On at 2.36, 18 min, full stage, special set. Second week of the ‘Monster Mysteryist.’ Duplicated his last week’s hit today. A sure-enough feature for any theatre. His illusions will cause a lot of talk. His wife, Jeanne Fransioli, who works with him, makes a most attractive stage appearance stage appearance, being pretty and graceful and wearing magnificent costumes.
Mental telepathist finishing with her second-sight business. A very good act and especially well presented. They carry their own scene which is, in a way, effective and the act is offered in a showman like manner. The only objection I have to it is it’s great length, 30 min. open full stage, close in 1, 2 shows.
For the money I am paying this act I think this is one of the biggest frosts I ever saw, and if I was not made to take it, I would never have played it. 6 minutes, full stage.
NH 3. Card and coin manipulator. Quite clever in a small way. Not much of a talker. Has some good tricks, but was a bit nervous today. We had to place him here, for in the mix-up we went shy on acts in one. Good three show act. 18 mins. in one.
Mysterious conjurer and burlesque necromancer. 15 min in 3, 3 shows. Two men, one working eccentric, and the other straight. Fairly good for the three-a-day section. None of the sleight-of-hand features were especially new, but the booby disclosing methods brought some scattered laughs. The star trick was to obviously imitation of Goldin who was here last week, and consequently closed the week.
Section 1: FS 33 min. This is a very remarkable woman and her feats are interesting, but this first section does not show anything so sensational as to astound the audience. In fact, the people did not quite understand the nature of her act and it went altogether too slow. She allowed herself to be tied hand and foot and placed in a cabinet where she performed the regulation cabinet stunts. There were some variations, but not enough to make the audience more than passably interested. The question-writing after the act holds the house for about six minutes making the whole section seem to drag. The telepathic work will probably pull up interest, but the audience seems to be in a sort of trance, and the act thus far does not create the enthusiasm we expected. The applause at the finish was only mild and perfunctary. [sic]
Second section: This was much more encouraging. Miss Fay was blindfolded and covered with a sheet directly back of the footlights. She called out the names of thirty or forty people on after the other asking them to hold up the questions they had written on pieces of paper. She read these questions and gave answers to them all without any errors. Some of these are questions relating to money, health, love affairs, and miscellaneous subjects. There was considerable fun in many of her answers and the swiftness of the work was reassuring. Think there is no doubt about her making good as she will have the whole town asking questions before the week is out. As this makes each and every patron of the house a party to the act. The applause following some difficult answers to puzzling questions was strong, as at the finish Miss Fay got quite an ovation. It is parallel matinee performance to that of Hudini [sic] in that the audience does not quite catch on to the interest of the act until toward the close. However, she will be well talked about I am sure and before the close of the week I feel confident she will pack the house.
ON at 2.51, 22 min, full stage; special set, plush hangings. “The Irish Illusionist”. As good a magical act as anybody ever saw for the money. Crane has a pleasing personality and does his legerdemain work very cleverly, particularly his card tricks and his egg trick. He presents three illusions that are all right in every way. There is a rich vein of comedy running through the act. His paraphernalia calls for particular notice, as it is extremely neat and effective. Crane would make good in any bill, and I think that at $250 he is a find, even if he formerly did three shows for $75. This, of course, was without his illusions.
Hypnotists. This act went with a scream, but it is hardly in showman shape yet. He uses about 15 men on the stage, and the comedy is very good. It is an act that will draw us a lot of money, and after a show or two more-will be more compact. I am going to tell him to give the announcer more to do. Would advice managers to try and see it about Wednesday or Thursday. 33 minutes, full stage.
2 men and 3 women. This young man presented an excellent illusion act. He makes an elegant appearance. Pleasing personality. Talks very little and is a rapid worker. All of his illusions are excellent, well executed and leave the audience spell-bound. Some of the illusions were strongly applauded and others were so sensational that the audience are still wondering how he did it. 22 min.
Presenting the European Mystery, “Menetekel” or the “Mystic Ball”. This is one of the cleverest mystic acts we have had. They carry a large board suspended on two ropes which is covered in seven or eight sheets of white paper. The lady picks a colored ball from the table and places it upon the board, and at her command it will write any word that is suggested from the audience. This act is worked in full stage with all lights on and they turn the blackboard all the way around, so that you can see that there is no connection with it whatever. A very good act. 12 minutes.
