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

Transcribe
Translate

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

Page 127a

Vera King. This girl was one of the surprises on the bill. She made an unqualified hit in a very difficult position. and must be rated as very good. She has a marked personality and a great deal of unction, tells short stories in an easy jovial manner, which pleased the audience at once, and sings a couple of songs in a thoroughly competent way. 14 minutes in one, 2 shows.
Callahan & Mack. Like old wine this act improves with repetition and seemed to go better with the audience today than ever before and the advance applause showed that they were remembered, most favorably. 22 min. full stage, 3 shows.
Billy Carter. Blackface talking act and a couple of songs with the Banjo. A most satisfactory act and kept up the standard of the bill although he was quite late on the program. Must be rated as good. from any standpoint. 18 min. in one, 2 shows.
Stinson & Merton. No one can probably tell just why they laugh at these people but the fact remains that they do and I did with the rest. Although there is nothing new to the act when they leave the audience are satisfied to let them go. Very good act. 23 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows.
Prelle's Dogs. I was afraid that this act (practically closing the show) might be swamped, but they held up in first class shape. Very good act, in fact, from a standpoint of "novelty" one of the best. 12 min. full stage 2 shows.
Biograph..I didn't see, but judging from the applause and laughter which I heard of the act, the pictures were very satisfactory.



127
Providence, R. I., December 29, 1903.
I wish to add to my report of yesterday, further criticism of Miss Minnie Radcliffe's (Mrs. Malcom Willams) act, as judged by the audience and the opinion of some of the people whom I have met. I should hardly advise it for the circuit, but I think that it would get some money at the Bijou in Philadelphia, in view of Malcolm Williams' reputation there and billing the lady as Mrs. Malcolm Williams, as we have done very strongly here. It is not a bad act in any sense, but it is hardly worth the money which they would probably want to get out of it, except in the specific cases of Philadelphia and Providence.
In Pawtucket I want to report on Chris Lane, who is, I believe, new to the circuit except New York, and who went very well indeed altho the audience was an exceedingly easy one last night. He has some very good songs, and a few clever jokes. He made his biggest hit with an extemporaneous song alluding to people in the audience. While it was accepted there all right and evidently gave no offense, I don't think I would permit him to do the song in Providence. I should call him, however, a very good three a day act. 14 Min. in One.
La Troupe Fantastique (also in Pawtucket.) This is The Lovenberg Sisters, who have for a third party in the act Willie Seagrist, who replaces the girl dancer who accompanied them last year. The act is markedly improved. Seagrist is a very good acrobat and does some very clever work in that line. The act before seemed to need just something of this kind to liven it up, and Seagrist's work is in a semi-comical vein made up as Mephistopheles, the girls appearing as Faust and Marguerite. They use the same scenic effects, and the music is an important feature of it. To obtain the best results, they should by all means have the orchestra, to bring out the musical effects, which, as I have said, is a very important feature of the act. 14 Min. Full Stage. 2 shows.

Charles Lovenberg, Manager.
Dic C.H.B.

Saving...

Vera King. This girl was one of the surprises on the bill. She made an unqualified hit in a very difficult position. and must be rated as very good. She has a marked personality and a great deal of unction, tells short stories in an easy jovial manner, which pleased the audience at once, and sings a couple of songs in a thoroughly competent way. 14 minutes in one, 2 shows. Callahan & Mack. Like old wine this act improves with repetition and seemed to go better with the audience today than ever before and the advance applause showed that they were remembered, most favorably. 22 min. full stage, 3 shows. Billy Carter. Blackface talking act and a couple of songs with the Banjo. A most satisfactory act and kept up the standard of the bill although he was quite late on the program. Must be rated as good. from any standpoint. 18 min. in one, 2 shows. Stinson & Merton. No one can probably tell just why they laugh at these people but the fact remains that they do and I did with the rest. Although there is nothing new to the act when they leave the audience are satisfied to let them go. Very good act. 23 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows. Prelle's Dogs. I was afraid that this act (practically closing the show) might be swamped, but they held up in first class shape. Very good act, in fact, from a standpoint of "novelty" one of the best. 12 min. full stage 2 shows. Biograph..I didn't see, but judging from the applause and laughter which I heard of the act, the pictures were very satisfactory. 127 Providence, R. I., December 29, 1903. I wish to add to my report of yesterday, further criticism of Miss Minnie Radcliffe's (Mrs. Malcom Willams) act, as judged by the audience and the opinion of some of the people whom I have met. I should hardly advise it for the circuit, but I think that it would get some money at the Bijou in Philadelphia, in view of Malcolm Williams' reputation there and billing the lady as Mrs. Malcolm Williams, as we have done very strongly here. It is not a bad act in any sense, but it is hardly worth the money which they would probably want to get out of it, except in the specific cases of Philadelphia and Providence. In Pawtucket I want to report on Chris Lane, who is, I believe, new to the circuit except New York, and who went very well indeed altho the audience was an exceedingly easy one last night. He has some very good songs, and a few clever jokes. He made his biggest hit with an extemporaneous song alluding to people in the audience. While it was accepted there all right and evidently gave no offense, I don't think I would permit him to do the song in Providence. I should call him, however, a very good three a day act. 14 Min. in One. La Troupe Fantastique (also in Pawtucket.) This is The Lovenberg Sisters, who have for a third party in the act Willie Seagrist, who replaces the girl dancer who accompanied them last year. The act is markedly improved. Seagrist is a very good acrobat and does some very clever work in that line. The act before seemed to need just something of this kind to liven it up, and Seagrist's work is in a semi-comical vein made up as Mephistopheles, the girls appearing as Faust and Marguerite. They use the same scenic effects, and the music is an important feature of it. To obtain the best results, they should by all means have the orchestra, to bring out the musical effects, which, as I have said, is a very important feature of the act. 14 Min. Full Stage. 2 shows. Charles Lovenberg, Manager. Dic C.H.B.