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 155

155
NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 1904.
HR 3--CHALK SAUNDERS.-- Crayon artist. This fellow does as good a crayon act as we have ever played. The only bad feature of it being that it is rather short. He only did 7 minutes today, but we will try and have that lengthened a little, although I should imagine that 10 minutes would be about all that he could fill. He can work entirely in 2, and probably in one where the apron is wide enough.
NH 3--LIZZIE N. WILSON.-- Character songs. This young woman is a sister to Al Wilson, the German comedian, and in New York at least I imagine that her act can go down considerably farther on the bill than where I had placed her this afternoon. The singing of "coon" songs naturally got the younger portion of our audience in great shape. 12 minutes in 1.
JOHN LE CLAIR.-- GRR3.--Le Claire does about the most reliable and at the same time one of the most clever juggling acts that is presented by any American performer. Indeed, there are many European performers who hardly could excel him in the manipulation of the different objects. If he had the idea of makeup which most of the foreign performers possess, he could easily class with the best of them. As it is, he does an act that is acceptable at all times. 16 minutes, open full stage and close in one.
KR 3--WOOD & RAY.-- A man and a woman in an eccentric talking act. The sketch has no resemblance of plot or reason of any description, but they manage to hold the attention of the audience closely from start to finish with a lot of crazy cross-fire talk, the man making up as a sort of exaggerated conception of a broken-down actor, and the woman dressing straight. 14 minutes, open full stage, and closing in 1.
NH 3--RENO & SMITH.-- Billed as an acrobatic comedy act. The comedy part of it is not especially apparent, the only effort in that direction being a sort of grotesque make-up; otherwise they do quite a good acrobatic act, concluding with some jumping in and out of barrels. 10 minutes, full stage.
KH 3--THE GREGSONS.--A man and a woman in a neatly dressed singing act, in which they make two or three different changes of costumes, and close with a graceful little dance. It is thoroughly all right in the three-show section, but should be a little earlier on the bill than I had them this afternoon, which I shall do this evening and switch them with Lizzie Wilson. 14 minutes in one.
GRR.--2--THE LAMONTS.-- This is an act in which we got more than we expected, in as much as they were contracted to me for two persons and gave me three--two men and one woman--and they do about as interesting an acrobatic act as any one would care to see, all their work being clever and all of the performers being neatly costumed. 10 minutes, full stage.
YRR--2--WORLD TRIO.-- Two women and one man in a comedy and singing act which presents quite an element of novelty, the two women opening the act in one and impersonating some East Side girls. Naturally this style of work goes much better in this town than it does elsewhere, but I was prepared to make some whole sale cuttings in the act on account of the report from Philadelphia. Possibly the trimming up of the act over there put them on their guard, at any rate they did nothing or said nothing today that could give any offense. After their first appearance in one, the man comes on and gives a little monologue which is rather mediocre and then sings a song. There is then another change to full stage, when the women come on in short dresses and sing a song, and then all three appear in a very pretty ward-robe which is covered with Rhine stones and working on a semi-dark stage make a pretty effect. For this house at least, it is a mighty good act and went excellently this afternoon. 18 minutes, can open in one and close in one if necessary.


GRR--2--4 DONAZETTIS.--These are the four performers who have been so long doing the "span of life" with the dramatic shows. They are now attempting an act, the first part of which is supposed to be comedy, introducing a sort of trick house. This portion of the act is not very strong, although there is nothing about it that is offensive. For their finish they do their straight acrobatic work which is very good. The act is put on here for a trial, and for the figure that I am paying them is well worth the money. 17 minutes, full stage.
HR--BIOGRAPH.-- A very good selection of views this week. The feature of which is a panoramic view of a hop field which is somewhat novel and evidently pleased the audience immensely.
S. K. HODGDON.

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155 NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 1904. HR 3--CHALK SAUNDERS.-- Crayon artist. This fellow does as good a crayon act as we have ever played. The only bad feature of it being that it is rather short. He only did 7 minutes today, but we will try and have that lengthened a little, although I should imagine that 10 minutes would be about all that he could fill. He can work entirely in 2, and probably in one where the apron is wide enough. NH 3--LIZZIE N. WILSON.-- Character songs. This young woman is a sister to Al Wilson, the German comedian, and in New York at least I imagine that her act can go down considerably farther on the bill than where I had placed her this afternoon. The singing of "coon" songs naturally got the younger portion of our audience in great shape. 12 minutes in 1. JOHN LE CLAIR.-- GRR3.--Le Claire does about the most reliable and at the same time one of the most clever juggling acts that is presented by any American performer. Indeed, there are many European performers who hardly could excel him in the manipulation of the different objects. If he had the idea of makeup which most of the foreign performers possess, he could easily class with the best of them. As it is, he does an act that is acceptable at all times. 16 minutes, open full stage and close in one. KR 3--WOOD & RAY.-- A man and a woman in an eccentric talking act. The sketch has no resemblance of plot or reason of any description, but they manage to hold the attention of the audience closely from start to finish with a lot of crazy cross-fire talk, the man making up as a sort of exaggerated conception of a broken-down actor, and the woman dressing straight. 14 minutes, open full stage, and closing in 1. NH 3--RENO & SMITH.-- Billed as an acrobatic comedy act. The comedy part of it is not especially apparent, the only effort in that direction being a sort of grotesque make-up; otherwise they do quite a good acrobatic act, concluding with some jumping in and out of barrels. 10 minutes, full stage. KH 3--THE GREGSONS.--A man and a woman in a neatly dressed singing act, in which they make two or three different changes of costumes, and close with a graceful little dance. It is thoroughly all right in the three-show section, but should be a little earlier on the bill than I had them this afternoon, which I shall do this evening and switch them with Lizzie Wilson. 14 minutes in one. GRR.--2--THE LAMONTS.-- This is an act in which we got more than we expected, in as much as they were contracted to me for two persons and gave me three--two men and one woman--and they do about as interesting an acrobatic act as any one would care to see, all their work being clever and all of the performers being neatly costumed. 10 minutes, full stage. YRR--2--WORLD TRIO.-- Two women and one man in a comedy and singing act which presents quite an element of novelty, the two women opening the act in one and impersonating some East Side girls. Naturally this style of work goes much better in this town than it does elsewhere, but I was prepared to make some whole sale cuttings in the act on account of the report from Philadelphia. Possibly the trimming up of the act over there put them on their guard, at any rate they did nothing or said nothing today that could give any offense. After their first appearance in one, the man comes on and gives a little monologue which is rather mediocre and then sings a song. There is then another change to full stage, when the women come on in short dresses and sing a song, and then all three appear in a very pretty ward-robe which is covered with Rhine stones and working on a semi-dark stage make a pretty effect. For this house at least, it is a mighty good act and went excellently this afternoon. 18 minutes, can open in one and close in one if necessary. GRR--2--4 DONAZETTIS.--These are the four performers who have been so long doing the "span of life" with the dramatic shows. They are now attempting an act, the first part of which is supposed to be comedy, introducing a sort of trick house. This portion of the act is not very strong, although there is nothing about it that is offensive. For their finish they do their straight acrobatic work which is very good. The act is put on here for a trial, and for the figure that I am paying them is well worth the money. 17 minutes, full stage. HR--BIOGRAPH.-- A very good selection of views this week. The feature of which is a panoramic view of a hop field which is somewhat novel and evidently pleased the audience immensely. S. K. HODGDON.