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 193

REPORT ON SHOW, KEITH'S THEATRE, PROVIDENCE, R. I., WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23d, 1903 (CHARLES LOVENBERG)

It was pretty hard to judge the real merit  of the show from an audience's standpont as yesterday we had a holiday crowd in, to whom everything was good, however, I am under the impression that the program as a whole will please our audiences.
Naomi Ethardo.  Contortionist and equilibrist. Fair act. 10 min. full stage.
Corbley and Burke. In an Irish talking, singing and dancing act. Fairly good. 17 min. in one.
Lew Wells. Musical comedian. This man has some novel ideas but is unable to carry them out either from the musical or comedy standpoint. In his hands, the act at best may be classed fair. 16 min. open ful stage close in one.
Biograph.  Good collection of views but they have given me two pictures which we have had before this season. Wish New York would take this matter up and tell them not to repeat any pictures during the season as we only run 30 weeks there is no occasion for this.
The Seven Reed Birds. In one of their usual sketches called "Look Out for Johnson", introducing some singing the best of which is Coon songs by the younger boy of the family. The act is more acceptable than the ordinary sketch and is all right to get on before eight o'clock but it is big money to have to pay for the quality of goods we get, still they make up in quantity of time what they lack in quality, so probably it is about an even thing. 27 minutes in three.
The Misses Spray.  I must say that I was very much disappointed in the act. The soprano of the team is all right but the contralto "can't sing a little bit". They are very good looking women and that compensates to some extent for the lack of abilitty of the contralto. The act may be classed as fairly good. 13 min. in one.
Wartenberg Brothers.  Foot jugglers. A novel act and a very good one. Went strong with the audience yesterday and I think it will all week.  10 minutes full stage.
The Reiff Brothers.  Singers and dancers, principal feature of which is some novelty dancing in both soft shoes and clog. A very good little act strong enough for any place in the bill up to nine o'clock. 12 min. in one.
Thomas Lewis and Sam J. Ryan.  They put on a new act or rather the rehashing of several very old acts which they called "The Wireless Telephone". It seems to me to be equally as strong as what they had before and yesterdays' audience simply screamed themselves tired over Lewis's antics. 20 min. in three terminating with a short close in one. 
Watson, Hutchings, Edwards & Company.  Also produced a new act not rehashed from a quantity of old maaterial and while extremely nonsensical it also, proved a great laughing hit. 23 min. in three.
Sallie Stembler.  Proved a little of a disappointment whether she went somewhat over the heads of the holiday audience or not is a question, however, she didn't go very strong and is really not good enough  I am afraid for the place I am obliged to give her in the bill, she would be all right before 8:30. 13 min. in one.
Callahan & Mack.  While these men are dong the same act as on their previous visits they have added much in the way of stage setting, making now quite a pretentious production. They have a very pretty back-drop and in front of it two cut-wood-drops giving a very pretty effect and their act proved fully equal to all that I expected of it. 20 min. full stage.
Billy Gould. A very agreeable surprise. I knew he was doing a good act but it is better than I looked for and he went very strongly with the audience both afternoon and night in a very difficult position in the bill. 16 minutes in one.
Lockhart's Trained ELEPHANTS. Same act they have usually done which needs no comment. 20 minutes full stage.
W. D. Hall. Blackfaced monologuist. he had no effect upon the audience at all except to seemingly put them to sleep. Of course, his place on the bill was very hard and that might have accounted for it. 17 minutes in one.
The Sisters De Van. In a perch ladder act somewhat of an improvement on the old style perch act, and the break away ladder at the finish is quite thrilling. Good act. 10 minutes full stage.

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REPORT ON SHOW, KEITH'S THEATRE, PROVIDENCE, R. I., WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23d, 1903 (CHARLES LOVENBERG) It was pretty hard to judge the real merit of the show from an audience's standpont as yesterday we had a holiday crowd in, to whom everything was good, however, I am under the impression that the program as a whole will please our audiences. Naomi Ethardo. Contortionist and equilibrist. Fair act. 10 min. full stage. Corbley and Burke. In an Irish talking, singing and dancing act. Fairly good. 17 min. in one. Lew Wells. Musical comedian. This man has some novel ideas but is unable to carry them out either from the musical or comedy standpoint. In his hands, the act at best may be classed fair. 16 min. open ful stage close in one. Biograph. Good collection of views but they have given me two pictures which we have had before this season. Wish New York would take this matter up and tell them not to repeat any pictures during the season as we only run 30 weeks there is no occasion for this. The Seven Reed Birds. In one of their usual sketches called "Look Out for Johnson", introducing some singing the best of which is Coon songs by the younger boy of the family. The act is more acceptable than the ordinary sketch and is all right to get on before eight o'clock but it is big money to have to pay for the quality of goods we get, still they make up in quantity of time what they lack in quality, so probably it is about an even thing. 27 minutes in three. The Misses Spray. I must say that I was very much disappointed in the act. The soprano of the team is all right but the contralto "can't sing a little bit". They are very good looking women and that compensates to some extent for the lack of abilitty of the contralto. The act may be classed as fairly good. 13 min. in one. Wartenberg Brothers. Foot jugglers. A novel act and a very good one. Went strong with the audience yesterday and I think it will all week. 10 minutes full stage. The Reiff Brothers. Singers and dancers, principal feature of which is some novelty dancing in both soft shoes and clog. A very good little act strong enough for any place in the bill up to nine o'clock. 12 min. in one. Thomas Lewis and Sam J. Ryan. They put on a new act or rather the rehashing of several very old acts which they called "The Wireless Telephone". It seems to me to be equally as strong as what they had before and yesterdays' audience simply screamed themselves tired over Lewis's antics. 20 min. in three terminating with a short close in one. Watson, Hutchings, Edwards & Company. Also produced a new act not rehashed from a quantity of old maaterial and while extremely nonsensical it also, proved a great laughing hit. 23 min. in three. Sallie Stembler. Proved a little of a disappointment whether she went somewhat over the heads of the holiday audience or not is a question, however, she didn't go very strong and is really not good enough I am afraid for the place I am obliged to give her in the bill, she would be all right before 8:30. 13 min. in one. Callahan & Mack. While these men are dong the same act as on their previous visits they have added much in the way of stage setting, making now quite a pretentious production. They have a very pretty back-drop and in front of it two cut-wood-drops giving a very pretty effect and their act proved fully equal to all that I expected of it. 20 min. full stage. Billy Gould. A very agreeable surprise. I knew he was doing a good act but it is better than I looked for and he went very strongly with the audience both afternoon and night in a very difficult position in the bill. 16 minutes in one. Lockhart's Trained ELEPHANTS. Same act they have usually done which needs no comment. 20 minutes full stage. W. D. Hall. Blackfaced monologuist. he had no effect upon the audience at all except to seemingly put them to sleep. Of course, his place on the bill was very hard and that might have accounted for it. 17 minutes in one. The Sisters De Van. In a perch ladder act somewhat of an improvement on the old style perch act, and the break away ladder at the finish is quite thrilling. Good act. 10 minutes full stage.