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 26

26
(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of Oct. 20, 1902.
Stereopticon, 3 shows, 12 min. in one -- Pleasing collection of views.
Johnstone Burr and Connie Ford, 3 shows, 18 min. full stage -- The man in this team make up in imitation of the late Arthur Sidman, while the woman strives to imitate Mrs. Sidman, but both are indifferent actors compared with the originals. The brightest part of their dialogue and stories is that stolen from Mr. Sidman's act. They may develop in time, but will never equal the Sidmans.
Bissonetti and Newman, 3 shows, 12. min, full stage - Hand-balancing and acrobatic turn, in which both the young men give an excellent exhibition of muscular development.
Corbley and Burke, 3 shows, 15 min. in one -- Quite a lively talking, singing and dancing act, much better, in fact, than several of those doing two turns. They liven up the early part of the bill.
Bush and Gordon, 3 shows, 12 min., open full stage, close in one -- Very good acrobatic act, with a few novelties in tumbling, and the comedy not at all bad.
Les Frasettes, 2 shows, 12 min open in two, close in one -- Instrumental specialists, and quite fair performers, nothing great, however, and ought to be in the three-show section.
Delmore Sisters, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage -- This is a spectacular act, in which the two girls act out in a picture frame the pictures conjured up by a xxxxxxxxxx bridegroom's reverie. The man in front in sufficient to kill any good act, and he most effectually three a wet blanket on this one by the bad reading of his lines. There is lots of room for improvement in it, and we will make an effort to straighten them out some for the balance of the week.
Ed Gray, 3 shows, 19 min. in one -- Monologue comedian and singer -- To well known to the circuit to need any comment. I agree with Mr. Hogdon that he shows improvement.
Yamamoto Brother, 2 shows, 10 min. full stage -- A capital tight wire act, with a bit of perch specialty at the finish that made a great hit. If I had known more about it in advance would have billed it heavier as it is just the kind of thing that goes strong here.

Zimmer, 2 shows, 12 min. in one -- Capital juggler of small articles, and makes a rattling good hit in a strong part of the bill to set by. His juggling of balls is particularly noteworthy, as he probably excels anyone else in the business in that particular line of work.
Chas. J. Ross and Mabel Fenton, 2 shows, 18 min. full stage -- A finely staged act, and the best of the burlesque acting ever offered on this stage. It gives a fair line on what Weber & Fields will have to do in the way of educating the amusement seekers in this city up to their style of entertainment, for it was plainly evident that the audience this afternoon was guessing the major portion of the time what it all meant. I must confess they won more applause than I expected, the funny points being caught onto quickly, though some of the best things were not appreciated. If Weber & Fields are successful, it simply gives us another field to draw upon, as we can play more acts of this description.
Lew Bloom, 2 shows, 15 min. in one -- Practically the same material he gave us before, and he was terribly handicapped by following a lot of swift acts, for which reason he did not hold his audience to any extend. When he gets placed in an easier position in the bill, he will go all right., He went much better upon the occasion of his previous engagement.
Cressy & Dayne, 2 shows, 23 min., full stage -- For their second week they were presenting their last year sketch, "A Village Lawyer," with which everybody on the circuit is familiar.
Biograph, 4 shows, 14 min. in one -- Just a medium lot of pictures, one or two of them being interesting enough to redeem the balance. Personally, it is always attractive for me, and I cannot see why it does not interest others. However, it is the strongest feature we can put at the end of our show.
Comment: The show is a very strong one, and if I had been able to retain it as I first made it up, it would have gone much better than it did, but Johnson 7 Dean absolutely refused to do any work in 1, and I had to make a quick shift of acts, with the result that the show was weakened. It also run over 15 min. owing to the fact that the time was incorrectly given. The show will pan out very strong when we get it arranged right.

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26 (M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Oct. 20, 1902. Stereopticon, 3 shows, 12 min. in one -- Pleasing collection of views. Johnstone Burr and Connie Ford, 3 shows, 18 min. full stage -- The man in this team make up in imitation of the late Arthur Sidman, while the woman strives to imitate Mrs. Sidman, but both are indifferent actors compared with the originals. The brightest part of their dialogue and stories is that stolen from Mr. Sidman's act. They may develop in time, but will never equal the Sidmans. Bissonetti and Newman, 3 shows, 12. min, full stage - Hand-balancing and acrobatic turn, in which both the young men give an excellent exhibition of muscular development. Corbley and Burke, 3 shows, 15 min. in one -- Quite a lively talking, singing and dancing act, much better, in fact, than several of those doing two turns. They liven up the early part of the bill. Bush and Gordon, 3 shows, 12 min., open full stage, close in one -- Very good acrobatic act, with a few novelties in tumbling, and the comedy not at all bad. Les Frasettes, 2 shows, 12 min open in two, close in one -- Instrumental specialists, and quite fair performers, nothing great, however, and ought to be in the three-show section. Delmore Sisters, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage -- This is a spectacular act, in which the two girls act out in a picture frame the pictures conjured up by a xxxxxxxxxx bridegroom's reverie. The man in front in sufficient to kill any good act, and he most effectually three a wet blanket on this one by the bad reading of his lines. There is lots of room for improvement in it, and we will make an effort to straighten them out some for the balance of the week. Ed Gray, 3 shows, 19 min. in one -- Monologue comedian and singer -- To well known to the circuit to need any comment. I agree with Mr. Hogdon that he shows improvement. Yamamoto Brother, 2 shows, 10 min. full stage -- A capital tight wire act, with a bit of perch specialty at the finish that made a great hit. If I had known more about it in advance would have billed it heavier as it is just the kind of thing that goes strong here. Zimmer, 2 shows, 12 min. in one -- Capital juggler of small articles, and makes a rattling good hit in a strong part of the bill to set by. His juggling of balls is particularly noteworthy, as he probably excels anyone else in the business in that particular line of work. Chas. J. Ross and Mabel Fenton, 2 shows, 18 min. full stage -- A finely staged act, and the best of the burlesque acting ever offered on this stage. It gives a fair line on what Weber & Fields will have to do in the way of educating the amusement seekers in this city up to their style of entertainment, for it was plainly evident that the audience this afternoon was guessing the major portion of the time what it all meant. I must confess they won more applause than I expected, the funny points being caught onto quickly, though some of the best things were not appreciated. If Weber & Fields are successful, it simply gives us another field to draw upon, as we can play more acts of this description. Lew Bloom, 2 shows, 15 min. in one -- Practically the same material he gave us before, and he was terribly handicapped by following a lot of swift acts, for which reason he did not hold his audience to any extend. When he gets placed in an easier position in the bill, he will go all right., He went much better upon the occasion of his previous engagement. Cressy & Dayne, 2 shows, 23 min., full stage -- For their second week they were presenting their last year sketch, "A Village Lawyer," with which everybody on the circuit is familiar. Biograph, 4 shows, 14 min. in one -- Just a medium lot of pictures, one or two of them being interesting enough to redeem the balance. Personally, it is always attractive for me, and I cannot see why it does not interest others. However, it is the strongest feature we can put at the end of our show. Comment: The show is a very strong one, and if I had been able to retain it as I first made it up, it would have gone much better than it did, but Johnson 7 Dean absolutely refused to do any work in 1, and I had to make a quick shift of acts, with the result that the show was weakened. It also run over 15 min. owing to the fact that the time was incorrectly given. The show will pan out very strong when we get it arranged right.