DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 11, 1911-September 9, 1912

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, December 11, 1911-September 9, 1912

Page 115

Report on PROVIDENCE SHOW, Week of Mar. 4, 1912.
CHAS. LOVENBERG, Manager.
The bill this week is not very satisfactory as a whole, only about three of the acts making anything like a real hit. Some of the other acts went fairly well and others not at all.
THE BALLOON GIRL
Here is a very pretentious affair, spoiled for the sake of exploiting people without ability. With some clever people this could be made a big headline feature. The closing part of the act, with the balloon over the audience, is a decided novelty and is much appreciated, but the other part of the act leading up to it, altho presented with beautiful scenery, amounted to very little. Moved up from No. 3 to open the show. 12 Min. F. S.
BILLY K. WELLS
this man has a very fair act; all right for this spot but is by no means as good as I had been lead to believe he was. 10 Min. in One.
The VASSAR GIRLS
This would be a fair act if they washed their costumes and touched up their scenery. While the girls have some ability they are about as homely a lot as I have ever seen put together, or at least they appeared so from the stage from want of knowledge of how to make up. The soprano soloist is by no means good either. While it may cost a lot of money to cart the act around, that doesn't enhance its value on the stage. I would rather have some little musical act for half the money. Moved from No. 7 up to No. 3. 23 Min. F. S.
CLIFFORD & BURKE
This act went all right but it is an absolute imposition for anyone to offer this act as a new one. They have a new drop and different costumes and about 3 minutes of the first part of their act is new material, which is not very good; then they use their old material and get over very well considering how old it is. Had I a good show and plenty of show I would have cancelled this act on the strength of misrepresentation for I was guaranteed it was an absolutely new act. To make matters worse, they lost one of their trunks and didn't start to look for it until it was time to open the show. As their music was in the trunk they had to cut out their song. They did 14 Min. in One. I believe their full act is 17 Min.
MRS. LOUIS JAMES & CO.
In a rather clever comedy sketch quite well played. 15 Min. F. S.
MARSHALL MONTGOMERY
This was the first real thing that appeared in the present layout of the show. Mr. Montgomery is too well-known to require comment. It is only necessary to say that he made a hit. 16 Min. in One.
ARCO TROUPE
A splendid acrobatic act of the Willie Pantzer, Jos. DeKos style, with two exceptionally clever midgets; closing the show in the afternoon they made an unqualified hit. I expect they will be a sensation in this spot tonight. 9 Min. F. S.
CLARK & BERGMAN
This team was on No. 4 in the afternoon show and almost stopped the performance. To say that they were a hit would be to put it very mildly. 21 Min. and the audience wanted more. in One.
THE SAVOY TRIO
Had this act on to open the show and it is not ideal for closing by any means, but of the several evils I choose the least. Am having them close the show 8 Min F. S.
MOTION PICTURES  O. K.

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Report on PROVIDENCE SHOW, Week of Mar. 4, 1912. CHAS. LOVENBERG, Manager. The bill this week is not very satisfactory as a whole, only about three of the acts making anything like a real hit. Some of the other acts went fairly well and others not at all. THE BALLOON GIRL Here is a very pretentious affair, spoiled for the sake of exploiting people without ability. With some clever people this could be made a big headline feature. The closing part of the act, with the balloon over the audience, is a decided novelty and is much appreciated, but the other part of the act leading up to it, altho presented with beautiful scenery, amounted to very little. Moved up from No. 3 to open the show. 12 Min. F. S. BILLY K. WELLS this man has a very fair act; all right for this spot but is by no means as good as I had been lead to believe he was. 10 Min. in One. The VASSAR GIRLS This would be a fair act if they washed their costumes and touched up their scenery. While the girls have some ability they are about as homely a lot as I have ever seen put together, or at least they appeared so from the stage from want of knowledge of how to make up. The soprano soloist is by no means good either. While it may cost a lot of money to cart the act around, that doesn't enhance its value on the stage. I would rather have some little musical act for half the money. Moved from No. 7 up to No. 3. 23 Min. F. S. CLIFFORD & BURKE This act went all right but it is an absolute imposition for anyone to offer this act as a new one. They have a new drop and different costumes and about 3 minutes of the first part of their act is new material, which is not very good; then they use their old material and get over very well considering how old it is. Had I a good show and plenty of show I would have cancelled this act on the strength of misrepresentation for I was guaranteed it was an absolutely new act. To make matters worse, they lost one of their trunks and didn't start to look for it until it was time to open the show. As their music was in the trunk they had to cut out their song. They did 14 Min. in One. I believe their full act is 17 Min. MRS. LOUIS JAMES & CO. In a rather clever comedy sketch quite well played. 15 Min. F. S. MARSHALL MONTGOMERY This was the first real thing that appeared in the present layout of the show. Mr. Montgomery is too well-known to require comment. It is only necessary to say that he made a hit. 16 Min. in One. ARCO TROUPE A splendid acrobatic act of the Willie Pantzer, Jos. DeKos style, with two exceptionally clever midgets; closing the show in the afternoon they made an unqualified hit. I expect they will be a sensation in this spot tonight. 9 Min. F. S. CLARK & BERGMAN This team was on No. 4 in the afternoon show and almost stopped the performance. To say that they were a hit would be to put it very mildly. 21 Min. and the audience wanted more. in One. THE SAVOY TRIO Had this act on to open the show and it is not ideal for closing by any means, but of the several evils I choose the least. Am having them close the show 8 Min F. S. MOTION PICTURES O. K.