These people are doing for me their new act entitled, ‘The Widow’s Third.’ There is a good deal of brightness to it and it is desirable to me at least, because it is new. They only played it one week before this and there is a little crudeness about it and it is somewhat long. When it has been cut down I think it will be a very decent act containing quite a little comedy and some good work besides by the two boys. At present it runs, 27 min full stage, 2 shows. Can probably cut down to 22 min.
Vocalist, and a very good one. She opens in one, with Kiss Waltz, then has a scenic effect in which she comes out on a bridge and sings a song from Robert La Diable. Closing in one again, with a modern ballad. She was something of a hit this afternoon 13 min, open and close in one, 3 shows.
Three girls in a dancing, acrobatic contortion act. They work with a great deal of snap and go, and do some very commendable tricks with a great deal of finish. We have played many an act of a similar nature by men and women in the two day section for much more money that were not nearly as good. Splendid little turn. 9 min, full stage, 3 shows.
Lancaster and company, 2 shows, 20 min, full stage. Presenting for the first time here a comedy sketch, ‘When Georgina was 18,’ which is not such a good vehicle as any of those in which they have appeared during past seasons. Barrows is the whole ‘shooting match,’ and his support does not call for any conspicuous ability. All the roles were satisfactory filled. It sort of flattered out toward the end and only got a complimentary hand, but I think it will go better at night.
2 shows, 20 min, open in 2, close in 1. These men got a round of applause when they appeared but they did not go nearly as strong as on the occasion of their previous engagement. Their new songs are not so ‘catchy’ as those with which they started off a couple of seasons ago, and I think it is largely attributable to the fact that they are aspiring to write a better class of music, something which eventually spoils all ambitious popular songwriters. Notwithstanding, they got a strong ‘hand’ at the finish. Better cut them down to a single week and once per year after this.
3 shows, 19 min, open in full stage, close in 1. This team was made up of a man, working as a ‘rube’ and, woman, working straight and the little girl, who does some character work and dances fairly well. To my mind, it is a good deal of a ‘shine’ act, as none of them are good entertainers, even from a 3-per-day standpoint. If the juvenile was not in it, the older people would be considered at all, and there is too much of that sort of thing vaudeville now. Cut out a nasty invitation from the man to the woman to ‘see him wipe his feet after washing them at home,’ and also reference in a letter from his son coupling Divine Providence with the name of a student, both of which he claimed were passed in New York.
3 shows, 17 min, full stage. Magicians and illusionists. Man and woman, assisted by a stage hand, for whom they carry costume. From a 3-per-day viewpoint, it is a good act, though the young man attempts some ambitious feats may develop, which at the present time lack finish. It does not finish in 1. Cut a knock at the New York Journal, which he said passed in New York. We can not afford to antagonize any newspaper.
Open in one, close full stage, 2 shows, 26 M. W.H. Murphy and Blanche Nichols, assisted by a man and woman, in a comedy, entitled ‘From Zaza to Uncle Tom.’ The act is a burlesque rehearsal, a scream from start to finish, twenty-six minutes of good continuous laughter. The best comedy we have ever had.
Drop in one, 2 shows, 21 mins. Two men, singing and talking, billed as ‘The Singer and the Comedian.’ Gardner does the straight work, while Warner works in blackface. Gardner makes an excellent appearance, has a good delivery and a grand voice, and gives the act a tone of refinement. While Warner impersonates the negro character in great shape, and is an [sic] funny as any we have ever had. Their material is all new and the peduliar [sic] delivery of Warner made up as a Wench, which is a scream. The act is one of the laughing hits of the show.
Full stage, 20 minutes, 3 shows. Man, woman and a little girl in a Yankee comedy sketch, entitled ‘Hank Hoover’s Holiday.’ The woman’s work is only fair, while the man is good. The child’s dancing is excellent, she being the strong hold. There is numerous laughs scattered throughout, and it went good, and I would consider it at the price an excellent act for the 3-a-day section.
