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

Page 201

PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    AUG. 12, 1907.    C. E. BARNS.
SYLVAN & O'NEAL. 12 min. F. S. There is no originality in this sketch. The woman makes two changes of costume. There is a little singing and some fairly good acrobatic work by the man, but the comedy upon which they rely to make the act interesting, is lacking. They use all the old laugh-getters--the slap-stick, snap rubber in the face, the boquet with the string, the cast-iron cigar etc. Got very few laughs and went off with a small hand.
ITALIA. 9 min. in 1. There is nothing in this girl's act but her dancing and her costume. She has no voice. The songs are well written and in the hands of other artists would win out. As it was she has a hard time to fill the spot in the 3-a-day.
GOETZ & NELSON. 11 min. F. S. This act would make a good opener. They work on revolving globe, see-saw, table with chairs, indian clubs etc. The act lacks coherence but the jumping and acrobatic work is strong enough to win applause. Went off with a fairly good hand.
MC GRATH & PAIGE. 12 min. in 1. A typical vaudeville act. Man and woman. The latter quite pretty and both skillful performers. Their selections were well received for an act of this kind. Went off to good applause.
CARLETTA. 10 min. F. S. This is without exception the best contortionist act I ever saw. It deserves one of the best spots on the bill, because it comes near being a feature act which would stand strong billing Carletta first appears in the form of a dragon with flaming jaws, brilliant scales. He is lying on the top of a colossal tree-stump at the rising of the curtain and it is some moments before the audience wakes up to the fact that it is not some sort of a weird "prop" animal instead of a human being in this weirdest of all make ups. Carletta proceeds to tie himself into knots then disappears into one enormous knot-hole of the tree and out another with slippery lizard-like motions then suddenly liberates himself from the shell and appears in a very stunning costume, fitting the entire body like a glove. He then proceeds with some contortion work that is simply wonderful and brings strong applause. As an encore act he crawls through the bars of a large prop chair and went off with a splendid hand. I have seen no end of contortion acts, but for skill and general presentation Carletta leads them all.


ALABAMA COMEDY FOUR. 16 min. in 1. For an act so remarkable in appearance this is a very acceptable coon number. They are all good singers and their chorus work comes pretty near being of a high order. There is not quite enough of that and a little too much crazy comedy and eccentric dancing. They were also a little unkempt in appearance. Nevertheless as acts of this kind go, it left a good impression. Encore and two curtain calls.
MULLEN & CORELLI. 11 min. F. S. Well known on the Circuit. One works straight and the other eccentric, with two changes of costume. Both are expert tumblers and athletes. Use regulation lot of business to get laughs. Comedian's line of talk is very bright, and kept the audience in good humor. Closed with their well-known trick-piano, getting a good finishing hand.
JOE DEMMING. 14 min. in 1. Makes a good appearance. Has splendid line of songs. Liked from the first. Encore and three curtain calls.


a genuine laugh, the fun being of the rougher order but displaying good character study. Each has a very fair voice, and the solos and chorus took quite strong. The "School Days" song brought an encore and two curtain calls. The Virginia song went big and brought four  curtain calls. This is a thoroughly satisfactory act for this spot on the bill.
BETH STONE. The Topsy-Turvy Toe Dancer. 7 min. F. S. A short act but is valuable in that it could be placed any where on the bill in order to separate features that are too much alike, as happened to-day when it was brought down from 8:30 to 9:59 to balance the bill. Makes a very pretty picture with dainty costume. Opens with a song fairly well given, then proceeds to some of the skillful toe dancing ever seen here. The jury liked her and showed their appreciation heartily.
CLIFFORD AND BURKE. 18 min. in 1. Well known on the Circuit. Introduced a new lot of stuff, together with their old line of the imaginary "ladies" whom they are to "take to the opera" Kept the audience in good humor and closed big after the eccentric dancing.


particularly rich in comedy and music.

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PHILADELPHIA SHOW. AUG. 12, 1907. C. E. BARNS. SYLVAN & O'NEAL. 12 min. F. S. There is no originality in this sketch. The woman makes two changes of costume. There is a little singing and some fairly good acrobatic work by the man, but the comedy upon which they rely to make the act interesting, is lacking. They use all the old laugh-getters--the slap-stick, snap rubber in the face, the boquet with the string, the cast-iron cigar etc. Got very few laughs and went off with a small hand. ITALIA. 9 min. in 1. There is nothing in this girl's act but her dancing and her costume. She has no voice. The songs are well written and in the hands of other artists would win out. As it was she has a hard time to fill the spot in the 3-a-day. GOETZ & NELSON. 11 min. F. S. This act would make a good opener. They work on revolving globe, see-saw, table with chairs, indian clubs etc. The act lacks coherence but the jumping and acrobatic work is strong enough to win applause. Went off with a fairly good hand. MC GRATH & PAIGE. 12 min. in 1. A typical vaudeville act. Man and woman. The latter quite pretty and both skillful performers. Their selections were well received for an act of this kind. Went off to good applause. CARLETTA. 10 min. F. S. This is without exception the best contortionist act I ever saw. It deserves one of the best spots on the bill, because it comes near being a feature act which would stand strong billing Carletta first appears in the form of a dragon with flaming jaws, brilliant scales. He is lying on the top of a colossal tree-stump at the rising of the curtain and it is some moments before the audience wakes up to the fact that it is not some sort of a weird "prop" animal instead of a human being in this weirdest of all make ups. Carletta proceeds to tie himself into knots then disappears into one enormous knot-hole of the tree and out another with slippery lizard-like motions then suddenly liberates himself from the shell and appears in a very stunning costume, fitting the entire body like a glove. He then proceeds with some contortion work that is simply wonderful and brings strong applause. As an encore act he crawls through the bars of a large prop chair and went off with a splendid hand. I have seen no end of contortion acts, but for skill and general presentation Carletta leads them all. ALABAMA COMEDY FOUR. 16 min. in 1. For an act so remarkable in appearance this is a very acceptable coon number. They are all good singers and their chorus work comes pretty near being of a high order. There is not quite enough of that and a little too much crazy comedy and eccentric dancing. They were also a little unkempt in appearance. Nevertheless as acts of this kind go, it left a good impression. Encore and two curtain calls. MULLEN & CORELLI. 11 min. F. S. Well known on the Circuit. One works straight and the other eccentric, with two changes of costume. Both are expert tumblers and athletes. Use regulation lot of business to get laughs. Comedian's line of talk is very bright, and kept the audience in good humor. Closed with their well-known trick-piano, getting a good finishing hand. JOE DEMMING. 14 min. in 1. Makes a good appearance. Has splendid line of songs. Liked from the first. Encore and three curtain calls. a genuine laugh, the fun being of the rougher order but displaying good character study. Each has a very fair voice, and the solos and chorus took quite strong. The "School Days" song brought an encore and two curtain calls. The Virginia song went big and brought four curtain calls. This is a thoroughly satisfactory act for this spot on the bill. BETH STONE. The Topsy-Turvy Toe Dancer. 7 min. F. S. A short act but is valuable in that it could be placed any where on the bill in order to separate features that are too much alike, as happened to-day when it was brought down from 8:30 to 9:59 to balance the bill. Makes a very pretty picture with dainty costume. Opens with a song fairly well given, then proceeds to some of the skillful toe dancing ever seen here. The jury liked her and showed their appreciation heartily. CLIFFORD AND BURKE. 18 min. in 1. Well known on the Circuit. Introduced a new lot of stuff, together with their old line of the imaginary "ladies" whom they are to "take to the opera" Kept the audience in good humor and closed big after the eccentric dancing. particularly rich in comedy and music.