Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1909 — REYNOLDS AND DONEGAN ARE BACK FROM LONDON. [ARTICLE]

REYNOLDS AND DONEGAN ARE BACK FROM LONDON.

Rensselaer Boy and His Wife Made Great Hit In Skating Stunts at the Palace Theatre. Earle Reynolds and his wife, Nellie Donegan, the world’s greatest roller skaters, arrived in Rensselaer Wednesday from their trip to London, England, where for ten weeks and five days they were the leading attraction at the Palace theatre, the leading vaudeville house in England, and wliere they performed their marvelous act before the royalty of Britain. Mr, and Mrs. Reynolds went at once to the home of his mother, Mrs. S. R. Nichols, where they will remain ipatiL Sunday afternoon, when they go to Chicago to be ready for their opening next week at the Majestic theatre. It would be impossible to give much of an idea about the volume of praise that the London and other English newspapers heaped upon this clever team of American artists, and the Era, the leading London theatrical paper, published/ an entire page of clippings from other papers in praise of them, all the critics agreeing that they are one of the best and most pleasing vaudeville team that ever appeared before an English audience. The Graphic is perhaps the leading London paper, and the July 15th issue had this to say of Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds: “The display of dancing on skates given by Reynolds and Donegan is at once the most bewildering and artistic thing of its kind ever seen on the variety stage. It shows a rapture and grace of movement that appeals to one from sheer beauty, and the effect is all the more remarkable when one remembers the quite extraordinary technique and balance necessary to produce such effects. They are as perfectly at home upon their skates as Mme. Genee is in ballet shoes. They have mastered the skate as a great musician will master his instrument, and they exact from it every shade and tone of changing movement.” The season booking of Reynolds and Donegan in this country begins with the Majestic in Chicago, and includes all the leading theatres in the leading cities, and next year they are again to go to London, where they will be for ten weeks at the Palace theatre. They will also skate next year before the king and queen, h&ving already received their summons so to do. During the last year the Prince of Wales was twice in their audience. It will be joyous news to the old friends of Mr. Reynolds to hear that himself and wife have consented to present their act here Friday afternoon between 4 and 5 o’clock, at the armory, and that they will repeat it again Friday night between the hours of 8:45 and 9:40. No admission will be charged, the performance being entirely free. Admission, however, will be limited to the old friends of the Reynolds family and the new friends Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have made during their short visits here. As far as possible these friends are being notified by telephone. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds will appear in costum®, and Mr. Fred Phillips, the music dealer, has offered to place in the armory for the occasion his famous player piano, for which Mr. Reynolds has ordered two classical selections, and the music of itself will be a rare treat. Nellie Donegan will also play, being a talented musician as well as the greatest woman skater. The armory is donated for the occasion by the militia company.