Herbert had hard luck yesterday, and on account of accidents did not reach here in time for the afternoon show. Put part of his act on the supper show, and his whole act at night. Did his full act this afternoon, which was received with frequent applause and laughter. His loop-the-loop dog much better than when here before, and made quite a hit. Mighty good act. 14 mins. Housed Gar. In 4.
Lydia Knott, supported by Lavern Titus, Chas. Kenyon and DeWitt Newing in Edward E. Rose’s sketch, ‘A Wall St. Battle.’ Yesterday was the first production of this sketch on any stage, and while it did not arouse much enthusiasm, at the same time it pleased mildly, and should work out into a good vehicle in time. The first part drags badly being too tacky. The comedy introduced by Newing is fair and bad in spots. The last ten minutes of the sketch is quite dramatic, but none of the company plays up to it. The story has to do with the endeavors of one broker to win the wife and fortune of his partner, in which he is foiled by the wife and the office boy. Miss Knott has a very pleasing stage presence, and is quite clever, but up to the present time has been unable to portray the part spiritedly enough or as it should be played. The cast is fair, Newing doing rather the best work. The sketch needs more or less pruning, but should develop into a good vehicle for vaudeville with the proper people, it having a strong finish.
This young lady is a local girl who made quite a hit this summer singing on the Steel Pier at Atlantic City. She has a good face and figure, good stage presence, and dresses modestly and becomingly. She has an exceptionally good soprano voice, and with a good selection of songs, made quite a hit. She is on the order of Marion Garson, and in the eyes of the audience full as good. As I think she could be secured for a nominal salary, I think she would make a good act in one for any house on the circuit. 12 min. Olio 1.
Whirlwind dancers. Man and woman. They open with a song which is rather bad, as neither can sing. Their dancing is very good, and aroused some applause. The woman is much too large for this sort of work, and was considered vulgar by many of the ladies in our audience. In fact the female patrons commented so much on this phase of the act, that I would not care to play it again. 12 mins. Gar in 3.
The company consists of Fred. Lennox, Mabel Spencer & Hayes Hunter, presenting Geo. Ade’s Comedy ‘On His Uppers.’ Fred. Lennox is clever. Mabel Spencer looks pretty and that lets her out, as her delivery is bad. The act depends solely on the lines and consists of race track talk, which was a little bit over heads of the holiday crowd here to-day, although even with a bright audience I fail to see big success with this comedy. The act receives some strong laughs, although scattered, some of the lines are a dead steal. Eighteen minutes, full stage, two shows.
Man and woman, colored. Talking, singing and dancing. The woman has an excellent voice, clear with great volume and scored big with her singing. The man received some laughs for his eccentric dancing. The act is alright for an early place. Sixteen minutes in one, three shows.
In the comedy ‘The Tramp’s Mistake.’ Not a bad opening act. The woman has a fair voice, makes a good appearance, and does some neat toe dancing. The man portrays the character of a neat tramp and received a big lot of applause for his parodies. Sixteen minutes full stage, three shows.
2 shows, 15 min. in 1. ‘Real Coon’ singers and dancers. As usual, with these colored teams, the woman does not amount to much, although in this case, she is a little above the average, but the man’s dancing carries the act and it was one of the applause hits of the show.
2 shows, 15 min. open full stage, close in 1. Two pretty and becomingly costumed young women playing banjos, xylophones, trombones, bamboo bells, etc. They did not seem to appreciate these people until their bamboo bell playing and then they caught them and went off to big applause. I think during the balance of the week they will show great improvement.
2 shows, 17 min. in 1. Blackface monologue comedian, parody singer and musician. The principal merit of the act is the parodies which went tremendously with the holiday audience. His monologue is fairly bright and his musical work funny. One of the applause hits of the show, although I hardly think, with our everyday audience, he will keep it up.
