DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 14, 1904 - November 21, 1904

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

Page 79

79
CRITICISM OF SHOW.
KEITH'S CHESTNUT ST. THEATRE.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
JUNE 6TH
STEVENSON-16 mins.-C.D.F. 2-1/2-Close in One-Magician. Good little act. He works too much in the audience, where the balcony and gallery can't see. No harm for an opener. Guess from his talk he has not played the Keith circuit many times. He will be trimmed some.
AERIAL SHAWS-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Man and woman, working on the double swinging trapeze. Good little sight act for the early bill. Received applause in spots, and on the whole their work proved satisfactory.
HOLDEN & FLORENCE-15 mins.-Spec. Set-Man and woman, singing and talking sketch, "The Fairy of Killarney." The talk and the "comedy" could be better. The singing is only fair. If the man was ever a member of the Castle Sq. Opera Co., he does nothing to show it. The act is just a fair three-a-day act, and that's all.
THE HELSTONS-15 mins.-Open in one-Gar. in 2-Close in one-Boy and girl, a little dancing, hand balancing and acrobatic work. Serves to fill in some time, and that's about all. They worked hard enough, but couldn't seem to do more than just about get by, with the faintest courtesy applause.
RADO & BERTMAN-15 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-Close in one-Man and woman, comedy sketch, entitled "The New Girl." Girl does character work, making three changes. Man is a contortionist, working in regular business suit. Fair for three-a-day section.
GREEN & WIGGIN-15 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-close in one. Two men, comedians. One does trick juggling; the other crayon work and a few card tricks. Good act for the three-a-day section.
MR. & MRS. ALLISON-18 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-Man and woman, comedy sketch "Minnie from Minnesota." The man sings two songs acceptably. Woman's work carries the act. Can be classed as good.
McINTYRE & RICE-15 mins. in One-Man and woman, sketch, "Brannigan and the Leading Lady." A cross-fire talking act. Received a few laughs at intervals, but the audience seemed chilled, and a great many of their jokes went by without a noise. They use burlesque show methods. Received absolutely no applause at the close.
KLEIN, OTT BROS. & NICHOLSON-18 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-close in one-Four men, well known musical act. Up to this time the only act on the bill that could demand five consecutive minutes' attention. Good musical act. Received deserved applause.
MERIAN'S DOGS-10 mins.-Spec. Set-Doing a short ten minute pantomime skit. Their drops looked very bad in comparison with our own scenery, which had to be used to mask with. Act received liberal applause.
LE TOY & WOODFORD-15 mins. in one-Man and woman, cross-fire talking act. Some of the talk is interesting, but the audience could see it only at long intervals. Most of the stuff has been heard here before. Their work created very little interest. They put the show back to where it was before the musical act and the dogs.
EDMUND DAY & CO.- 25 mins.-Spec. Set-Two men and a woman, in "Shipmates." Went very well, holding the closest attention throughout. Very good.
JOHN D. GILBERT-15 mins. in one-Monologue; had a very hard place on the bill, and worked frantically for applause. On a cool day, with a good house, he would have done well. Good.

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79 CRITICISM OF SHOW. KEITH'S CHESTNUT ST. THEATRE. PHILADELPHIA, PA. JUNE 6TH STEVENSON-16 mins.-C.D.F. 2-1/2-Close in One-Magician. Good little act. He works too much in the audience, where the balcony and gallery can't see. No harm for an opener. Guess from his talk he has not played the Keith circuit many times. He will be trimmed some. AERIAL SHAWS-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Man and woman, working on the double swinging trapeze. Good little sight act for the early bill. Received applause in spots, and on the whole their work proved satisfactory. HOLDEN & FLORENCE-15 mins.-Spec. Set-Man and woman, singing and talking sketch, "The Fairy of Killarney." The talk and the "comedy" could be better. The singing is only fair. If the man was ever a member of the Castle Sq. Opera Co., he does nothing to show it. The act is just a fair three-a-day act, and that's all. THE HELSTONS-15 mins.-Open in one-Gar. in 2-Close in one-Boy and girl, a little dancing, hand balancing and acrobatic work. Serves to fill in some time, and that's about all. They worked hard enough, but couldn't seem to do more than just about get by, with the faintest courtesy applause. RADO & BERTMAN-15 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-Close in one-Man and woman, comedy sketch, entitled "The New Girl." Girl does character work, making three changes. Man is a contortionist, working in regular business suit. Fair for three-a-day section. GREEN & WIGGIN-15 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-close in one. Two men, comedians. One does trick juggling; the other crayon work and a few card tricks. Good act for the three-a-day section. MR. & MRS. ALLISON-18 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-Man and woman, comedy sketch "Minnie from Minnesota." The man sings two songs acceptably. Woman's work carries the act. Can be classed as good. McINTYRE & RICE-15 mins. in One-Man and woman, sketch, "Brannigan and the Leading Lady." A cross-fire talking act. Received a few laughs at intervals, but the audience seemed chilled, and a great many of their jokes went by without a noise. They use burlesque show methods. Received absolutely no applause at the close. KLEIN, OTT BROS. & NICHOLSON-18 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-close in one-Four men, well known musical act. Up to this time the only act on the bill that could demand five consecutive minutes' attention. Good musical act. Received deserved applause. MERIAN'S DOGS-10 mins.-Spec. Set-Doing a short ten minute pantomime skit. Their drops looked very bad in comparison with our own scenery, which had to be used to mask with. Act received liberal applause. LE TOY & WOODFORD-15 mins. in one-Man and woman, cross-fire talking act. Some of the talk is interesting, but the audience could see it only at long intervals. Most of the stuff has been heard here before. Their work created very little interest. They put the show back to where it was before the musical act and the dogs. EDMUND DAY & CO.- 25 mins.-Spec. Set-Two men and a woman, in "Shipmates." Went very well, holding the closest attention throughout. Very good. JOHN D. GILBERT-15 mins. in one-Monologue; had a very hard place on the bill, and worked frantically for applause. On a cool day, with a good house, he would have done well. Good.