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 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 1. Time 20. Black face singer and talker. Voice first class. Jokes new and broght [sic]. Everything good with the exception of a serious attempt at pathos which doesn’t work out well in his comedy make-up.
Black face comedian. John is as reliable as he ever was, and in a bad place on the bill and only a few people in the audience he managed to hold his own. I think that he is about one of the surest propositions in the business so far as holding the audience is concerned. I know that he would go strong in a better place on the bill, and he gets a much better place in the night show, but he is so sure of entertaining the people when there is a small house that the temptation to use him at that time is almost irresistible. 12 minutes in one.
Black face comedian in an original monologue. Case has a great deal of the same material that he has used here before, but his peculiar mannerisms and entirely original methods of delivery are always bright and fresh, and he made a distinct hit this afternoon, as he is bound to do everywhere when placed where an audience will sit and listen to him. 20 minutes in one.
16 min. in 1 – Blackface comedian and singer, offering a lot of new material in the matter of jokes and songs. He was somewhat handicapped by the laughs evoked by the act the preceded him, so did not provoke so much hilarity as he would under other circumstances.
29 mins.-C.D.F. in 2; close in one-Two men, blackface comedians, in a sketch, entitles “The Rivals.” Have not made up my mind whether I like Sventnum butter in his monologue, for this sketch did not make the big hit I anticipated. They close the act with the old pill swallowing that McIntyre & Heath do in “The Man from Montana.”
27 min. F.S., close in one. Two men work blackface, the woman straight. Some good coon patter and some fairly clever vocalism. Did a zither and piano duet, and followed with a lot of chaffing nonsense which kept the audience in good humor, the fun being the best part of the act. Closed with a trio that was fair, and some comedy business in one that was very funny.
15 min. in 1—Blackface comedian, who talks amusingly about doctors. With the afternoon audiences he did not make much of a hit until he told screamingly funny burlesques on nursery rhyme stories, which were applauded to the limit. With the regular evening audience, I think he will score a bit all through. Very good act.
15 min. in one. These boys start with one blackface comedian, one working straight. Afterwards the straight man blacks up in view of the audience after singing a very good song. Line of talk is lively. Comedian makes a change of costume in a sheath gown and his partner also makes a change. Good comedy finish. A good act for the spot where it was placed.
