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 148

148
(M. J. Keating)
Stereopticon, 3 shows, 5 min. in 1--Usual collection of home and foreign views.
James Kennedy and Belle James, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--Talking, singing and dancing comedians. All right in an early place on the bill.
Bertina, 3 shows, 9 min. in 3--Novelty contortion dancer of fair ability. This sort of act never goes strong with our audience
Ruth Nelta, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1--Singer of "coon" ballads. Makes a good stage appearance but is not blessed with much voice. Closed without applause, being the only act on the bill that did.
Barr and Evans, 3 shows, 17 min. in 3--Presenting a character change comedy sketch, which was received with exceptional laughter, especially provoked by the woman's ludicrous burlesque makeup as a servant girl. It was probably the best place they have ever had in any of our bills and they made good.
Dorothy Kenton, 3 shows, 11 min. in 1--Pretty, modest and neatly dressed young girl, who is an excellent banjo player and would stand for a stronger place in the bill than I can give her this week. All her numbers were encored.
John LeClair, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--Made good opening, quite free from misses, and provoked more applause than is usually given acts of this kind. His juggling, so far as it goes, is equal to that of anyone in the business.
Roberts, Hayes and Roberts, 2 shows, 20 min. open in 5, close in 1--Two men and a woman, in a character comedy, singing and dancing sketch, which went particularly strong at the finish. Personally, I dislike the turn, but the people who pay their money enjoy it and it is their choice.
Marion Lamont, (Mrs. Jeanette Lovell), 2 shows, 11 min. in 1--Soprano singer of local prominence, being the widow of a deceased merchant and society man, who met with business reverses, a short time before his demise. She lacks magnetism, and her voice, though well trained, is metallic and does not cover a very wide range. She had several friends in the audience and will draw throughout the week, but I do not think she would be successful elsewhere.
Quaker City Quartet, 2 shows, 25 min. open full stage, close in 1--Presenting their old barber shop sketch, which is familiar to everyone. Popular with theatregoers of this city, and went well today.



The Vedmars, 3 shows, 11 min. full stage--Man and woman, in acrobatic and tumbling specialties, on the ground and single horizontal bar. The man makes up grotesquely, but the comedy does not amount to much, and the act can only be considered a good one from the 3-a-day viewpoint.
Comment:- We had quite a large and enthusiastic audience this afternoon, and the show went well from start to finish, with the single exception of Nelta, as noted above. There is a good balance to it, which is really what pleases most. I will move Ramza and Arno up the bill for the evening show, but otherwise it will run as above.

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148 (M. J. Keating) Stereopticon, 3 shows, 5 min. in 1--Usual collection of home and foreign views. James Kennedy and Belle James, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--Talking, singing and dancing comedians. All right in an early place on the bill. Bertina, 3 shows, 9 min. in 3--Novelty contortion dancer of fair ability. This sort of act never goes strong with our audience Ruth Nelta, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1--Singer of "coon" ballads. Makes a good stage appearance but is not blessed with much voice. Closed without applause, being the only act on the bill that did. Barr and Evans, 3 shows, 17 min. in 3--Presenting a character change comedy sketch, which was received with exceptional laughter, especially provoked by the woman's ludicrous burlesque makeup as a servant girl. It was probably the best place they have ever had in any of our bills and they made good. Dorothy Kenton, 3 shows, 11 min. in 1--Pretty, modest and neatly dressed young girl, who is an excellent banjo player and would stand for a stronger place in the bill than I can give her this week. All her numbers were encored. John LeClair, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1--Made good opening, quite free from misses, and provoked more applause than is usually given acts of this kind. His juggling, so far as it goes, is equal to that of anyone in the business. Roberts, Hayes and Roberts, 2 shows, 20 min. open in 5, close in 1--Two men and a woman, in a character comedy, singing and dancing sketch, which went particularly strong at the finish. Personally, I dislike the turn, but the people who pay their money enjoy it and it is their choice. Marion Lamont, (Mrs. Jeanette Lovell), 2 shows, 11 min. in 1--Soprano singer of local prominence, being the widow of a deceased merchant and society man, who met with business reverses, a short time before his demise. She lacks magnetism, and her voice, though well trained, is metallic and does not cover a very wide range. She had several friends in the audience and will draw throughout the week, but I do not think she would be successful elsewhere. Quaker City Quartet, 2 shows, 25 min. open full stage, close in 1--Presenting their old barber shop sketch, which is familiar to everyone. Popular with theatregoers of this city, and went well today. The Vedmars, 3 shows, 11 min. full stage--Man and woman, in acrobatic and tumbling specialties, on the ground and single horizontal bar. The man makes up grotesquely, but the comedy does not amount to much, and the act can only be considered a good one from the 3-a-day viewpoint. Comment:- We had quite a large and enthusiastic audience this afternoon, and the show went well from start to finish, with the single exception of Nelta, as noted above. There is a good balance to it, which is really what pleases most. I will move Ramza and Arno up the bill for the evening show, but otherwise it will run as above.