Kid juggler: this is really one of the best opening acts that we have had in many a day. This young fellow makes up as a “rube” kid, and while his actual juggling is only about the same as the ordinary performer in this line, he is so good-natured about his work that he wins the audience from the start, and he makes a lot of fun by having people in the audience throw apples which he catches on a fork. An exceptionally good3-show-a day act. 12 minutes; full stage; close in 1.
a child who sings rag-time and indulges in toe-dancing; toe-dancing is fair, but she should get another set of songs – nothing very offensive, but she sings a “drunk” song which is not very appropriate for a child of her age.
‘Just Kids.’ 20 min, FS, close in 1. 2 shows. These are two mighty clever children. Opens their act with a little scene in a parlor where two kids are left alone by their parents. They proceed to amuse themselves by dressing up and giving imitations of well known stage celebrities. The imitations are remarkably well given considering the age of the children. The boy is particularly clever with his sprightly dancing. Got strong hand through out and closed big. These little people have a great future.
Boy Vocalist. This is the boy whom John D. Rockefeller became interested after hearing him sing in his church here. Mr. Rockefeller wanted to send the boy away and give him a musical education. The boys mother was obstinate, and would not let him go. He has an excellent voice – a very high tenor, and can use it to good advantage. I put him in place of Louise Dresser. He went exceptionally well, and received a great deal of applause. This is a mighty good act for the circuit for $60.00 and 3 shows to start on. It is a new face, and the boy is sure to make good. 12 min. drop in one.
Boy pianist. The boy is really remarkable for his execution, but he reaches the two extremes in his selections. They are too severely classical and his encore to [sic] cheap and trashy. I tried to have him make some changes, but had nothing else prepared. However it is a first class act. Care should be taken to secure, before his arrival, a Grand Piano, tuned exactly with the orchestra. For want of that knowledge I had considerable trouble this morning. 15 min. in 1, 2 shows.
20 min, FS, 3 shows. Very pprecocious [sic] child and soubrette assistant. Comes on stage in a very fetching costume which he changes to a tramp make-up in view of the audience. Some of the boy’s singing is good and got some applause. The woman’s singing is very bad, so bad as to be almost burlesque. The spoken lines are not quite up to the standard and the act is too long. Could not be heard distinctly from the rear rows. Cut talking to audience, ‘Shlitz’ in pants,’ ‘Hunter Rye,’ ‘Kicking stuffing out of Englishmen’ and ‘Baby Mine.’
In ‘Buster Brown’s Burglar.’ 20 min. FS. This act was the limit of human endurance. The child is altogether too young to appear on any stage, to say nothing of an immense house like ours where he was heard halfway across the orchestra floor. This being a holiday week, something much stronger than this feature is necessary, for the child and the rest of the cast would never hold the interest even if the Children’s Society would allow the boy to finish, which is very doubtful, as they are very strict. We were therefore obliged to close this act at once.
Including “Buster”. Repeating the same old act which is well known on the circuit. We have had some trouble here in regard to the 14 year child law, so had Mr Keaton go very easy in throwing “Buster” around the stage. Act went pretty good in this spot. 16 minutes full stage. Close in one 11 minutes. The extra time in one was done in order to give us plenty of time to set the Sleede’s Pantomime Co. Will cut this down to about 4 minutes.
This is a little Buffalo boy who sings coon songs quite well and whom we had to press into service on Tuesday in order to set the show, as the National Trio was so bad that we cancelled them after the first performance. There was no apparent reason for the National Trio being on the stage although they had a lot of scenery and tried to give a picturesque act, and the audience were going out asking where the joke came in. Little Dave is on for 6 minutes and does fairly well.
This is a young girl about fifteen years old who sings four songs. She has an ordinary voice, pleasing stage presence and dresses exceptionally well. 13 mins. in one.
