DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 4, 1905 - April 23, 1906

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 4, 1905 - April 23, 1906

Page 116

116
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
PITTSBURG, PA.,   NOVEMBBER 13th.

MCGLOINE & SMITH-12 minutes-Singing and dancing act. 3 shows. 
Does very well for the three a day section.

MINNIE HARRISON-10 minutes, singing specialty.
Will just about get away doing three shows.

THE VALDINGS-9 minutes in wood. 3 shows. Aerial athletes.
This is a very good act for the three a day section. We have them on at 8:00 o'clock and they are doing very well.

JOSEPHINE GASSMAN-16 minutes-opening in one 10 minutes, then to full stage with special setting. Total time 16 minutes.
While the setting of this act is very nice, I would very much prefer to have the old act.

MUSICAL JOHNSONS-Xylophone players. 11 minutes in one. 
I think this is the best act of the kind in the business. Dress very neat and go very big with our patrons.

DEWITT, BURNS & TORRENCE-Full stage, special drop-14 minutes in "The Awakening of Toys", an acrobatic comedy act which is going very big. The act is a novelty and entirely away from all others.

JAS. F. MACDONALD-Olio-15 minutes in one.
This is Mr. Macdonald's second appearance with us and he is going very big. His singing is much better than any of the other monologue acts and his stories are also different.

HOUDINI-"The Handcuff King". From 20 to 40 minutes, depending entirely upon what is scheduled. This man gets out of the handcuffs very easily and has been responsible for a big week with us, but I would not imagine he would be worth anything to a bill unless he was helped to work his act up. It is necessary to boom him far in advance and to do many things that is not necessary with other feature acts. We were fortunate in getting some of the officials of the Western penitentiary, also city officials who were above suspicion to go on the stage from time to time and attempt to lock Mr. Houdini in straight jacket and handcuffs. In this way we were able to get a big week.

COOPER & ROBINSON-13 minutes in one.
This is a colored singing, dancing and talking act which I consider one of the best.They have done very well for us.

HAL DAVIS & CO. in"Pals" 25 minutes, special set.
This act, of course, is not as strong as on its first appearance here. The novelty of the act is worn off somewhat as it has appeared here twice. However, they made more than good.

VILLAGE CHOIR-Olio in one. 14 minutes.
This is the best singing act we have played, going very big in a hard place on the bill.

BROS. FREYDO-Gymnasts and equilibrists.
This act was a great disappointment to us. We played them two years ago and they went very strong with us. This time they did not do over 5 or 6 minutes at each show and missed most every trick they attempted. I found out by Wednesday that one of the brothers had been vaccinated some weeks ago and that it had affected his arm. I advised him to lay off until the arm got all right but I think he likes the money too well.

John P. Harris.

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116 GRAND OPERA HOUSE PITTSBURG, PA., NOVEMBBER 13th. MCGLOINE & SMITH-12 minutes-Singing and dancing act. 3 shows. Does very well for the three a day section. MINNIE HARRISON-10 minutes, singing specialty. Will just about get away doing three shows. THE VALDINGS-9 minutes in wood. 3 shows. Aerial athletes. This is a very good act for the three a day section. We have them on at 8:00 o'clock and they are doing very well. JOSEPHINE GASSMAN-16 minutes-opening in one 10 minutes, then to full stage with special setting. Total time 16 minutes. While the setting of this act is very nice, I would very much prefer to have the old act. MUSICAL JOHNSONS-Xylophone players. 11 minutes in one. I think this is the best act of the kind in the business. Dress very neat and go very big with our patrons. DEWITT, BURNS & TORRENCE-Full stage, special drop-14 minutes in "The Awakening of Toys", an acrobatic comedy act which is going very big. The act is a novelty and entirely away from all others. JAS. F. MACDONALD-Olio-15 minutes in one. This is Mr. Macdonald's second appearance with us and he is going very big. His singing is much better than any of the other monologue acts and his stories are also different. HOUDINI-"The Handcuff King". From 20 to 40 minutes, depending entirely upon what is scheduled. This man gets out of the handcuffs very easily and has been responsible for a big week with us, but I would not imagine he would be worth anything to a bill unless he was helped to work his act up. It is necessary to boom him far in advance and to do many things that is not necessary with other feature acts. We were fortunate in getting some of the officials of the Western penitentiary, also city officials who were above suspicion to go on the stage from time to time and attempt to lock Mr. Houdini in straight jacket and handcuffs. In this way we were able to get a big week. COOPER & ROBINSON-13 minutes in one. This is a colored singing, dancing and talking act which I consider one of the best.They have done very well for us. HAL DAVIS & CO. in"Pals" 25 minutes, special set. This act, of course, is not as strong as on its first appearance here. The novelty of the act is worn off somewhat as it has appeared here twice. However, they made more than good. VILLAGE CHOIR-Olio in one. 14 minutes. This is the best singing act we have played, going very big in a hard place on the bill. BROS. FREYDO-Gymnasts and equilibrists. This act was a great disappointment to us. We played them two years ago and they went very strong with us. This time they did not do over 5 or 6 minutes at each show and missed most every trick they attempted. I found out by Wednesday that one of the brothers had been vaccinated some weeks ago and that it had affected his arm. I advised him to lay off until the arm got all right but I think he likes the money too well. John P. Harris.