DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 21, 1903 - March 14, 1904

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 21, 1903 - March 14, 1904

Page 65

65
NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9th.
STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 minutes in one.
KR 3--VAN LEER & DUKE.--Man and woman in a comedy sketch, the woman impersonating an Irish servant girl disguised as the mistress of the house and the man playing a sort of foolish man of all work. It isn't very much of an act. The woman has a fairly good heavy voice, and I think might sing a turn of Irish songs very acceptably. The man is not especially funny, and I hardly think it is an act that we care for again any way. 16 minutes; open full stage; close in one if necessary.
AR 3--VON KAMP.--Magician. He does nothing particularly startling, but is still quite clever in what he does. It is a very acceptable three show-a-day act. 15 minutes in one.
GRR 3--ELDORA & NORINE.--Eldora i have always considered an exceptionally clever juggler, and I consider that he has improved his act this time by cutting out the somewhat senseless pattering around on the stage formerly indulged in by Norine, who now makes up straight and simply assists Eldora. It is a useful act at all times. 25 min; full stage; close in one.
GNH. 3--MR. & MRS. HARRY THORNE.--In their old reliable act, "An Up-Town Flat," which apparently will retain its popularity forever for it went as strong this afternoon as I have seen it go in the house. 22 minutes, full stage.
GHR 2--CLIFFORD & BURKE.--Black faced comedians, singing and eccentric dancing. This is a very funny act, one of the partners making up something like Fred Williams, of Williams & Walker, and reminds me a great deal of that performer. The other one makes up straight as a sort of mulatto. They sing two or three good songs, do a little original "gagging," and some very good eccentric dancing. 18 minutes; open in 2 and close in one.
GRR 3--EARL & WILSON.--Musical comedy sketch by a man and a woman; the man does the straight business and the woman the comedy. I was just a little disappointed in this act. From what I had heard on the circuit I expected it to be much stronger, but I can't see that it is any better than it was when it played here before. It is a good, useful 3-show-a-day act, but it seems to me that is about all. 16 min. open full stage and close in one.
YHR 2--POETTINGER'S LADIES SWEDISH QUINTETTE.--This is a rather pretty act by five women. It is one of the foreign acts that Mr. Keith booked while in Europe. They carrying their own setting which represents a sort of valley in Sweden, with a set house on one side of the stage and a few "props" scattered around which gives atmosphere to the act. They sing quite nicely indeed, doing two songs in what I presume is the Swedish language, and then another ("MY Creole Girl") in a sort of broken English, which is quite effective and close with a little dancing. It is not a great act, but still a pleasing one, and as the costumes are somewhat new to the vaudeville stage it makes a very acceptable offering. 18 minutes, full stage.
NRR 2--GEORGE PRIMROSE.--Assisted by the Foley Twins. Naturally, this was the strong feature of the bill. I agree with the other houses that done by anybody else the act would not be worth over $150.00, although there is no disputing the fact that both Primrose and his proteges are about as graceful dancers as we have ever had. The feature of the act, and which appealed especially to the older people, is the double clog dancing by the Foley boys, which is reminiscent of the palmy days of minstrelsy, and made a big hit here this afternoon. They took two or three curtain calls, and still the audience wanted them again, and I guess there is no question but that considered from the present condition of vaudeville the act is worth what we are paying for it. 20 minutes, full stage.

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65 NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9th. STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 minutes in one. KR 3--VAN LEER & DUKE.--Man and woman in a comedy sketch, the woman impersonating an Irish servant girl disguised as the mistress of the house and the man playing a sort of foolish man of all work. It isn't very much of an act. The woman has a fairly good heavy voice, and I think might sing a turn of Irish songs very acceptably. The man is not especially funny, and I hardly think it is an act that we care for again any way. 16 minutes; open full stage; close in one if necessary. AR 3--VON KAMP.--Magician. He does nothing particularly startling, but is still quite clever in what he does. It is a very acceptable three show-a-day act. 15 minutes in one. GRR 3--ELDORA & NORINE.--Eldora i have always considered an exceptionally clever juggler, and I consider that he has improved his act this time by cutting out the somewhat senseless pattering around on the stage formerly indulged in by Norine, who now makes up straight and simply assists Eldora. It is a useful act at all times. 25 min; full stage; close in one. GNH. 3--MR. & MRS. HARRY THORNE.--In their old reliable act, "An Up-Town Flat," which apparently will retain its popularity forever for it went as strong this afternoon as I have seen it go in the house. 22 minutes, full stage. GHR 2--CLIFFORD & BURKE.--Black faced comedians, singing and eccentric dancing. This is a very funny act, one of the partners making up something like Fred Williams, of Williams & Walker, and reminds me a great deal of that performer. The other one makes up straight as a sort of mulatto. They sing two or three good songs, do a little original "gagging," and some very good eccentric dancing. 18 minutes; open in 2 and close in one. GRR 3--EARL & WILSON.--Musical comedy sketch by a man and a woman; the man does the straight business and the woman the comedy. I was just a little disappointed in this act. From what I had heard on the circuit I expected it to be much stronger, but I can't see that it is any better than it was when it played here before. It is a good, useful 3-show-a-day act, but it seems to me that is about all. 16 min. open full stage and close in one. YHR 2--POETTINGER'S LADIES SWEDISH QUINTETTE.--This is a rather pretty act by five women. It is one of the foreign acts that Mr. Keith booked while in Europe. They carrying their own setting which represents a sort of valley in Sweden, with a set house on one side of the stage and a few "props" scattered around which gives atmosphere to the act. They sing quite nicely indeed, doing two songs in what I presume is the Swedish language, and then another ("MY Creole Girl") in a sort of broken English, which is quite effective and close with a little dancing. It is not a great act, but still a pleasing one, and as the costumes are somewhat new to the vaudeville stage it makes a very acceptable offering. 18 minutes, full stage. NRR 2--GEORGE PRIMROSE.--Assisted by the Foley Twins. Naturally, this was the strong feature of the bill. I agree with the other houses that done by anybody else the act would not be worth over $150.00, although there is no disputing the fact that both Primrose and his proteges are about as graceful dancers as we have ever had. The feature of the act, and which appealed especially to the older people, is the double clog dancing by the Foley boys, which is reminiscent of the palmy days of minstrelsy, and made a big hit here this afternoon. They took two or three curtain calls, and still the audience wanted them again, and I guess there is no question but that considered from the present condition of vaudeville the act is worth what we are paying for it. 20 minutes, full stage.