DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, October 27, 1913-May 11, 1914

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, October 27, 1913-May 11, 1914

Page 184

PITTSBURGH, PA.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
MARCH 16th, 1914.
ROLANDOW BROS.
7 minutes, full stage. Hand balancing and gymnastics. A good act of its kind, but its kind must be great to rouse any interest whatsoever in the vaudeville of to-day.
MILLER & LYLE.
12 minutes in One. Two colored men, blackened up, in a pointless argument, terminating in a burlesque boxing, dancing, and Tango travesty. The dancing lets them get away with some applause, but the act is not a big time attraction even for number two.
THE THREE ELLISONS.
14 min., special sets. Open in Two, closing full stage. This is a revamping of the old Staley & Birbeck transformation act, without the transformation. It is a musical novelty, presenting two men and a girl,- first, in a xylophone number and then in a "Forge in the Forest" idea. While the latter is being set, two of the Ellisons present an interlude, in which is exhibited a fake locomotive. It is a waste of time and does not get the act anything.
MR. & MRS. JIMMIE BARRY.
21 min. Two special drops in One. "The Rube." Mr. Barry played this act here two seasons ago and has made very little change in it. It isn't nearly as funny as "At Hensfoot Corner," and yet it is a sketch that will please almost any audience.
THE PURPLE LADY.
30 min., full stage, special set. B. A. Rolfe's company of ten, presenting a one act musical comedy. This is the most legitimate musical comedy in a single act that we have played, with the possible exception of Lasky's "The Red Heads." Mr. Rolfe, however, has again made the error of selecting a company wholly without talent, except in the case of his comedian, Mr. Ralph Lynn, who is eccentric, works hard and saves the act from utter failure. There isn't a voice in the company, or any other evidence of cleverness or talent, save Mr. Lynn.
ALFRED BERGEN.
13 min. in One, with piano accompaniment. Mr. Bergen has a fine baritone voice, sings the Prologue from Pagliacci in masterly fashion and follows it with an old time ballad, a dramatic number, and an Irish ditty. He is an artiste and again demonstrates vaudeville's ability to assimilate the good things in music.
JOS. JEFFERSON & CO.
Supported by Blanche Bender & Co. W. C. DeMille's one act satire on "Peter Grimm," entitled "Poor Old Jim." 21 min., full stage, interior. Although this act is a little slow at the beginning, involving considerable dialogue of an explanatory nature before the act really begins, it goes at high tempo once it is started and is immensely funny. Mr. Jefferson visualizes and inebriate, who thinks himself dead, in a convincing and thoroughly humorous fashion.
FANNY BRICE.
15 min. in One. Songs and patter. Miss Brice is a big hit, notably in her eccentric character songs. She would do well, however, to entirely eliminate her patter. She could sing eight or ten songs and still leave her audience unsatisfied, but she  committed the error of stopping her act by injecting a lot of addle talk that had neither point nor humor.
MARIA LO & CO.
Full stage, 9 min. Porcelain. A series of poses by living models representing art masterpieces in Dresden China - very pretty, well clad pictures, nicely posed. A mistake is made by dropping the house curtain after each pose instead of having special draperies. This stops the show and robs the act of a considerable portion of its value.
MOVING PICTURES.
Pathe Weekly. As monotonous as ever.

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PITTSBURGH, PA. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. MARCH 16th, 1914. ROLANDOW BROS. 7 minutes, full stage. Hand balancing and gymnastics. A good act of its kind, but its kind must be great to rouse any interest whatsoever in the vaudeville of to-day. MILLER & LYLE. 12 minutes in One. Two colored men, blackened up, in a pointless argument, terminating in a burlesque boxing, dancing, and Tango travesty. The dancing lets them get away with some applause, but the act is not a big time attraction even for number two. THE THREE ELLISONS. 14 min., special sets. Open in Two, closing full stage. This is a revamping of the old Staley & Birbeck transformation act, without the transformation. It is a musical novelty, presenting two men and a girl,- first, in a xylophone number and then in a "Forge in the Forest" idea. While the latter is being set, two of the Ellisons present an interlude, in which is exhibited a fake locomotive. It is a waste of time and does not get the act anything. MR. & MRS. JIMMIE BARRY. 21 min. Two special drops in One. "The Rube." Mr. Barry played this act here two seasons ago and has made very little change in it. It isn't nearly as funny as "At Hensfoot Corner," and yet it is a sketch that will please almost any audience. THE PURPLE LADY. 30 min., full stage, special set. B. A. Rolfe's company of ten, presenting a one act musical comedy. This is the most legitimate musical comedy in a single act that we have played, with the possible exception of Lasky's "The Red Heads." Mr. Rolfe, however, has again made the error of selecting a company wholly without talent, except in the case of his comedian, Mr. Ralph Lynn, who is eccentric, works hard and saves the act from utter failure. There isn't a voice in the company, or any other evidence of cleverness or talent, save Mr. Lynn. ALFRED BERGEN. 13 min. in One, with piano accompaniment. Mr. Bergen has a fine baritone voice, sings the Prologue from Pagliacci in masterly fashion and follows it with an old time ballad, a dramatic number, and an Irish ditty. He is an artiste and again demonstrates vaudeville's ability to assimilate the good things in music. JOS. JEFFERSON & CO. Supported by Blanche Bender & Co. W. C. DeMille's one act satire on "Peter Grimm," entitled "Poor Old Jim." 21 min., full stage, interior. Although this act is a little slow at the beginning, involving considerable dialogue of an explanatory nature before the act really begins, it goes at high tempo once it is started and is immensely funny. Mr. Jefferson visualizes and inebriate, who thinks himself dead, in a convincing and thoroughly humorous fashion. FANNY BRICE. 15 min. in One. Songs and patter. Miss Brice is a big hit, notably in her eccentric character songs. She would do well, however, to entirely eliminate her patter. She could sing eight or ten songs and still leave her audience unsatisfied, but she committed the error of stopping her act by injecting a lot of addle talk that had neither point nor humor. MARIA LO & CO. Full stage, 9 min. Porcelain. A series of poses by living models representing art masterpieces in Dresden China - very pretty, well clad pictures, nicely posed. A mistake is made by dropping the house curtain after each pose instead of having special draperies. This stops the show and robs the act of a considerable portion of its value. MOVING PICTURES. Pathe Weekly. As monotonous as ever.