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

Transcribe
Translate

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

Page 263

NEW YORK SHOW, MAY 11th. 263

STEREOPTICON. The usual selection of views. 11 minutes in one.

HR. EDDIE MACK.--Dancing act. this young fellow is about the best soft show dancer that I know of, and he makes a bit of a novelty in his act with descriptive dancing impersonating different characters, and closes with an imitation of a base ball player dancing while playing ball which always makes a hit. 10 minutes in one.

ER.--ARMSTRONG & HOLLY.--A man and woman in a comedy and dance act. The man is one of the original Armstrong Brothers, and, while he is not a very strong comedian, he works with considerable unction and manages to get considerable out of his line. The woman does not have much of anything to do except to feed him. She is fairly good looking and dresses neatly, and the act can be classed as a fair one. 20 minutes full stage; could close in one if necessary.

AR.--VITAGRAPH.-- I do not think that the selection of views this weeks is hardly up to the standard. It consists mainly of a series of pictures in the Swiss Alps, and naturally was a little monotonous. 19 minutes in one.

NH.--LA BELLE BLANCHE.--In impersonations of different stage celebrities. I hardly think that this young girl will ever make a very brilliant performer. In the impersonations she offered us this afternoon, it was a pretty hard matter to recognize anybody with the possible exception of Dan Daly, whose peculiar drawl is so pronounced that almost anybody can imitate him. She went fairly well with the audience , and that is all. 12 minutes in one.

GRR.--Eldora & Norine. -- Eldora just escapes being about the best juggler that America ever produced. He does about all the tricks that any of the European performers ever do, and his principal drawback is a lack of grace and personality. Norine is simply his assistant, and, in my mind, does not add particularly to his act. They are excellent time fellows, and a a whole it can be called a satisfying turn. 19 minutes, full stage; could close in one if necessary.

NH.--C. W. LITTLEFIELD. In exactly the same act he has been doing for the last ten or fifteen years. He is good all right, but it is impossible for one to rid himself of the impression that he could do something better if he felt inclined. 14 minutes in one.

GNH,--HUGH STANTON AND FLORENCE MODENA.--In a sketch entitled "For Reform." This is another act that it is about time to put on the shelf. The idea is funny, and the situations call for a lot of laughter, but it seems to me as though every vaudeville audience in the country had seen the act too frequently. 20 minutes, full stage.

YRR.--THE MELANI TRIO.--Three men giving an imitation of Parisian street musicians, and I think that they are better than the three Dumonts ever were. Their singing is good, and the violin playing is really a great one. They made quite a hit. 17 minutes in one.

YHR.--CRESSY & DAYNE.--In "Bill Biffkin's Baby." It is hardly necessary to say that these people went very strong. Cressy is the best impersonator of Yankee character on the vaudeville stage. 25 minutes, full stage.

GHR.--EDITH HELENA.--This woman as a very pleasing voice, that has evidently been cultivated. The feature of her act is the phenominally high note that she reaches in one of her songs, which is in a way a freak note. At the figure we are paying her, she is all right, but I can hardly see her for any bigger money. From what I had heard, I had been lead to believe that she was something bordering on the marvelous, but I can hardly class her as anything but a very good singer. 10 minutes in one.
...no one can help but laugh at it. Went very strong in a hard place on the bill. 13 minutes in one.

YRR.--THREE OSNATOS.--Three men in a high bar act introducing the passing trick and the elastic net. I think the act is very nearly as good as that of the four Lukens. 8 minutes, full stage.

SR.--ROBERT HARRINGTON.--A young boy in a turn of singing. He is a very neat looking chap and sings quite nicely. 9 minutes in one.

GRR.--MR. & MRS. BROWNING.--A comedy sketch. The man is made up as a genteel tramp and the woman acts as a feeder. It is a rather course sort of turn, but they made good very late in the afternoon. 21 minutes, full stage.

GYH.-- CONROY & McFARLAND.--Irish comedy and singing act. This is one of the old time teams that always makes good, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule. 15 minutes in one.

GRR.--THE DE WITTS.--A young woman and a young man who is a dwarf. I think the Boston criticism of this act is about correct, for I really cannot see it at all. It does not do any particular harm, but I cannot see any strength in it whatever. The woman is very poor, and the boy gets along principally on account of his diminutive stature.

REMARKS.--The show this afternoon did not go as strong as I would like to have see nit. However, the audience was not especially lively and I am in hopes that results will be better tonight.

S. K. HODGDON

Saving...

NEW YORK SHOW, MAY 11th. 263 STEREOPTICON. The usual selection of views. 11 minutes in one. HR. EDDIE MACK.--Dancing act. this young fellow is about the best soft show dancer that I know of, and he makes a bit of a novelty in his act with descriptive dancing impersonating different characters, and closes with an imitation of a base ball player dancing while playing ball which always makes a hit. 10 minutes in one. ER.--ARMSTRONG & HOLLY.--A man and woman in a comedy and dance act. The man is one of the original Armstrong Brothers, and, while he is not a very strong comedian, he works with considerable unction and manages to get considerable out of his line. The woman does not have much of anything to do except to feed him. She is fairly good looking and dresses neatly, and the act can be classed as a fair one. 20 minutes full stage; could close in one if necessary. AR.--VITAGRAPH.-- I do not think that the selection of views this weeks is hardly up to the standard. It consists mainly of a series of pictures in the Swiss Alps, and naturally was a little monotonous. 19 minutes in one. NH.--LA BELLE BLANCHE.--In impersonations of different stage celebrities. I hardly think that this young girl will ever make a very brilliant performer. In the impersonations she offered us this afternoon, it was a pretty hard matter to recognize anybody with the possible exception of Dan Daly, whose peculiar drawl is so pronounced that almost anybody can imitate him. She went fairly well with the audience , and that is all. 12 minutes in one. GRR.--Eldora & Norine. -- Eldora just escapes being about the best juggler that America ever produced. He does about all the tricks that any of the European performers ever do, and his principal drawback is a lack of grace and personality. Norine is simply his assistant, and, in my mind, does not add particularly to his act. They are excellent time fellows, and a a whole it can be called a satisfying turn. 19 minutes, full stage; could close in one if necessary. NH.--C. W. LITTLEFIELD. In exactly the same act he has been doing for the last ten or fifteen years. He is good all right, but it is impossible for one to rid himself of the impression that he could do something better if he felt inclined. 14 minutes in one. GNH,--HUGH STANTON AND FLORENCE MODENA.--In a sketch entitled "For Reform." This is another act that it is about time to put on the shelf. The idea is funny, and the situations call for a lot of laughter, but it seems to me as though every vaudeville audience in the country had seen the act too frequently. 20 minutes, full stage. YRR.--THE MELANI TRIO.--Three men giving an imitation of Parisian street musicians, and I think that they are better than the three Dumonts ever were. Their singing is good, and the violin playing is really a great one. They made quite a hit. 17 minutes in one. YHR.--CRESSY & DAYNE.--In "Bill Biffkin's Baby." It is hardly necessary to say that these people went very strong. Cressy is the best impersonator of Yankee character on the vaudeville stage. 25 minutes, full stage. GHR.--EDITH HELENA.--This woman as a very pleasing voice, that has evidently been cultivated. The feature of her act is the phenominally high note that she reaches in one of her songs, which is in a way a freak note. At the figure we are paying her, she is all right, but I can hardly see her for any bigger money. From what I had heard, I had been lead to believe that she was something bordering on the marvelous, but I can hardly class her as anything but a very good singer. 10 minutes in one. ...no one can help but laugh at it. Went very strong in a hard place on the bill. 13 minutes in one. YRR.--THREE OSNATOS.--Three men in a high bar act introducing the passing trick and the elastic net. I think the act is very nearly as good as that of the four Lukens. 8 minutes, full stage. SR.--ROBERT HARRINGTON.--A young boy in a turn of singing. He is a very neat looking chap and sings quite nicely. 9 minutes in one. GRR.--MR. & MRS. BROWNING.--A comedy sketch. The man is made up as a genteel tramp and the woman acts as a feeder. It is a rather course sort of turn, but they made good very late in the afternoon. 21 minutes, full stage. GYH.-- CONROY & McFARLAND.--Irish comedy and singing act. This is one of the old time teams that always makes good, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule. 15 minutes in one. GRR.--THE DE WITTS.--A young woman and a young man who is a dwarf. I think the Boston criticism of this act is about correct, for I really cannot see it at all. It does not do any particular harm, but I cannot see any strength in it whatever. The woman is very poor, and the boy gets along principally on account of his diminutive stature. REMARKS.--The show this afternoon did not go as strong as I would like to have see nit. However, the audience was not especially lively and I am in hopes that results will be better tonight. S. K. HODGDON