DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

Page 5

5
(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of Sept. 15, 1902.
Stereopticon, 3 shows, 15 min. in one--Interesting lot pf pictures.
Klein and Clifton, 3 shows, 13 min. in two--Man and woman, in a novelty dancing act, and a little it of comedy and singing. It is a lively opening act, the best we have had for some weeks.
The Brittons, 3 shows, 14 min, in one -- This team of colored entertainers is one of the most lively working turns that has opened the show for some weeks. They made a big hit with their excellent dancing, and will stand for a strong place in the thee show section, which they will get in the night show. I saw this team work in the parks this summer, and was convinced that they would make a hit.
George Hussey, 3 shows, 15 min. opens in three, closes in one--A ventriloquil comedian, but a poor one, his dummies being bad and he himself possesses no "personality". While his stuff is not objectionable, it is not very interesting, and he cannot be classes as better than an opener.
Wood and Wood, 3 shows, 12 min in three--Two young men of good appearance, and excellent athletes. Their exhibition on the flying rings was about as good as anything of the kind that I can remember, and is another excellent three turn act.
Arthur Durepeau, 3 shows, 9 min. in one--This young fellow, said to be only 17 years of age, made his debut here today. He possesses a velvety voice of much sweetness but no great range, but will certainly develop. It may be that he was suffering with nervousness at the first appearance, which was quite natural, and he may show up to better advantage in later shows. He is simply fair, nothing great.
Dave Genaro and Ray Bailey, 2 shows, 22 min. full stage-- The same comedy singing and dancing act they have been doing for a couple of seasons. They were never very strong here, and did not particularly impress this afternoon's audience, but scored the best with their dancing finish. They will not stand for a later place than 2 and 8 o'clock  in our bills.
Provo, 3 shows, 16 min. in one--Very good juggler so far as he goes, performing all his tricks with but few misses. With the aid of our propertyman he introduces some pretty effective comedy. He stands for a fair place in the
 bill, and is a useful man to make sets by.

played is a capital one, chock full of laughs all through, but the chump actor who is assisting her should be sawing wood instead of attempting to act. She should be compelled to furnish better actors.
Fields and Ward, 2 shows, 16 min. in one--This team went about the same as always, but a good line on acts such as theirs cannot be got with the afternoon audience, as they are practically "night entertainers." Practically all their stuff was old, the same as the have been doing for a couple of seasons, and their songs were ditto. They can no longer hold the place in the bill the they formerly did.
Marvelous Merrils, 2 shows, 17 min. full stage-- One of the best trick and comedy bicycle acts in the business. Made a big hit.
John W. Ransone, 2 shows, 15 min. in one--I must confess Reasone was somewhat disappointing, although he may go better in the evening shows than he did this afternoon. His dialect and material did not seem half so funny as when heard in the "Prince of Pilsen", and it is another instance of how one may be deceived in the value of a bit of character work when seen under the advantageous surroundings of a good show that plays up to it all the time. At that, he will probably be worth what we are paying for it, as our expectations of the act were undoubtedly placed a little too high.
Batty's Bears, 2 shows, 14 min, full stage--Considering the difficult position in which the act was placed, closing the show, it can be considered to have made good, and will probably go stronger during the remained of the week, as under the rearrangement of the show it will be on much earlier both afternoon and evening. It is a very good act to entertain the children, while pleasing the grown folks as ell.
Comment: The entire show is a tremendous improvement on that of last week, especially in the three show section, and we should do a big business.

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5 (M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Sept. 15, 1902. Stereopticon, 3 shows, 15 min. in one--Interesting lot pf pictures. Klein and Clifton, 3 shows, 13 min. in two--Man and woman, in a novelty dancing act, and a little it of comedy and singing. It is a lively opening act, the best we have had for some weeks. The Brittons, 3 shows, 14 min, in one -- This team of colored entertainers is one of the most lively working turns that has opened the show for some weeks. They made a big hit with their excellent dancing, and will stand for a strong place in the thee show section, which they will get in the night show. I saw this team work in the parks this summer, and was convinced that they would make a hit. George Hussey, 3 shows, 15 min. opens in three, closes in one--A ventriloquil comedian, but a poor one, his dummies being bad and he himself possesses no "personality". While his stuff is not objectionable, it is not very interesting, and he cannot be classes as better than an opener. Wood and Wood, 3 shows, 12 min in three--Two young men of good appearance, and excellent athletes. Their exhibition on the flying rings was about as good as anything of the kind that I can remember, and is another excellent three turn act. Arthur Durepeau, 3 shows, 9 min. in one--This young fellow, said to be only 17 years of age, made his debut here today. He possesses a velvety voice of much sweetness but no great range, but will certainly develop. It may be that he was suffering with nervousness at the first appearance, which was quite natural, and he may show up to better advantage in later shows. He is simply fair, nothing great. Dave Genaro and Ray Bailey, 2 shows, 22 min. full stage-- The same comedy singing and dancing act they have been doing for a couple of seasons. They were never very strong here, and did not particularly impress this afternoon's audience, but scored the best with their dancing finish. They will not stand for a later place than 2 and 8 o'clock in our bills. Provo, 3 shows, 16 min. in one--Very good juggler so far as he goes, performing all his tricks with but few misses. With the aid of our propertyman he introduces some pretty effective comedy. He stands for a fair place in the bill, and is a useful man to make sets by. played is a capital one, chock full of laughs all through, but the chump actor who is assisting her should be sawing wood instead of attempting to act. She should be compelled to furnish better actors. Fields and Ward, 2 shows, 16 min. in one--This team went about the same as always, but a good line on acts such as theirs cannot be got with the afternoon audience, as they are practically "night entertainers." Practically all their stuff was old, the same as the have been doing for a couple of seasons, and their songs were ditto. They can no longer hold the place in the bill the they formerly did. Marvelous Merrils, 2 shows, 17 min. full stage-- One of the best trick and comedy bicycle acts in the business. Made a big hit. John W. Ransone, 2 shows, 15 min. in one--I must confess Reasone was somewhat disappointing, although he may go better in the evening shows than he did this afternoon. His dialect and material did not seem half so funny as when heard in the "Prince of Pilsen", and it is another instance of how one may be deceived in the value of a bit of character work when seen under the advantageous surroundings of a good show that plays up to it all the time. At that, he will probably be worth what we are paying for it, as our expectations of the act were undoubtedly placed a little too high. Batty's Bears, 2 shows, 14 min, full stage--Considering the difficult position in which the act was placed, closing the show, it can be considered to have made good, and will probably go stronger during the remained of the week, as under the rearrangement of the show it will be on much earlier both afternoon and evening. It is a very good act to entertain the children, while pleasing the grown folks as ell. Comment: The entire show is a tremendous improvement on that of last week, especially in the three show section, and we should do a big business.