DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book,, September 23, 1907 - March 12, 1908

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Keith-Albee managers' report book,, September 23, 1907 - March 12, 1908

Page 241

241
FEBRUARY 17, 1908.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW    C.E. BARNS.
ALEXANDER & SCOTT, Singing:- 12 min. in 1, 3 shows. On at 7:13. Two men, working blackface, one a female impersonator. The man singing the baritone solo is the better of the two. Only a passable act for an obscure spot.
DOHERTY'S POODLES:- 16 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 7:32. This act was put in as an emergency and made good. There are a dozen or more little white poodles, all of them quite well trained, one or two of them especially so. There is some little humor in the act which pleased the children.
DE CHAUTEL SISTERS, Voc:- 12 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:48. These girls make a good presentation, being very handsomely dressed, but their vocal work is only fair. Each selection got a light hand. The act could be enlivened a bit by the introduction of new selections and some little dancing. As it is now it drags.
MUSICAL CRAIGS:- 14 min. 2-1/2 close in 1. On at 8:00. Play on musical pipes, cowbells, dulcimer, sleigh bells. The last being the best was well applauded.
CARON & HERBERT, Comedy acro:- 12 min. F.S. close in 1. On at 8:14, 2 shows. This is a good act. The athletic part is expert, but the comedy is particularly pleasing to the gallery. The finish where the comedian pretends to jump into the sea-scape curtain pulling it down, disclosing the stage-hands behind it, got a big laugh. The work in one with the syphon bottle was also amusing even if hackneyed.
NIBLO & SPENCER, S. & D.:- 8 min. in 1. On at 8:26. This is a very acceptable act. The girl makes a pretty picture and whereas the singing is a little shy, the dancing makes up for it, particularly that of the young man, who gets very good hand. Closed well, with curtain call.
FELIX & BARRY, "The Boy Next Door":- 22 min. F.S. On at 8:34. This act contains a little of everything. Miss Barry opens with some good imitations, and Felix follows with a lot of knock-about and grotesque comedy which tickled the gallery. Emily Barry assists with some dainty singing and dancing. Closing hand was strong with four curtain calls.
JOHNNY JOHNS, "Boy from Dixie":- 10 min. in 1. 2 shows. On at 8:56. Well known blackface act. Had some new material which went fairly well. Had to work pretty hard to hold the spot, but managed to do it acceptably. This man does only ten minutes and this being the case he is not worth the money he is getting if he cannot deliver more goods.
BLONDE TYPEWRITERS (Gus. Edwards') with Johnnie Stanley:- 20 min. F.S. close in 1. 2 shows. On at 9:06. This act has been much improved since it was here last Summer. It works smoother, and Johnny Stanley infuses a lot of original fun into it. The girls sing and dance well making pretty picture. More than that, the publisher's advertising is not so eternally obvious. The finish of the act, where the girls' faces are seen through the portholes of a steam yacht, get a big hand, followed by two curtain calls.


Hill and Rice and Prevost, the woman doing little else than making screaming imitation of Miss Hill, as her acrobatic work and her comedy are both about nil. Could hold only a very obscure spot. Closed with poor hand.
GENERAL REMARKS:- This is a most unsatisfactory bill from one standpoint that we have ever had, in that no less than nine acts occupy ninety-two minutes in all, or an average of a little over ten minutes each. Two or three of them which were supposed to do sixteen minutes or thereabouts did not anywhere near make good on their time, as in the case of Johnny Johns, for instance. For that reason it was necessary to put in DOHERTY'S POODLES to piece out the supper show and transpose the entire bill to run as above. The loss in the case of the COTTRELL-POWELL act would have been more serious had we not been able to secure as good an act as the ELTON-POLO TRIO as a closer.
ELTON-POLO TRIO, Casting act:-10 min. F S. On at 10:18. Three men working in athletic costume on two high perches and bounding mat. Do regulation stunts some of which are unusual. Makes splendid closing feature. Strong finish.

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241 FEBRUARY 17, 1908. PHILADELPHIA SHOW C.E. BARNS. ALEXANDER & SCOTT, Singing:- 12 min. in 1, 3 shows. On at 7:13. Two men, working blackface, one a female impersonator. The man singing the baritone solo is the better of the two. Only a passable act for an obscure spot. DOHERTY'S POODLES:- 16 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 7:32. This act was put in as an emergency and made good. There are a dozen or more little white poodles, all of them quite well trained, one or two of them especially so. There is some little humor in the act which pleased the children. DE CHAUTEL SISTERS, Voc:- 12 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:48. These girls make a good presentation, being very handsomely dressed, but their vocal work is only fair. Each selection got a light hand. The act could be enlivened a bit by the introduction of new selections and some little dancing. As it is now it drags. MUSICAL CRAIGS:- 14 min. 2-1/2 close in 1. On at 8:00. Play on musical pipes, cowbells, dulcimer, sleigh bells. The last being the best was well applauded. CARON & HERBERT, Comedy acro:- 12 min. F.S. close in 1. On at 8:14, 2 shows. This is a good act. The athletic part is expert, but the comedy is particularly pleasing to the gallery. The finish where the comedian pretends to jump into the sea-scape curtain pulling it down, disclosing the stage-hands behind it, got a big laugh. The work in one with the syphon bottle was also amusing even if hackneyed. NIBLO & SPENCER, S. & D.:- 8 min. in 1. On at 8:26. This is a very acceptable act. The girl makes a pretty picture and whereas the singing is a little shy, the dancing makes up for it, particularly that of the young man, who gets very good hand. Closed well, with curtain call. FELIX & BARRY, "The Boy Next Door":- 22 min. F.S. On at 8:34. This act contains a little of everything. Miss Barry opens with some good imitations, and Felix follows with a lot of knock-about and grotesque comedy which tickled the gallery. Emily Barry assists with some dainty singing and dancing. Closing hand was strong with four curtain calls. JOHNNY JOHNS, "Boy from Dixie":- 10 min. in 1. 2 shows. On at 8:56. Well known blackface act. Had some new material which went fairly well. Had to work pretty hard to hold the spot, but managed to do it acceptably. This man does only ten minutes and this being the case he is not worth the money he is getting if he cannot deliver more goods. BLONDE TYPEWRITERS (Gus. Edwards') with Johnnie Stanley:- 20 min. F.S. close in 1. 2 shows. On at 9:06. This act has been much improved since it was here last Summer. It works smoother, and Johnny Stanley infuses a lot of original fun into it. The girls sing and dance well making pretty picture. More than that, the publisher's advertising is not so eternally obvious. The finish of the act, where the girls' faces are seen through the portholes of a steam yacht, get a big hand, followed by two curtain calls. Hill and Rice and Prevost, the woman doing little else than making screaming imitation of Miss Hill, as her acrobatic work and her comedy are both about nil. Could hold only a very obscure spot. Closed with poor hand. GENERAL REMARKS:- This is a most unsatisfactory bill from one standpoint that we have ever had, in that no less than nine acts occupy ninety-two minutes in all, or an average of a little over ten minutes each. Two or three of them which were supposed to do sixteen minutes or thereabouts did not anywhere near make good on their time, as in the case of Johnny Johns, for instance. For that reason it was necessary to put in DOHERTY'S POODLES to piece out the supper show and transpose the entire bill to run as above. The loss in the case of the COTTRELL-POWELL act would have been more serious had we not been able to secure as good an act as the ELTON-POLO TRIO as a closer. ELTON-POLO TRIO, Casting act:-10 min. F S. On at 10:18. Three men working in athletic costume on two high perches and bounding mat. Do regulation stunts some of which are unusual. Makes splendid closing feature. Strong finish.