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 249

PITTSBURGH, PA.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
MAY 4th, 1914.
MARGARET MORRIS and RICHARD DRISCOLL
Full stage, 12 minutes. Dancing. this is a crime-- a crime on our audience- a  crime on the art of dancing. This couple cannot dance a step and I do not think the man was ever on the stage before. They were so bad that we were in imminent dread our audience would hiss them off the stage. Whoever recommends this sort of an act for big time vaudeville is giving big time vaudeville its death blow.
EVA SHIRLEY.
11 minutes in One. Songs. A girl with a freak voice, and yet not freaky enough to be an attraction. She would do well on the small time.
CHAS. AHEARN TROUPE.
10 minutes, full stage. Special drop. Comedy cycle company. A scream. This is surely the big noise, and noise is used advisedly. Mr. Ahearn gets the most out of his ludicrous makeup and the eccentric machines he introduces. This act, the Red Heads and Cervo are all that are on our bill this week that deserve to get by any house where the admission is above ten cents.
HOEY & LEE.
9 minutes in One. Hebrew dialect comedians and parodists. A complete flop. The saddest thing in the way of a talking and singing act that has "come down the pike." These men, who were formerly a hit with us, have absolutely no patter that rises above the childish brand of humor. It takes them three or four minutes to get to the point of each of the stories they tell, and when they do get there, there isn't anything to it, after all. The parodies are only fair.
JESSE LASKY's "THE RED HEADS."
48 minutes, full stage. Special set. The act is the same as when we played it last September and is as big a hit as at that time. Mr. Carson is a real comedian and the future looms brightly for him. "The Red heads" is certainly far the best musical-comedy-tabloid vaudeville has ever had, excepting none.
CERVO.
16 minutes in One. Piano Accordionist. This man has not the personality, technique nor the instrument of Frosini, Deiro or any of the numerous other accordion players we have had, but, as evidence that vaudeville audiences like this sort of thing, the was a tremendous hit and played several encores at each performance. Although he is not in the class with the others named, he is worthy of a place in any bill, and will get by in any company.
NELSON & NELSON.
8 minutes, full stage. Acrobatic work on stilts. It gets by only because of the novelty of the stilts. It seems to me acts of this kind have no place at all in high class, high priced vaudeville.
MOVING PICTURES.
News views of local subjects, and very good.

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PITTSBURGH, PA. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. MAY 4th, 1914. MARGARET MORRIS and RICHARD DRISCOLL Full stage, 12 minutes. Dancing. this is a crime-- a crime on our audience- a crime on the art of dancing. This couple cannot dance a step and I do not think the man was ever on the stage before. They were so bad that we were in imminent dread our audience would hiss them off the stage. Whoever recommends this sort of an act for big time vaudeville is giving big time vaudeville its death blow. EVA SHIRLEY. 11 minutes in One. Songs. A girl with a freak voice, and yet not freaky enough to be an attraction. She would do well on the small time. CHAS. AHEARN TROUPE. 10 minutes, full stage. Special drop. Comedy cycle company. A scream. This is surely the big noise, and noise is used advisedly. Mr. Ahearn gets the most out of his ludicrous makeup and the eccentric machines he introduces. This act, the Red Heads and Cervo are all that are on our bill this week that deserve to get by any house where the admission is above ten cents. HOEY & LEE. 9 minutes in One. Hebrew dialect comedians and parodists. A complete flop. The saddest thing in the way of a talking and singing act that has "come down the pike." These men, who were formerly a hit with us, have absolutely no patter that rises above the childish brand of humor. It takes them three or four minutes to get to the point of each of the stories they tell, and when they do get there, there isn't anything to it, after all. The parodies are only fair. JESSE LASKY's "THE RED HEADS." 48 minutes, full stage. Special set. The act is the same as when we played it last September and is as big a hit as at that time. Mr. Carson is a real comedian and the future looms brightly for him. "The Red heads" is certainly far the best musical-comedy-tabloid vaudeville has ever had, excepting none. CERVO. 16 minutes in One. Piano Accordionist. This man has not the personality, technique nor the instrument of Frosini, Deiro or any of the numerous other accordion players we have had, but, as evidence that vaudeville audiences like this sort of thing, the was a tremendous hit and played several encores at each performance. Although he is not in the class with the others named, he is worthy of a place in any bill, and will get by in any company. NELSON & NELSON. 8 minutes, full stage. Acrobatic work on stilts. It gets by only because of the novelty of the stilts. It seems to me acts of this kind have no place at all in high class, high priced vaudeville. MOVING PICTURES. News views of local subjects, and very good.