DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 11, 1911-September 9, 1912

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 11, 1911-September 9, 1912

Page 97

C. E. BARNS.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    FEB. 19, 1912.
MUSICAL GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 12 min. F.S. Three men and a woman all making a fine appearance in their Scotch costumes. While through force of circumstances, we were compelled to use this act to open the show, it is much too good for this position, and whenever it is our good fortune to play the act back here, it will have a good spot as it should have on every bill. A hit.
LILLIAN ASHLEY. 14 min. in one. Sang some good character songs and told some good stories, all of which got a fair hand. Not an act for a very strong spot on the bill, but she makes a pleasing appearance and held an early place all right. Closed fairly well.
MEEHAN'S DOGS. 13 min. F.S. This is certainly a stunning animal act. There was nothing but laughter and applause all through the act. The dogs are beauties and the act is showman-like from every standpoint, with plenty of comedy and, of course, the leaping hounds worked the audience up to great enthusiasm. Closed very strong.
RED SOX QUARTETTE. 13 min. in one. Big advance hand. These boys certainly caught the big crowd today right from the first and held them strong through every number up to a smashing big finish. This is a strong "fan" town, but aside from the interest they create on account of their baseball fans, they have fine voices and are well trained and have certainly justified all of the flattering things that have been said about them in Boston and New York.
COVINGTON & WILBUR. "The Parsonage." 20 min. F.S. One of the best protean acts we have ever played. Held the audience all the way through, making a strong close.
LADDIE CLIFF. 17 min. in one. One of the biggest advance hands ever heard in this theatre. Laddie is certainly the goods, brighter and cleverer than ever with a new line of splendid stuff and his dancing is truly wonderful. Immense hand after each number and was compelled at the close to tell some stories about "Father." Great!
BELLE BAKER. 14 min. in one. Strong advance hand. Miss Baker made a very strong first impression here this afternoon and got the crowd right from the first. She infuses lots of life and ginger into her work, and is a character entertainer right to her finger-tips. Her songs are new and excellent and she puts them over convincingly. Big hand after every selection and compelled to give an encore.
PAULINE. 40 min. F.S. This man is a great scientist and certainly a great showman. His act is clean and brilliant and the comedy end of it keeps the audience in roars of laughter. All the fine things that have been said about Pauline and his act have been fully justified today. He suits his act to his house, and there was nothing whatsoever in his work that could call for criticism. He certainly will be town talk before the week is out if his success today with an immense audience is any criterion.
KINETOGRAPH. The usually interesting international film of current events.
GENERAL REMARKS. It might be extravagant to say that this is the greatest Vaudeville bill ever seen in Philadelphia, but if it is not that, it certainly comes up to the highest record mark. From start to finish, it went with a hurrah and it is safe to predict strong business for the balance of the week.

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C. E. BARNS. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. FEB. 19, 1912. MUSICAL GORDON HIGHLANDERS. 12 min. F.S. Three men and a woman all making a fine appearance in their Scotch costumes. While through force of circumstances, we were compelled to use this act to open the show, it is much too good for this position, and whenever it is our good fortune to play the act back here, it will have a good spot as it should have on every bill. A hit. LILLIAN ASHLEY. 14 min. in one. Sang some good character songs and told some good stories, all of which got a fair hand. Not an act for a very strong spot on the bill, but she makes a pleasing appearance and held an early place all right. Closed fairly well. MEEHAN'S DOGS. 13 min. F.S. This is certainly a stunning animal act. There was nothing but laughter and applause all through the act. The dogs are beauties and the act is showman-like from every standpoint, with plenty of comedy and, of course, the leaping hounds worked the audience up to great enthusiasm. Closed very strong. RED SOX QUARTETTE. 13 min. in one. Big advance hand. These boys certainly caught the big crowd today right from the first and held them strong through every number up to a smashing big finish. This is a strong "fan" town, but aside from the interest they create on account of their baseball fans, they have fine voices and are well trained and have certainly justified all of the flattering things that have been said about them in Boston and New York. COVINGTON & WILBUR. "The Parsonage." 20 min. F.S. One of the best protean acts we have ever played. Held the audience all the way through, making a strong close. LADDIE CLIFF. 17 min. in one. One of the biggest advance hands ever heard in this theatre. Laddie is certainly the goods, brighter and cleverer than ever with a new line of splendid stuff and his dancing is truly wonderful. Immense hand after each number and was compelled at the close to tell some stories about "Father." Great! BELLE BAKER. 14 min. in one. Strong advance hand. Miss Baker made a very strong first impression here this afternoon and got the crowd right from the first. She infuses lots of life and ginger into her work, and is a character entertainer right to her finger-tips. Her songs are new and excellent and she puts them over convincingly. Big hand after every selection and compelled to give an encore. PAULINE. 40 min. F.S. This man is a great scientist and certainly a great showman. His act is clean and brilliant and the comedy end of it keeps the audience in roars of laughter. All the fine things that have been said about Pauline and his act have been fully justified today. He suits his act to his house, and there was nothing whatsoever in his work that could call for criticism. He certainly will be town talk before the week is out if his success today with an immense audience is any criterion. KINETOGRAPH. The usually interesting international film of current events. GENERAL REMARKS. It might be extravagant to say that this is the greatest Vaudeville bill ever seen in Philadelphia, but if it is not that, it certainly comes up to the highest record mark. From start to finish, it went with a hurrah and it is safe to predict strong business for the balance of the week.