DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 21, 1903 - March 14, 1904

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 21, 1903 - March 14, 1904

Page 5

Report on show Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I. Week of September 28, 1903. (CHARLES LOVENBERG)
The show in its entirety is about the best we have had this season. All the acts are good except the head-liner and that is about as big a frost as we have had in the Theatre. The only thing that we can depend upon now is to draw a little money in on the strength of the novelty and then make good with the show. May not do us any harm but will do us very little good.
Stereopticon, Not used.
Edwin I. Boyle. Blind pianist and Singer. Same act that he usually gives us and which is always most acceptable. 17 min. closing in one, 3 shows.
Belle Veola. This girl does a little  dance followed by contortion work. She's dainty and gracefull and the act is good enough to warrant a better place on the bill. 9 minutes in one. 3 shows.
Edwin Baker & Company. Japanese operetta. Aside from the head-liner this is the poorest act on the bill. They have eliminated some of the music and introduced comedy instead which they are not clever enough with. The act is prettily mounted and is somewhat of a novelty and for that reason it is all right to play it. 18 min. full stage, 2 shows.
John Healy. Blackface comedian. He is giving us the same thing we have had for several seasons now, and unless he gets some new material I will have to "cut him out" of future engagements especially at the salary he is receiving which even when his material was new is twenty-five more than he is worth. 15 min. in one, 3 shows.
Doherty's Poodles. Very clever little dog act and most acceptable for the children. 17 min. full stage, 3 shows.
Cooper & Bailey. Colored comedians. Two men who do a very lively singing and dancing act. From a three a day standpoint very good act. 13 min. in one.
Mark Sullivan. Mimic. He is giving us practically the same act he had last season but which went very well. 15 min. in one.
Horse & Bicycle Contest. Absolutely nothing to it. 7 minutes full stage. 2 shows.
Coakley & M'Bride. These two men have a very clever act. Their dancing is exceptionally good especially that of Coakleys, and their comedy went very well with the audience. 22 min. in one.
The Two Tobins. Two ladies who do a most artistic musical act. Their appearance is most refined and they are good looking and they play with intelligence. Just high enough grade of music to reach our audiences. 17 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows.
Harrigan. Tramp juggler. He is giving us very little of the juggling the rest of his work being monologue and songs and almost entirely new material which went very strongly indeed, in fact, one of the hits of the show. 22 min. open & close in 1, rest of the act in 2. Can all be done in one, if necessary. 2 shows.
Midgeley & Carlisle. In their familiar act, "After school," which is just as good as ever. 25 min. open full stage, close in one, 2 shows.
The Three Richards. Acrobats. While not an alarmingly great act, this is a very good one and considering the very difficult position they have on the bill, they made a hit. 9 min. full stage, 2 shows.
Bioscope. Good collection of pictures.

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Report on show Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I. Week of September 28, 1903. (CHARLES LOVENBERG) The show in its entirety is about the best we have had this season. All the acts are good except the head-liner and that is about as big a frost as we have had in the Theatre. The only thing that we can depend upon now is to draw a little money in on the strength of the novelty and then make good with the show. May not do us any harm but will do us very little good. Stereopticon, Not used. Edwin I. Boyle. Blind pianist and Singer. Same act that he usually gives us and which is always most acceptable. 17 min. closing in one, 3 shows. Belle Veola. This girl does a little dance followed by contortion work. She's dainty and gracefull and the act is good enough to warrant a better place on the bill. 9 minutes in one. 3 shows. Edwin Baker & Company. Japanese operetta. Aside from the head-liner this is the poorest act on the bill. They have eliminated some of the music and introduced comedy instead which they are not clever enough with. The act is prettily mounted and is somewhat of a novelty and for that reason it is all right to play it. 18 min. full stage, 2 shows. John Healy. Blackface comedian. He is giving us the same thing we have had for several seasons now, and unless he gets some new material I will have to "cut him out" of future engagements especially at the salary he is receiving which even when his material was new is twenty-five more than he is worth. 15 min. in one, 3 shows. Doherty's Poodles. Very clever little dog act and most acceptable for the children. 17 min. full stage, 3 shows. Cooper & Bailey. Colored comedians. Two men who do a very lively singing and dancing act. From a three a day standpoint very good act. 13 min. in one. Mark Sullivan. Mimic. He is giving us practically the same act he had last season but which went very well. 15 min. in one. Horse & Bicycle Contest. Absolutely nothing to it. 7 minutes full stage. 2 shows. Coakley & M'Bride. These two men have a very clever act. Their dancing is exceptionally good especially that of Coakleys, and their comedy went very well with the audience. 22 min. in one. The Two Tobins. Two ladies who do a most artistic musical act. Their appearance is most refined and they are good looking and they play with intelligence. Just high enough grade of music to reach our audiences. 17 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows. Harrigan. Tramp juggler. He is giving us very little of the juggling the rest of his work being monologue and songs and almost entirely new material which went very strongly indeed, in fact, one of the hits of the show. 22 min. open & close in 1, rest of the act in 2. Can all be done in one, if necessary. 2 shows. Midgeley & Carlisle. In their familiar act, "After school," which is just as good as ever. 25 min. open full stage, close in one, 2 shows. The Three Richards. Acrobats. While not an alarmingly great act, this is a very good one and considering the very difficult position they have on the bill, they made a hit. 9 min. full stage, 2 shows. Bioscope. Good collection of pictures.