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Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 3-November 3, 1913

Page 158

B. F. Keith's Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Week of Sept. 7th, 1913.
John F. Royal.
THE WHEELERS  12 min. F.S. Man and woman pantomimic juggling act. Sunday afternoon schedule #4 Wheeler himself did not appear in the act without any notification. Substituted a very inefficient juggler, who spoiled the entire show. Dropped everything. Put a damper on the entire performance in such a way to prejudice the newspaper writers present against the whole performance. Wheeler claims he did not work because of an appendicitis wound, although he worked last week in Indianapolis. Opening the show in the evening with himself in the act, it went better.
SPENCER & WILLIAMS  16 min. in one. Boy and girl in usual bench act singing and talking. Girl looks cute and boy sings fair. Their gags, which were reminiscent of similar acts, went very well. Very good closing.
BYRON & LANGDON  17 min. F.S. C.D.F. 1 min. close in one. Man and woman in well known act with new material. This act, which usually brings big laughs, did not get over on either performance on Sunday, and it seemed to have lost its punch, as far as this city is concerned. Byron's song, which usually gets numerous encore, did not go. Fair closing.
GORMELY & CAFFREY  11 min. in 2. Knock-about acrobatic comedians. first real life to show. With this kind of an act we went very strong in this position and the closing scare-crow tumbling stunt, was a big laugh getter. Close well.
STEPP, GOODRICH & KING  20 min. in One. Three men. Piano, singing and banjo. Went very strong. Their program was good, but Goodrich is not yet in Mehlinger's class as a singer of straight songs. Their encore consisted of a burlesque in very rough form on the Salvation Army, which, while got us great laughs, is a dangerous thing for a Keith house and has been eliminated. Newspaper men at first performance who saw it, scored it in their criticisms. Managers should warn this act at opening if they don't wish this feature. Act went very strong.
NANCE O'NEIL  17 min. F.S. Dark Lib. One woman three men in dramatic sketch entitled "Self-Defense". this sketch does not give Miss O'Neil all the opportunity she deserves considering her ability. The first few minutes, which is supposed to explain in a way the theme of the piece, is spoiled by her lover, who mumbles his words in such a manner that the audience cannot understand (a new man has been scheduled for this part). It is a story of a drunken husband who loses the love of his wife. Upon coming home, he finds two ash trays on the table when there should only be one, according to her explanation as to the number of guests she had. Suspects hidden lover in conservatory and, after making wife swear on the cross nobody present, hurls basket of snakes into the conservatory. Wife opens doors, sees lover lying on stairs and goes temporarily insane, giving opportunity for big scene. Lover comes to life, having been stunned by blow from basket, not bitten by snakes. Wife does not recognize lover. Servant announces husband dropped dead in hall. During ravings of wife, she seen husband dead. Restores her senses. Returns to lover, all lights up and loving reunion. It holds the audience all the way through, but in numerous spots is dense and not clear enough for a vaudeville audience. Miss O'Neil grips them throughout. Her support, with exception of lover, is good. Several curtain calls. Advance reception.
FRED DUPREE  21 min. in One. Monologue. Opened with little burlesque on Miss O'Neil's act. Gets big laughs. Has new material and his closing burlesque drama went very strong. Held this spot in good shape.
THE HEDDERS  9 min F.S. Special Velvet Cyclorama. Good novelty balancing act. Man, woman and small boy disguised as little girl. They work fast and neat and get over some great tricks. Proved a good closing act.
CUTS.
Byron & Langdon  "Cock-eyed Crab"
Stepp, Goodrich & King  Story about Toe Nail. Also, Salvation Nell Song.
Fred Dupree  "God help me", and "Runabout within a Year" story.

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B. F. Keith's Theatre, Cincinnati, Ohio. Week of Sept. 7th, 1913. John F. Royal. THE WHEELERS 12 min. F.S. Man and woman pantomimic juggling act. Sunday afternoon schedule #4 Wheeler himself did not appear in the act without any notification. Substituted a very inefficient juggler, who spoiled the entire show. Dropped everything. Put a damper on the entire performance in such a way to prejudice the newspaper writers present against the whole performance. Wheeler claims he did not work because of an appendicitis wound, although he worked last week in Indianapolis. Opening the show in the evening with himself in the act, it went better. SPENCER & WILLIAMS 16 min. in one. Boy and girl in usual bench act singing and talking. Girl looks cute and boy sings fair. Their gags, which were reminiscent of similar acts, went very well. Very good closing. BYRON & LANGDON 17 min. F.S. C.D.F. 1 min. close in one. Man and woman in well known act with new material. This act, which usually brings big laughs, did not get over on either performance on Sunday, and it seemed to have lost its punch, as far as this city is concerned. Byron's song, which usually gets numerous encore, did not go. Fair closing. GORMELY & CAFFREY 11 min. in 2. Knock-about acrobatic comedians. first real life to show. With this kind of an act we went very strong in this position and the closing scare-crow tumbling stunt, was a big laugh getter. Close well. STEPP, GOODRICH & KING 20 min. in One. Three men. Piano, singing and banjo. Went very strong. Their program was good, but Goodrich is not yet in Mehlinger's class as a singer of straight songs. Their encore consisted of a burlesque in very rough form on the Salvation Army, which, while got us great laughs, is a dangerous thing for a Keith house and has been eliminated. Newspaper men at first performance who saw it, scored it in their criticisms. Managers should warn this act at opening if they don't wish this feature. Act went very strong. NANCE O'NEIL 17 min. F.S. Dark Lib. One woman three men in dramatic sketch entitled "Self-Defense". this sketch does not give Miss O'Neil all the opportunity she deserves considering her ability. The first few minutes, which is supposed to explain in a way the theme of the piece, is spoiled by her lover, who mumbles his words in such a manner that the audience cannot understand (a new man has been scheduled for this part). It is a story of a drunken husband who loses the love of his wife. Upon coming home, he finds two ash trays on the table when there should only be one, according to her explanation as to the number of guests she had. Suspects hidden lover in conservatory and, after making wife swear on the cross nobody present, hurls basket of snakes into the conservatory. Wife opens doors, sees lover lying on stairs and goes temporarily insane, giving opportunity for big scene. Lover comes to life, having been stunned by blow from basket, not bitten by snakes. Wife does not recognize lover. Servant announces husband dropped dead in hall. During ravings of wife, she seen husband dead. Restores her senses. Returns to lover, all lights up and loving reunion. It holds the audience all the way through, but in numerous spots is dense and not clear enough for a vaudeville audience. Miss O'Neil grips them throughout. Her support, with exception of lover, is good. Several curtain calls. Advance reception. FRED DUPREE 21 min. in One. Monologue. Opened with little burlesque on Miss O'Neil's act. Gets big laughs. Has new material and his closing burlesque drama went very strong. Held this spot in good shape. THE HEDDERS 9 min F.S. Special Velvet Cyclorama. Good novelty balancing act. Man, woman and small boy disguised as little girl. They work fast and neat and get over some great tricks. Proved a good closing act. CUTS. Byron & Langdon "Cock-eyed Crab" Stepp, Goodrich & King Story about Toe Nail. Also, Salvation Nell Song. Fred Dupree "God help me", and "Runabout within a Year" story.