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

Page 188

REPORT ON SHOW KEITH'S THEATRE, PROVIDENCE, R. I., WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16, 1903. (CHARLES LOVENBERG)

The bill this week is a decided improvement over that of last, although there are one or two weak spots on it.

Stereopticon. Not required.

Mitchell & Love. Talking act, one man Dutch, the other Straight. Straight man is the funniest of the two but he doesn't know it. Very bad act. 15 min. in one.

Henderson & Ross. Same act that is played over the circuit in which the opening and the work of the woman is very tame but they have a strong finish [due?] the man's comedy work on the tight-rope. 12 min. full stage.

Conwell & Swan. This is practically the same act as that done by Swan and O'Day. I hardly think that Conwell is as good a feeder to Swan as his former partner, but the act is improved by some very good dancing by the new man and were it not that we had played the very act here a short time ago I would have given them a much better place on the bill, which their work deserves. 20 minutes in one.

Biograph. Fairly good collection of views.

Master Godfrey. Cornet Soloist. This is a fairly good act and is worth playing over the circuit. His execution is good and tone not bad. His juvenile appearance goes, of course, a great ways towards carrying him through. 11 min. in one.

Charles E. Colby and Allie C. Way. The ventriloquisms of Colby is quite and he has a novel way of putting them together. I do not see that Miss Way adds much to the act except to probably draw an additional salary however the act must be classed as good. 18 minutes in three.

Josephine Gassman and her Pickaninnies| This act is not at all what it used to be as her voice is about gone and with one new pickaninnie that doesn't know what to do, the act is pretty tame. I was obliged to move them up to this position on the bill from where the Glessons now appear on the list. 12 min. open and close in one.

Will C. Matthews and Nellie Harris. This act went very well indeed considering the number of times they have had it here. I gave them purposely an easy place on the bill feeling that they could best make good in such a position as I am sure they would have fallen flat had they gone much later. 23 Minutes full stage.

Mrs. Caroline Shepard. Mezzo Soprano (Not contralto vocalist). The best of the Society singers. She probably does not make the striking appearance that Mrs. Bloodgood does but her singing is better and she made a genuine hit decidedly upon her merits. 10 minutes in one.

Stephen Grattan & Maud White. In "Locked out at 3 A. M.". A dainty sketch well presented and well received by the audience from start to finish. 18 minutes full stage.

John and Bertha Gleeson. The neatest and best dancing act of its kind that I know of. Very pleasing to our audience. 12 min. in one. (They cannot always work in one but did so here to accomodate me and were able to do so on account of the large space I have in one.)

Konorah. This act certainly got them talking both afternoon and night, and should draw us some money. 23 minutes full stage.

Willi[am?] Cahill. Irish monologuist. In the most difficult position on the program he held his audience, got his laughs, and a big round of applause at the finish. 18 min. in one.

Caron & Herbert. Acrobatic comedians. This is not just the act I should have had for this position on the bill but I had nothing else to put there and was obliged to make the best of it. They did better than I thought they would however but I still feel that this act is much over-paid. $150. is all it is worth. 18 minutes, open full stage, three to five minutes in one.

Raymond Teal. In a small way, a very clever blackface comedian who undoubtedly is following Sweatnam's style and should not be surprised if some day we heard from him as one of the leaders. 15 minutes in one.

Eldora. Juggler. He is not using Norine for the comedy in his act, but is using him now simply as a property man. I hardly think the act is as good this way as before, neither is it worth quite the money it is getting. 18 minutes full stage can close in one.

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REPORT ON SHOW KEITH'S THEATRE, PROVIDENCE, R. I., WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16, 1903. (CHARLES LOVENBERG) The bill this week is a decided improvement over that of last, although there are one or two weak spots on it. Stereopticon. Not required. Mitchell & Love. Talking act, one man Dutch, the other Straight. Straight man is the funniest of the two but he doesn't know it. Very bad act. 15 min. in one. Henderson & Ross. Same act that is played over the circuit in which the opening and the work of the woman is very tame but they have a strong finish [due?] the man's comedy work on the tight-rope. 12 min. full stage. Conwell & Swan. This is practically the same act as that done by Swan and O'Day. I hardly think that Conwell is as good a feeder to Swan as his former partner, but the act is improved by some very good dancing by the new man and were it not that we had played the very act here a short time ago I would have given them a much better place on the bill, which their work deserves. 20 minutes in one. Biograph. Fairly good collection of views. Master Godfrey. Cornet Soloist. This is a fairly good act and is worth playing over the circuit. His execution is good and tone not bad. His juvenile appearance goes, of course, a great ways towards carrying him through. 11 min. in one. Charles E. Colby and Allie C. Way. The ventriloquisms of Colby is quite and he has a novel way of putting them together. I do not see that Miss Way adds much to the act except to probably draw an additional salary however the act must be classed as good. 18 minutes in three. Josephine Gassman and her Pickaninnies| This act is not at all what it used to be as her voice is about gone and with one new pickaninnie that doesn't know what to do, the act is pretty tame. I was obliged to move them up to this position on the bill from where the Glessons now appear on the list. 12 min. open and close in one. Will C. Matthews and Nellie Harris. This act went very well indeed considering the number of times they have had it here. I gave them purposely an easy place on the bill feeling that they could best make good in such a position as I am sure they would have fallen flat had they gone much later. 23 Minutes full stage. Mrs. Caroline Shepard. Mezzo Soprano (Not contralto vocalist). The best of the Society singers. She probably does not make the striking appearance that Mrs. Bloodgood does but her singing is better and she made a genuine hit decidedly upon her merits. 10 minutes in one. Stephen Grattan & Maud White. In "Locked out at 3 A. M.". A dainty sketch well presented and well received by the audience from start to finish. 18 minutes full stage. John and Bertha Gleeson. The neatest and best dancing act of its kind that I know of. Very pleasing to our audience. 12 min. in one. (They cannot always work in one but did so here to accomodate me and were able to do so on account of the large space I have in one.) Konorah. This act certainly got them talking both afternoon and night, and should draw us some money. 23 minutes full stage. Willi[am?] Cahill. Irish monologuist. In the most difficult position on the program he held his audience, got his laughs, and a big round of applause at the finish. 18 min. in one. Caron & Herbert. Acrobatic comedians. This is not just the act I should have had for this position on the bill but I had nothing else to put there and was obliged to make the best of it. They did better than I thought they would however but I still feel that this act is much over-paid. $150. is all it is worth. 18 minutes, open full stage, three to five minutes in one. Raymond Teal. In a small way, a very clever blackface comedian who undoubtedly is following Sweatnam's style and should not be surprised if some day we heard from him as one of the leaders. 15 minutes in one. Eldora. Juggler. He is not using Norine for the comedy in his act, but is using him now simply as a property man. I hardly think the act is as good this way as before, neither is it worth quite the money it is getting. 18 minutes full stage can close in one.