2 shows, 12 min in 1. Tenor vocalist, formerly of the Bostonians. Received a little applause when he made his appearance. All his numbers encored. This was rather remarkable, as holiday amusement-seekers do not, as a rule, take to this class of entertainment. With our regular audiences, he will score a hit. He is in wonderfully good voice.
2 shows, 23 min, full stage. First time here for this act, which is one of the best in its particular line that we have ever played. The funny situations all through is decidedly novel, and Gardner’s eccentric dancing and acrobatic tumbling is great. The double dancing at the finish, in which they either jumped or fell over every object on the stage, and then disappeared through a window constitutes one of the best finishes I have ever seen, and the audience wanted them to do it all over again.
2 shows, 14 min, full stage. First time here for this act, which is easily the best of tis class we have ever played. The woman is handsome, the equines magnificent specimens of horse flesh, in splendid condition and well trained. The act given here is only one of three which they can do, and I would favor their rebooking at once (as they are to remain in the country, playing parks, during the summer) and placing them two weeks in each of the large houses, with a change of act each week.
3 shows, 20 min, full stage. Two men and a woman; one man works in blackface and is a good comedian; the other man appears in Shakespearian costumes and is a clever burlesquer; Miss Tutain still retains much of her charm, and fills in the sketch acceptably. Scored one of the laughing hits of the show with the holiday crowd.
These people made good. I don’t know why, unless because they had a little of every act in the business, and were bound to get some good things from their general pilfering. Personally, I think it a very tough act and I doubt if when we get away from the holiday audiences that they will make good, 15 min, open full stage about three min in one, 2 shows.
In burlesque illustrated songs and some straight singing and dancing. This act would be all right if placed a little earlier on the bill but in order to balance the show and get my sets right I am obliged to put them where they are, and which place they are hardly able to hold down. They went quite well however without making much of a hit. 17 min, open with 6 min in one, and full stage with about 2 min in one, for the close, 2 shows.
Burlesque musical act. This is one of those old fashioned English acts in which the man makes up with large ears and nose, illuminated by electric lights. It is all right for the children but the music in it amounts to nothing at all. At about $60.00 the act would be all right. 1 min, full stage, can close in one, 3 shows.
Bag punchers. Bag punching by men is not attractive enough to put on as an act, at least in this house. When done by a woman or a boy there is something of a novelty to it; but when two great big husky men get up an [sic] punch a poor little bag for about six minutes it strikes me as little short of ridiculous when they do no more meritorious work than these two men do. The only thing in the act that might be of worth is to fill time and six minutes don’t amount to much. Can’t say that I could call the act even fair from the above reasons. 6 min, full stage, 3 shows.
Two young ladies who do one of the best acrobatic acts that we have had in years. They dress well and are very graceful in their movements. They perform many difficult tricks and have wonderful muscular power. The head balancing is really extraordinary. A good act. Full stage, 7 min.
It rather seemed to me this afternoon as though this act was going back a little. They had a hard place on the bill and were doubtless rather nervous and uneasy on that account, but they certainly did not show the same amount of spirit and unction that has heretofore distinguished them. They are all three clever musicians and Tenney, as we all know, is a good comedian. I hope that with a little rearrangement of the bill we can give them a place which will make them more at ease. 19 min, open full stage, and close in one.
