DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 9, 1912-February 24, 1913

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 9, 1912-February 24, 1913

Page 74

74
C. E. BARNS
PHILADELPHIA SHOW
NOV. 4, 1912.
MONTAMBO & WELLS. 10 min. F.S. This act makes a very good opener. One works straight, the other clown comedy. Start off with their knockabout ground tumbling stunts which are very good, getting considerable laughter and applause. Proceed to their high fall stunts - two tables, a barrel and two chairs - which closed to a good hand.
FARBER GIRLS. 15 min. in one. These two young ladies make a prepossessing entrance in very stunning costumes of white satin. Their voices are fair and they get their songs over fairly well, but not in a way to hold a stronger spot. Make a fair close.
LA TOSCA & CO. 15 min. F.S. Combination instrumental and vocal feature. Mlle. La Tosca makes a fine appearance and sings with good method, having the assistance of two young men, one with flute and piccolo, and the other with the 'cello and organ. Open with Gounod's "Ave Maria" (vocal by La Tosca); "Silver Bells" (piccolo); medley of old time songs (vocal and instrumental); "Asleep in the Deep" (cello, organ and piano) and closing with a Faust number. Each offering received a fair hand, but neither the selections themselves nor the manner of putting them over show that they thoroughly understand as yet the demands of a vaudeville audience. Went better with the evening house.
DAVE FERGUSON. 15 min. in one. Started off rather lightly but gathered strength as he went along, and his "Charge of the Light Brigade," by a "society entertainer," was a very amusing bit of work and closed him to good applause.
ADA REEVE. 25 min. F.S. Big advance applause. Entire change of repertoire with the exception of encores, and all went big. Did nearly a half hour and yet the audience was loth to let her go, demanding one encore after another. Several curtain calls.
COOMBS & ALDWELL. 14 min. in one. These boys sing very well and have a good selection of songs. Can hold a strong spot. Each selection won a good hand, and they made a strong close.
"THE CONCEALED BED." 28 min. F.S. This sketch is out of the ordinary for American audiences and yet it has plenty of interest with mingled comedy and pathos. The Scotch dialect is very true and consistent and the whole play shows a phase of Scotch life that we have not seen in vaudeville before. Held the interest throughout and closed fine.
ELINORE & WILLIAMS. 20 min. in one. Miss Elinore is a great favorite here, and of course, her stuff went very strong with Williams as a good foil. Just the sort of a feature that we want for Election Holiday Week in this hard spot. Closed immensely.
GREAT TORNADOS. 7 min. F.S. Makes a fair closing act on the regulation European lines of the shoulder-to-shoulder somersault and ground tumbling work. Nothing particularly new, but held the closing spot.
KINETOGRAPH. An exceptionally good film of current events.
GENERAL REMARKS. The show as played off this afternoon was extremely unsatisfactory, due largely to the fact that there was too much straight music on the bill. We were under the impression that the La Tosca feature was wholly instrumental, whereas it is practically a primadonna act with instrumental frills. Transposition has been made for tonight, and possibly with a change in program, the show will play better. The following is the revised running order:-


C Farber Girls
D La Tosca
E Coombs & Aldwell
F "The Concealed Bed"
G Dave Ferguson
H Ada Reeve
I Elinore & Williams
J Tornados
K Kinetograph
L EXIT MARCH

CUT
MONTAMBO & WELLS:- The Mock Prayer.

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74 C. E. BARNS PHILADELPHIA SHOW NOV. 4, 1912. MONTAMBO & WELLS. 10 min. F.S. This act makes a very good opener. One works straight, the other clown comedy. Start off with their knockabout ground tumbling stunts which are very good, getting considerable laughter and applause. Proceed to their high fall stunts - two tables, a barrel and two chairs - which closed to a good hand. FARBER GIRLS. 15 min. in one. These two young ladies make a prepossessing entrance in very stunning costumes of white satin. Their voices are fair and they get their songs over fairly well, but not in a way to hold a stronger spot. Make a fair close. LA TOSCA & CO. 15 min. F.S. Combination instrumental and vocal feature. Mlle. La Tosca makes a fine appearance and sings with good method, having the assistance of two young men, one with flute and piccolo, and the other with the 'cello and organ. Open with Gounod's "Ave Maria" (vocal by La Tosca); "Silver Bells" (piccolo); medley of old time songs (vocal and instrumental); "Asleep in the Deep" (cello, organ and piano) and closing with a Faust number. Each offering received a fair hand, but neither the selections themselves nor the manner of putting them over show that they thoroughly understand as yet the demands of a vaudeville audience. Went better with the evening house. DAVE FERGUSON. 15 min. in one. Started off rather lightly but gathered strength as he went along, and his "Charge of the Light Brigade," by a "society entertainer," was a very amusing bit of work and closed him to good applause. ADA REEVE. 25 min. F.S. Big advance applause. Entire change of repertoire with the exception of encores, and all went big. Did nearly a half hour and yet the audience was loth to let her go, demanding one encore after another. Several curtain calls. COOMBS & ALDWELL. 14 min. in one. These boys sing very well and have a good selection of songs. Can hold a strong spot. Each selection won a good hand, and they made a strong close. "THE CONCEALED BED." 28 min. F.S. This sketch is out of the ordinary for American audiences and yet it has plenty of interest with mingled comedy and pathos. The Scotch dialect is very true and consistent and the whole play shows a phase of Scotch life that we have not seen in vaudeville before. Held the interest throughout and closed fine. ELINORE & WILLIAMS. 20 min. in one. Miss Elinore is a great favorite here, and of course, her stuff went very strong with Williams as a good foil. Just the sort of a feature that we want for Election Holiday Week in this hard spot. Closed immensely. GREAT TORNADOS. 7 min. F.S. Makes a fair closing act on the regulation European lines of the shoulder-to-shoulder somersault and ground tumbling work. Nothing particularly new, but held the closing spot. KINETOGRAPH. An exceptionally good film of current events. GENERAL REMARKS. The show as played off this afternoon was extremely unsatisfactory, due largely to the fact that there was too much straight music on the bill. We were under the impression that the La Tosca feature was wholly instrumental, whereas it is practically a primadonna act with instrumental frills. Transposition has been made for tonight, and possibly with a change in program, the show will play better. The following is the revised running order:- C Farber Girls D La Tosca E Coombs & Aldwell F "The Concealed Bed" G Dave Ferguson H Ada Reeve I Elinore & Williams J Tornados K Kinetograph L EXIT MARCH CUT MONTAMBO & WELLS:- The Mock Prayer.