one such an act on every bill for this house, as it makes good business particularly for a holiday week, and as there is no danger of the Cruelty Society interfering, as has happened before.
This act is one I put on on the spur of the moment, owing to the fact that Girard and Gardner refused to open the show and cancelled. Pope has a very clever dog which is well trained and which made quite a distinct hit. In fact the act proved unexpectedly good and seemed to please every one who saw it. While there is nothing strikingly new about the work, it is all well done and during the presentation it received several merited rounds of applause. 12 minutes C.D.F.
6 trained bears that were about as genuine a frost as anything we have ever had in the house. At the matinee they barely got through and at night they failed to make good in any sense of the term. I have not received the salary for this act yet but if it is very much I fear we are cheated so far as Columbus is concerned. At the finish of the act last night there was not a single ‘hand’ a most remarkable feat for a closing act in this house. They perform a few stunts but none of them seem to excite the slightest interest except where one animal stands on its head after which stunt there was a little half-hearted applause. I thought that perhaps the act was so good that my patrons were nonpulsed with its merit but when I inquired among a few I changed my mind. Rocky Pass 11 minutes.
ON at 10 o’clock, 10 min, full stage. IN many respects the greatest animal act I have ever looked at. I certainly have never seen an act of the kind make such a hit with an audience. Those present this afternoon and evening simply shrieked at the finish. It will be a pity if this act is allowed to escape us for next season. He is in demand, and knows his value and says he will not close a contract until he has been on the Roof several weeks.
