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 70

70
COOK POERA HOUSE, ROCHESTER, N.Y., WEEK NOV. 17, 1902.
ACT TIME SET
No. 1 - DE LUCAS 9 full stage
Five men acrobats working in evening dress. Their 3-high passes and 3-high mount leaps are perhaps better done than by any other acrobatic turn. They have a stylish appearance, there hit being close to a sensation.
No. 2. - THREE DUMONDS 18 full stage - close in one
The act is better worked all in one. Same violinist and guitar player. Third man is new and an improvement on the old one. The act does not seem to go as well on repeats. Violinist really a hit, but entire act overpaid.
No. 3 - Mr. & Mrs. MARK MURPHY 18 full stage
Their old act never pleased our patrons, but in the present one, "Why Doogan Swore Off," is a good sketch and the laughing hit of the bill. The idea is very good, and the act has not the disgusting features that are apt to be in a drunken sketch. Murphy, in the character of a fireman, who uses his as an excuse to stay away from his wife nights, is exceedingly droll, and while he uses some J. W. Kelley matter in the act, which goes very well, he has enough original matter o his own. Mrs. Murphy pleases in a refined Irish woman character, while not extra good, has the correct idea and is much more pleasing than in the old act, and sings one song nicely.
No. 4 - LOUISE DRESSER 10 all in one
This is her first week in vaudeville since her disastrous starring tour, using the same material as last year, with the burlesque illustrated song for a finish, which is an important feature.
No. 5 -- JACK NORWORTH 15 all in one
Same conditions exist as in Miss Dresser;s case. Norworth was in bad shape the first part of the week in material, but improved wonderfully. This man has a bad fault of introducing questionable points in his songs and gags, and is too clever to ruin his act in this way.
No. 6 - LEONA THURBER 18 all in one
And comedy coons. Employs special drop, which she carries, for opening song. Has the same pair of coons formerly used by Dresser. This woman's place is leading woman in a burlesque show. She has a nice figure, but that's all.
No. 7 - O"ROURKE & BURNETTE 12 fulls stage - can close in one
This act is of no value in vaudeville houses to-day. The way it drives people out of the house here, it might be all right in a continuous house as a chaser on holidays.No. 9 - 5 JUGGLING JOHNSONS 1- full stage
Carry special setting, which, with distinguished appearance of the five men, is better and has more wonderful club juggling than any act of its kind in the world. There are four intricate passes when it is impossible for the eye to follow the clubs, the air being filled with multi-colored clubs. Well worth the money.
No. 8 - TOM MOORE 10 all in one
The best coon singer we have every played, and while possibly not as big a hit, he is the equal of Earnest Hogan. However, this man is white and works white.
No. 10 - Lozelle, 10 xxx 8 min., full stage. Same as last week here.
Mlle Adelle - has been here several times recently - She is a clever artist and does a disrobing act on the slack wire. Went finely.
Chase Mackie's monologue - 17 minutes - went fairly.
Threlkeld & Wicke - ma and woman, in only a fair musical act - the woman tried to sing ad was very bad - Act is poor and went poorley - 10 min.
The Wilma Sisters - the contralto sang a solo and went finely, the soprano sang a solo and did not go as well - their duett went big. Fine dressers.
Belle Gordon - bag puncher - went fairly - 15 min.
Emma Krause, in fine voice, went big - 15 min.
Plafrey & Hilton, bicycle act, went big, 15 min.
Hines & Remington - man and woman, comedy act, nothing to it, but went big - 15 min.
Margaret Ashton - has a pretty voice - makes two slow changes - she looks best in man's evening attire - went poorly - 10 min.
Midgley & Carlisel - went big - 17 min.
Joe Welch - same as every - great, went big - 22 min.
The Flying Rathburns - two men and a boy on high trapeze and horizontal bars - went immense. 10 min.
Eddie Mack, dancer, went big, 10 min.
Farrell & Furey - two men - went finely, but they talked too much and sang too little - 10 min.
Joe Carroll - Englands champion wrestler, and Mr. Murphy of Fall River, had a tussle which lasted eight minutes - Murphy was hard to handle and won applause of the house - went big.

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70 COOK POERA HOUSE, ROCHESTER, N.Y., WEEK NOV. 17, 1902. ACT TIME SET No. 1 - DE LUCAS 9 full stage Five men acrobats working in evening dress. Their 3-high passes and 3-high mount leaps are perhaps better done than by any other acrobatic turn. They have a stylish appearance, there hit being close to a sensation. No. 2. - THREE DUMONDS 18 full stage - close in one The act is better worked all in one. Same violinist and guitar player. Third man is new and an improvement on the old one. The act does not seem to go as well on repeats. Violinist really a hit, but entire act overpaid. No. 3 - Mr. & Mrs. MARK MURPHY 18 full stage Their old act never pleased our patrons, but in the present one, "Why Doogan Swore Off," is a good sketch and the laughing hit of the bill. The idea is very good, and the act has not the disgusting features that are apt to be in a drunken sketch. Murphy, in the character of a fireman, who uses his as an excuse to stay away from his wife nights, is exceedingly droll, and while he uses some J. W. Kelley matter in the act, which goes very well, he has enough original matter o his own. Mrs. Murphy pleases in a refined Irish woman character, while not extra good, has the correct idea and is much more pleasing than in the old act, and sings one song nicely. No. 4 - LOUISE DRESSER 10 all in one This is her first week in vaudeville since her disastrous starring tour, using the same material as last year, with the burlesque illustrated song for a finish, which is an important feature. No. 5 -- JACK NORWORTH 15 all in one Same conditions exist as in Miss Dresser;s case. Norworth was in bad shape the first part of the week in material, but improved wonderfully. This man has a bad fault of introducing questionable points in his songs and gags, and is too clever to ruin his act in this way. No. 6 - LEONA THURBER 18 all in one And comedy coons. Employs special drop, which she carries, for opening song. Has the same pair of coons formerly used by Dresser. This woman's place is leading woman in a burlesque show. She has a nice figure, but that's all. No. 7 - O"ROURKE & BURNETTE 12 fulls stage - can close in one This act is of no value in vaudeville houses to-day. The way it drives people out of the house here, it might be all right in a continuous house as a chaser on holidays.No. 9 - 5 JUGGLING JOHNSONS 1- full stage Carry special setting, which, with distinguished appearance of the five men, is better and has more wonderful club juggling than any act of its kind in the world. There are four intricate passes when it is impossible for the eye to follow the clubs, the air being filled with multi-colored clubs. Well worth the money. No. 8 - TOM MOORE 10 all in one The best coon singer we have every played, and while possibly not as big a hit, he is the equal of Earnest Hogan. However, this man is white and works white. No. 10 - Lozelle, 10 xxx 8 min., full stage. Same as last week here. Mlle Adelle - has been here several times recently - She is a clever artist and does a disrobing act on the slack wire. Went finely. Chase Mackie's monologue - 17 minutes - went fairly. Threlkeld & Wicke - ma and woman, in only a fair musical act - the woman tried to sing ad was very bad - Act is poor and went poorley - 10 min. The Wilma Sisters - the contralto sang a solo and went finely, the soprano sang a solo and did not go as well - their duett went big. Fine dressers. Belle Gordon - bag puncher - went fairly - 15 min. Emma Krause, in fine voice, went big - 15 min. Plafrey & Hilton, bicycle act, went big, 15 min. Hines & Remington - man and woman, comedy act, nothing to it, but went big - 15 min. Margaret Ashton - has a pretty voice - makes two slow changes - she looks best in man's evening attire - went poorly - 10 min. Midgley & Carlisel - went big - 17 min. Joe Welch - same as every - great, went big - 22 min. The Flying Rathburns - two men and a boy on high trapeze and horizontal bars - went immense. 10 min. Eddie Mack, dancer, went big, 10 min. Farrell & Furey - two men - went finely, but they talked too much and sang too little - 10 min. Joe Carroll - Englands champion wrestler, and Mr. Murphy of Fall River, had a tussle which lasted eight minutes - Murphy was hard to handle and won applause of the house - went big.