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 272

(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of May 25, 1903.
Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usuual collection of foreign and home views.
Will Armstrong and Magdalene Holly, 10 min. full stage--Even from the old 3-a-day standpoint this is a poor act, judging from the fact that the woman is absolutely of no account, as she can neither sing nor act. Armstrong is a better comedian than his brother (Of Armstrong and Wright) but is only fair, at that.
Larkins and Patterson, 16 min. in 1--Colored man and woman, singing the regulation "econ" ballads. They are just good enough for a 3 turn spot in the bill, although they have improved much since I first employed them, at the time of the White Rat strike.
Fadettes, 30 min. full stage--Had a splendid program today and went big, the audience applauding after the final curtain was lowered, and even when the vitagraph had begun to exhibit.
Vitagraph, 19 min. in 1--Another excellent list of motion pictures, the best being "Logging in Canada", which was as heartily applauded as ajy [and] act in the show.
Will Cressy and Blance Dayne, 25 min. full stage--Presenting "A Village Lawyer". No comment is necessary. Went bigger than ever before.
Adamini and Taylor, 12 min. in 1--One of the best singing acts we have had for some time, the lady, (Miss Taylor) in particular, having an excellent voice and pleasing personality. They made a decided hit.
Reno and Richards, 18 min. open full stage, close in1--Although this team did not prsent [present] a single "stunt" that was new, I do not believe that they ever received more applause or created more laughter in this house. In fact, their encore proved to be the laughing hit of the show.
Edith Helena, 10 min. in 2--Leaving out of consideration the high note she manages to strike in singing "Last Rose of Summer" this woman has no particular claim to extra consideration of a vocalist, and she was completely overshadowed by Miss Taylor. Madame Helena's voice is thin and metallic, without a warm note in it, and her imitation on the violin was almost "dinky". I had no trouble with her Manager whatever. He has been around here with a subdued manner all day. I might say that she was exploited more than she will make good for, however.
Press Eldridge, 20 min. in 1--Had a lot of new talk and songs, and made good in a difficult place in the bill. His hit was made with a topical song at the finish, for which he received several recalls. Personally, I think him coarse and suggestive and occasionally have complaints about him, but he goes big with the large majority, and there is no way of "cutting" him unless it is to drop him out altogether. I think we can do without him for a while.
Joe, Myra and "Buster" Keaton, 25 min. open full stage, close in 1--Presenting their usual specialty, in which the boy is practically "the whole show". In a difficult place in the bill, next to the vitagraph, they "made good".
Hubert Devesu, 17 min. in 2--Crayon artist, who does exceedingly clever work, two of his drawings in particular being good enough to bear closer scrutiny than they can possible receive in a theatre. We had a good arrangement of music and held the audience wonderfully well at the close of the afternoon show. In the evening he was one of the hits of the show, and recalled a couple of times. It is the sort of act that is wasted in a small place in a show.
Eddie Mack, 10 min. in 1--Soft shoe dancer. Went strong, and is entitled to a better place than I can give him in this week's bill.
Ed Foster and Dog, 15 min. in 1--Pretty little act to amuse the children, and is not without interest for the grown folks, as the dog is an unusually well trained animal.
Althea Twins, 10 min. full stage--Female acrobatic dancers, who could easily fill a better place in any bill, although they dance better than they sing.
Mitchell and Love, 15 min. in 1--Talking comedians, who are very good from a 3-a-day standpoint of view. I put them in to replace Craig and Ardell, who dd [did] not turn up.
Comment:-The show is exceedingly good one and with the exception of Armstrong and Holly every act would stand for a better place. With a big audience at night, it made a bigger hit than any show for months.

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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of May 25, 1903. Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usuual collection of foreign and home views. Will Armstrong and Magdalene Holly, 10 min. full stage--Even from the old 3-a-day standpoint this is a poor act, judging from the fact that the woman is absolutely of no account, as she can neither sing nor act. Armstrong is a better comedian than his brother (Of Armstrong and Wright) but is only fair, at that. Larkins and Patterson, 16 min. in 1--Colored man and woman, singing the regulation "econ" ballads. They are just good enough for a 3 turn spot in the bill, although they have improved much since I first employed them, at the time of the White Rat strike. Fadettes, 30 min. full stage--Had a splendid program today and went big, the audience applauding after the final curtain was lowered, and even when the vitagraph had begun to exhibit. Vitagraph, 19 min. in 1--Another excellent list of motion pictures, the best being "Logging in Canada", which was as heartily applauded as ajy [and] act in the show. Will Cressy and Blance Dayne, 25 min. full stage--Presenting "A Village Lawyer". No comment is necessary. Went bigger than ever before. Adamini and Taylor, 12 min. in 1--One of the best singing acts we have had for some time, the lady, (Miss Taylor) in particular, having an excellent voice and pleasing personality. They made a decided hit. Reno and Richards, 18 min. open full stage, close in1--Although this team did not prsent [present] a single "stunt" that was new, I do not believe that they ever received more applause or created more laughter in this house. In fact, their encore proved to be the laughing hit of the show. Edith Helena, 10 min. in 2--Leaving out of consideration the high note she manages to strike in singing "Last Rose of Summer" this woman has no particular claim to extra consideration of a vocalist, and she was completely overshadowed by Miss Taylor. Madame Helena's voice is thin and metallic, without a warm note in it, and her imitation on the violin was almost "dinky". I had no trouble with her Manager whatever. He has been around here with a subdued manner all day. I might say that she was exploited more than she will make good for, however. Press Eldridge, 20 min. in 1--Had a lot of new talk and songs, and made good in a difficult place in the bill. His hit was made with a topical song at the finish, for which he received several recalls. Personally, I think him coarse and suggestive and occasionally have complaints about him, but he goes big with the large majority, and there is no way of "cutting" him unless it is to drop him out altogether. I think we can do without him for a while. Joe, Myra and "Buster" Keaton, 25 min. open full stage, close in 1--Presenting their usual specialty, in which the boy is practically "the whole show". In a difficult place in the bill, next to the vitagraph, they "made good". Hubert Devesu, 17 min. in 2--Crayon artist, who does exceedingly clever work, two of his drawings in particular being good enough to bear closer scrutiny than they can possible receive in a theatre. We had a good arrangement of music and held the audience wonderfully well at the close of the afternoon show. In the evening he was one of the hits of the show, and recalled a couple of times. It is the sort of act that is wasted in a small place in a show. Eddie Mack, 10 min. in 1--Soft shoe dancer. Went strong, and is entitled to a better place than I can give him in this week's bill. Ed Foster and Dog, 15 min. in 1--Pretty little act to amuse the children, and is not without interest for the grown folks, as the dog is an unusually well trained animal. Althea Twins, 10 min. full stage--Female acrobatic dancers, who could easily fill a better place in any bill, although they dance better than they sing. Mitchell and Love, 15 min. in 1--Talking comedians, who are very good from a 3-a-day standpoint of view. I put them in to replace Craig and Ardell, who dd [did] not turn up. Comment:-The show is exceedingly good one and with the exception of Armstrong and Holly every act would stand for a better place. With a big audience at night, it made a bigger hit than any show for months.