This performer got a reception again this afternoon when he came on and seemed to have no difficulty in holding the attention of the audience from the start to the finish of the act. It was a damp and rainy afternoon, and we have a very large house so that it is hardly possible to say whether the business can be attributed to him or not, but he is certainly pleasing them, and it is my impression now that we can easily keep him another week. That, however, we will decide later. 17 minutes, full stage.
A couple of men in a Hebrew comedy talking and singing act. They had a pretty difficult place on the bill following Howard and Burke and Gallagher and Barrett, and while they did pretty well, they did not make much of an impression until they came to the close of their act where they do a Hebrew “cake-walk”, which sent them off in great style. I shall change them to night in the place of Howard and Burke, where I think they will do a very good turn. 12 minutes in one.
The company end of this act is somewhat superfluous, as it consists of a young woman who is evidently the wife of one of the performers and who has scarcely anything to do at all. Gallagher and Barrett, however, are very funny. They do a lot of crazy, nonsensical talk of the sort that always seems to please vaudeville audiences, introducing a little burlesque acting, and closing with some burlesque acrobatic singing which sends them off in great shape. 25 minutes; open full stage and close in one.
These people surprised me, for the last time they played here I was not especially favorably impressed with their act, but the walked on this afternoon and made quite a pronounced impression. They first sing a medley which I think is about the best constructed thing of the sort I have ever heard. They tell a lot of “gags” and stories in a manner somewhat different from the ordinary talking team, and close with more singing. They made quite a hit this afternoon and are an exceptionally good team. 12 minutes in one.
A couple of colored men in a combination act introducing baton and gun spinning, with a little acrobatic work on the side. I hardly think the audience are able to decide whether they are negroes or Arabs, and they really do about as good gun and baton manipulation as I have ever seen. Their costumes are neat and pretty and the whole act, although short, makes an agreeable offering among the three-show-a-day turns. 8 minutes, full stage.
A young boy and girl in a singing and dancing act. As is the case with nearly all dancers, their singing is pretty tame. Dancing invariably destroys the voice, but they are certainly exceptionally good dancers, and while perhaps not as artistic and dainty of him that impresses the audience. 10 minutes in one.
A double act of barrel jumping, and I think it is superior to any act of the kind that I have ever seen, excelling the De Onzo Bros., who are the originators of this sort of work. They made a very nice impression this afternoon and gained the favor of the audience largely on account of the fact that they make no attempt at comedy, going at their work as soon as they come one and keeping at it until their finish. 10 minutes, full stage.
Character singer and comedian. Tommy is a much better singer than he is a comedian, and barring some rather disagreeable mannerisms he always manages to get away with his song. He tells few stories which, while not especially brilliant, are harmless, and in an unimportant place on the bill does very well indeed. 13 minutes in one.
Japanese juggler and barrel tossing. He is one of the oldest as well as one of the most reliable of the Japanese performers in the business. He can always be depended on to make good in almost any place on the bill. Naturally, we put him on early because he has played the circuit so often, but I have never known him to fail in arousing interest. 17 minutes, full stage.
30 min. open in 1, close in 3 – Presenting for the first time here their latest sketch, Dr. “Break-a-bones”, which is only another variation of the comedy work they have been doing for years. At the end of the show, next to the vitagraph, they did not hold our audience so well as might have expected, and it seemed to me that people are growing tired of them. Their act is fully 10 minutes too long, and would go better if that amount of time was cut out of it. They closed pretty flat at the afternoon show, and for the balance of the week I will change them up the bill, to follow the Fadettes, which is about where they belong under conditions.
