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Keith-Albee managers' report book,, September 23, 1907 - March 12, 1908
Page 172
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172. JANUARY 6, 1908. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C.E. BARNS. DEERY & FRANCIS:- 15 min. in 2. 3 shows. This is a fairly good act. The woman is of very large proportions, but carries herself gracefully and sings well. The Rube's work got a good many laughs, although Deery has appropriated practically everything done by Jimmy Barry, imitating voice, gestures and all. Closed with a curtain call. FOSTER & DOG "MIKE":- 19 min. in 1. 3 shows. Well known act. Excellent children's act. the dog is well trained and there is lots of fun in his stunts. Laughter and applause at the finish, with curtain call. ZARETZKY TROUUPE of RUSSIAN DANCERS:- 10 min. F.S. Five men and three women all costumed in superb Russian style. this is a very interesting act, swift and novel. Their dancing and whirling on toes are very expert. Won good applause throughout and closed strong, with two curtain calls. HAFFORD & MANTELL:- 16 min. in 1. 3 shows. This is a good act, somewhat marred by the introduction of "borrowed" material, all the more reprehensible as these people are too clever to stoop to this sort of thing. Their own stuff is far brighter and better, and the way they deliver it gets the laugh. Both have good voices and the songs and parodies pleased every body. Closed with good applause and encore. KELLY & ASHBY:- 11 min. F.S. 2 shows. One man works straight and the other tramp comedian. The opening half drags a little and is inclined to be a trifle too rough. The work on the bounding billiard table is about the regulation kind, but wins good applause. The comedy is all of the slap-stick and syphon-bottle order, but got a good many laughs. Closing hand fair. A good gallery act. MEREDITH SISTERS:-17 min. (in six scenes) Well known act. Carry their own three drops and make five changes of costume, all of which are effective. Received good applause after each selection and closed with a fairly good hand, curtain call, encore and two curtain calls at the finish. Went better in the evening than in the afternoon with our crowd. SCHENK BROTHERS;-8 min. F.S. 2 shows. This is nothing short of a phenomenal acrobatic balancing act. The men do all the stunts that are commonly done by head-and-hand balancers, and a great many more. Work in plain shirt-sleeves. Head-to-head balancing is done without caps, (a remarkable feat indeed), excepting the one feat where on twirls on the other, head to head. They are fine looking men and prepossess the audience at once and throughout the act. The closing feat was one that was so profoundly difficult and new that it won immense applause and a curtain call. A great act for anywhere. COLLINS & BROWN:- 17 min. in 1. 2 shows. this is a mighty good German comedy duo, and could hold any spot on the bill where an act in one of the comedy kind is required. Begin rather slow, but work up to a big finish, catching the house very strong with their humorous lines and manner of delivery. Sing Medleys and parodies. There is no chestnutty flavor about their work. The closing number with the blackboard is novel and very funny and brought them a big hand with four curtain calls. PURCHASING AN AUTOMOBILE:- This is a mighty funny film. The audience laughed uproarously. Consider it almost as good as "The Rarebit Fiends. PEARL FISHERIES:- A fantastic, highly colored series. Holds the interest.- Altogether the KINETOGRAPH series this week is better than the average run of pictures.- N.B.- In the matter of acts I cannot help but remark that constant expurgation of Vaudeville acts for the past two years has borne fruit. Whereas a year ago we would have from three to ten cuts on every show it is rare now that we have more than one or two, and those too insignificant to make a matter of Circuit report. In other words, the performers are getting on to the fact that our theatres will not stand for anything vulgar, profane or suggestive in word or action, knowing full well they will get a call-down, and moreover that these cuts are reported from theatre to theatre. Naturally sensitive, they dread this sort of thing, with the result that there is less and less that is objectionable, and the only offenders are those who are new on the Circuit. I think this is a matter of no small congratulation for the beginning of the New Year.
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172. JANUARY 6, 1908. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C.E. BARNS. DEERY & FRANCIS:- 15 min. in 2. 3 shows. This is a fairly good act. The woman is of very large proportions, but carries herself gracefully and sings well. The Rube's work got a good many laughs, although Deery has appropriated practically everything done by Jimmy Barry, imitating voice, gestures and all. Closed with a curtain call. FOSTER & DOG "MIKE":- 19 min. in 1. 3 shows. Well known act. Excellent children's act. the dog is well trained and there is lots of fun in his stunts. Laughter and applause at the finish, with curtain call. ZARETZKY TROUUPE of RUSSIAN DANCERS:- 10 min. F.S. Five men and three women all costumed in superb Russian style. this is a very interesting act, swift and novel. Their dancing and whirling on toes are very expert. Won good applause throughout and closed strong, with two curtain calls. HAFFORD & MANTELL:- 16 min. in 1. 3 shows. This is a good act, somewhat marred by the introduction of "borrowed" material, all the more reprehensible as these people are too clever to stoop to this sort of thing. Their own stuff is far brighter and better, and the way they deliver it gets the laugh. Both have good voices and the songs and parodies pleased every body. Closed with good applause and encore. KELLY & ASHBY:- 11 min. F.S. 2 shows. One man works straight and the other tramp comedian. The opening half drags a little and is inclined to be a trifle too rough. The work on the bounding billiard table is about the regulation kind, but wins good applause. The comedy is all of the slap-stick and syphon-bottle order, but got a good many laughs. Closing hand fair. A good gallery act. MEREDITH SISTERS:-17 min. (in six scenes) Well known act. Carry their own three drops and make five changes of costume, all of which are effective. Received good applause after each selection and closed with a fairly good hand, curtain call, encore and two curtain calls at the finish. Went better in the evening than in the afternoon with our crowd. SCHENK BROTHERS;-8 min. F.S. 2 shows. This is nothing short of a phenomenal acrobatic balancing act. The men do all the stunts that are commonly done by head-and-hand balancers, and a great many more. Work in plain shirt-sleeves. Head-to-head balancing is done without caps, (a remarkable feat indeed), excepting the one feat where on twirls on the other, head to head. They are fine looking men and prepossess the audience at once and throughout the act. The closing feat was one that was so profoundly difficult and new that it won immense applause and a curtain call. A great act for anywhere. COLLINS & BROWN:- 17 min. in 1. 2 shows. this is a mighty good German comedy duo, and could hold any spot on the bill where an act in one of the comedy kind is required. Begin rather slow, but work up to a big finish, catching the house very strong with their humorous lines and manner of delivery. Sing Medleys and parodies. There is no chestnutty flavor about their work. The closing number with the blackboard is novel and very funny and brought them a big hand with four curtain calls. PURCHASING AN AUTOMOBILE:- This is a mighty funny film. The audience laughed uproarously. Consider it almost as good as "The Rarebit Fiends. PEARL FISHERIES:- A fantastic, highly colored series. Holds the interest.- Altogether the KINETOGRAPH series this week is better than the average run of pictures.- N.B.- In the matter of acts I cannot help but remark that constant expurgation of Vaudeville acts for the past two years has borne fruit. Whereas a year ago we would have from three to ten cuts on every show it is rare now that we have more than one or two, and those too insignificant to make a matter of Circuit report. In other words, the performers are getting on to the fact that our theatres will not stand for anything vulgar, profane or suggestive in word or action, knowing full well they will get a call-down, and moreover that these cuts are reported from theatre to theatre. Naturally sensitive, they dread this sort of thing, with the result that there is less and less that is objectionable, and the only offenders are those who are new on the Circuit. I think this is a matter of no small congratulation for the beginning of the New Year.
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