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 163

C. E. BARNS.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    JULY 5-09.
FADETTE ORCHESTRA. 55 min. While this is a very decided innovation, such an auspicious opening for the series of "Pop" concerts augurs well for it. Although the orchestra played fifty-four minutes, giving six numbers and an encore to each number, the audience seemed loath to let Mrs. Nichols retire, and she was compelled to give an extra encore, with five curtain calls. Considering the fact that this is a light house, on a 5th of July, with 200,000 Philadelphians out of town, I consider this a very fine reception. The picture that the orchestra makes at rise of the curtain, is truly enchanting a prepossesses the audience strongly in their favor right from the first. The musicians are admirably drilled and their selections, while high-class, were not over the heads of a Vaudeville audience--quite the right kind of a program for a summer concert. The newspapers have treated this innovation very liberally, and if we only have the right weather conditions, I think we will succeed in entrinching the "Pop" concert idea here as strongly as has been done in Boston. I should say that fifty minutes of this excellent music with a strong patriotic finish, is just about right in point of time and leaves the audience rather anxious for more than otherwise. If this initial performance is a good criterion, I think that the new organization spells "success" all over it, and only a deadly heat-wave can defeat us.
LEO DONNELLY. 13 min. in one. I described this man some months ago as a "Comer," and may now say that he has "arrived." He has a very good line of material and got them strong today following the Fadettes. He has a manly and dominating personality that is not professionally hackneyed, and can do the humorous or pathetic equally well. Perhaps the audience was a little prejudiced in his favor because he is a Philadelphia boy and gave him unstinted applause, but for all of that I believe he could visit any good house twice a year and be sure of a genuine welcome.
SWAN & BAMBARD. 12 min. F.S., close in one. A good summer line of knockabout comedy. Kept the audience in good humor and received generous applause, especially for their work in one.
CROUCH & WELCH: 14 min. F.S. Boy and girl with a pleasing little sketch as far as situation is concerned, including a lot of mighty good dancing and some fairly good humor. The eccentric work at the close got a particularly strong hand. A good act.
THE DAGWELL SISTERS. 14 min. Two very pretty girls who sing historical and patriotic songs with dash and sprightliness, their various costumes of the periods being very fetching. Each number received a good hand and the finish was strong. Ought to please the most critical.
EDWIN HOLT & CO. "The Mayor and the Manicure." 17 min. F.S. This sketch was played here once before by the Lamented Eugene Jepson, but I think that Edwin Holt in some parts of the sketch brings much more of George Ade's humor than Jepson did. At any rate, it thoroughly pleased everybody, and the finish was big. Holt has George Ade's lines at the close. Formerly, the manicurist's last remark to the Mayor was "Will you go to lunch with me?" And he answers "In a minute! Then grabs his hat and goes off stage arm in arm with her. As revised, he answers her, "No, thank you. I had my lunch thirty years ago. There's nothing doing!" And she goes off stage alone. This is the less suggestive of the old sport and more in keeping with a man of a Mayor's position. Closed very big.


Good applause after each selection and a strong finish.
DANKMAR-SCHILLER TROUPE. 14 min. F.S. Same act as presented here before, with some variations, one or two new feats which were very difficult and hazardous in the ground-tumbling line. The acrobats are all young and make a neat appearance. Good closing feature for any bill.
KINETOGRAPH. "The Gendarmes' Horses." A good rapid-fire comedy series.
GENERAL REMARKS. This is a mighty good show from start to finish and is bound to give satisfaction even to the most captious "regular." I think the back of a heat-wave is broken, and if much is the case, we shall certainly do the business with this show.

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C. E. BARNS. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. JULY 5-09. FADETTE ORCHESTRA. 55 min. While this is a very decided innovation, such an auspicious opening for the series of "Pop" concerts augurs well for it. Although the orchestra played fifty-four minutes, giving six numbers and an encore to each number, the audience seemed loath to let Mrs. Nichols retire, and she was compelled to give an extra encore, with five curtain calls. Considering the fact that this is a light house, on a 5th of July, with 200,000 Philadelphians out of town, I consider this a very fine reception. The picture that the orchestra makes at rise of the curtain, is truly enchanting a prepossesses the audience strongly in their favor right from the first. The musicians are admirably drilled and their selections, while high-class, were not over the heads of a Vaudeville audience--quite the right kind of a program for a summer concert. The newspapers have treated this innovation very liberally, and if we only have the right weather conditions, I think we will succeed in entrinching the "Pop" concert idea here as strongly as has been done in Boston. I should say that fifty minutes of this excellent music with a strong patriotic finish, is just about right in point of time and leaves the audience rather anxious for more than otherwise. If this initial performance is a good criterion, I think that the new organization spells "success" all over it, and only a deadly heat-wave can defeat us. LEO DONNELLY. 13 min. in one. I described this man some months ago as a "Comer," and may now say that he has "arrived." He has a very good line of material and got them strong today following the Fadettes. He has a manly and dominating personality that is not professionally hackneyed, and can do the humorous or pathetic equally well. Perhaps the audience was a little prejudiced in his favor because he is a Philadelphia boy and gave him unstinted applause, but for all of that I believe he could visit any good house twice a year and be sure of a genuine welcome. SWAN & BAMBARD. 12 min. F.S., close in one. A good summer line of knockabout comedy. Kept the audience in good humor and received generous applause, especially for their work in one. CROUCH & WELCH: 14 min. F.S. Boy and girl with a pleasing little sketch as far as situation is concerned, including a lot of mighty good dancing and some fairly good humor. The eccentric work at the close got a particularly strong hand. A good act. THE DAGWELL SISTERS. 14 min. Two very pretty girls who sing historical and patriotic songs with dash and sprightliness, their various costumes of the periods being very fetching. Each number received a good hand and the finish was strong. Ought to please the most critical. EDWIN HOLT & CO. "The Mayor and the Manicure." 17 min. F.S. This sketch was played here once before by the Lamented Eugene Jepson, but I think that Edwin Holt in some parts of the sketch brings much more of George Ade's humor than Jepson did. At any rate, it thoroughly pleased everybody, and the finish was big. Holt has George Ade's lines at the close. Formerly, the manicurist's last remark to the Mayor was "Will you go to lunch with me?" And he answers "In a minute! Then grabs his hat and goes off stage arm in arm with her. As revised, he answers her, "No, thank you. I had my lunch thirty years ago. There's nothing doing!" And she goes off stage alone. This is the less suggestive of the old sport and more in keeping with a man of a Mayor's position. Closed very big. Good applause after each selection and a strong finish. DANKMAR-SCHILLER TROUPE. 14 min. F.S. Same act as presented here before, with some variations, one or two new feats which were very difficult and hazardous in the ground-tumbling line. The acrobats are all young and make a neat appearance. Good closing feature for any bill. KINETOGRAPH. "The Gendarmes' Horses." A good rapid-fire comedy series. GENERAL REMARKS. This is a mighty good show from start to finish and is bound to give satisfaction even to the most captious "regular." I think the back of a heat-wave is broken, and if much is the case, we shall certainly do the business with this show.