Character impersonations. Great men, past and present. This man presents a very nice act. Does the impersonations on the style of Henry Lee without the speeches. His impersonations are good and each one was applauded strongly. Compelled to take two bows on the finish. Excellent three-show act. 9 min – full stage – 3 shows.
This fellow is the champion freak. The Monday afternoon audience landed on him before he was on the stage 5 mon. I am sorry the act is here. It was impossible to keep the boys in the gallery from guying him, and the people in the orchestra seats, did not seem to enjoy it. Drop in one. 9 min.
15 min, in 1. Orchestra accompaniment. This man is certainly a genius, and although features like this are usually dangerous for the reason that unless they are very good, they are worthless for us. This man’s work caught the house with a rush right away, and kept the interest through two beautiful numbers, when he took three curtain calls and finally gave a popular encore with two curtain calls to follow. This is a big thing for a ‘cello player, however brilliant his work. We are billing Van Biene pretty strong and the interest the man has created shows that it is justified. I think that he will bring a good deal of money to the house, and not only that, but many of them not our regular-patrons class. For a holiday week he is particularly valuable to us.
20 min, FS, close in1. This is one of the very best children’s acts that have to-day, although it did not vary from the work which was done here at the last appearance last September. Every one of their stunts was applauded. Would like to see one such an act on every bill for this house, as it makes good business particularly for a holiday week, and as there is no danger of the Cruelty Society interfering, as has happened before.
In ‘Buster Brown’s Burglar.’ 20 min. FS. This act was the limit of human endurance. The child is altogether too young to appear on any stage, to say nothing of an immense house like ours where he was heard halfway across the orchestra floor. This being a holiday week, something much stronger than this feature is necessary, for the child and the rest of the cast would never hold the interest even if the Children’s Society would allow the boy to finish, which is very doubtful, as they are very strict. We were therefore obliged to close this act at once.
10 mins, FS. Novelty acrobatic dancers. Rather disappointing. Girls are not expert, their gowns were very dowdy, and altogether their work was clumsy and entirely below our standard. The laughs they did get were more in the nature of sneers than genuine pleasure. One of them particularly showed amateurishness, scarcely pardonable. This act has been constantly shoved up the bill and if it is not improved, it will fall off the top end.
Opening with a song and dance with the 5 girls in auto costume. They change to 4 girls in gentlemens evening dress with Miss Montrose in an evening gown, in singing and dancing specialty here. Miss Montrose does impersonations of German, Negro and Irish characters. Act closes with the 5 dressed as cowboys doing an inappropriate dancing specialty. Miss Montrose is quite clever. The act is thoroughly all right for this spot on the bill. Garden in 4. 12 min.
Virtuso musicale solo on the Armonipede. After the novelty of the first selection worked off, 7/8 of the audience were reading their programs. There is no doubt that the man works hard, and he is probably an artist for he stills [sic] wears his medals. For an act in one he is much more acceptable than Joe Flynn, but I still doubt the value of the act for this house. He may be good, but I would not care to play the act again for sometime. Drop in one, 12 min.
This man was responsible for the largest advance sale in the history of vaudeville at this theatre. Did not make the great sensation he will tonight and later on when he will do more sensational box trick and straight jacket. However, he made a big stir and is probably the most talked of feature we have ever played. He is a wonderful worker, which is a big part of his success and some big tricks are in store for the remainder of the week. Broke out of prison here today. 23 min, full stage, 2 shows.
In the ‘Sheriff.’ Seen on circuit before. My opinion of this act is the same as last season, – that it is an excellent vehicle but badly acted. Because of the merit of the sketch itself, may be classed as good, although having had it twice now I would not care to play it again. Full stage, own set, 28 min, 2 shows.
