DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, November 28, 1904 - August 28, 1905

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, November 28, 1904 - August 28, 1905

Page 46

(M. J. Keating)

Boston Show, Week of Jan. 9, 1905.

Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1 -- Usual selection of interesting home and foreign views.

Frank H. White and Lew Simmons, 3 shows, 21 min. full stage, or in 1, it is immaterial to them -- Same old blackface comedy sketch they have been doing since minstrel days, "The Band Wagon". White is very funny; Simmons is very bad. They pulled through all right in the 3-show section, but that is their limit.

Wilson and Davis, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1 -- Talking and singing comedians, one in eccentric makeup, the other working straight. Just good enough to pull through in the early 3-show section.

Boston Brothers, 2 shows, 6 min. full stage -- Strong men and equilibrists. Their work is excellent, but not so good from a show point of view as that of Latell brothers, whom we had here a fortnight ago, in the 3-show section, and the amount of time they do, even by stalling it along is ridiculously inadequate. Will not want them again in Boston.

Dora Pelletier, 3 shows, 11 min. in 1 -- This young woman has improved immensely since she was last here, particularly in the matter of costumes, and she is much more valuable than lots of the entertainers in the same line whom we have in the 2-show section. She went as well as on the occasion of her last engagement. 

Harry Rochez's Animals, 2 shows, 15 min. full stage -- This is one of the best animal acts we have ever had here, particularly for the children, and it should have been featured big, but unfortunately I had not seen it in advance and the reports from the other houses were not such as to lead me to enthuse over it as I should have done had I seen it personally. It was the first act on the bill to really arouse the blase Monday audience and it got them to applauding before it had been long under way.

Empire City Quartet, 2 shows, 18 min. in 1 -- This organization of singing comedians scored a big hit, which was rather surprising in view of the fact that the Orphans Comedy four last week proved to be one of the big hits of the show.

Emmett Devoy, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage -- Presenting for the first time here "The Saintly Mr. Billings", a sketch that is coarse all the way through, and is poorly acted. Devoy is not clever enough an actor to play a drunken part well, and at any time this is objectionable on our stage. Do not care if we never see it again.

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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Jan. 9, 1905. Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1 -- Usual selection of interesting home and foreign views. Frank H. White and Lew Simmons, 3 shows, 21 min. full stage, or in 1, it is immaterial to them -- Same old blackface comedy sketch they have been doing since minstrel days, "The Band Wagon". White is very funny; Simmons is very bad. They pulled through all right in the 3-show section, but that is their limit. Wilson and Davis, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1 -- Talking and singing comedians, one in eccentric makeup, the other working straight. Just good enough to pull through in the early 3-show section. Boston Brothers, 2 shows, 6 min. full stage -- Strong men and equilibrists. Their work is excellent, but not so good from a show point of view as that of Latell brothers, whom we had here a fortnight ago, in the 3-show section, and the amount of time they do, even by stalling it along is ridiculously inadequate. Will not want them again in Boston. Dora Pelletier, 3 shows, 11 min. in 1 -- This young woman has improved immensely since she was last here, particularly in the matter of costumes, and she is much more valuable than lots of the entertainers in the same line whom we have in the 2-show section. She went as well as on the occasion of her last engagement. Harry Rochez's Animals, 2 shows, 15 min. full stage -- This is one of the best animal acts we have ever had here, particularly for the children, and it should have been featured big, but unfortunately I had not seen it in advance and the reports from the other houses were not such as to lead me to enthuse over it as I should have done had I seen it personally. It was the first act on the bill to really arouse the blase Monday audience and it got them to applauding before it had been long under way. Empire City Quartet, 2 shows, 18 min. in 1 -- This organization of singing comedians scored a big hit, which was rather surprising in view of the fact that the Orphans Comedy four last week proved to be one of the big hits of the show. Emmett Devoy, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage -- Presenting for the first time here "The Saintly Mr. Billings", a sketch that is coarse all the way through, and is poorly acted. Devoy is not clever enough an actor to play a drunken part well, and at any time this is objectionable on our stage. Do not care if we never see it again.