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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903
Page 290
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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of July 6, 1903 Hickman Brothers, 18 min. open full stage, close in 1--One of the best opening acts we have had this summer. It is lively from start to finish-a combination of singing, instrumental, acrobatic and burlesque boxing specialties. Corbley and Burke, 15 min. in 1--Irish dialect talking set, with some clever dancing. They do not rank high as comedians, and did not go very strong after the preceding act. Fadettes, 35 min. full stage--Scored the hit of the show, beyond question. Every number was applauded and they were required to play three selections at the finish, and still the audience wanted more. Vitagraph, 20 min. in 1--Pictures this week are not quite up to the standard they have been giving us, and there are too many transformation views being used in proportion to other subjects. I also think that said pictures serve to depreciate magic and illusion acts that are done on the stage, as the majority of the people do not stop to consider that what is done in the vitagraph would'nt be possible except by means of trick photograph. Sidney Wilmer & Company/ 20 min. full stage--Presenting for the second time here a farce entitled, "A Thief of the Night". It went fairly well, though I can imagine it being a tremendous laughing hit if the actor playing the part enacted by Woodney, Mr. Wilmer, who is, without exception, the most irritating individual whom I know who persists in thinking himself a comedian. his support was so much better than Wilmer's shortcomings sttod [stood] out by contrast. Ed Rice, 12 min. in 1--Story teller and recitations, and a most pleasing and capable entertainer, although he is better fitted for club work than vaudeville. Leslie Brothers, 18 min. open full stage, close in 1--Musical comedy act, and one of the hits of the show, as it was the last time they played here. The comedy man is above the average usually found in these European teams. Josie and Willie Barrows, 10 min. in 1--Singing and dancing act, which is probably a little too far down on the bill, but cannot be avoided this week. Frederick Bond and Company, 22 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here a high class comedy sketch called "My Awful Dad", which scored the laughing hit of the show. The acting in this piece is uniformly good and is a relief from what which we are inflicted by most of the "legitimate" people who come into vaudeville. Is easily good for a repeat. William Redmond, 14 min. in 1--Singing a number of Paul Dresser songs. Has a fair quality of tenor, but cannot compare, of course, with such men as Jose. William Selbini and Jeanette Grovini, 12 min. full stage--Combination of juggling, acrobatic and bicycle work. A pleasing and satisfactory act in every way, and well received. Stevenson, 15 min. open full stage, close in 1--Magician and illusionist of fair ability and pleasing personality. With an emptying house he did very well, indeed. Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usual interesting collection of home and foreign views. Reese Brothers, 8 min. full stage--Gun spining [spinning], which is a bit of a novelty, but did not go very strong, from the fact that they die [do] not get before the large audience, which is impossible in this week's bill. Comment:- There is too much talking in the show, as I knew in advance, but that could not be avoided, so we must make the best of it. I do not mean to intimate that the show is a poor one at all, on the contrary, with a little rearrangement, it will develop into a fairly good one. It is an actual fact that there is a plethora of comedy, though only a close observer would note that fact. There can be too much laugher in a vaudeville bill.
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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of July 6, 1903 Hickman Brothers, 18 min. open full stage, close in 1--One of the best opening acts we have had this summer. It is lively from start to finish-a combination of singing, instrumental, acrobatic and burlesque boxing specialties. Corbley and Burke, 15 min. in 1--Irish dialect talking set, with some clever dancing. They do not rank high as comedians, and did not go very strong after the preceding act. Fadettes, 35 min. full stage--Scored the hit of the show, beyond question. Every number was applauded and they were required to play three selections at the finish, and still the audience wanted more. Vitagraph, 20 min. in 1--Pictures this week are not quite up to the standard they have been giving us, and there are too many transformation views being used in proportion to other subjects. I also think that said pictures serve to depreciate magic and illusion acts that are done on the stage, as the majority of the people do not stop to consider that what is done in the vitagraph would'nt be possible except by means of trick photograph. Sidney Wilmer & Company/ 20 min. full stage--Presenting for the second time here a farce entitled, "A Thief of the Night". It went fairly well, though I can imagine it being a tremendous laughing hit if the actor playing the part enacted by Woodney, Mr. Wilmer, who is, without exception, the most irritating individual whom I know who persists in thinking himself a comedian. his support was so much better than Wilmer's shortcomings sttod [stood] out by contrast. Ed Rice, 12 min. in 1--Story teller and recitations, and a most pleasing and capable entertainer, although he is better fitted for club work than vaudeville. Leslie Brothers, 18 min. open full stage, close in 1--Musical comedy act, and one of the hits of the show, as it was the last time they played here. The comedy man is above the average usually found in these European teams. Josie and Willie Barrows, 10 min. in 1--Singing and dancing act, which is probably a little too far down on the bill, but cannot be avoided this week. Frederick Bond and Company, 22 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here a high class comedy sketch called "My Awful Dad", which scored the laughing hit of the show. The acting in this piece is uniformly good and is a relief from what which we are inflicted by most of the "legitimate" people who come into vaudeville. Is easily good for a repeat. William Redmond, 14 min. in 1--Singing a number of Paul Dresser songs. Has a fair quality of tenor, but cannot compare, of course, with such men as Jose. William Selbini and Jeanette Grovini, 12 min. full stage--Combination of juggling, acrobatic and bicycle work. A pleasing and satisfactory act in every way, and well received. Stevenson, 15 min. open full stage, close in 1--Magician and illusionist of fair ability and pleasing personality. With an emptying house he did very well, indeed. Stereopticon, 10 min. in 1--Usual interesting collection of home and foreign views. Reese Brothers, 8 min. full stage--Gun spining [spinning], which is a bit of a novelty, but did not go very strong, from the fact that they die [do] not get before the large audience, which is impossible in this week's bill. Comment:- There is too much talking in the show, as I knew in advance, but that could not be avoided, so we must make the best of it. I do not mean to intimate that the show is a poor one at all, on the contrary, with a little rearrangement, it will develop into a fairly good one. It is an actual fact that there is a plethora of comedy, though only a close observer would note that fact. There can be too much laugher in a vaudeville bill.
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