DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, February 4-September 9, 1907

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, February 4-September 9, 1907

Page 68

68
UNION SQUARE CRITICISM-------WEEK OF MAR. 25th, 1907. 

BROWN & WEST------Two men. Hebrews. New Comers to Vaudeville. Their talk is rather weak, but they both have good voices and their parodies are up-to-date, and went very well. Fair three show act. 13ALL minutes in one. Act will improve.

ALLEN MUELLER & CO.---Black Art act. Black cyclorama drop with extra footlights. Two clowns with the usual tricks, but very well done and applause was frequent. Pantomime good for the youngsters, altho' the lights were a little off this afternoon. Good value, and especially good, three show act. 16 minutes, full stage.

WARD BROS.---Two young fellows, neat looking, and well dressed in a singing and dancing act. Singing is only a secondary consideration, but their dancing is a "riot", and is sure to be talked about. They went as well, if not better than the Sharp Bros, and is a much more valuable act at the price. 9 minutes in one.

MURPHY, WHITMAN & CO.---Two men and two women in a rural sketch called "Old Friends." Another copy from Poor Herne's plays. Very well acted from a comedy standpoint, and created quite a little laughter. The two men were much better than the women, and while the act is not especially strong it is far above the usual three a day act, and I consider myself lucky in getting three shows out of them. 18 minutes, full stage.

FRANKLYN WALLACE---A very good Tenor who I engaged especially on account of his being able to sing "Poor John" by permission of Vesta Victoria. This man has a beautiful Tenor voice, but failed to score even with "Poor John". I was very much disappointed, but have given him more pointers, and he may go better. 10 minutes in one.

CHINKO---A really good act that got big applause. He has some new juggling rapid-fire tricks that went well, and this act is very neat. He Is assisted by a woman who helps the act. 13 minutes, full stage.

HARRIET SOUTHERONE---Another new comer. Good looking woman who made a big hit. She sang a neat song first and then a coon shouting song "Mr. Brown" finishing with a serio comic song in a very pretty gown. Just as good as single woman turns getting double her salary. 10 minutes in one. 

JACK WHITFORD---An eccentric scotch comedian. Well known on the curcuit who caught the audience from the start. He has a good voice, and like all the Europeans his communication is perfect notwithstanding his Scotch Dialect. It was astonishing that this man went as well with my audience, as his songs are very long, but his personality and neat dancing carried him through all right. His talk at the finish also went well. The first scotch act I have had which no doubt accounted for his hit. 20 minutes in one.

and his touches of pathos are better than usual; without doubt the best thing he has ever written. 24 minutes, full stage.

MURRAY K. HILL---Black-face Monologist. An awfully hard spot, and he fell down somewhat, on account of the terrific preceding acts. Still he has some good stuff that went fairly well. 15 minutes in one. 

MAY BOLEY AND HER POLLY GIRLS---Most likely a great act for the uptown houses, but no good for my house. Miss Boley's opening as a boy with the girls neatly dressed is good, and the dancer who appears (in order to let the rest make a change) got a little applause. The "Babe" finish is one of the silliest affairs I have ever witnessed, and failed to elicit even a semblance of applause. It was an awful "let down" to a great show. The only thing that half saves it was the burlesque of the "Lucia" Sextette, and even that failed to score. 18 minutes, full stage.

KINETOGRAPH---The Billiard Fever. Very funny. Cosmopolitan Dances. Good and pretty film. Mother in Laws Visit. Good Comedy.

Lindsay Morison.

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68 UNION SQUARE CRITICISM-------WEEK OF MAR. 25th, 1907. BROWN & WEST------Two men. Hebrews. New Comers to Vaudeville. Their talk is rather weak, but they both have good voices and their parodies are up-to-date, and went very well. Fair three show act. 13ALL minutes in one. Act will improve. ALLEN MUELLER & CO.---Black Art act. Black cyclorama drop with extra footlights. Two clowns with the usual tricks, but very well done and applause was frequent. Pantomime good for the youngsters, altho' the lights were a little off this afternoon. Good value, and especially good, three show act. 16 minutes, full stage. WARD BROS.---Two young fellows, neat looking, and well dressed in a singing and dancing act. Singing is only a secondary consideration, but their dancing is a "riot", and is sure to be talked about. They went as well, if not better than the Sharp Bros, and is a much more valuable act at the price. 9 minutes in one. MURPHY, WHITMAN & CO.---Two men and two women in a rural sketch called "Old Friends." Another copy from Poor Herne's plays. Very well acted from a comedy standpoint, and created quite a little laughter. The two men were much better than the women, and while the act is not especially strong it is far above the usual three a day act, and I consider myself lucky in getting three shows out of them. 18 minutes, full stage. FRANKLYN WALLACE---A very good Tenor who I engaged especially on account of his being able to sing "Poor John" by permission of Vesta Victoria. This man has a beautiful Tenor voice, but failed to score even with "Poor John". I was very much disappointed, but have given him more pointers, and he may go better. 10 minutes in one. CHINKO---A really good act that got big applause. He has some new juggling rapid-fire tricks that went well, and this act is very neat. He Is assisted by a woman who helps the act. 13 minutes, full stage. HARRIET SOUTHERONE---Another new comer. Good looking woman who made a big hit. She sang a neat song first and then a coon shouting song "Mr. Brown" finishing with a serio comic song in a very pretty gown. Just as good as single woman turns getting double her salary. 10 minutes in one. JACK WHITFORD---An eccentric scotch comedian. Well known on the curcuit who caught the audience from the start. He has a good voice, and like all the Europeans his communication is perfect notwithstanding his Scotch Dialect. It was astonishing that this man went as well with my audience, as his songs are very long, but his personality and neat dancing carried him through all right. His talk at the finish also went well. The first scotch act I have had which no doubt accounted for his hit. 20 minutes in one. and his touches of pathos are better than usual; without doubt the best thing he has ever written. 24 minutes, full stage. MURRAY K. HILL---Black-face Monologist. An awfully hard spot, and he fell down somewhat, on account of the terrific preceding acts. Still he has some good stuff that went fairly well. 15 minutes in one. MAY BOLEY AND HER POLLY GIRLS---Most likely a great act for the uptown houses, but no good for my house. Miss Boley's opening as a boy with the girls neatly dressed is good, and the dancer who appears (in order to let the rest make a change) got a little applause. The "Babe" finish is one of the silliest affairs I have ever witnessed, and failed to elicit even a semblance of applause. It was an awful "let down" to a great show. The only thing that half saves it was the burlesque of the "Lucia" Sextette, and even that failed to score. 18 minutes, full stage. KINETOGRAPH---The Billiard Fever. Very funny. Cosmopolitan Dances. Good and pretty film. Mother in Laws Visit. Good Comedy. Lindsay Morison.