DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, June 13, 1910-February 20, 1911

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, June 13, 1910-February 20, 1911

Page 56

C. E. BARNS.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    SEPT. 26, 1910.
JETER & ROGERS. 8 min. F.S., close in one. Two men, one working straight, the other in tough girl dress. The work in full stage is clever, although not above the average. The finish in one with the eccentric dancing on skates is very clever and won them a good closing hand.
ARMSTRONG & CLARK. 21 min. in one. One man works straight, the other coon comedy. Both have very good voices and their songs are popular. The close in one is particularly good and won them a good finishing hand.
WOODS & WOODS TRIO. 12 min. F.S. This act opens with a little romantic scene which did not particularly impress. However, when the straight wire work was begun there was abundant interest. The wire-walker works straight and his clever partner appears in bell boy costume. The comedy is fair. The best work is done by Miss Ollie Wood who is very pretty and vivacious and works quite like Bird Millman. Finished to a good hand.
WHITE'S FOUR DANCING BUGS. 13 min. in one. This is a local act that has made good here before not on account of the fact that they are known here, but on account of their intrinsic value. Went very well. Open with eccentric costuming and dancing and finished in showy dress.
THE ROLFONIANS. 25 min. F.S. Mr. Rolfe has got what, in my estimation, is the best musical act in vaudeville considered from every standpoint. There was diversity and excellence all through. Rolfe's work on the cornet simply surprised everybody, and is finished and brilliant. He has gathered around him vocalists and instrumentalists of the highest order and he has given them superb stage setting, representing a garden scene of a country estate. The solos, as well as the ensemble work, received well deserved applause, particularly the cornet work of Mr. Rolfe. It held the interest of the audience for twenty-five minutes and then the crowd was loath to let them go and they were made to do an encore.
STUART BARNES. 21 min. in one. Advance applause. A new line of stuff and certainly A1 all the way through. Original and full of humor. Held the interest of the audience for nearly a half hour, everything being well applauded as it well deserved. Went stronger than ever before in this house where he has long been a favorite.
VALERIE BERGERE'S PLAYERS. "What Happened in Room 44." 14 min. F. S. This sketch has been described elsewhere. Held the spot all right and won considerable laughter throughout up to a surprise finish which got a big hand.
WILLIAMS & SCHWARTZ. 13 min. in one. First time together in public, so I understand. Perhaps that is the reason. They go up the bill tonight and the criticism on the act will follow later as I would hesitate to criticize after this afternoon's showing, they feeling as badly about it as we do.
"CHESTERFIELD." 13 min. F.S. A very unusual act in the trained animal line. The horse poses in absolute stillness in extraordinary postures. Each one of the pictures received a good hand. Miss Royal makes a very pretty appearance. An original act.
KINETOGRAPH. "Whale Fishing in Southern Ports." A very interesting film.
GENERAL REMARKS. The early part of the show played very well, but the latter part failed to make good which made the whole thing look rather bad, while the very beautiful act "Chesterfield" should never close the show. With the re-arrangement tonight, closing with the Rolfonians, preceded by Stuart Barnes then Chesterfield, think we will send them out feeling they have got their money's worth which they certainly did not seem to feel this afternoon after the tumble taken by Williams & Schwartz from whom they evidently expected something worth while. These boys made a serious mistake in trying to open in a big house without first getting their act in shape on the small time as was promised by their business manager, Mr. Bentham.


WILLIAMS & SCHWARTZ: (Night show) This afternoon's performance could not be taken as a fair criterion, as the boys were very nervous and did not have their act in proper form. It seemed as if they were trying themselves out, as it were. Tonight, however, they had revised their [method?] and introduced new and more suitable songs, and the result was that in this spot on the bill (No.6 instead of 8), they went very well indeed, holding the spot in good shape, receiving an encore and three curtain-calls.

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C. E. BARNS. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. SEPT. 26, 1910. JETER & ROGERS. 8 min. F.S., close in one. Two men, one working straight, the other in tough girl dress. The work in full stage is clever, although not above the average. The finish in one with the eccentric dancing on skates is very clever and won them a good closing hand. ARMSTRONG & CLARK. 21 min. in one. One man works straight, the other coon comedy. Both have very good voices and their songs are popular. The close in one is particularly good and won them a good finishing hand. WOODS & WOODS TRIO. 12 min. F.S. This act opens with a little romantic scene which did not particularly impress. However, when the straight wire work was begun there was abundant interest. The wire-walker works straight and his clever partner appears in bell boy costume. The comedy is fair. The best work is done by Miss Ollie Wood who is very pretty and vivacious and works quite like Bird Millman. Finished to a good hand. WHITE'S FOUR DANCING BUGS. 13 min. in one. This is a local act that has made good here before not on account of the fact that they are known here, but on account of their intrinsic value. Went very well. Open with eccentric costuming and dancing and finished in showy dress. THE ROLFONIANS. 25 min. F.S. Mr. Rolfe has got what, in my estimation, is the best musical act in vaudeville considered from every standpoint. There was diversity and excellence all through. Rolfe's work on the cornet simply surprised everybody, and is finished and brilliant. He has gathered around him vocalists and instrumentalists of the highest order and he has given them superb stage setting, representing a garden scene of a country estate. The solos, as well as the ensemble work, received well deserved applause, particularly the cornet work of Mr. Rolfe. It held the interest of the audience for twenty-five minutes and then the crowd was loath to let them go and they were made to do an encore. STUART BARNES. 21 min. in one. Advance applause. A new line of stuff and certainly A1 all the way through. Original and full of humor. Held the interest of the audience for nearly a half hour, everything being well applauded as it well deserved. Went stronger than ever before in this house where he has long been a favorite. VALERIE BERGERE'S PLAYERS. "What Happened in Room 44." 14 min. F. S. This sketch has been described elsewhere. Held the spot all right and won considerable laughter throughout up to a surprise finish which got a big hand. WILLIAMS & SCHWARTZ. 13 min. in one. First time together in public, so I understand. Perhaps that is the reason. They go up the bill tonight and the criticism on the act will follow later as I would hesitate to criticize after this afternoon's showing, they feeling as badly about it as we do. "CHESTERFIELD." 13 min. F.S. A very unusual act in the trained animal line. The horse poses in absolute stillness in extraordinary postures. Each one of the pictures received a good hand. Miss Royal makes a very pretty appearance. An original act. KINETOGRAPH. "Whale Fishing in Southern Ports." A very interesting film. GENERAL REMARKS. The early part of the show played very well, but the latter part failed to make good which made the whole thing look rather bad, while the very beautiful act "Chesterfield" should never close the show. With the re-arrangement tonight, closing with the Rolfonians, preceded by Stuart Barnes then Chesterfield, think we will send them out feeling they have got their money's worth which they certainly did not seem to feel this afternoon after the tumble taken by Williams & Schwartz from whom they evidently expected something worth while. These boys made a serious mistake in trying to open in a big house without first getting their act in shape on the small time as was promised by their business manager, Mr. Bentham. WILLIAMS & SCHWARTZ: (Night show) This afternoon's performance could not be taken as a fair criterion, as the boys were very nervous and did not have their act in proper form. It seemed as if they were trying themselves out, as it were. Tonight, however, they had revised their [method?] and introduced new and more suitable songs, and the result was that in this spot on the bill (No.6 instead of 8), they went very well indeed, holding the spot in good shape, receiving an encore and three curtain-calls.