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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 4, 1905 - April 23, 1906
Page 224
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224 (F. J. O'Connor) Boston Show, Week of March 26, 1906 Overture, 9 min.--Selections from "Faust". Carl Victor, 3 shows, 12 min. in 3--In a pleasing exhibition of physical culture. Has been commented upon in the other houses. He has certainly a great development, and he went quite well in this spot today. Brooks Brothers, 3 shows, 14 min. in 1--Talking comedians, singers and dancers. They did not seem to get the audience at all this afternoon, in fact, they went very poorly. Shall have to put them down after the Kinetograph. The Wilsons, 3 shows, 9 min. full stage--Man and woman, working on a supported ladder. The man works in eccentric makeup and the woman is quite pretty and shapely. Their work is very ordinary, but nevertheless, as with all acts of this sort here, they went quite well. Johnny Johns, 2 shows, 12 min. in 1--Blackface comedian and parody singer. Has quite a bright line of material, but was very slow in getting them today. After a while he managed to start it along and closed quite strong. Ethel McDonough, 2 shows, 12 min. open in 2, close in 1--"The Girl Behind the Drum". Got a big advance reception, as she is extremely popular here. She did an opening song and dance today which we promptly cut out, as it is worthless. She plays on drums and xylophones very acceptably. In her close in 1 she plays "Up the Street", in which she always scored a big hit with the Fadettes, and of course it went big. Linden Beckwith, 2 shows, 15 min. open in 2, close in 1--"The Singing Portrait". Has been commented upon in the other houses. I can only reiterate what has been said in praise of the beauty and novelty of the act. Made a decided impression on our audience today and went big. Caron and Farnum, 2 shows, 12 min. open full stage, close in 1. Eccentric comedy acrobats. They managed to push out the first real laughs of the afternoon by some rather illegitimate work, which I felt constrained to cut. The tumbling of one of the men is quite good, and managed to arouse considerable laughter, but the mirth-provoking qualities of the act are by no means great. Cut -- Pulling trousers from one of the men, -- "Give me a kiss" accompanied with a kick in the lower extremities. Nichols Sisters, 2 shows, 16 min. in 1--"The Kentucky Belles" This is the first time in four years for these people here, and while they held the spot very acceptably, and provoked considerable laughter, I could easily see that they did not hit the Boston audience as they unquestionably have patrons of the other houses. Nevertheless, they went acceptably. Sailor & Barbaretto, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1--Man and woman in a singing specialty. They are quite good vocalists and in this very poor spot on the bill, they were acceptable. I shall endeavor to give them a chance with the orchestra tomorrow and for the balance of the week. Comment:- The show is not a good one -- too shy on comedy. With Houdini on the bill it is very desirable to have all the laughs we can with a reasonable balance. None of the acts in the 2-show section were bad, but we had Ethel McDonough, the drummer; Linden Beckwith, vocal novelty; Rose Coghlan, in a dramatic sketch, all without any comedy whatever, and then, Johnny Johns was no scream nor Caron & Farnum or the Nichols Sisters. Overflowing business has been the rule the past week, and I see no reason why it should not continue.
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224 (F. J. O'Connor) Boston Show, Week of March 26, 1906 Overture, 9 min.--Selections from "Faust". Carl Victor, 3 shows, 12 min. in 3--In a pleasing exhibition of physical culture. Has been commented upon in the other houses. He has certainly a great development, and he went quite well in this spot today. Brooks Brothers, 3 shows, 14 min. in 1--Talking comedians, singers and dancers. They did not seem to get the audience at all this afternoon, in fact, they went very poorly. Shall have to put them down after the Kinetograph. The Wilsons, 3 shows, 9 min. full stage--Man and woman, working on a supported ladder. The man works in eccentric makeup and the woman is quite pretty and shapely. Their work is very ordinary, but nevertheless, as with all acts of this sort here, they went quite well. Johnny Johns, 2 shows, 12 min. in 1--Blackface comedian and parody singer. Has quite a bright line of material, but was very slow in getting them today. After a while he managed to start it along and closed quite strong. Ethel McDonough, 2 shows, 12 min. open in 2, close in 1--"The Girl Behind the Drum". Got a big advance reception, as she is extremely popular here. She did an opening song and dance today which we promptly cut out, as it is worthless. She plays on drums and xylophones very acceptably. In her close in 1 she plays "Up the Street", in which she always scored a big hit with the Fadettes, and of course it went big. Linden Beckwith, 2 shows, 15 min. open in 2, close in 1--"The Singing Portrait". Has been commented upon in the other houses. I can only reiterate what has been said in praise of the beauty and novelty of the act. Made a decided impression on our audience today and went big. Caron and Farnum, 2 shows, 12 min. open full stage, close in 1. Eccentric comedy acrobats. They managed to push out the first real laughs of the afternoon by some rather illegitimate work, which I felt constrained to cut. The tumbling of one of the men is quite good, and managed to arouse considerable laughter, but the mirth-provoking qualities of the act are by no means great. Cut -- Pulling trousers from one of the men, -- "Give me a kiss" accompanied with a kick in the lower extremities. Nichols Sisters, 2 shows, 16 min. in 1--"The Kentucky Belles" This is the first time in four years for these people here, and while they held the spot very acceptably, and provoked considerable laughter, I could easily see that they did not hit the Boston audience as they unquestionably have patrons of the other houses. Nevertheless, they went acceptably. Sailor & Barbaretto, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1--Man and woman in a singing specialty. They are quite good vocalists and in this very poor spot on the bill, they were acceptable. I shall endeavor to give them a chance with the orchestra tomorrow and for the balance of the week. Comment:- The show is not a good one -- too shy on comedy. With Houdini on the bill it is very desirable to have all the laughs we can with a reasonable balance. None of the acts in the 2-show section were bad, but we had Ethel McDonough, the drummer; Linden Beckwith, vocal novelty; Rose Coghlan, in a dramatic sketch, all without any comedy whatever, and then, Johnny Johns was no scream nor Caron & Farnum or the Nichols Sisters. Overflowing business has been the rule the past week, and I see no reason why it should not continue.
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