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Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 9-December 14, 1908

Page 43

43.
APRIL 6, 1908.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    C.E. BARNS.
HARLEM BROTHERS, Comedy acro:- 10 min. F.S. On at 7:20. This act makes a good opener. One works straight and the other tramp comedy. The comedy is a little coarse at times, but the action is swift and the athletic work is above the ordinary, including some contortion, musket-juggling and ground-rumbling. The closing feat,- that of turning fifteen somercaults on an electronically illinuminated table-- got good closing hand
LEONARD & DRAKE, S. & T.:- 12 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:37. This act includes some nonsensical chatter and some songs through which are interspersed imitations of dogs, cats, chickens, etc. The act seemed to please quite well and holds an early spot.
FIVE MUSICAL MAC LARENS:- 16 min. F.S. Close in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:49. This act is well worth watching. Four young girls, the smallest a mere child) and one man. Instruments include brass and wind, with the little girl at the drums,- xylophone and some vocal and dancing. Were a little nervous to-day, but that is because it is a local act and they were over-anxious to make good. Got a fine hand all the way through and good applause at the close, with three curtain calls. The act is superbly dressed and will, I believe, develop into a very valuable Vaudeville act of the Cutty's class.
"MOTORING", Harry Tate's:- 17 min. F.S. On at 8:05. Same as presented here before, only even more uproarously funny. In fact, it was a scream right up to a big finish. An act that wears very well.
WALT MC DOUGALL, "Dean of American Cartoonists":- 23 min. in 1. On at 8:22. An immense advance hand, owing to his extraordinary popularity here. Was a little nervous in the afternoon so that the act ran too long and at times seemed slow. Worked much smoother at night. Walt drew very striking pictures of the evolution of the female figure from 1930 to the present time, and interspersed some bright remarks. If this man wanted to go into this sort of business as strong as Outcault or McKay, he would undoubtedly succeed, as he has all the requirements. The artist work is excellent, and each drawing got strong hand. Finished big, with encore, drawing a comic. This debut has all the ear-marks of a success, and as he is a local favorite and immensely popular here, should draw a good deal of money to the house this week.
MILES-STAVORDALE QUINTETTE, Banjos & Harp:- 14 min. in 1. On at 8:45? Advance hand. Four banjos and a harp. All are finished musicians. Their work is not especially brilliant and spirited, as they cling to the old melodies and believe in soft concert tones; but the audience liked them and gave each number good applause. Closed fairly well.
MR. & MRS. JIMMY BARRY, "At Hensfoot corner":- 21 min. F.S. On at 8:59. Advance hand. This act has no plot nor coherence, and merely gives an opportunity for Barry to take his part of the Rube who has been to New York and tells of all his experiences. The lines are bright and the hits bring good many laughs and some applause. Barry's final parody on "Marching Through Georgia" got good applause, and the finishing song won a strong hand and four curtain calls.


and admirable from photographic standpoint.
THE NOHRENS, Trapezists:- 10 min. F.S. On at 6:56. This is a very showy double trapeze act. Would make a good opener for smaller houses. Neither one of them is a prize beauty, but their work is expert of the regulation kind and well costumed. Received good hand.
COURTNEY & DUNN, S. & D.:- 14 min. in 1. On at 7:06. Two little soubrettes who are of the conventional sort doing an acceptable song and dance act, together with some contortion work, which received fair hand.
GENERAL REMARKS:-
This show as re-arranged in point of sequence, is excellent. As usual the papers seem to be divided on the questions of hits; some confirming that it is WALT MC DOUGALL, others FERNANDEZ, and still others that it is EDNA LUBY. The public seemes to take very strong to GEORGE EVANS although the press did not give much space to him. There was nothing that fell down, in-as-much as JIM MORTON was substituted by GEORGE EVANS and Lee Tung Foo cancelled, a shift was necessary.

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43. APRIL 6, 1908. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C.E. BARNS. HARLEM BROTHERS, Comedy acro:- 10 min. F.S. On at 7:20. This act makes a good opener. One works straight and the other tramp comedy. The comedy is a little coarse at times, but the action is swift and the athletic work is above the ordinary, including some contortion, musket-juggling and ground-rumbling. The closing feat,- that of turning fifteen somercaults on an electronically illinuminated table-- got good closing hand LEONARD & DRAKE, S. & T.:- 12 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:37. This act includes some nonsensical chatter and some songs through which are interspersed imitations of dogs, cats, chickens, etc. The act seemed to please quite well and holds an early spot. FIVE MUSICAL MAC LARENS:- 16 min. F.S. Close in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:49. This act is well worth watching. Four young girls, the smallest a mere child) and one man. Instruments include brass and wind, with the little girl at the drums,- xylophone and some vocal and dancing. Were a little nervous to-day, but that is because it is a local act and they were over-anxious to make good. Got a fine hand all the way through and good applause at the close, with three curtain calls. The act is superbly dressed and will, I believe, develop into a very valuable Vaudeville act of the Cutty's class. "MOTORING", Harry Tate's:- 17 min. F.S. On at 8:05. Same as presented here before, only even more uproarously funny. In fact, it was a scream right up to a big finish. An act that wears very well. WALT MC DOUGALL, "Dean of American Cartoonists":- 23 min. in 1. On at 8:22. An immense advance hand, owing to his extraordinary popularity here. Was a little nervous in the afternoon so that the act ran too long and at times seemed slow. Worked much smoother at night. Walt drew very striking pictures of the evolution of the female figure from 1930 to the present time, and interspersed some bright remarks. If this man wanted to go into this sort of business as strong as Outcault or McKay, he would undoubtedly succeed, as he has all the requirements. The artist work is excellent, and each drawing got strong hand. Finished big, with encore, drawing a comic. This debut has all the ear-marks of a success, and as he is a local favorite and immensely popular here, should draw a good deal of money to the house this week. MILES-STAVORDALE QUINTETTE, Banjos & Harp:- 14 min. in 1. On at 8:45? Advance hand. Four banjos and a harp. All are finished musicians. Their work is not especially brilliant and spirited, as they cling to the old melodies and believe in soft concert tones; but the audience liked them and gave each number good applause. Closed fairly well. MR. & MRS. JIMMY BARRY, "At Hensfoot corner":- 21 min. F.S. On at 8:59. Advance hand. This act has no plot nor coherence, and merely gives an opportunity for Barry to take his part of the Rube who has been to New York and tells of all his experiences. The lines are bright and the hits bring good many laughs and some applause. Barry's final parody on "Marching Through Georgia" got good applause, and the finishing song won a strong hand and four curtain calls. and admirable from photographic standpoint. THE NOHRENS, Trapezists:- 10 min. F.S. On at 6:56. This is a very showy double trapeze act. Would make a good opener for smaller houses. Neither one of them is a prize beauty, but their work is expert of the regulation kind and well costumed. Received good hand. COURTNEY & DUNN, S. & D.:- 14 min. in 1. On at 7:06. Two little soubrettes who are of the conventional sort doing an acceptable song and dance act, together with some contortion work, which received fair hand. GENERAL REMARKS:- This show as re-arranged in point of sequence, is excellent. As usual the papers seem to be divided on the questions of hits; some confirming that it is WALT MC DOUGALL, others FERNANDEZ, and still others that it is EDNA LUBY. The public seemes to take very strong to GEORGE EVANS although the press did not give much space to him. There was nothing that fell down, in-as-much as JIM MORTON was substituted by GEORGE EVANS and Lee Tung Foo cancelled, a shift was necessary.