DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, February 4-September 9, 1907

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, February 4-September 9, 1907

Page 6a

Cook & Madison. On at 2.56, 14 min, in 1. Are doing very well in this spot. It seems strange that these fellows do not get a quantity of new material. By so doing, their value would be greatly enhanced, for a good many of our old-timers still remember Smith & Cook, and Cook & Sonora.
Lind. On at 3.10, 10 min, full stage. In many respects the greatest female impersonator I have ever seen. His make-ups are absolutely marvelous. The effect upon the audience when he reveals his identity as a man is almost startling. I would repeat the advice that some one else has already given, "Do not use the word 'female' in his billing or program matter". It destroys the effect of his denouement. Carrying his own special drops.
Jack Wilson Trio. On at 3.20, 20 min, in 1. One of our best blackface singing and dancing acts. Their start is a little slow, but they finish strongly. They are inclined to be a little coarse, and I had to make a number of cuts on Monday.
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Drew. On at 3.40, 20 min, full stage. Presenting "When Two Hearts are Won", one of the most amusing sketches in vaudeville, and played to perfection. Thee people could stay three or four weeks in this house, by changing their sketch each week.
Trixie Friganza. On at 4.00, 16 min, in . Miss Friganza is doing even better than I had dared hope, in this spot. Whether she could do it in all of the other houses is a question. She works more like Dressler than any comedienne I have seen in vaudeville. She has three corking good songs, and some funny patter. She could do another song, but for the fact that she is so far down on the bill that I think 16 good minutes are better than 22 fair ones.
Kaufmann Troupe. On at 4.16, 16 min, full stage. "They ride supreme". I had my doubts about their holding the audience, as they have been here so many times, and I thought that I would like to have had another strong closing act, so as to enable me to put them up the bill, but they held both audiences as well as any act possibly could, yesterday. Consequently, my hat is off to them.

Kinetograph. On at 4.32, 20 min. "The Mechanical Statue", a fair comic film. "Customs Officers and Smugglers", quite interesting, and sensational in spots. "The Wind Doth Blow", very good comic, extravagant of course, but gets the laughs.
It is getting pretty hard work these days to get films ahead of the 5 and 10-cent shows, and I wish that some way could be devised so that the Circuit could control new films for a certain length of time, but I suppose this is impossible, as Mr. Waters tells me that the manufacturers have even better customers than he; that is, people who will buy more feet of new films than he can.
Cook & Madison. Stop using names of Nicholas Longworth, Count de Castellane, Gladys Vanderbilt and Alice Roosevelt.
Wilson Trio. Cut "Stars and Stripes" verse in song; remarks about "Monkey cage in Central Park". Instructed the one who makes up as wench not to raise skirts so high. Told not to use remark about "Confirmation suit", and the expressions, "Well, for ---" and "What the ---".
Trixie Friganza. Stopped drummer tearing cloth, to make the audience believe her skirt had been torn. Instructed not to talk to the audience. This on account of some remarks she addressed to a gentleman who started up the aisle while she was on in the afternoon.
Waldron Bros. Expression "Please may I go out". 
Comment. This show is much better than it looks on paper, and seems to be giving excellent satisfaction. Of course, it is not ideal, but it is well up to the average. Lack of a big novelty is its striking fault.

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Cook & Madison. On at 2.56, 14 min, in 1. Are doing very well in this spot. It seems strange that these fellows do not get a quantity of new material. By so doing, their value would be greatly enhanced, for a good many of our old-timers still remember Smith & Cook, and Cook & Sonora. Lind. On at 3.10, 10 min, full stage. In many respects the greatest female impersonator I have ever seen. His make-ups are absolutely marvelous. The effect upon the audience when he reveals his identity as a man is almost startling. I would repeat the advice that some one else has already given, "Do not use the word 'female' in his billing or program matter". It destroys the effect of his denouement. Carrying his own special drops. Jack Wilson Trio. On at 3.20, 20 min, in 1. One of our best blackface singing and dancing acts. Their start is a little slow, but they finish strongly. They are inclined to be a little coarse, and I had to make a number of cuts on Monday. Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Drew. On at 3.40, 20 min, full stage. Presenting "When Two Hearts are Won", one of the most amusing sketches in vaudeville, and played to perfection. Thee people could stay three or four weeks in this house, by changing their sketch each week. Trixie Friganza. On at 4.00, 16 min, in . Miss Friganza is doing even better than I had dared hope, in this spot. Whether she could do it in all of the other houses is a question. She works more like Dressler than any comedienne I have seen in vaudeville. She has three corking good songs, and some funny patter. She could do another song, but for the fact that she is so far down on the bill that I think 16 good minutes are better than 22 fair ones. Kaufmann Troupe. On at 4.16, 16 min, full stage. "They ride supreme". I had my doubts about their holding the audience, as they have been here so many times, and I thought that I would like to have had another strong closing act, so as to enable me to put them up the bill, but they held both audiences as well as any act possibly could, yesterday. Consequently, my hat is off to them. Kinetograph. On at 4.32, 20 min. "The Mechanical Statue", a fair comic film. "Customs Officers and Smugglers", quite interesting, and sensational in spots. "The Wind Doth Blow", very good comic, extravagant of course, but gets the laughs. It is getting pretty hard work these days to get films ahead of the 5 and 10-cent shows, and I wish that some way could be devised so that the Circuit could control new films for a certain length of time, but I suppose this is impossible, as Mr. Waters tells me that the manufacturers have even better customers than he; that is, people who will buy more feet of new films than he can. Cook & Madison. Stop using names of Nicholas Longworth, Count de Castellane, Gladys Vanderbilt and Alice Roosevelt. Wilson Trio. Cut "Stars and Stripes" verse in song; remarks about "Monkey cage in Central Park". Instructed the one who makes up as wench not to raise skirts so high. Told not to use remark about "Confirmation suit", and the expressions, "Well, for ---" and "What the ---". Trixie Friganza. Stopped drummer tearing cloth, to make the audience believe her skirt had been torn. Instructed not to talk to the audience. This on account of some remarks she addressed to a gentleman who started up the aisle while she was on in the afternoon. Waldron Bros. Expression "Please may I go out". Comment. This show is much better than it looks on paper, and seems to be giving excellent satisfaction. Of course, it is not ideal, but it is well up to the average. Lack of a big novelty is its striking fault.