DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

Page 208

(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Wee of Mar 9, 1903.

Stereopticon,15 min. in 1--Usual collection of views.
Roger Imhof and Hugh Conn, 14 min. full stage--In "The Man from Klondike", which is not nearly so well played as when it was last done here.
Keith's Orchestra, 11 min. --Potpouri of popular airs, which was received with applause.
Rastus and Banks, 12 min. open in 2, close in 1--Colored singers and dancers, the man doing some exceedingly difficult tumbling. Always go well here, and were liberally applauded.
Ramza and Arno, 11 min. full stage--Comedy acrobats, introducing dummies, with which they have some funny stage business, the conclusion of the act being a "stunt" on a fake tight rope, with one man made up as a mule. In the small part of the bill it scored quite a langhing hit.
Biograph, 17 min. in 1--Interesting lot of pictures, but not so much so as last wee, and it went slower.
Russell and Locke, 10 min. in 1 --Blackface singers and wooden shoe dancers. A fair act, but not good for the place, and tomorrow will be shifted with Rastus and Banks.
 Martini and Maxmillian, 19 min. open in 4, close in 1--comedy magic and illusion, one man performing tricks straight, and the other exposing in clumsy fashion. It made a bigger hit than I supposed would be possible where I had it in the bill.
Alf Hult, 15 min. in 1--Mimetic comedian of fair ability, and went remarkably well. I placed him in this place in the bill owing to the failure of Alice Raymond and John Kurkamp to show up for the afternoon performances.
John Donahue and Mattie Nichols--Eccentric dancing and singing couple, scored one of the solid hts of the show, as they have always done here. In his way I think Donahue one of the funniest men on the stage, and his partner is above the average soubrette in this line of work.
Rio Brothers, 10 min. full stage--This, by all odds, is the best troupe of ring performers that has ever appeared in this house and they made a bigger hit this afternoon than any similar acrobatic team that has been here in years. The act is a pretty one all through from a "sight" standpoint, is neatly costumed, and they showed a number of tricks that are absolutely new to both critic and audience.
Robert Hillard and Company. 26 min. full stage--Presenting for the sixth time "The Littlest Girl", which is the best short play, the best acted and the best staged ever offered in this house, and it has never gone better in my recollection. The large audiences hung upon every word of the actors up to the conclusion of the piece, and followed it by four enthusiastic curtain calls. Mr. Hillard says that we have staged it better this time than ever before; better in fact, than he has ever had it staged anywhere.
Billy Gould, 16 min. in 1--Had a pretty stiff place in the bill and went nicely, although he did not fill all the time that he assured me in the morning he must have. He went good and bad in spots, just as I thought he would, but on the whole his act can be classed as a good one for this city.
Charles Grapewin and Anna Chance, 31. min. full stage--In one of their old sketches, "Above the Limit", which went very strong getting laughs all the way through. Mr. Grapewin put up a kick again at going next to the biograph in the evening show, but I firmly held out for that place in the bill, and he eventually weakened.
Ed Mullen, 15 min. in 1--Fair little act, the dog being very intelligent, but the man rather rough and out of place in evening dress. Just good enough for the small end of the bill.
The DeMuths, 14 min. full stage--Whirlwind and Society dancers. A neat, pretty and effective act, and can be said to have gone strong in the part of the bill when the audience was leaving the theatre.
Alice Raymond, 12 min., open full stage, close in 1--Owing to the fact that Mr. Kurkamp did not turn up, I was obliged to put Miss Raymond into the evening show alone. She did her usual instrumental selections, featuring the cornet, and made quite a hit. She is a fine looking woman and costumes elegantly, and is undeniably a good musician.
Comment:- The show as a whole went big. I found occasion to make practically no changes in arrangement as I had it layed out for the afternoon show. Those with whom I talked seemed to be very well satisfied. There is no doubt in my mind that Hillard drew a larger portion of the afternoon audience, as it was quite a difference from what we usually have on the first day of the week, a large number of professional people being noticed in the Boxes and Orchestra chairs. There was a falling off in business in the evening, owing to the inclement weather, but if it turns out fine the balance of the week will probably prove as large as last.

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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Wee of Mar 9, 1903. Stereopticon,15 min. in 1--Usual collection of views. Roger Imhof and Hugh Conn, 14 min. full stage--In "The Man from Klondike", which is not nearly so well played as when it was last done here. Keith's Orchestra, 11 min. --Potpouri of popular airs, which was received with applause. Rastus and Banks, 12 min. open in 2, close in 1--Colored singers and dancers, the man doing some exceedingly difficult tumbling. Always go well here, and were liberally applauded. Ramza and Arno, 11 min. full stage--Comedy acrobats, introducing dummies, with which they have some funny stage business, the conclusion of the act being a "stunt" on a fake tight rope, with one man made up as a mule. In the small part of the bill it scored quite a langhing hit. Biograph, 17 min. in 1--Interesting lot of pictures, but not so much so as last wee, and it went slower. Russell and Locke, 10 min. in 1 --Blackface singers and wooden shoe dancers. A fair act, but not good for the place, and tomorrow will be shifted with Rastus and Banks. Martini and Maxmillian, 19 min. open in 4, close in 1--comedy magic and illusion, one man performing tricks straight, and the other exposing in clumsy fashion. It made a bigger hit than I supposed would be possible where I had it in the bill. Alf Hult, 15 min. in 1--Mimetic comedian of fair ability, and went remarkably well. I placed him in this place in the bill owing to the failure of Alice Raymond and John Kurkamp to show up for the afternoon performances. John Donahue and Mattie Nichols--Eccentric dancing and singing couple, scored one of the solid hts of the show, as they have always done here. In his way I think Donahue one of the funniest men on the stage, and his partner is above the average soubrette in this line of work. Rio Brothers, 10 min. full stage--This, by all odds, is the best troupe of ring performers that has ever appeared in this house and they made a bigger hit this afternoon than any similar acrobatic team that has been here in years. The act is a pretty one all through from a "sight" standpoint, is neatly costumed, and they showed a number of tricks that are absolutely new to both critic and audience. Robert Hillard and Company. 26 min. full stage--Presenting for the sixth time "The Littlest Girl", which is the best short play, the best acted and the best staged ever offered in this house, and it has never gone better in my recollection. The large audiences hung upon every word of the actors up to the conclusion of the piece, and followed it by four enthusiastic curtain calls. Mr. Hillard says that we have staged it better this time than ever before; better in fact, than he has ever had it staged anywhere. Billy Gould, 16 min. in 1--Had a pretty stiff place in the bill and went nicely, although he did not fill all the time that he assured me in the morning he must have. He went good and bad in spots, just as I thought he would, but on the whole his act can be classed as a good one for this city. Charles Grapewin and Anna Chance, 31. min. full stage--In one of their old sketches, "Above the Limit", which went very strong getting laughs all the way through. Mr. Grapewin put up a kick again at going next to the biograph in the evening show, but I firmly held out for that place in the bill, and he eventually weakened. Ed Mullen, 15 min. in 1--Fair little act, the dog being very intelligent, but the man rather rough and out of place in evening dress. Just good enough for the small end of the bill. The DeMuths, 14 min. full stage--Whirlwind and Society dancers. A neat, pretty and effective act, and can be said to have gone strong in the part of the bill when the audience was leaving the theatre. Alice Raymond, 12 min., open full stage, close in 1--Owing to the fact that Mr. Kurkamp did not turn up, I was obliged to put Miss Raymond into the evening show alone. She did her usual instrumental selections, featuring the cornet, and made quite a hit. She is a fine looking woman and costumes elegantly, and is undeniably a good musician. Comment:- The show as a whole went big. I found occasion to make practically no changes in arrangement as I had it layed out for the afternoon show. Those with whom I talked seemed to be very well satisfied. There is no doubt in my mind that Hillard drew a larger portion of the afternoon audience, as it was quite a difference from what we usually have on the first day of the week, a large number of professional people being noticed in the Boxes and Orchestra chairs. There was a falling off in business in the evening, owing to the inclement weather, but if it turns out fine the balance of the week will probably prove as large as last.