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Keith-Albee managers' report book, April 30, 1906 - February 4, 1907, part 1

Page 124

124
OCTOBER 1, 1906.
PHILADELPHIA SHOW.
C.E. BARNS.
CROTTY TRIO, Singers and Dancers:-17 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 6:39. Two women and a man. Appearance not very effective. Women's singing is most mediocre, and man's is absolutely without merit. His dancing particularly on the little foot-square board with wooden shoes, was really quite effective and saved the act from utter downfall. This is the kind of an act, grave-yard song and all, that Vaudeville audiences have outgrown by ten years, and it is no wonder that the applause was very painfully mild. The kind of an act to be granted speedy and effectual obsequies,--which we proceeded to do after the first show.
THE HURLEYS, Novelty Gymnasts:- 10 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 6:56. Man and woman in becoming outing costume. The woman is the principal attraction being a very powerful little athlete and a good example of physical training. Act is a little bit slow. Close fair.
JULIET WINSTON, Vocaliste:- 11 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:06. A very pretty little brunette who has a very dainty way, and dresses becomingly. Has a rich voice, though not strong enough for such a large house as this. She will certainly develop into something of quality. Each one of her selections got a fair hand. She will make good a little further down the bill. The final number in the spotlight was quite effective. Close fair.
[PRAMPIN?] TRIO, Coontown Novelty:- 13 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:17. Two men and a woman, colored. They perform on various instruments trumpets, cornets, French horns, hautboys, etc, together with one singing selection by the woman. Make a good appearance in military costumes and play with a good deal of skill. Each one of their numbers received fairly good applause. Altogether they held down the place.
ADAIR & [BAHN? DAHN?], Wire-act:- 12 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 7:33. This is a very good wire-act, though not, of course, in line with the Harveys. They perform a number of feats on the wire that are rarely seen. The man in the act is the whole thing, although the woman makes a very pleasing partner. There were many new stunts, for instance, barrel-jumping feat which was amazingly difficult and even dangerous. The cake-walk trick at the start woke the audience up. The closing feature consistent of a wine dinner on the wire, ending with the imitation jag got a storm of applause. Would hold, with credit, a better spot on the bill.
WILLIE WESTON, Imitator:- 16 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:45. The songs and recitations of Williams, Cohen, Gordon and others of the well known stage-people went pretty well, although there was no very great applause. Warmed up as he progressed and the close was very good for that sort of an act. Was compelled to take an encore and two curtain calls, making a little speech saying that he hadn't anything else to offer.


Close in a perfect storm of laughter. Went down the bill and very properly, after the first performance.


TWO MISCHIEVOUS BOYS:-Amusing pictures of the conventional "bad boy" variety and a fairly good closer, to the Kinetograph list.
Altogether, the pictures this week were quite up to the standard.
GENERAL REMARKS:-This show ran about as we anticipated, judging from reports from other houses, with possible exception, LUCY & LUCIER who were a surprise, all the more so because their sketch leads off so unpromisingly. One such a feature would save a bill of a far lower order of general merit. The NIGHTONS being a very interesting, but quiet act, went up the bill to give the more sensational BORDEVERRY feature the closing spot. The papers this morning divide honors between BORDEVERRY, GEORGE EVANS, and LUCY & LUCIER. Good theatre weather, and in spite of heavy opposition this week, business excellent.

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124 OCTOBER 1, 1906. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C.E. BARNS. CROTTY TRIO, Singers and Dancers:-17 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 6:39. Two women and a man. Appearance not very effective. Women's singing is most mediocre, and man's is absolutely without merit. His dancing particularly on the little foot-square board with wooden shoes, was really quite effective and saved the act from utter downfall. This is the kind of an act, grave-yard song and all, that Vaudeville audiences have outgrown by ten years, and it is no wonder that the applause was very painfully mild. The kind of an act to be granted speedy and effectual obsequies,--which we proceeded to do after the first show. THE HURLEYS, Novelty Gymnasts:- 10 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 6:56. Man and woman in becoming outing costume. The woman is the principal attraction being a very powerful little athlete and a good example of physical training. Act is a little bit slow. Close fair. JULIET WINSTON, Vocaliste:- 11 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:06. A very pretty little brunette who has a very dainty way, and dresses becomingly. Has a rich voice, though not strong enough for such a large house as this. She will certainly develop into something of quality. Each one of her selections got a fair hand. She will make good a little further down the bill. The final number in the spotlight was quite effective. Close fair. [PRAMPIN?] TRIO, Coontown Novelty:- 13 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:17. Two men and a woman, colored. They perform on various instruments trumpets, cornets, French horns, hautboys, etc, together with one singing selection by the woman. Make a good appearance in military costumes and play with a good deal of skill. Each one of their numbers received fairly good applause. Altogether they held down the place. ADAIR & [BAHN? DAHN?], Wire-act:- 12 min. F.S. 3 shows. On at 7:33. This is a very good wire-act, though not, of course, in line with the Harveys. They perform a number of feats on the wire that are rarely seen. The man in the act is the whole thing, although the woman makes a very pleasing partner. There were many new stunts, for instance, barrel-jumping feat which was amazingly difficult and even dangerous. The cake-walk trick at the start woke the audience up. The closing feature consistent of a wine dinner on the wire, ending with the imitation jag got a storm of applause. Would hold, with credit, a better spot on the bill. WILLIE WESTON, Imitator:- 16 min. in 1. 3 shows. On at 7:45. The songs and recitations of Williams, Cohen, Gordon and others of the well known stage-people went pretty well, although there was no very great applause. Warmed up as he progressed and the close was very good for that sort of an act. Was compelled to take an encore and two curtain calls, making a little speech saying that he hadn't anything else to offer. Close in a perfect storm of laughter. Went down the bill and very properly, after the first performance. TWO MISCHIEVOUS BOYS:-Amusing pictures of the conventional "bad boy" variety and a fairly good closer, to the Kinetograph list. Altogether, the pictures this week were quite up to the standard. GENERAL REMARKS:-This show ran about as we anticipated, judging from reports from other houses, with possible exception, LUCY & LUCIER who were a surprise, all the more so because their sketch leads off so unpromisingly. One such a feature would save a bill of a far lower order of general merit. The NIGHTONS being a very interesting, but quiet act, went up the bill to give the more sensational BORDEVERRY feature the closing spot. The papers this morning divide honors between BORDEVERRY, GEORGE EVANS, and LUCY & LUCIER. Good theatre weather, and in spite of heavy opposition this week, business excellent.