DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

Page 177

177
CRITICISM OF 1ST SHOW.
KEITH'S THEATRE, PHILADELPHIA.
FEB. 9TH
Frank Whitman - 15 mins. in one - Dancing violinist, went very well for an opening act. He plays the Dime Museum here, but, as we don't get that patronage, he is new to our audience.
Naomi Ethardo-12 mins.-Gar, in 3-Equilibrist. She is getting rather stout for some of her work. However, she does a good balancing act and went well.
Lynch & Jewell-15 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-Man and woman, presenting a burlesque on illustrated songs. The man is a working good dancer; the woman could be eliminated without hurting the act in the least. She positively adds nothing to the act. Act went well.
Mitchell & Cain-15 mins. in one-Two men, in their old act. This is also a Trocadero act, but was new to the audience here. Their local hits went well, but we we had to cut out some of Mitchell's talk to the boxes.
Four Rianos-12 mins.-Spec. set & _raps-One woman, one man and two men made up as monkeys, presenting an acrobatic act which is full of action.
Young America Quintette-15 mins.-Gar. in 2 ; close in one-one girl and four men in a singing act. A fair musical act. The boy tenor is the best in the quintette.
Wright Huntington & Co.-25 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-In his sketch, "A Stolen Kiss." He did not bring Miss Yingsley here, but presented his wife instead; and her French dialect was simply something awful. The extra man took his part this morning and rehearsed before the show opened. The act properly presented might be classed as good, but as we have it here, it is a botch.
Billy Gould-20 mins. one-Stories and singing. Although a Broadway favorite, he is not known here, but nevertheless was the laughing hit of the show. We had to cut some of his stuff which was suggestive; but on the whole he can be classed as very good.
Waterbury Bros. & Reeny-22 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-Three men, one working blackface, in a musical act. Very good.
Moto Girl-15 mins.-Palace in 5-This was our feature act, and we had advertised it heavily and as a mystifying act. The house was packed to-day, presumably to see this act. It seemed to thoroughly mystify the audience; but we hardly think it is an exceptionally strong feature. It may improve during the week, and we sincerely hope it will. We asked Manager Melville not to give the act away with curtain calls and simply put down the curtain with the Moto Girl in the centre of the stage, which successfully mystifies the audience, but makes a very bad and slow finish for the act. This defect may be remedied to-morrow.
Geo. Thatcher-15 mins. in one-Blackface monologue and singing; hasn't much new stuff, but seemed to go well.
Tom Nawn & Wife-25 mins.-Farm drop in 4; Cottage R. & Fencs-In his old sketch, "One Touch of Nature." Of course, it's not as good as "Pat the Genii," but it's new to our audience and made good.
Goggins & Davis-15 mins.-L:landscape in 4-Two men, one working straight and one grotesque. They work hard to accomplish a few simple acrobatic stunts. They took a good place on the bill and they go up. Act only fair.
Macarte Sisters-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Three girls, in a combination of a musical, dancing, acrobatic and wire act. They also do some trapeze work that is very good. Act is so good that we are going to give it a better place on the bill.
Nellie V. Parker-15 mins. in one-IN character songs. Good little singing act.
Kelly & Ken-20 mins.-C. D. F. in 2; close in one-Man and woman, in a combination talking, singing and dancing act that is in the Guyer and Daly order. They were buried at 8.35. The act is so good that we will put it in the real part of the show.
John R. Harty-15 mins.-Gar. in 2-Same old juggling act. All right in this place on the bill.
H. A. DANIELS.

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177 CRITICISM OF 1ST SHOW. KEITH'S THEATRE, PHILADELPHIA. FEB. 9TH Frank Whitman - 15 mins. in one - Dancing violinist, went very well for an opening act. He plays the Dime Museum here, but, as we don't get that patronage, he is new to our audience. Naomi Ethardo-12 mins.-Gar, in 3-Equilibrist. She is getting rather stout for some of her work. However, she does a good balancing act and went well. Lynch & Jewell-15 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-Man and woman, presenting a burlesque on illustrated songs. The man is a working good dancer; the woman could be eliminated without hurting the act in the least. She positively adds nothing to the act. Act went well. Mitchell & Cain-15 mins. in one-Two men, in their old act. This is also a Trocadero act, but was new to the audience here. Their local hits went well, but we we had to cut out some of Mitchell's talk to the boxes. Four Rianos-12 mins.-Spec. set & _raps-One woman, one man and two men made up as monkeys, presenting an acrobatic act which is full of action. Young America Quintette-15 mins.-Gar. in 2 ; close in one-one girl and four men in a singing act. A fair musical act. The boy tenor is the best in the quintette. Wright Huntington & Co.-25 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-In his sketch, "A Stolen Kiss." He did not bring Miss Yingsley here, but presented his wife instead; and her French dialect was simply something awful. The extra man took his part this morning and rehearsed before the show opened. The act properly presented might be classed as good, but as we have it here, it is a botch. Billy Gould-20 mins. one-Stories and singing. Although a Broadway favorite, he is not known here, but nevertheless was the laughing hit of the show. We had to cut some of his stuff which was suggestive; but on the whole he can be classed as very good. Waterbury Bros. & Reeny-22 mins.-C. D. F. in 3-Three men, one working blackface, in a musical act. Very good. Moto Girl-15 mins.-Palace in 5-This was our feature act, and we had advertised it heavily and as a mystifying act. The house was packed to-day, presumably to see this act. It seemed to thoroughly mystify the audience; but we hardly think it is an exceptionally strong feature. It may improve during the week, and we sincerely hope it will. We asked Manager Melville not to give the act away with curtain calls and simply put down the curtain with the Moto Girl in the centre of the stage, which successfully mystifies the audience, but makes a very bad and slow finish for the act. This defect may be remedied to-morrow. Geo. Thatcher-15 mins. in one-Blackface monologue and singing; hasn't much new stuff, but seemed to go well. Tom Nawn & Wife-25 mins.-Farm drop in 4; Cottage R. & Fencs-In his old sketch, "One Touch of Nature." Of course, it's not as good as "Pat the Genii," but it's new to our audience and made good. Goggins & Davis-15 mins.-L:landscape in 4-Two men, one working straight and one grotesque. They work hard to accomplish a few simple acrobatic stunts. They took a good place on the bill and they go up. Act only fair. Macarte Sisters-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Three girls, in a combination of a musical, dancing, acrobatic and wire act. They also do some trapeze work that is very good. Act is so good that we are going to give it a better place on the bill. Nellie V. Parker-15 mins. in one-IN character songs. Good little singing act. Kelly & Ken-20 mins.-C. D. F. in 2; close in one-Man and woman, in a combination talking, singing and dancing act that is in the Guyer and Daly order. They were buried at 8.35. The act is so good that we will put it in the real part of the show. John R. Harty-15 mins.-Gar. in 2-Same old juggling act. All right in this place on the bill. H. A. DANIELS.