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 269

(M. J. Keating) 269

[Boston?] Show, Week of May 18, 1903.

Steropticon, 10 min. in 1--Interesting collection of views plain and colored, of scenes in different countries.

Johnson & West, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--This was a [?am] which I was to have given a place in the show tomorrow to try them out. The woman was an understudy of Lelia McIntyre, in "Beauty and the Beast", and the man had some experience in the same company. their comedy was bad and the singing not quite fair, so concluded one performance was enough to inflict on our audience.

Ed Estus, 10 min. in 3--Novel and clever equilibrist, who works so easily that he is not appreciated at his full value. If he did his work in one he would be much more valuable.

Chalk Sanders, 10 min. in 1--Clever and amusing performer, who gets lots of laughs and applause without straining for it. His work is simple, but the fact that it is familiar to patrons of dime museums d does not necessarily make it of small value in vaudeville. It is one of the best acts that I know of for an early part in the show.

Fadettes, 30 min. full stage--Went just as big as ever, overplaying their time at the finish. The programme was much more lively than that of last week. 

Vitagraph, 20 min. in 1--Excellent lot of pictures, the principal being a series illustrating "Little Red Riding Hood", which proved as interesting and amusing to the older folks as it did to the children.

The Osnatos, 7 min. full stage--Three men acrobats, who qork upon elevated bars, making a specialty of castings and the use of the bounding net. The act is almost as good as that of the Lukens.

John Ford, 7 min. in 1--This young man is the most acceptable dancer in the business, and the only objection to be found with him is in the fact that his time is much too short to allow making a change of sets.

Frank Keenan and company, 25 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here a new sketch entitled "The Actor and the Count", which is oneof the best things in that line we have had for some time. Comment upon Mr. Keenan's acting unnecessary, beyond the fact that he plays two roles, each of which is capitally done. Mr. Keenan receives competent support from Misses Georgia Welles and Kate Long, the latter his wife. The sketch is dramatic, farcical, burlesque, pantomimic, musical and pathetic, by turns. They were quite nervous at the first performance, which somewhat marred it. We gave them a splendid stage setting only excelled by that of Hillard.

Jim Morton, 16 min. in 1--I never knew this monologue comedian to create so much laughter as he did this afternoon, scoring the hit of the bill in that respect. He made great capital out of the preceding act, for which reason I shall keep him in that place in the bill.

[Partially covered]
...open in 3, close in 1--Received [covered] the curtain went up, and everything they did was lustily encored. They constitute the big feature of the show.

Sully Family, 20 min. full stage--A man and woman, and two small boys, make up the personnel of this act. It is supposed to be a comedy sketch, but like most of such acts in the varieties the plot was prdtty difficult to discover. The man and woman do not amount to much, but the juveniles carry the act along with considerable applausd and lots of alughter. From a 3-a-day standpoint, it's good enough for opening and supper hours.

Will Evans and Gladys St. John, 13 min. in 1--A little comedy, singing and dancing act; good for a small place in the bill.

Harry Antrim and Yetta Peters, 14 min. open in 3, close in 1--The man in this team imitates birds, fowls, etc., but is not particularly clever. He whistles without the use of his fingers better than Louis Granat, which is the best thing in the act. The soman is simply a "feeder", but possesses [one? 
 no?] ability, either as actress or singer. The act is good, at that, in an unimportant place.

Robert Harrington, 9 min. in 1--Boy vocalist, who has an every day singing voice. He went very well, indeed, with a small audience.

Raymond Finley and Lottie Burke, 15 min., open in 3, close in 1--Burlesque comedy, singing and dancing. Very good act, and worthy of a better place then it is possible to give it in this bill. Should be on about 2 and 8 o'clock.

Kennedy and James, 16 min., open in 3, close in 1--A man and woman in comedy and singing sketch. This is an act which we played about four months ago, and which I have put in to fill the place made vacant by Burke's dogs. It is a good act for the place in the bill it will get here.

Comment:- The day was very warm, so that the afternoon audience was small and not inclined to be demonstrative, but despite that, and some rather bad waits, caused by bad stage management, the show can be said to have gone strong all through.

Burke objected to his hours on the bill, and also stated that he was not feeling well, having fallen from [abteam?] last evening.The act is a poor one at best, the man is a slouchy looking individual on the stage, and the last time he was here there several complaints about him on account of cruelty to the animals and he had to be called down. Therefore I did not place any obstacle in the way of his canceling

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(M. J. Keating) 269 [Boston?] Show, Week of May 18, 1903. Steropticon, 10 min. in 1--Interesting collection of views plain and colored, of scenes in different countries. Johnson & West, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--This was a [?am] which I was to have given a place in the show tomorrow to try them out. The woman was an understudy of Lelia McIntyre, in "Beauty and the Beast", and the man had some experience in the same company. their comedy was bad and the singing not quite fair, so concluded one performance was enough to inflict on our audience. Ed Estus, 10 min. in 3--Novel and clever equilibrist, who works so easily that he is not appreciated at his full value. If he did his work in one he would be much more valuable. Chalk Sanders, 10 min. in 1--Clever and amusing performer, who gets lots of laughs and applause without straining for it. His work is simple, but the fact that it is familiar to patrons of dime museums d does not necessarily make it of small value in vaudeville. It is one of the best acts that I know of for an early part in the show. Fadettes, 30 min. full stage--Went just as big as ever, overplaying their time at the finish. The programme was much more lively than that of last week. Vitagraph, 20 min. in 1--Excellent lot of pictures, the principal being a series illustrating "Little Red Riding Hood", which proved as interesting and amusing to the older folks as it did to the children. The Osnatos, 7 min. full stage--Three men acrobats, who qork upon elevated bars, making a specialty of castings and the use of the bounding net. The act is almost as good as that of the Lukens. John Ford, 7 min. in 1--This young man is the most acceptable dancer in the business, and the only objection to be found with him is in the fact that his time is much too short to allow making a change of sets. Frank Keenan and company, 25 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here a new sketch entitled "The Actor and the Count", which is oneof the best things in that line we have had for some time. Comment upon Mr. Keenan's acting unnecessary, beyond the fact that he plays two roles, each of which is capitally done. Mr. Keenan receives competent support from Misses Georgia Welles and Kate Long, the latter his wife. The sketch is dramatic, farcical, burlesque, pantomimic, musical and pathetic, by turns. They were quite nervous at the first performance, which somewhat marred it. We gave them a splendid stage setting only excelled by that of Hillard. Jim Morton, 16 min. in 1--I never knew this monologue comedian to create so much laughter as he did this afternoon, scoring the hit of the bill in that respect. He made great capital out of the preceding act, for which reason I shall keep him in that place in the bill. [Partially covered] ...open in 3, close in 1--Received [covered] the curtain went up, and everything they did was lustily encored. They constitute the big feature of the show. Sully Family, 20 min. full stage--A man and woman, and two small boys, make up the personnel of this act. It is supposed to be a comedy sketch, but like most of such acts in the varieties the plot was prdtty difficult to discover. The man and woman do not amount to much, but the juveniles carry the act along with considerable applausd and lots of alughter. From a 3-a-day standpoint, it's good enough for opening and supper hours. Will Evans and Gladys St. John, 13 min. in 1--A little comedy, singing and dancing act; good for a small place in the bill. Harry Antrim and Yetta Peters, 14 min. open in 3, close in 1--The man in this team imitates birds, fowls, etc., but is not particularly clever. He whistles without the use of his fingers better than Louis Granat, which is the best thing in the act. The soman is simply a "feeder", but possesses [one? no?] ability, either as actress or singer. The act is good, at that, in an unimportant place. Robert Harrington, 9 min. in 1--Boy vocalist, who has an every day singing voice. He went very well, indeed, with a small audience. Raymond Finley and Lottie Burke, 15 min., open in 3, close in 1--Burlesque comedy, singing and dancing. Very good act, and worthy of a better place then it is possible to give it in this bill. Should be on about 2 and 8 o'clock. Kennedy and James, 16 min., open in 3, close in 1--A man and woman in comedy and singing sketch. This is an act which we played about four months ago, and which I have put in to fill the place made vacant by Burke's dogs. It is a good act for the place in the bill it will get here. Comment:- The day was very warm, so that the afternoon audience was small and not inclined to be demonstrative, but despite that, and some rather bad waits, caused by bad stage management, the show can be said to have gone strong all through. Burke objected to his hours on the bill, and also stated that he was not feeling well, having fallen from [abteam?] last evening.The act is a poor one at best, the man is a slouchy looking individual on the stage, and the last time he was here there several complaints about him on account of cruelty to the animals and he had to be called down. Therefore I did not place any obstacle in the way of his canceling