DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 28, 1908 - October 18, 1909

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 28, 1908 - October 18, 1909

Page 11

Boston Show, Week of Dec. 28, 1908. 
Carl D. Lothrop.
(Monday, Dec. 28th--Afternoon Show.)

Overture. 1.30, 8 minutes.
Youna and Wardell. On at least 1.38, 12 minutes full stage, 3 minutes close in one, 15 minutes in all. Man and woman made up in Japanese costume. Man is exceptionally neat and clever juggler, while the woman simply acts as an assistant. A very god act indeed for the money. XX1
The Wood Brothers. On at 1.53, 9 minutes full stage. One of the best flying ring acts I have ever seen. The two men make a fine appearance and do some wonderful work. A great bargain. XX1
The Gleesons and Fred Houlihan. On at 2.02, 12 minutes full stage, 5 minutes close in one, 17 minutes in all. While their costuming is very swell, and their dancing good, they did not seem to get this afternoon's audience until the finish of their act, when Bertha Gleeson's solo dancing scored strongly and helped them to finish well. A dancing act to make a strong hit to-day has to be considerably out of the ordinary. It is possible that they would have done better further down the bill. XX
McConnell and Simpson. On at 2.19, 24 minutes full stage. While this act went very well to-day, still it was not the great big hit that I hoped for. Possibly the fact that Miss McConnell is very hoarse had a whole lot to do with the way they went. It seems to me that 4 to 6 minutes out of this act would help it. XX
Leipzig. On at 2/43, 13 minutes in one. Absolutely the greatest card manipulator I have ever seen. His tricks are simply astonishing. XX1
Willy Pantzer Troupe. On at 3.01, 12 minutes full stage. Repeated the great hit they made last week. XX1
Will Macart. On at 3.13, 15 minutes in one. While Macart can not be classed as a big hit, still he did better to-day than I had dared hoped. I must confess that I was nervous about him. He has a pretty good line of stories and songs, but certainly lacks refinement. XX
Cluade Gillingwater & Co. On at 3.28, 29 minutes full stage. Playing "A Strenuous Rehearsal." The first thing Mr. Gillingwater should do is to cut this sketch down to 20 minutes, for in its present shape the first 15 minutes, yes, almost the first 20 minutes, drag horribly. It is a pretty good skit and very well played, but it is not a headline act, and I am sorry that I had to use it as such. However in this holiday bill, it will probably pull through all right. CC
I consider that we were very fortunate to get these two acts this week, for without them our holiday bill would be a minus quantity and there seemed to be nothing else in sight. XX on the way they worked this afternoon, and I have every reason to believe that they will deserve XX1 the rest of the week.
Kinetograph. On at 4.38. "The American Fleet in Australia," -- A rattling good picture. One of the best we have had this season. "The Doctor's Substitute," which is another name for "The Fake Doctor," a title we do not care for. -- A fair comic.
Cuts. -- Will Macart -- "Gold Blees you," Affinity, "Damned," and the female firemen, or rather, firewomen story. 
Comment. Far from being the show I wanted this week, but half a loaf is better than no bread, and I think we are bound to do business with it anyway. It has one redeeming feature, it is not, particularly expensive. We originally had Laddie Cliff and Jewell's Manikins for this week. It do-sn't take much of a judge to see what a difference they would have made.

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Boston Show, Week of Dec. 28, 1908. Carl D. Lothrop. (Monday, Dec. 28th--Afternoon Show.) Overture. 1.30, 8 minutes. Youna and Wardell. On at least 1.38, 12 minutes full stage, 3 minutes close in one, 15 minutes in all. Man and woman made up in Japanese costume. Man is exceptionally neat and clever juggler, while the woman simply acts as an assistant. A very god act indeed for the money. XX1 The Wood Brothers. On at 1.53, 9 minutes full stage. One of the best flying ring acts I have ever seen. The two men make a fine appearance and do some wonderful work. A great bargain. XX1 The Gleesons and Fred Houlihan. On at 2.02, 12 minutes full stage, 5 minutes close in one, 17 minutes in all. While their costuming is very swell, and their dancing good, they did not seem to get this afternoon's audience until the finish of their act, when Bertha Gleeson's solo dancing scored strongly and helped them to finish well. A dancing act to make a strong hit to-day has to be considerably out of the ordinary. It is possible that they would have done better further down the bill. XX McConnell and Simpson. On at 2.19, 24 minutes full stage. While this act went very well to-day, still it was not the great big hit that I hoped for. Possibly the fact that Miss McConnell is very hoarse had a whole lot to do with the way they went. It seems to me that 4 to 6 minutes out of this act would help it. XX Leipzig. On at 2/43, 13 minutes in one. Absolutely the greatest card manipulator I have ever seen. His tricks are simply astonishing. XX1 Willy Pantzer Troupe. On at 3.01, 12 minutes full stage. Repeated the great hit they made last week. XX1 Will Macart. On at 3.13, 15 minutes in one. While Macart can not be classed as a big hit, still he did better to-day than I had dared hoped. I must confess that I was nervous about him. He has a pretty good line of stories and songs, but certainly lacks refinement. XX Cluade Gillingwater & Co. On at 3.28, 29 minutes full stage. Playing "A Strenuous Rehearsal." The first thing Mr. Gillingwater should do is to cut this sketch down to 20 minutes, for in its present shape the first 15 minutes, yes, almost the first 20 minutes, drag horribly. It is a pretty good skit and very well played, but it is not a headline act, and I am sorry that I had to use it as such. However in this holiday bill, it will probably pull through all right. CC I consider that we were very fortunate to get these two acts this week, for without them our holiday bill would be a minus quantity and there seemed to be nothing else in sight. XX on the way they worked this afternoon, and I have every reason to believe that they will deserve XX1 the rest of the week. Kinetograph. On at 4.38. "The American Fleet in Australia," -- A rattling good picture. One of the best we have had this season. "The Doctor's Substitute," which is another name for "The Fake Doctor," a title we do not care for. -- A fair comic. Cuts. -- Will Macart -- "Gold Blees you," Affinity, "Damned," and the female firemen, or rather, firewomen story. Comment. Far from being the show I wanted this week, but half a loaf is better than no bread, and I think we are bound to do business with it anyway. It has one redeeming feature, it is not, particularly expensive. We originally had Laddie Cliff and Jewell's Manikins for this week. It do-sn't take much of a judge to see what a difference they would have made.