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 177

177
Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of Feb. 8, 1904. (Charles Lovenberg)
The show in its early part amounts to very little while the big end is very strong and as a whole I think will win out.
John J. Desmond. Bag puncher. The same criticism that was given this act in the other Houses will apply here. 10 min. full stage, 3 shows.
Smith & Powell. Colored man and woman in a singing and dancing act, style that is usual with an act of this kind. At best it can only be rated as fair. They have some little value because they work in one and are all right in the very early part of the bill. 15 min. 3 shows.
Wilbur Ames. Clown juggler. His act is fair; of the ordinary juggling type finishing with spinning plates on a table which is the feature of his act and goes well. 14 min. open full stage, close in one, 3 shows.
Hodgkins & Leith. A comedy sketch in which man impersonates an old country man and the woman an old maid of the giddy type. They get some laughs out of the love scene which they have and singing a couple of songs that are reminders of the days when Sol Smith Russell and Sam Hodgkins were doing stunts with the Swiss Bell Ringers  The act gets by and if it was on a little bit earlier might be rated as fair from a three a day standpoint. 15 min. in three, 3 shows.
Harry Lester. Monologuist. He has quite a bright line of jokes and songs and finishes strongly with the best imitation of George Cohan I ever saw. If a person were to walk in and not know who was on the stage they would almost swear that Cohan was doing the singing and he makes up to look like him in every way. A really wonderful piece of work. 15 min. in one, 3 shows.
Ballerini's Dogs. The same criticism that has been applied to this act in the other Houses will stand here. 10 min. full stage. Can do a short close in one, 2 shows.
Misses Delmore. Vocal and instrumental selections. Very nice dainty turn and which was thoroughly appreciated by the audience this afternoon. 17 min. in one, 2 shows.
John Ford & Mayme Gehrue. This act was something of a disappointment. A singing and dancing act from them would be much more satisfactory. Ford is a lamentable failure as a comedian and couldn't get away with his jokes at all. They manage to hold their own with their dancing which is of course, as good as any-body could give. 21 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows.
Clara Ballerini. Trapezist. I like this girl's work better than that of any person I know in her line and the audience coincided with me the act making a decided hit. 10 min. full stage, 2 shows.
Fields & Ward. About one half of their act is new and they have a parody melody on popular songs that is about as clever as any of its kind that I ever heard. They were a distinct hit this afternoon. 20 min. in one, 2 shows.
Valerie Bergere & Company. In "My Japanese Wife". This is a very well constructed little play and Miss Bergere's work is certainly artistic. It is a high class comedy and in many points gets quite a lot of laughter and makes up for the lack of hilarious comedy by the artistic work of the Author as well as the Star. She is also well supported and brings a lot of special bric-a-brac and properties that materially add to the effect of the scene. For us at least, she is well worth all we pay. 30 min. full stage. 2 shows.

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177 Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of Feb. 8, 1904. (Charles Lovenberg) The show in its early part amounts to very little while the big end is very strong and as a whole I think will win out. John J. Desmond. Bag puncher. The same criticism that was given this act in the other Houses will apply here. 10 min. full stage, 3 shows. Smith & Powell. Colored man and woman in a singing and dancing act, style that is usual with an act of this kind. At best it can only be rated as fair. They have some little value because they work in one and are all right in the very early part of the bill. 15 min. 3 shows. Wilbur Ames. Clown juggler. His act is fair; of the ordinary juggling type finishing with spinning plates on a table which is the feature of his act and goes well. 14 min. open full stage, close in one, 3 shows. Hodgkins & Leith. A comedy sketch in which man impersonates an old country man and the woman an old maid of the giddy type. They get some laughs out of the love scene which they have and singing a couple of songs that are reminders of the days when Sol Smith Russell and Sam Hodgkins were doing stunts with the Swiss Bell Ringers The act gets by and if it was on a little bit earlier might be rated as fair from a three a day standpoint. 15 min. in three, 3 shows. Harry Lester. Monologuist. He has quite a bright line of jokes and songs and finishes strongly with the best imitation of George Cohan I ever saw. If a person were to walk in and not know who was on the stage they would almost swear that Cohan was doing the singing and he makes up to look like him in every way. A really wonderful piece of work. 15 min. in one, 3 shows. Ballerini's Dogs. The same criticism that has been applied to this act in the other Houses will stand here. 10 min. full stage. Can do a short close in one, 2 shows. Misses Delmore. Vocal and instrumental selections. Very nice dainty turn and which was thoroughly appreciated by the audience this afternoon. 17 min. in one, 2 shows. John Ford & Mayme Gehrue. This act was something of a disappointment. A singing and dancing act from them would be much more satisfactory. Ford is a lamentable failure as a comedian and couldn't get away with his jokes at all. They manage to hold their own with their dancing which is of course, as good as any-body could give. 21 min. open in three close in one, 2 shows. Clara Ballerini. Trapezist. I like this girl's work better than that of any person I know in her line and the audience coincided with me the act making a decided hit. 10 min. full stage, 2 shows. Fields & Ward. About one half of their act is new and they have a parody melody on popular songs that is about as clever as any of its kind that I ever heard. They were a distinct hit this afternoon. 20 min. in one, 2 shows. Valerie Bergere & Company. In "My Japanese Wife". This is a very well constructed little play and Miss Bergere's work is certainly artistic. It is a high class comedy and in many points gets quite a lot of laughter and makes up for the lack of hilarious comedy by the artistic work of the Author as well as the Star. She is also well supported and brings a lot of special bric-a-brac and properties that materially add to the effect of the scene. For us at least, she is well worth all we pay. 30 min. full stage. 2 shows.