“Mistrelay Up-to-date.” Five girls in white and two men, blackface. Singing, dancing and comedy; 25 min. full stage; went good. The comedy in this act is the only thing to it, as far as singing is concerned there is not a singer in the bunch. I consider this show a very weak one indeed.
While Mr. Deagon has a very good act, it was rather a disappointment to me because of the many serious moments in it. He is trying to do an Albert Chevalier turn. He opens with a straight Ballad, then does a little comedy, mingled with some singing bits, then an old gardner in a very serious song about a little girl, then a little more comedy. There are no big laughs in his act at all, and if anyone is looking for a big laugh in the bill, this is not it. For that reason, I am disappointed. 22 minutes. Opens in one. Does a bit in two. A short close in one.
In a very clever comedy sketch called “Me and Mary,” introducing a little singing. Mr. Swift plays his part very well indeed and is ably assisted by Miss Kelly. The act could easily go down the bill a couple of notches. Worth playing anywhere. 18 minutes full stage. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ACT DOES NOT CLOSE IN ONE, although their agent told me it did.
30 minutes f.s. Special draperies. This is a big, spectacular dancing act with twelve people. We advertised it heavily, and the act went over very strong.
8 minutes f.s. C.D.F. Upside-down dancer. This man dances while standing on his head and walking on his hands. The feature is a dance while suspended upside down from a revolving chandelier. Acceptable opener.
18 minutes f.s. Special set. This is a comedy with music – being in rellity [sic[, “The Taming of the Shrew” modernized and brought up to date. Mr. Jarvis puts his songs over in good shape, and Miss Dare makes a beautiful appearance in two changes of costume. Went over very well.
In “The Meal Hound.” 24 minutes f.s. C.D.F. Short opening in one. Street drop. This is the story of a man-about-town picking up a girl on the street, and inviting her out to dinner, only to discover that she is the wife of his own son, disowned for marrying against father’s wishes. Some of the lines are pretty broad, and the entire story, up to the denouncement, just escapes being improper. Got a lot of laughs, and closed well.
9 min. Three men and two women in a series of showy hand-balancing and perch tricks the understanders balancing on huge balls instead of on the floor, which adds considerable novelty to the offering. In the closing position, the act held plenty of attention and finished to a good handof [sic] applause.
18 min. These two girls were a great big applause hit. All but one of their songs were new and the only old one used was worked up to a big applause hit by Miss Tempest. They finished with a character song in which several impersonations were worked in, and their artistic handling of this number took them off to a round of applause that lasted until they took several bows.
16 min. This was the first appearance in vaudeville of these two well known Philadelphia artistes, one a violinist and the other harpiste. Both have been prominent on the concert stage and claim a large following in musical and social circles in this city. Lacking only the experience needed as a vaudeville offering, they furnished an excellent feature for the local bill and were liberally rewarded.
