Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1909 — BIG CROWDS WITNESS ARTISTS ON SKATES. [ARTICLE]

BIG CROWDS WITNESS ARTISTS ON SKATES.

Earle Reynolds and Nellie Donegan Give Free Attraction at the Armory—Delighting AlL' Mr. and Mrs. Earle Reynolds, her stage name being Miss Nellie Donegan, gave two delightful roller skating exhibitions at the armory Friday, the first being held in the afternoon and the other in the evening. As frequently related Earle Reynolds was a Rensselaer boy, being the son of Mrs. S. R. Nichols, and his early life was spent in this city, where he was a leading young athlete as base ball player and ice and roller skater. He left Rensselaer when a young man but has been a frequent visitor here since and has maintained his old friends and added many new ones. He has made a brilliant success in the roller skating world and since his marriage to Miss Donegan they have become the greatest team of roller skating artists in the world, and have exhibited at the leading theatres of this country and returned only this week from London, where they performed for ten weeks and five days at the Palace Theatre of Variety, the leading London play house. The friends of Earle had longed to witness their act and they generously consented to accede to their wishes and the two performances were arranged and the armory was crowded to the doors on both occasions. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds appeared in costume and gave their act just as it is given in the theatres, except for the use of the spot lights. The waltzing, the Apache dancing, the soul dance, all features of their own creation, were beautifully executed and round after round of applause followed each special feature. The most dazzling part of the performance was that of Mrs. Reynolds, who imitated a musical top, playing a tune on a mandolin as she revolved on her skates top fashion at a marvelous speed. In the evening Mr. Reynolds sang “Pretty Peggy” in a very pleasing manner, and after the performance Mrs. Reynolds played the piano at the Princess. Her playing was so pleasing that the large audience was reluctant to leave, and had she been willing her performance would have held their attention for hours. As Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds will be at the Majestic theatre the week beginning Sept. 6th, it is probable that many of their friends will attend that theatre again to witness their act in Chicago.