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

Page 115

MAY 6, 1907.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    C.E. BARNS.
LA TELL BROTHERS, "Appollos of Vaudeville":-9 min. in 2 1/2. 3 shows. On at 7:30. These men make a very fine appearance in their posing, which lasts about four minutes, after which they do some very skilful strong-men work in the manner of the Belleclaire Bros. who were here last week. It was sufficiently varied from the other act to rob it of any suggestion of imitation. Every one of their feats got good hand and the close was rousing for an act of this kind.
BELL BOY TRIO, Comedians:- 14 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:39. Practically the same act as was offered here before. One of the boys works as a "booby", another a Hebrew, the third a tough. Good three-a-day act.
GENNARO'S BAND:-30 min. F.S. 2 shows. On at 7:53. This act has been described from Providence. Gennaro is a good deal of a buffo, and requires the whole stage to display his talents in that direction. It is very Italian in humor and consequently the audience did not get on to his fun as soon as they otherwise would have done. Some times it is doubtful as to whether he is playing foot-ball, tennis, shooting crap, or bowling ten-pins,- he occupies the entire centre of the stage and seems to delight in making his mannerisms catch the crowd. The musicians are fairly well dressed and play exceptionally well. Each one of their selections received good hand. The opening part, with guitarists and the woman-soloist, is not particularly impressive and just about gets by. The patriotic airs at the close received immense applause and when the "Star Spangled Banner" was played, man, woman and child rose to their feet. Gave an encore with five curtain calls. Last night, after his first number, his performance was a riot to the finish.
AMERICUS COMEDY FOUR, Voc. & Com:- 17 min. in 1. close in 2. 2 shows. On at 8:23. Mainly burlesque on Vesta Victoria. The costuming of this act is very grotesque and the travesty on Victoria's songs are amusing, but by no means a scream, owing doubtless to the fact that Victoria was here only last week and the songs are not changed in any way from the original except in the last song where "Waiting at the Church" was sung in German. This was a hit. Good applause at the finish with curtain call. Something of a disappointment to our audience and went up the line after the first performance. At the night performance they were almost a hit in their new position on the bill.
HENRI De VRIES & CO., "A Case of Arson"-(Protean):- 20 min. F.S. 2 shows. On at 8:40. With all deference to Mr. De Vries as an artist, it must be admitted that William Courtleigh, when he stole De Vries' thunder, infused into it a lot of his own previous lightning. His work was an artistic success in a way, and received respectful attention throughout and some applause. The finish was fair, with two curtain calls, but he did not make the impressive hit that was expected of him. More than that, De Vrie's support in the persons of the magistrate and the usher were much weaker than by Courtleigh's. The most lamentable falling-off however, is in swiftness of action as well as strong differentiation of the characters. In this regard Courtleigh seemed to have him beaten a mile. De Vries is somewhat handicapped by his dialect. As a protean feature R.A. Roberts has it all over De Vries. As an ordinary two-a-day eight-thirty act it would get by, but as a loud-trumpeted, heavily-billed topliner, De Vries is a distinct fall-down.


COURTNEY & DUNN:- Three-a-day act which was sent over to fill in time.


the various features stood out better and the show ran much smoother. Business continues to be big in spite of the opposition, both in another house across the way, and Forepaugh & Sells Circus.
CUTS AND OBJECTIONS:-
WM. GOULD & VALESKA SURATT:- I'm staying at the St. James, where all the big bugs stay.--" "We have just as big bugs where I am staying."-

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MAY 6, 1907. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C.E. BARNS. LA TELL BROTHERS, "Appollos of Vaudeville":-9 min. in 2 1/2. 3 shows. On at 7:30. These men make a very fine appearance in their posing, which lasts about four minutes, after which they do some very skilful strong-men work in the manner of the Belleclaire Bros. who were here last week. It was sufficiently varied from the other act to rob it of any suggestion of imitation. Every one of their feats got good hand and the close was rousing for an act of this kind. BELL BOY TRIO, Comedians:- 14 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:39. Practically the same act as was offered here before. One of the boys works as a "booby", another a Hebrew, the third a tough. Good three-a-day act. GENNARO'S BAND:-30 min. F.S. 2 shows. On at 7:53. This act has been described from Providence. Gennaro is a good deal of a buffo, and requires the whole stage to display his talents in that direction. It is very Italian in humor and consequently the audience did not get on to his fun as soon as they otherwise would have done. Some times it is doubtful as to whether he is playing foot-ball, tennis, shooting crap, or bowling ten-pins,- he occupies the entire centre of the stage and seems to delight in making his mannerisms catch the crowd. The musicians are fairly well dressed and play exceptionally well. Each one of their selections received good hand. The opening part, with guitarists and the woman-soloist, is not particularly impressive and just about gets by. The patriotic airs at the close received immense applause and when the "Star Spangled Banner" was played, man, woman and child rose to their feet. Gave an encore with five curtain calls. Last night, after his first number, his performance was a riot to the finish. AMERICUS COMEDY FOUR, Voc. & Com:- 17 min. in 1. close in 2. 2 shows. On at 8:23. Mainly burlesque on Vesta Victoria. The costuming of this act is very grotesque and the travesty on Victoria's songs are amusing, but by no means a scream, owing doubtless to the fact that Victoria was here only last week and the songs are not changed in any way from the original except in the last song where "Waiting at the Church" was sung in German. This was a hit. Good applause at the finish with curtain call. Something of a disappointment to our audience and went up the line after the first performance. At the night performance they were almost a hit in their new position on the bill. HENRI De VRIES & CO., "A Case of Arson"-(Protean):- 20 min. F.S. 2 shows. On at 8:40. With all deference to Mr. De Vries as an artist, it must be admitted that William Courtleigh, when he stole De Vries' thunder, infused into it a lot of his own previous lightning. His work was an artistic success in a way, and received respectful attention throughout and some applause. The finish was fair, with two curtain calls, but he did not make the impressive hit that was expected of him. More than that, De Vrie's support in the persons of the magistrate and the usher were much weaker than by Courtleigh's. The most lamentable falling-off however, is in swiftness of action as well as strong differentiation of the characters. In this regard Courtleigh seemed to have him beaten a mile. De Vries is somewhat handicapped by his dialect. As a protean feature R.A. Roberts has it all over De Vries. As an ordinary two-a-day eight-thirty act it would get by, but as a loud-trumpeted, heavily-billed topliner, De Vries is a distinct fall-down. COURTNEY & DUNN:- Three-a-day act which was sent over to fill in time. the various features stood out better and the show ran much smoother. Business continues to be big in spite of the opposition, both in another house across the way, and Forepaugh & Sells Circus. CUTS AND OBJECTIONS:- WM. GOULD & VALESKA SURATT:- I'm staying at the St. James, where all the big bugs stay.--" "We have just as big bugs where I am staying."-