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 26a

isher and Carroll, 2 shows 15 min. in one -- Had practically all new material and scored a bigger laughing hit than I have ever known them to do before. Of course, they had a good place on the bill, with very little laugh [provoking material in advance of them, and thus had a better chance.
Johnson & Dean, 2 shows, 10 min, full stage -- Though neither of these people are good singers, they certainly have got a "cinch" on the favor of the public. They got a big reception when they came on, and all of their songs were encored, the kinetoscope dance at the finish making an especially strong hit.
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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isher and Carroll, 2 shows 15 min. in one -- Had practically all new material and scored a bigger laughing hit than I have ever known them to do before. Of course, they had a good place on the bill, with very little laugh [provoking material in advance of them, and thus had a better chance. Johnson & Dean, 2 shows, 10 min, full stage -- Though neither of these people are good singers, they certainly have got a "cinch" on the favor of the public. They got a big reception when they came on, and all of their songs were encored, the kinetoscope dance at the finish making an especially strong hit. 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.