DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 28, 1908 - October 18, 1909

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 28, 1908 - October 18, 1909

Page 36

C. E. BARNS.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    FEB. 1-09.
DU BALL BROTHERS. 10 min. in one. Three young men making a good appearance. Their singing is of the conventional order, but their dancing, whether singly or together, is very far above the average. Good applause and well deserved it. Can hold a good spot.
LONDE & TILLY. 10 min. F.S. This is a mighty good act, Both the man and woman make a nice appearance in effective costumes, and the act goes with a real showman-like precision and grace. Man begins with some clever hand-dancing, then proceeds with some ladder work of the Risley order, and afterwards some clever feats on the high perch. Much of this has never been seen here before, and held the interest of the audience throughout. The finishing feat of equilibration on the high ladder is truly remarkable.
CARROLL JOHNSON. 20 min. in one. Small advance applause. Well known on the Circuit. Songs fair and line of talk likewise. Best part of the act is the minstrel imitation, including the tamborine work and the dancing. Closed with "Lucky Joe" recitation, that got a good hand. Rightly placed on the bill.
LA PETITE REVUE. 26 min. F.S. This is a novelty, that was very well liked. The act has been described fully elsewhere, and I think its reception here is about the same as that accorded it elsewhere. The voices are all carefully selected, and the music and lyrics are to be desired. Good applause for each selection, and a strong finish.
FRANCO PIPER. 14 min. in one. This man has certainly got the goods with his banjo. Whether it is Grand Opera music or trick playing, he is certainly equally at home. Strong hand after each number, and a good close. In order to accommodate us, Mr. Piper worked all in one.
CLAUDE GILLINGWATER & CO. "A Strenuous Rehearsal." 31 min. F.S. This is the same playlet as was presented here before, but it went even stronger. There is plenty of action and interest throughout, and the audience was keyed up to the brilliant finish. There is some mighty good emotional acting in the play as well as abundance of comedy.
SADIE JANSELL. 14 min. in one. This little girl is a favorite with Philadelphia audiences, and consequently she goes quite strong. Gave her usual imitations of stage celebrities. Well received by the jury and rightly placed on the program.
ARTURO BERNARDI. 26 min. F.S. This may is certainly the most remarkable actor, as far as versatility is concerned, ever seen in vaudeville. The Italian play, of course, is handicapped on account of the audience finding it rather difficult to follow the plot without first having read the synopsis. However, the speed with which the changes are made is very skilful and puzzling and holds the interest of the audience. The second part where Bernardi impersonates various composers increases his lead, but the crowning part of all is where he plays a little drama, and makes the changes in back of a transparent screen so that the audience can see his behind-scene work. This calls for continued applause every time a change is made, and brought the act up to a splendid finish today with seven curtain calls in every one of which he appeared in different costume. I think this act will be talked about, as it is novel and artistic.

LAROSE & LAGUSTA. 12 min F.S. Two men who do a very clever slack-wire stunt, one of them acting in the capacity of the pillar of strength supporting his partner on the wire. The latter does various stunts, such as walking inside a hoop on the wire while juggling spears and shields. This act would make a good opener.
KELLY & MAHLMAN. Singers and Dancers. 12 min. in one. These two young men are quite clever. Their singing is only fair, but their wooden shoe dancing was very lively and pleasing. A good three-a-day set.
DORANTO. 12 min. in two. This is only a fair three-a-day act. The man appears in Chinese costume with the pretty Chinese setting, plays on the samosen and other Chinese instruments and does a little singing. Good only for an obscure spot like this.
AMANDA GILBERT. 10 min. in one. Has a very good contralto voice and sings with good feeling and expression. A nice little three-a-day act indeed. Received very good applause.
GENERAL REMARKS. This bill certainly ought to please them. It moves along very smoothly and contains plenty of novelty and it leaves two big acts that will be talked about -- Bernardi and Howard's Ponies. Think it will do the business all right with our audiences this week.

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C. E. BARNS. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. FEB. 1-09. DU BALL BROTHERS. 10 min. in one. Three young men making a good appearance. Their singing is of the conventional order, but their dancing, whether singly or together, is very far above the average. Good applause and well deserved it. Can hold a good spot. LONDE & TILLY. 10 min. F.S. This is a mighty good act, Both the man and woman make a nice appearance in effective costumes, and the act goes with a real showman-like precision and grace. Man begins with some clever hand-dancing, then proceeds with some ladder work of the Risley order, and afterwards some clever feats on the high perch. Much of this has never been seen here before, and held the interest of the audience throughout. The finishing feat of equilibration on the high ladder is truly remarkable. CARROLL JOHNSON. 20 min. in one. Small advance applause. Well known on the Circuit. Songs fair and line of talk likewise. Best part of the act is the minstrel imitation, including the tamborine work and the dancing. Closed with "Lucky Joe" recitation, that got a good hand. Rightly placed on the bill. LA PETITE REVUE. 26 min. F.S. This is a novelty, that was very well liked. The act has been described fully elsewhere, and I think its reception here is about the same as that accorded it elsewhere. The voices are all carefully selected, and the music and lyrics are to be desired. Good applause for each selection, and a strong finish. FRANCO PIPER. 14 min. in one. This man has certainly got the goods with his banjo. Whether it is Grand Opera music or trick playing, he is certainly equally at home. Strong hand after each number, and a good close. In order to accommodate us, Mr. Piper worked all in one. CLAUDE GILLINGWATER & CO. "A Strenuous Rehearsal." 31 min. F.S. This is the same playlet as was presented here before, but it went even stronger. There is plenty of action and interest throughout, and the audience was keyed up to the brilliant finish. There is some mighty good emotional acting in the play as well as abundance of comedy. SADIE JANSELL. 14 min. in one. This little girl is a favorite with Philadelphia audiences, and consequently she goes quite strong. Gave her usual imitations of stage celebrities. Well received by the jury and rightly placed on the program. ARTURO BERNARDI. 26 min. F.S. This may is certainly the most remarkable actor, as far as versatility is concerned, ever seen in vaudeville. The Italian play, of course, is handicapped on account of the audience finding it rather difficult to follow the plot without first having read the synopsis. However, the speed with which the changes are made is very skilful and puzzling and holds the interest of the audience. The second part where Bernardi impersonates various composers increases his lead, but the crowning part of all is where he plays a little drama, and makes the changes in back of a transparent screen so that the audience can see his behind-scene work. This calls for continued applause every time a change is made, and brought the act up to a splendid finish today with seven curtain calls in every one of which he appeared in different costume. I think this act will be talked about, as it is novel and artistic. LAROSE & LAGUSTA. 12 min F.S. Two men who do a very clever slack-wire stunt, one of them acting in the capacity of the pillar of strength supporting his partner on the wire. The latter does various stunts, such as walking inside a hoop on the wire while juggling spears and shields. This act would make a good opener. KELLY & MAHLMAN. Singers and Dancers. 12 min. in one. These two young men are quite clever. Their singing is only fair, but their wooden shoe dancing was very lively and pleasing. A good three-a-day set. DORANTO. 12 min. in two. This is only a fair three-a-day act. The man appears in Chinese costume with the pretty Chinese setting, plays on the samosen and other Chinese instruments and does a little singing. Good only for an obscure spot like this. AMANDA GILBERT. 10 min. in one. Has a very good contralto voice and sings with good feeling and expression. A nice little three-a-day act indeed. Received very good applause. GENERAL REMARKS. This bill certainly ought to please them. It moves along very smoothly and contains plenty of novelty and it leaves two big acts that will be talked about -- Bernardi and Howard's Ponies. Think it will do the business all right with our audiences this week.