Nat Wills
Second and last week. New line of material and all good. Just as strong as last week, and an important headliner for us. Sang an Elks’ song which won him seven encores. A.A.1. anywhere. 23 min in 1.
John F. Clarke
Monologuist and singing Comedian. 15 min in 1. Not as strong as I had expected. Material is chestnutty and songs failed to reach the vital point. Work lacks spontaneity. May pull up later in the week. Can’t expect a Jim Thornton in this spot, stage manager says, but we would like the audience to forget their troubles a little longer and stronger than Clarke made them this afternoon.
Larry Crane & Co.
ON at 2.51, 22 min, full stage; special set, plush hangings. “The Irish Illusionist”. As good a magical act as anybody ever saw for the money. Crane has a pleasing personality and does his legerdemain work very cleverly, particularly his card tricks and his egg trick. He presents three illusions that are all right in every way. There is a rich vein of comedy running through the act. His paraphernalia calls for particular notice, as it is extremely neat and effective. Crane would make good in any bill, and I think that at $250 he is a find, even if he formerly did three shows for $75. This, of course, was without his illusions.
Mlle. Martha
On at 2.07, 11 min, full stage. A corking good single trapeze act. She is very shapely and makes a fine stage appearance. Her trapeze work is above reproach, while her finish on a single rope is much out of the ordinary and won her a lot of applause. Good value for the money paid her.
Harry Burgoyne
On at 1.54, 13 min, in 1; 3 shows. English coster singer, whose work is excellent, particularly his imitation of Chevalier singing “Dear Old Dutch”. I would not hesitate to use him as late as 9.00, if necessity compelled.
Keefe and Pearl
This is a very good act. Keefe is very well known for his yodling which is very fine. Mr. Pearl is a very good harpist, and received several encores in one of the numbers. Comedy in the act does not amount to much. Went very well. 15 minutes in one.
Carnalla and Eddis
These boys do a very good act. Both good acrobats. The comedian is a very clever fellow, and tries very hard to imitate Rice of Rice and Prevost with his falls. There is plenty of good comedy, and about sixth or seventh on any bill they would make good. Went very well. 16 minutes full stage.
Van Den Berg Opera Co.
Presenting a condensed version of “The Mikado”. Cast includes H.W. Tre Denick; John McCloskey; Alexander Clark; John Rogers; Henry Scott; Mae Calder; Lillian Swain; Aimee Ashmore; Minnie Emmett. With one or two exceptions the company is excellent. For the first presentation they did fairly well. Secured quite a number of laughs and some fairly good applause for the singing. While they did not cause any sensation this afternoon I presume it will go better during the balance of the week. 1 hour and 21 minutes full stage.
Enchanted Head
1/m 1/w. Uses cabinet with incandescent lights. This is a sort of black-art act with a woman singing. Wayburn is evidently going backward. The act is just about strong enough to open the show in the continuous houses. 13 minutes full stage
Gillette & MacFarlane
On at 8.53, 19 min, full stage. Could close in 1, for about 2 min, if necessary. At $250 I would O.K. this act without question, but at four hundred I confess a little disappointment. Miss Gillette seems lacking in magnetism and her voice does not compare with MacFarlane’s, so that she seems considerably handicapped by the superior excellence of his voice. I do not wish to give the impression that the act did not make good or will not make good in other houses, for I think anybody is safe in playing it. The costumes worn are very fine, and Miss Gillette’s appearance in tights at the finish certainly does not detract from the act.