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 191

CRITICISM, KEITH'S BIJOU, February 15th. 1904.
STEREOPTICON. Usual collection of views. 10 minutes.
Two Macks. Drop in one. 13 minutes. Two local young people, boy and girl, 12 and 14 years of age, neat appearance and well dressed. Their previous experience in amateur entertainments about town added no value, they being nervous for a good part of act. Neither of them can sing to any extenet but their dancing carried them through nicely and they earned good applause after each of their songs and very fair applause at the close. Are rather weak at this point but can get by here. 3 shows.
RENO & SMITH. Garden in 4   11 minutes. One straight, the other eccentric makeup. Pair do some very clever acrobatic work. Some of their tumbling and jumping being of the kind that is easily approved. Reno, who plays the comedy part, has an excellent idea of the comedy points that would land but his idea of the proper way to land them is a little bit hazy. However, to-day, they gained applause throughout the whole of the act and finished very strongly. In fact better than any act placed in this position for many weeks past. If they are new to this work and with this act, any improvement they can work in at all, will make it a strong act, well worth booking. 3 shows.
ORCHESTRA. Usual excellent quality of selection. 5 minutes. 
Barrett SISTERS. Drapery in one. 8 minutes. Two attractive and well dressed girls in singing and dancing. They have lately been leading McMahon's Watermelon Girls, and being without work this week, were at home. The singing of the pair is just fair enough to pass but they conclude with two stretches of clog shoe dancing, difficult steps, executed very cleverly, enabling them to close very strong. 3 shows.
JOHN R. HARTY. Plain chamber   14 minutes. Can close in one if necessary. Harty's clever and dexterous work as the juggling waiter was nicely received. His comedy earning many laughs and creating a good feeling for him amongst his auditors. Closed very strong and gets by nicely in this position. 3 shows.
O'ROURKE & BURNETTE TRIO. This paid, O'Rourke & Burnette are known all over the circuit by the clever dancing they have done for many years. While they are not singers they earned good applause in this line by the introduction of their male off-spring, a boy of ten or twelve years of age, the possessor of a good, strong singing voice, which immediately stamped their act as very good in the opinion of to-days audience. Their dancing thereafter was better received and closing with some clever dancing by the boy, the trio made their exit to almost tremendous applause, earning at least two recalls, and it is safe to say that no act on the bill to-day was more heartily applauded. The addition of the boy, improves the value of the act 50%, if not more. 3 shows.
AL. LAWRENCE. Drop in one. 23 minutes. Lawrence's versatility and the addition of many new features and jests to the line of talk recently offered by him, and added since his last appearance here, has considerably improved his act throughout. Was greeted with much laughter and frequently interrupted with applause. Closed good and strong. 3 shows.



satisfactory, entertaining and without doubt genuine applause winners. The O'Rourke & Burnette Trio were really the strong hit of the show to-day, due to the fact that their young off-spring is very clever and his [???] were doubtless influenced by the creditable appearance of Buster Keaton who was here last week. With such a bill the business should keep up to the top-notch and result in a most satisfactory week for us.
P. S. Howard & Bland who were billed by us, did not appear and we knew nothing of their intention not to, until Crimmons & Gore were sent over from New York. They will take Howard & Blands place and a criticism of their act will be appended.
Crimmons & Gore did not arrive in time to work to-night.

E. P. LYONS.

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CRITICISM, KEITH'S BIJOU, February 15th. 1904. STEREOPTICON. Usual collection of views. 10 minutes. Two Macks. Drop in one. 13 minutes. Two local young people, boy and girl, 12 and 14 years of age, neat appearance and well dressed. Their previous experience in amateur entertainments about town added no value, they being nervous for a good part of act. Neither of them can sing to any extenet but their dancing carried them through nicely and they earned good applause after each of their songs and very fair applause at the close. Are rather weak at this point but can get by here. 3 shows. RENO & SMITH. Garden in 4 11 minutes. One straight, the other eccentric makeup. Pair do some very clever acrobatic work. Some of their tumbling and jumping being of the kind that is easily approved. Reno, who plays the comedy part, has an excellent idea of the comedy points that would land but his idea of the proper way to land them is a little bit hazy. However, to-day, they gained applause throughout the whole of the act and finished very strongly. In fact better than any act placed in this position for many weeks past. If they are new to this work and with this act, any improvement they can work in at all, will make it a strong act, well worth booking. 3 shows. ORCHESTRA. Usual excellent quality of selection. 5 minutes. Barrett SISTERS. Drapery in one. 8 minutes. Two attractive and well dressed girls in singing and dancing. They have lately been leading McMahon's Watermelon Girls, and being without work this week, were at home. The singing of the pair is just fair enough to pass but they conclude with two stretches of clog shoe dancing, difficult steps, executed very cleverly, enabling them to close very strong. 3 shows. JOHN R. HARTY. Plain chamber 14 minutes. Can close in one if necessary. Harty's clever and dexterous work as the juggling waiter was nicely received. His comedy earning many laughs and creating a good feeling for him amongst his auditors. Closed very strong and gets by nicely in this position. 3 shows. O'ROURKE & BURNETTE TRIO. This paid, O'Rourke & Burnette are known all over the circuit by the clever dancing they have done for many years. While they are not singers they earned good applause in this line by the introduction of their male off-spring, a boy of ten or twelve years of age, the possessor of a good, strong singing voice, which immediately stamped their act as very good in the opinion of to-days audience. Their dancing thereafter was better received and closing with some clever dancing by the boy, the trio made their exit to almost tremendous applause, earning at least two recalls, and it is safe to say that no act on the bill to-day was more heartily applauded. The addition of the boy, improves the value of the act 50%, if not more. 3 shows. AL. LAWRENCE. Drop in one. 23 minutes. Lawrence's versatility and the addition of many new features and jests to the line of talk recently offered by him, and added since his last appearance here, has considerably improved his act throughout. Was greeted with much laughter and frequently interrupted with applause. Closed good and strong. 3 shows. satisfactory, entertaining and without doubt genuine applause winners. The O'Rourke & Burnette Trio were really the strong hit of the show to-day, due to the fact that their young off-spring is very clever and his [???] were doubtless influenced by the creditable appearance of Buster Keaton who was here last week. With such a bill the business should keep up to the top-notch and result in a most satisfactory week for us. P. S. Howard & Bland who were billed by us, did not appear and we knew nothing of their intention not to, until Crimmons & Gore were sent over from New York. They will take Howard & Blands place and a criticism of their act will be appended. Crimmons & Gore did not arrive in time to work to-night. E. P. LYONS.