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 208a

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Boston Show, Week of Mar. 9, 1902.        (M.J. Keating)
Stereopticon, 15 min. in l--usual collection off 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. 

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Mark Sullivan, 16 min. in l--Mimetic comedian and story-teller. Decidely popular with the Boston audience. His imitations of Willis Sweatman, Jim Thornton, Jim MacIntyre, and Nat Haines are decidedly the best, for the reason that they are better known than the others whom he mimics, and the material is much more laugh-provoking. 

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 audience 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 l--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, W"Above the Limit", which went very strong getting laughs all the way through. Mr. Grapewin but 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 l--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 l-- Ow-ing 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 instru-mental selections, featuring the cornet, and made quite a hit. Sheis 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 arrangment 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 in-clement weather, but if it turns out finethe balance of the week will probably prove as large as last.

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Top of Page: Boston Show, Week of Mar. 9, 1902. (M.J. Keating) Stereopticon, 15 min. in l--usual collection off 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. Bottom of Page: Mark Sullivan, 16 min. in l--Mimetic comedian and story-teller. Decidely popular with the Boston audience. His imitations of Willis Sweatman, Jim Thornton, Jim MacIntyre, and Nat Haines are decidedly the best, for the reason that they are better known than the others whom he mimics, and the material is much more laugh-provoking. 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 audience 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 l--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, W"Above the Limit", which went very strong getting laughs all the way through. Mr. Grapewin but 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 l--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 l-- Ow-ing 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 instru-mental selections, featuring the cornet, and made quite a hit. Sheis 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 arrangment 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 in-clement weather, but if it turns out finethe balance of the week will probably prove as large as last.