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Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 14, 1904 - November 21, 1904

Page 53

53
(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of May 2, 1904
Fadettes Orchestra, 2 shows, 60 min., full stage--Playing the same popular class of music as in previous seasons. Their drawing power was demonstrated the moment the doors were opened, and the house quickly filled up, the attendance of women being notably large. Their playing was decidedly better than at the outset last season, and every number was warmly encored. At the close it would have been easily possible to have continued longer, but I deemed it wise to hold them up in responding.
Corbley and Burke, 3 shows, 18 min. in 1--Talking, singing and dancing comedians. This was something of a fall down, following the Fadettes, still they held the place extremely well, exciting much laughter and occasional applause.
Eddie Girard and Jessie Gardner, 2 shows, 21 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here their new sketch, in which Girard continues his amusing Officer Dooley impersonation. This is a change from their previous turn, and not so strong an act, the finish being somewhat flat. There was considerable laughter evoked by the amusing dialogue and comical situations.
Pearl Danforth, 3 shows, 8 min. in 1--This girl was put in to fill the place made vacant by the nonappearance of Eddie Reeves. She is pretty, wore a stunning costume, and is one of the neatest dancers we have had here in some time. I understand she is an excellent singer of coon ballads, but inasmuch as she preceded Cole & Johnson, I was obliged to cut out the vocal part of the act.
Bob cole and rosamond Johnson, 2 shows, 20 min. open in 2, close in 1--These men received a great reception and all their songs were encored. At the finish they were obliged to come forward and bow their acknowledgment at least a half dozen times. Their opening dialogue was not changed by one word from what they have always used in the past, and Johnson's piano selection was the same Paderewski minuet he has always played. Cole's opening songs were new, but the real hits were scored by their old ballads.
French Brothers, 2 shows, 11 min. full stage--Bicycle and unicycle experts; Probably the greatest in that line of work in the business. Everything they did was applauded, and they went big from start to finish.
Jennie Yeamans, 2 shows, 15 min. in 1--Monologue and singing comedians. Presented an entirely new act from anything she has ever done heretofore in this house, and scored one of the solid hits of the bill. At the finish she was recalled several times. Any coarseness that may have been in her work in the past has been eliminated.



Comments:- The "summer season" has started in remarkably well, and although it is not possible to forecast the outcome of the new style of running the show, it seems probably from the comments of those who left the theatre yesterday, that it is going to prove a big success. There was no note of dissatisfaction expressed by anybody, while everyone united in praising the show, especially the enlarged orchestra.
After the first couple of weeks it will be possible to arrive at some definite conclusion as to the outcome of the new departure.

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53 (M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of May 2, 1904 Fadettes Orchestra, 2 shows, 60 min., full stage--Playing the same popular class of music as in previous seasons. Their drawing power was demonstrated the moment the doors were opened, and the house quickly filled up, the attendance of women being notably large. Their playing was decidedly better than at the outset last season, and every number was warmly encored. At the close it would have been easily possible to have continued longer, but I deemed it wise to hold them up in responding. Corbley and Burke, 3 shows, 18 min. in 1--Talking, singing and dancing comedians. This was something of a fall down, following the Fadettes, still they held the place extremely well, exciting much laughter and occasional applause. Eddie Girard and Jessie Gardner, 2 shows, 21 min. full stage--Presenting for the first time here their new sketch, in which Girard continues his amusing Officer Dooley impersonation. This is a change from their previous turn, and not so strong an act, the finish being somewhat flat. There was considerable laughter evoked by the amusing dialogue and comical situations. Pearl Danforth, 3 shows, 8 min. in 1--This girl was put in to fill the place made vacant by the nonappearance of Eddie Reeves. She is pretty, wore a stunning costume, and is one of the neatest dancers we have had here in some time. I understand she is an excellent singer of coon ballads, but inasmuch as she preceded Cole & Johnson, I was obliged to cut out the vocal part of the act. Bob cole and rosamond Johnson, 2 shows, 20 min. open in 2, close in 1--These men received a great reception and all their songs were encored. At the finish they were obliged to come forward and bow their acknowledgment at least a half dozen times. Their opening dialogue was not changed by one word from what they have always used in the past, and Johnson's piano selection was the same Paderewski minuet he has always played. Cole's opening songs were new, but the real hits were scored by their old ballads. French Brothers, 2 shows, 11 min. full stage--Bicycle and unicycle experts; Probably the greatest in that line of work in the business. Everything they did was applauded, and they went big from start to finish. Jennie Yeamans, 2 shows, 15 min. in 1--Monologue and singing comedians. Presented an entirely new act from anything she has ever done heretofore in this house, and scored one of the solid hits of the bill. At the finish she was recalled several times. Any coarseness that may have been in her work in the past has been eliminated. Comments:- The "summer season" has started in remarkably well, and although it is not possible to forecast the outcome of the new style of running the show, it seems probably from the comments of those who left the theatre yesterday, that it is going to prove a big success. There was no note of dissatisfaction expressed by anybody, while everyone united in praising the show, especially the enlarged orchestra. After the first couple of weeks it will be possible to arrive at some definite conclusion as to the outcome of the new departure.