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 115

Criticism, Keith's Bijou, Dec. 21st, 1903.
STEREOPTICON: Usual collection of views.
McDEVITT & KELLY: In one; 15 minutes. Black face song and dance; one in neat, other in comedy make up; these boys are local, and haven't played much around; they had a crowd of friends in front. They have a bunch of talk that belongs to the old Van Lear and Barton act, which is not much good and doesn't do much harm, but they could get along without it as both the boys are fairly clever dancers. I would advise the booking of the act in the other houses for an early place on the bill as they are ready to work cheap, and there is nothing offensive in their act. 3 shows
COLE & CELEMENTS: C.D.F; 17 minutes; 3 shows. Comedy sketch; man and woman; woman well dressed according to the vaudeville artist's idea; man in Irish make up. A good long bunch of gags made familiar to us years ago by every Irish comedian that came along. Cole tells them fairly well and gets away with it here. I do not advocate the booking of the act in any of the other big houses, though they would do for a small act in Pawtucket and possibly Salem; would scarcely advise Portland considering what Moore wants up there.
KLEIN & CLIFTON: In one; 18 minutes; 3 shows. Man and woman in dancing act that has played the circuit; just falls short of being a very good act by the fact that both are a little uncertain in their dancing. It was all right for this place on the bill and made good. Also a small dog in the encore to good advantage.
OUDA: Wood 3; 8 minutes; 3 shows. Aerial gymnast on a single trapeze with ladder on which he does his suspensial walk across the stage as part of the act. His gymnastic work is up to the quality of the best of them on the single bar. He is a little bit attenuated in the limbs and does not make a very excellent appearance, but after he gets to work that fact seems to be overlooked and he got good applause on everything he did; he is a good three a day act for any of the houses.
DINWIDDIE QUARTETTE: In one; 15 minutes; 3 shows. Four local colored singers who were found here at a Pen and Pencil Club entertainment. They are working for me for $80, and give excellent value for that money. They are much better singers than the Female Drummer Quartette, make a better appearance, and sing a better quality of songs. They went very well here and I would advise booking them at their traveling price, $100 whenever an act of that sort is needed.
MARTINI & MAX MILLIAN: C.D.F. 23 minutes; 2 shows. Two men in comic magic exposing act, the exposing being done by Max Millian - the comedian of the two; well known on the circuit as a good act; they have a cage trick and a disappearance trick both new to me, though they may have done them at the other houses; both tricks add considerable to the act. Martini seems to have improved in his talk and performance of the tricks and Max Millian's exposition of the tricks was greeted with roars of laughter by a very easy audience. I think they would go just as well with any other audience we might have here.
DOROTHY KENTON: In one; 9 minutes; 3 shows. Girl banjoist. The audience apparently thought she did very good banjo work for she held up her place on the bill following Martini & Max Millian making good with three numbers. She plays the wire string banjo with a pick; and she finished



do business with such a show this week there is no business in town for us during the ante-holiday dullness.

P.F. NASH.

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Criticism, Keith's Bijou, Dec. 21st, 1903. STEREOPTICON: Usual collection of views. McDEVITT & KELLY: In one; 15 minutes. Black face song and dance; one in neat, other in comedy make up; these boys are local, and haven't played much around; they had a crowd of friends in front. They have a bunch of talk that belongs to the old Van Lear and Barton act, which is not much good and doesn't do much harm, but they could get along without it as both the boys are fairly clever dancers. I would advise the booking of the act in the other houses for an early place on the bill as they are ready to work cheap, and there is nothing offensive in their act. 3 shows COLE & CELEMENTS: C.D.F; 17 minutes; 3 shows. Comedy sketch; man and woman; woman well dressed according to the vaudeville artist's idea; man in Irish make up. A good long bunch of gags made familiar to us years ago by every Irish comedian that came along. Cole tells them fairly well and gets away with it here. I do not advocate the booking of the act in any of the other big houses, though they would do for a small act in Pawtucket and possibly Salem; would scarcely advise Portland considering what Moore wants up there. KLEIN & CLIFTON: In one; 18 minutes; 3 shows. Man and woman in dancing act that has played the circuit; just falls short of being a very good act by the fact that both are a little uncertain in their dancing. It was all right for this place on the bill and made good. Also a small dog in the encore to good advantage. OUDA: Wood 3; 8 minutes; 3 shows. Aerial gymnast on a single trapeze with ladder on which he does his suspensial walk across the stage as part of the act. His gymnastic work is up to the quality of the best of them on the single bar. He is a little bit attenuated in the limbs and does not make a very excellent appearance, but after he gets to work that fact seems to be overlooked and he got good applause on everything he did; he is a good three a day act for any of the houses. DINWIDDIE QUARTETTE: In one; 15 minutes; 3 shows. Four local colored singers who were found here at a Pen and Pencil Club entertainment. They are working for me for $80, and give excellent value for that money. They are much better singers than the Female Drummer Quartette, make a better appearance, and sing a better quality of songs. They went very well here and I would advise booking them at their traveling price, $100 whenever an act of that sort is needed. MARTINI & MAX MILLIAN: C.D.F. 23 minutes; 2 shows. Two men in comic magic exposing act, the exposing being done by Max Millian - the comedian of the two; well known on the circuit as a good act; they have a cage trick and a disappearance trick both new to me, though they may have done them at the other houses; both tricks add considerable to the act. Martini seems to have improved in his talk and performance of the tricks and Max Millian's exposition of the tricks was greeted with roars of laughter by a very easy audience. I think they would go just as well with any other audience we might have here. DOROTHY KENTON: In one; 9 minutes; 3 shows. Girl banjoist. The audience apparently thought she did very good banjo work for she held up her place on the bill following Martini & Max Millian making good with three numbers. She plays the wire string banjo with a pick; and she finished do business with such a show this week there is no business in town for us during the ante-holiday dullness. P.F. NASH.