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 227

(W.J. Keating)

Boston Show, Week of March 30, 1903.

Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usual interesting collection of views.
Lauder and Stanley, 15 min. full stage--Pleasing litle comedy sketch for this part of the bill. It was moderately laughed at throughout and they had a decided encore at the finish.
Reidy and Currier, 14 mn. open 3, close in 1--A very poor act. If they confined themselves to singing it would not be so bad, but they tried to introduce comedy of which neither are capable. I will bury it for the balance of the week.
Biograph, 18 min. in 1--Rather tiresome lot of pictures this week, the ony one receiving applause being an old panoramic railroad view. The new pictures were very common-place.
The Laurelles, 9 min. in 2--Presenting a spectacular dancing act, something like that done by Adele Parvis Oari, but not so clever as the latter. Pictures were thrown on expanded draperies, some of which I cut out.
Jones and Sutton, 11 min. in 1--"real coon" singers and dancers, but rpobably the poorest we have appeared here. They went very slow and had difficulty in filling their time.
Adair and Dahn, 13 min. in 3--Tight wire act by a man and woman, neither of whom is conspicuously clever, but they were saved largely by the poor quality of the material that preceeded them.
Stavordale Quintet, 12 min. in 1--Consisting of a quartet of banjoists and a harpist. Their work is very artistic, and they were obliged to respond to several encores.
Mansfield and Wilbur, 28 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here their new comedy, "61 Prospect Street", which is one of the very best things of the kind ever done in this house. It has a new twist of the mistaken identity idea, which is cleverly carried out, and splendidly acted.
Lotta Gladstone, 16 min. in 1--Monologue comedienne, and an exceptionally clever one at that. I thought at the outset she was going to prove a failure but was agreeably disappointed for she held her audience to the close, and they gave every indication of wanting more.
Sandow, 39 min. full stage--The big hit of the show. He first exhibited his muscular development, in the same fashion in which he has always opened his act, being applauded heartily all through, and then proceeded to give his talk on physical development, which he illustrated with two human subjects. This part of his act is not only exceptionally interesting but in a way it was one of the comedy hits of the show. Sandow's dialect is certainly better than that of the majority of German comedians, and the subject he used to illustrate the

walked out by the dozens but I will put him on earlier for the balance of the week. In order of merit, he is over-paid by about $100.
The Baggensens, 18 min. full stage--The alughing hit of the programme. Their work has not changed any since they were here last, and in the interim we have had some people who have scored laughs by breaking crockery in larger quantities, but these two are the originals and their work always stands out by contrast with their imitators. It is worth more every time it returns which can be said of but very few acts.
Tom Hefron, 9 min. in 1--Monopede singing, dancing and acrobatic comedian, and quite an entertaining chap. His good nature and his infirmity both appeal strongly to an audience, and the result is he goes exceptionally well.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thorne and Company, 23 min. full stage- Presenting a new and original farcical sketch, "An Uptown Flat", ehich made a big laughing hit with the "Supper-time" audience. The "company" is not as good as formerly bu that makes little difference as the piece practically plays itself. It is the best 3-a-day comedy act that has ever been played in vaudeville.
Cantwell and Jennings, 16 min. in 1--Singing comedian, fairly good for an early place in the bill or supper time. I cannot see anything to kick about in it, as we play less meritorious acts nearly every week.
Mabel LaFavour, 11 min. in 1--This girl is a vocalist who sang here two years ago, and I put her in to fill out the place made vacant by Josephine Satel, who was prevented from appearing through illness. Miss LaFavour is quite an attractive singer and will be given a fairly good place in the bill tomorrow.
Comment:- The show opened up so slow that it took some time to wake up the audience, but it was tremendously strong after the wire act came on, and we have never had the bulk of an audience remain so late as they did, at least one-half of them remaining until Cantwell and Jennings came on at 5.42. When the show is rearranged it will be one of the best of the winter, and there is no doubt but that the big business will continue.

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(W.J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of March 30, 1903. Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usual interesting collection of views. Lauder and Stanley, 15 min. full stage--Pleasing litle comedy sketch for this part of the bill. It was moderately laughed at throughout and they had a decided encore at the finish. Reidy and Currier, 14 mn. open 3, close in 1--A very poor act. If they confined themselves to singing it would not be so bad, but they tried to introduce comedy of which neither are capable. I will bury it for the balance of the week. Biograph, 18 min. in 1--Rather tiresome lot of pictures this week, the ony one receiving applause being an old panoramic railroad view. The new pictures were very common-place. The Laurelles, 9 min. in 2--Presenting a spectacular dancing act, something like that done by Adele Parvis Oari, but not so clever as the latter. Pictures were thrown on expanded draperies, some of which I cut out. Jones and Sutton, 11 min. in 1--"real coon" singers and dancers, but rpobably the poorest we have appeared here. They went very slow and had difficulty in filling their time. Adair and Dahn, 13 min. in 3--Tight wire act by a man and woman, neither of whom is conspicuously clever, but they were saved largely by the poor quality of the material that preceeded them. Stavordale Quintet, 12 min. in 1--Consisting of a quartet of banjoists and a harpist. Their work is very artistic, and they were obliged to respond to several encores. Mansfield and Wilbur, 28 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here their new comedy, "61 Prospect Street", which is one of the very best things of the kind ever done in this house. It has a new twist of the mistaken identity idea, which is cleverly carried out, and splendidly acted. Lotta Gladstone, 16 min. in 1--Monologue comedienne, and an exceptionally clever one at that. I thought at the outset she was going to prove a failure but was agreeably disappointed for she held her audience to the close, and they gave every indication of wanting more. Sandow, 39 min. full stage--The big hit of the show. He first exhibited his muscular development, in the same fashion in which he has always opened his act, being applauded heartily all through, and then proceeded to give his talk on physical development, which he illustrated with two human subjects. This part of his act is not only exceptionally interesting but in a way it was one of the comedy hits of the show. Sandow's dialect is certainly better than that of the majority of German comedians, and the subject he used to illustrate the walked out by the dozens but I will put him on earlier for the balance of the week. In order of merit, he is over-paid by about $100. The Baggensens, 18 min. full stage--The alughing hit of the programme. Their work has not changed any since they were here last, and in the interim we have had some people who have scored laughs by breaking crockery in larger quantities, but these two are the originals and their work always stands out by contrast with their imitators. It is worth more every time it returns which can be said of but very few acts. Tom Hefron, 9 min. in 1--Monopede singing, dancing and acrobatic comedian, and quite an entertaining chap. His good nature and his infirmity both appeal strongly to an audience, and the result is he goes exceptionally well. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thorne and Company, 23 min. full stage- Presenting a new and original farcical sketch, "An Uptown Flat", ehich made a big laughing hit with the "Supper-time" audience. The "company" is not as good as formerly bu that makes little difference as the piece practically plays itself. It is the best 3-a-day comedy act that has ever been played in vaudeville. Cantwell and Jennings, 16 min. in 1--Singing comedian, fairly good for an early place in the bill or supper time. I cannot see anything to kick about in it, as we play less meritorious acts nearly every week. Mabel LaFavour, 11 min. in 1--This girl is a vocalist who sang here two years ago, and I put her in to fill out the place made vacant by Josephine Satel, who was prevented from appearing through illness. Miss LaFavour is quite an attractive singer and will be given a fairly good place in the bill tomorrow. Comment:- The show opened up so slow that it took some time to wake up the audience, but it was tremendously strong after the wire act came on, and we have never had the bulk of an audience remain so late as they did, at least one-half of them remaining until Cantwell and Jennings came on at 5.42. When the show is rearranged it will be one of the best of the winter, and there is no doubt but that the big business will continue.