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 202

(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, WEek of Mar. 2, 1903.
Stereopticon, 13 min. in 1--Interesting selection of pictures, especially the miscellaneous collection.
Janet Barrington and Miriam Hartell, 21 min. full stage, can close in 1--One of these girls works straight and the other in comedy make-up. The dialogue portion of the act is rather bright, though most of their jokes are old, singing and piano playing is a shade better than "fair". It is all right in an early place in the bill.
Klein & Clifton, 14 min. in 1--Rattling good comedy, a singing and dancing turn for midway place in the programme. The finish is with a small dog, and the canine scored a solid hit, especially with the ladies.
Biograph, 16 min. in 1--Best collection of pictures for weeks, and 9 out of the dozen exhibited were applauded.
James Kelly and Dorothy Kent, 17 min. open in 3 close in 1--One of the best sets of its kind in the business, both of the performers being really clever. The comedy is clean cut and singing and dancing better than the average. The finish, as a "tough" boy and girl, made a tremendous hit.
Pauline Clark & May Cinton, 13 min. full stage--Expert rifle and revolver shots,--Have a pleasing exhibition and get the best place on the bill they have ever had in this house.
Pongo & Leo, 13 min. in1--First time here of these acrobats, who turned out to be arather clever entertainers, doing first some tumbling on a mat, followed by comedy work on a revolving pole, suspended from a trapeze.
Callahan & Mack, 20 min. full stage--These two men are now presenting as artistic a sketch of the kind as I have ever seen in vaudeville, and one in which humor and pathos are mingled with good judgment. They seemed a solid hit, being recalled two or three times. Their new scenic surroundings form quite a setting for the stage.
Loney Haskell, 18 in. in 1--Hebrew comedian and mimic, who went good and bad in spots, as all entertainers of his class seem to do in this house.
Athos Family, 6 min. full stage--Sextet of acrobats and tumblers, much better than the general run of such troupes, other opinions to the contrary. Of course, the hit of the act was made by the boy, whose work is certainly remarkable. They made a tremendous hit, being recalled several times.
James Francis Dooley, 16 min. in 1--Blackface talking and singing comedian, who goes very strong in this city, naturally, as it is his home, and stands for a place lower down on the bill than he would be placed elsewhere. He has a fair amount of ability but is conscious of the fact and increases the audience that way, which militates somewhat against his success. He certainly went strong with our audiences.
Grapewin & Chance, 26b in. full stage--Presenting their old sketch, "Mismated Pair", which scored the hit of the show, imuch to my surprise.
Mme. Mantelli, 13 min. in 1--I must say that this singer was a great disappointment in those who heard her, and by Boston patrons of vaudeville she will be considered something in the nature of a gold brick. She does not make good for the tremendous amount of advertising we have given her, and everyone here joins me in this opinion. I was obliged to place her in one, and think now that she was too late on the afternoon bill. Tomorrow I will shift her position to 3 and 8. 45 respectively, in the afternoon and evening shows. When Mme. Mantelli came off in the afternoon she put up a holler about not having full stage, but the real grievance, I know, was the cold reception she got and the fact that she had a scant applause. She threatened to cancel, but when I quietly told her she could do so and it would be no loss to the bill whatever, she promptly took it back and will probably sing without further trouble, for the balance of the week.

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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, WEek of Mar. 2, 1903. Stereopticon, 13 min. in 1--Interesting selection of pictures, especially the miscellaneous collection. Janet Barrington and Miriam Hartell, 21 min. full stage, can close in 1--One of these girls works straight and the other in comedy make-up. The dialogue portion of the act is rather bright, though most of their jokes are old, singing and piano playing is a shade better than "fair". It is all right in an early place in the bill. Klein & Clifton, 14 min. in 1--Rattling good comedy, a singing and dancing turn for midway place in the programme. The finish is with a small dog, and the canine scored a solid hit, especially with the ladies. Biograph, 16 min. in 1--Best collection of pictures for weeks, and 9 out of the dozen exhibited were applauded. James Kelly and Dorothy Kent, 17 min. open in 3 close in 1--One of the best sets of its kind in the business, both of the performers being really clever. The comedy is clean cut and singing and dancing better than the average. The finish, as a "tough" boy and girl, made a tremendous hit. Pauline Clark & May Cinton, 13 min. full stage--Expert rifle and revolver shots,--Have a pleasing exhibition and get the best place on the bill they have ever had in this house. Pongo & Leo, 13 min. in1--First time here of these acrobats, who turned out to be arather clever entertainers, doing first some tumbling on a mat, followed by comedy work on a revolving pole, suspended from a trapeze. Callahan & Mack, 20 min. full stage--These two men are now presenting as artistic a sketch of the kind as I have ever seen in vaudeville, and one in which humor and pathos are mingled with good judgment. They seemed a solid hit, being recalled two or three times. Their new scenic surroundings form quite a setting for the stage. Loney Haskell, 18 in. in 1--Hebrew comedian and mimic, who went good and bad in spots, as all entertainers of his class seem to do in this house. Athos Family, 6 min. full stage--Sextet of acrobats and tumblers, much better than the general run of such troupes, other opinions to the contrary. Of course, the hit of the act was made by the boy, whose work is certainly remarkable. They made a tremendous hit, being recalled several times. James Francis Dooley, 16 min. in 1--Blackface talking and singing comedian, who goes very strong in this city, naturally, as it is his home, and stands for a place lower down on the bill than he would be placed elsewhere. He has a fair amount of ability but is conscious of the fact and increases the audience that way, which militates somewhat against his success. He certainly went strong with our audiences. Grapewin & Chance, 26b in. full stage--Presenting their old sketch, "Mismated Pair", which scored the hit of the show, imuch to my surprise. Mme. Mantelli, 13 min. in 1--I must say that this singer was a great disappointment in those who heard her, and by Boston patrons of vaudeville she will be considered something in the nature of a gold brick. She does not make good for the tremendous amount of advertising we have given her, and everyone here joins me in this opinion. I was obliged to place her in one, and think now that she was too late on the afternoon bill. Tomorrow I will shift her position to 3 and 8. 45 respectively, in the afternoon and evening shows. When Mme. Mantelli came off in the afternoon she put up a holler about not having full stage, but the real grievance, I know, was the cold reception she got and the fact that she had a scant applause. She threatened to cancel, but when I quietly told her she could do so and it would be no loss to the bill whatever, she promptly took it back and will probably sing without further trouble, for the balance of the week.