DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book,, September 23, 1907 - March 12, 1908

Transcribe
Translate

Keith-Albee managers' report book,, September 23, 1907 - March 12, 1908

Page 8

Boston Show, Week of Sept. 23, 1907. (Monday Sept. 23--Afternoon Show.) (Carl D. Lothrop)
Overture. 1.30, 9 min.
Louis Guertin. On at 1.39, 10 min, full stage, 3 shows. I think that anybody can play this act to good advantage in an early spot. His feats of jumping are interesting and got a lot of applause here today. He is a find at his price. I am paying him $50 this week, but I doubt if he could continue at this salary, as he carries an assistant and considerable paraphernalia. However, it would be a cheap act at $75 or even $100.
The McCarvers. On at 1.49, 11 min, in 1, 3 shows. Colored duo, the woman a very swell looker. Can hold the number two spot almost anywhere, their dancing finish today winning them several recalls and an encore.
Griff. On at 2 o'clock, 10 min full stage, 3 min close in 1; 21 min in all. "The Jestive Juggler". This fellow made a very pronounced hit here today, and I regret that I cannot give him a much better position on the bill, for I feel sure that he could hold it. He got almost innumerable laughs this afternoon. While his juggling tricks do not amount to much, his line of talk and by-play are immense. He tells me that he is only over here for four weeks, but thinks he could set back some of his foreign time if he is offered more time here; however, he is already wise to his worth and says that it has got to be at a better figure than $125. He certainly proved himself superior to many acts that we are paying two hundred to.
Reiff Brothers. On at 2.21, 12 min, in 1. Scored a big hit with their extremely neat dancing: a feature to any bill.
Almont & Dumont. On at 2.33, 14 min full stage, 3 min close in 1; 17 min in all. I consider them the best pair of instrumentalists we have in vaudeville. They play all of their instruments in an artistic manner and get to the audience in fine shape.
Christine La Barraque. On at 2.50, 13 min, full stage. A blind vocalist, whose life story reads like a romance. She is certainly one of the most wonderful blind people in history. She is a college graduate, has also been through a law school and was admitted to the bar in California. Some three years ago she started taking vocal lessons and was sent abroad for two years, where she studied with the best masters. She has a beautiful soprano voice and scored heavily here today. She can be made a feature anywhere, for it is possible to get a great deal of interesting press matter about her, and in addition to that, she makes good. I think she could be secured at a very reasonable price.
Walter C. Kelly. On at 3.03, 22 min, in 1. Happy are we that we retained him for a second week, for he went better today than last week, and was accorded a very warm reception. Has made a number of changes in his monologue. I consider him the equal of any single entertainer in vaudeville today.
[Part of text is hidden by the leaf lying over it. Text continues:]
Griff. Instructed not to have figure he uses hawk and spit. 
"Robinson Crusoe's Isle". Mr. Deely was instructed to omit business with corsets.
Comments. This show turned out much better than I had dared hope. Its fault, to my mind, is the lack of comedy. However, this afternoon's audience apparently enjoyed it greatly. Griff, the Four Baltus, McIntosh and Crusoe's Isle all did much better than I had anticipated.
NOTE.--The Darras Brothers' baggage did not arrive in time for the afternoon show, so we were obliged to go along without them. At the evening show:
Darras Brothers. On at 7.55, 10 min, full stage. One of the Best European acts I have seen this season. They are  great acrobats, doing some wonderful balancing and head-to-hand and hand-to-hand stuff. The younger one of the pair does some remarkable work on the flying trapeze, head stand and neck stands while the trapeze is in full swing. I regret that there was a slight confliction between this act and that of the Four Baltus, some of their tricks being nearly identical. This act can hold any spot on any bill, but I think it would be a mistake to use it as a closing act, for it would lose some of its value.

Saving...

Boston Show, Week of Sept. 23, 1907. (Monday Sept. 23--Afternoon Show.) (Carl D. Lothrop) Overture. 1.30, 9 min. Louis Guertin. On at 1.39, 10 min, full stage, 3 shows. I think that anybody can play this act to good advantage in an early spot. His feats of jumping are interesting and got a lot of applause here today. He is a find at his price. I am paying him $50 this week, but I doubt if he could continue at this salary, as he carries an assistant and considerable paraphernalia. However, it would be a cheap act at $75 or even $100. The McCarvers. On at 1.49, 11 min, in 1, 3 shows. Colored duo, the woman a very swell looker. Can hold the number two spot almost anywhere, their dancing finish today winning them several recalls and an encore. Griff. On at 2 o'clock, 10 min full stage, 3 min close in 1; 21 min in all. "The Jestive Juggler". This fellow made a very pronounced hit here today, and I regret that I cannot give him a much better position on the bill, for I feel sure that he could hold it. He got almost innumerable laughs this afternoon. While his juggling tricks do not amount to much, his line of talk and by-play are immense. He tells me that he is only over here for four weeks, but thinks he could set back some of his foreign time if he is offered more time here; however, he is already wise to his worth and says that it has got to be at a better figure than $125. He certainly proved himself superior to many acts that we are paying two hundred to. Reiff Brothers. On at 2.21, 12 min, in 1. Scored a big hit with their extremely neat dancing: a feature to any bill. Almont & Dumont. On at 2.33, 14 min full stage, 3 min close in 1; 17 min in all. I consider them the best pair of instrumentalists we have in vaudeville. They play all of their instruments in an artistic manner and get to the audience in fine shape. Christine La Barraque. On at 2.50, 13 min, full stage. A blind vocalist, whose life story reads like a romance. She is certainly one of the most wonderful blind people in history. She is a college graduate, has also been through a law school and was admitted to the bar in California. Some three years ago she started taking vocal lessons and was sent abroad for two years, where she studied with the best masters. She has a beautiful soprano voice and scored heavily here today. She can be made a feature anywhere, for it is possible to get a great deal of interesting press matter about her, and in addition to that, she makes good. I think she could be secured at a very reasonable price. Walter C. Kelly. On at 3.03, 22 min, in 1. Happy are we that we retained him for a second week, for he went better today than last week, and was accorded a very warm reception. Has made a number of changes in his monologue. I consider him the equal of any single entertainer in vaudeville today. [Part of text is hidden by the leaf lying over it. Text continues:] Griff. Instructed not to have figure he uses hawk and spit. "Robinson Crusoe's Isle". Mr. Deely was instructed to omit business with corsets. Comments. This show turned out much better than I had dared hope. Its fault, to my mind, is the lack of comedy. However, this afternoon's audience apparently enjoyed it greatly. Griff, the Four Baltus, McIntosh and Crusoe's Isle all did much better than I had anticipated. NOTE.--The Darras Brothers' baggage did not arrive in time for the afternoon show, so we were obliged to go along without them. At the evening show: Darras Brothers. On at 7.55, 10 min, full stage. One of the Best European acts I have seen this season. They are great acrobats, doing some wonderful balancing and head-to-hand and hand-to-hand stuff. The younger one of the pair does some remarkable work on the flying trapeze, head stand and neck stands while the trapeze is in full swing. I regret that there was a slight confliction between this act and that of the Four Baltus, some of their tricks being nearly identical. This act can hold any spot on any bill, but I think it would be a mistake to use it as a closing act, for it would lose some of its value.