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 234

234
Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of November 28th. (Chas. Lovenberg, Mgr.)
The show is a good one but is not as lively as that of last week's bill. It lacks something in hilarious comedy although the individual acts are nearly all very good.
The Nohrens. Trapeze act and a very good turn to open the bill. 10 min. full stage, 3 shows.
Laura Comstock. Songs and stories. This girl has not made the improvement that I looked for and her act is very little better than before. When an act in one, in the early part of the bill is needed, she does all right to fill in. She is a good-looking woman and manages to get by. 12 min. in one, 3 shows.
Norcross Minstrels. This is a novel act somewhat similar to that of Mitchell & Marron. The men do some good singing and passable dancing and the old time jokes go wonderfully well. They told me at rehearsal that they did 28 min. With the great amount of show that I had I asked them to cut it some, and they said they would cut it to 21 min. I don't really believe that they know exactly how much they do for with the 'cut' they did 15 min. Probably their entire act is about 18 or 20 min. in one, 3 shows.
Harding & Ah Sid and Mlle. Olive. Although I don't play these two acts in this double manner I want to send my review on them together as that is the way they are booked. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out, why these people get $250. Harding & Ah Sid in this house are not worth over $125. and they might possibly be worth $150 somewhere else. Really I think they belong in the three a day class. They failed to score a hit here entirely. Olive does an act which for three shows a day, would be worth $50.--Certainly, no more. That would bring their joint salary up, at best, to $175., and that is big for them, especially if they do two shows. Olive does a fair little act, in a way, for an early spot on the supper show but cannot be used to advantage later than 7.30. Time for Harding & Ah Sid--15 min. open in full stage, close in 1. Time for Olive--11 min. full stage. Both 2 shows.
Les Dahlias. Novelty dancing act. As it has played the entire circuit; description is unnecessary. It is a pleasing little act, something of a novelty, and goes first rate in the early two a day section. 12 min. in one, full stage, 2 shows.
Murphy & Francis. Well-known colored team, the man being an exceptionally good eccentric dancer and quite a funny comedian. Very good three a day act. 15 min. in [3?].
Chrystal Herne & Co. In an emotional dramatic sketch called, "Between the Acts". This act went very strong, and is to my mind, one of the most valuable acquisitions to Vaudeville. I believe, for vaudeville purposes it is fully as good, if not better than Jessie Millward's act, as it gives the star more opportunity for heavy emotional work, which this girl does in a wonderful manner. With rather a sleepy audience today the act was a decided hit and any house that overlooks this act, I believe, will be missing one of the best things of the season. Besides its value from an artistic standpoint, there is additional value in the name to advertise upon. 20 min. full stage, 2 shows.

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234 Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of November 28th. (Chas. Lovenberg, Mgr.) The show is a good one but is not as lively as that of last week's bill. It lacks something in hilarious comedy although the individual acts are nearly all very good. The Nohrens. Trapeze act and a very good turn to open the bill. 10 min. full stage, 3 shows. Laura Comstock. Songs and stories. This girl has not made the improvement that I looked for and her act is very little better than before. When an act in one, in the early part of the bill is needed, she does all right to fill in. She is a good-looking woman and manages to get by. 12 min. in one, 3 shows. Norcross Minstrels. This is a novel act somewhat similar to that of Mitchell & Marron. The men do some good singing and passable dancing and the old time jokes go wonderfully well. They told me at rehearsal that they did 28 min. With the great amount of show that I had I asked them to cut it some, and they said they would cut it to 21 min. I don't really believe that they know exactly how much they do for with the 'cut' they did 15 min. Probably their entire act is about 18 or 20 min. in one, 3 shows. Harding & Ah Sid and Mlle. Olive. Although I don't play these two acts in this double manner I want to send my review on them together as that is the way they are booked. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out, why these people get $250. Harding & Ah Sid in this house are not worth over $125. and they might possibly be worth $150 somewhere else. Really I think they belong in the three a day class. They failed to score a hit here entirely. Olive does an act which for three shows a day, would be worth $50.--Certainly, no more. That would bring their joint salary up, at best, to $175., and that is big for them, especially if they do two shows. Olive does a fair little act, in a way, for an early spot on the supper show but cannot be used to advantage later than 7.30. Time for Harding & Ah Sid--15 min. open in full stage, close in 1. Time for Olive--11 min. full stage. Both 2 shows. Les Dahlias. Novelty dancing act. As it has played the entire circuit; description is unnecessary. It is a pleasing little act, something of a novelty, and goes first rate in the early two a day section. 12 min. in one, full stage, 2 shows. Murphy & Francis. Well-known colored team, the man being an exceptionally good eccentric dancer and quite a funny comedian. Very good three a day act. 15 min. in [3?]. Chrystal Herne & Co. In an emotional dramatic sketch called, "Between the Acts". This act went very strong, and is to my mind, one of the most valuable acquisitions to Vaudeville. I believe, for vaudeville purposes it is fully as good, if not better than Jessie Millward's act, as it gives the star more opportunity for heavy emotional work, which this girl does in a wonderful manner. With rather a sleepy audience today the act was a decided hit and any house that overlooks this act, I believe, will be missing one of the best things of the season. Besides its value from an artistic standpoint, there is additional value in the name to advertise upon. 20 min. full stage, 2 shows.