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 214a

214

2. 
ARLINGTON COMEDY FOUR, Singers and Dancers:-17 min. in 1. Messenger boy costume, one working black face. The singing is very good, and the comedy work of the black face is especially original and good. The laughs were frequent during the whole act. The dancing is some of the best we have had on this stage and included a great deal of eccentric work. Very good for this place on the bill.

ANNA EVA FAY, First Section:- 32 in. F.S. Identically the same feature as was offered last week without any variations. She has no doubt proven a drawing card for the reason that every one of her afternoon performances is to a full house with the exception of some of the box seats, but in the evening there are scarcely any of these. Later:

LINDEN BECKWITH, The Singing Portrait:- 12 min. in 3. 2 Shows. This is a very pretty act. Miss Beckwith appears in a gold frame,- has a stunning figure, superb costumes and the voice very rich and well trained. The first number did not go so well, but the second and third got a real strong hand. Believe it will go much better this evening . 

POST & RUSSELL, grotesque dancers and comedians:- 15 min. in 1. Songs and dances with eccentric comedy of the old school sort. Both work straight. The laughs were frequent throughout the act, and their dancing was especially applauded. While they did not make as big a hit as this point in the program should justify, at the same time it got a good hand at the close. Is very acceptable. 

LARSEN SISTERS, European Novelty Act:- 11 min. F.S. Two clever women who do a series of athletic stunts, with a novelty act consisting of a platform practically supported by one of the women, while the other turns somersaults on a narrow space. It is a regulation European concert hall act, both in quality of dress, or rather lack of dress. In fact, it is quite the limit for athletic costume. Their stunts received a fairly good hand, good close.

DILLON BROTHERS, in the Song Treatment:- 20 min. in 1. Supposed to be a dual act, but there is only one man in it, the other being merely a foil, and stands back of his partner , singing scarcely audible, and really of no use to the act. We have never had an act on the bill that required so many cuts, in fact, altogether there was uproarious laughter throughout it, all coming fromt he gallery and from the masculine element, as the jokes were very broad, and the songs invariably contained suggestive lines. This was not the exception, but was the general rule in fact, to keep these men down on this place on the bill with the rubbish they offer is out of the question. Half of their act should be eliminated, and not only offensive lines, but whole songs of unmistakable vulgarity should be slashed out along with the useless member, supposed to be affected with locomotor ataxia, and who is not one of the original Dillons at all, but an understudy.

MULLEN & CORELLI, Acrobatic Comedy:- 13 min. F.S. It is not as strong as this spot on the bill would justify, but gets by. The house is largely a Fay audience, and after her act a good number of the people leave. The piano jumping part of the act got a good applause. 

KINETOGRAPH:-TWO LITTLE WAIFS:- Fairly good, but obviously fakey.
MR. BUTT-IN:- Comedy that is only comical in spots, not up to our usual standard this week in the Kinetograph series.

GENERAL REMARKS:- In general effort to keep down expenses to make up for one large star-feature, we were inclined to give undue precedence and place to acts which we would not otherwise have accorded them. There is not any one single act that is bad, nor is there a single scream, nor anything that holds the attention fixed and positive. It is mediocre, and were it not for Fay would fall flat. However, a large share of the audience comes to see Fay, and by a little shifting of the bill, the various features will pass muster for the rest of the week. From the prospects of to-day, we are sure of capacity houses.

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214 2. ARLINGTON COMEDY FOUR, Singers and Dancers:-17 min. in 1. Messenger boy costume, one working black face. The singing is very good, and the comedy work of the black face is especially original and good. The laughs were frequent during the whole act. The dancing is some of the best we have had on this stage and included a great deal of eccentric work. Very good for this place on the bill. ANNA EVA FAY, First Section:- 32 in. F.S. Identically the same feature as was offered last week without any variations. She has no doubt proven a drawing card for the reason that every one of her afternoon performances is to a full house with the exception of some of the box seats, but in the evening there are scarcely any of these. Later: LINDEN BECKWITH, The Singing Portrait:- 12 min. in 3. 2 Shows. This is a very pretty act. Miss Beckwith appears in a gold frame,- has a stunning figure, superb costumes and the voice very rich and well trained. The first number did not go so well, but the second and third got a real strong hand. Believe it will go much better this evening . POST & RUSSELL, grotesque dancers and comedians:- 15 min. in 1. Songs and dances with eccentric comedy of the old school sort. Both work straight. The laughs were frequent throughout the act, and their dancing was especially applauded. While they did not make as big a hit as this point in the program should justify, at the same time it got a good hand at the close. Is very acceptable. LARSEN SISTERS, European Novelty Act:- 11 min. F.S. Two clever women who do a series of athletic stunts, with a novelty act consisting of a platform practically supported by one of the women, while the other turns somersaults on a narrow space. It is a regulation European concert hall act, both in quality of dress, or rather lack of dress. In fact, it is quite the limit for athletic costume. Their stunts received a fairly good hand, good close. DILLON BROTHERS, in the Song Treatment:- 20 min. in 1. Supposed to be a dual act, but there is only one man in it, the other being merely a foil, and stands back of his partner , singing scarcely audible, and really of no use to the act. We have never had an act on the bill that required so many cuts, in fact, altogether there was uproarious laughter throughout it, all coming fromt he gallery and from the masculine element, as the jokes were very broad, and the songs invariably contained suggestive lines. This was not the exception, but was the general rule in fact, to keep these men down on this place on the bill with the rubbish they offer is out of the question. Half of their act should be eliminated, and not only offensive lines, but whole songs of unmistakable vulgarity should be slashed out along with the useless member, supposed to be affected with locomotor ataxia, and who is not one of the original Dillons at all, but an understudy. MULLEN & CORELLI, Acrobatic Comedy:- 13 min. F.S. It is not as strong as this spot on the bill would justify, but gets by. The house is largely a Fay audience, and after her act a good number of the people leave. The piano jumping part of the act got a good applause. KINETOGRAPH:-TWO LITTLE WAIFS:- Fairly good, but obviously fakey. MR. BUTT-IN:- Comedy that is only comical in spots, not up to our usual standard this week in the Kinetograph series. GENERAL REMARKS:- In general effort to keep down expenses to make up for one large star-feature, we were inclined to give undue precedence and place to acts which we would not otherwise have accorded them. There is not any one single act that is bad, nor is there a single scream, nor anything that holds the attention fixed and positive. It is mediocre, and were it not for Fay would fall flat. However, a large share of the audience comes to see Fay, and by a little shifting of the bill, the various features will pass muster for the rest of the week. From the prospects of to-day, we are sure of capacity houses.