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

Page 242

242
CRITICISM OF SHOW.
KEITH'S THEATRE,PHILA.,PA.
APR. 13TH

Ader Trio-12 mins.-Gar. in 2-[good?] act,booked by Mr. Jordan;two boys and a man, in a club juggling act. PriceMH. We used it for an opener, but it can be classed as a good act of its kind and could be given the circuit for a "small" place on the bill.

Tanner & Gilbert-13 mins.-Farm drop in 4-Set Cottage R.-Man and woman, comedy singing and dancing act,had the above set,but can work in one,and will do so to-night. Man has a couple of good songs,but the comedy is very ordinary.

Paul Stephens-10 mins.-Gar. in 2;close in one-One-legged acrobat; does wire work and stunts with a pole;good "small" act.

Edwin Baker & Co.-20 mins.-Spec. Drop in 4-[Sat?] stuff-Two men and one woman,in a Japanese sketch. They carry their own setting which is very pretty;and the act starts off like a large affair. However,it lags suddenly;the dialogue is very ordinary;the comedy,fair. It had hard work to make good in its place on the bill.

Jones & Sutton-15 mins. in one-Man and woman,coons;regular weekly coon act,doing the regulation song and dance,which is about as good as any of the "also ran" coon acts that come along regularly.

Smith & Fuller-16 mins. C.D.F.3;close in one-Man and woman, in a well known musical act;went well to-day and more than made good. However, they introduce nothing new.

Williams & Tucker-25 mins.-Kitchen in 3-"Skinney's Finish." Jac. Tucker made a decided hit with his song "The Pardon Came Too Late." I believe the act went better than "Driftwood," which is saying a good deal. Can be truly said that for an act depending on tough slang and real comedy,it is the best in the business.

[Vitagraph?]-20 mins.-Sheet in one-Not as good a selection of pictures as last week. The picture of "Logging in The Great North West" is excellent. However,there are two poor ones in the lot.

Culver's Loop-12 mins.-Spec.in Five-Went as strong as last week and received about as much applause. However, the braces that hold the men and the machines in can be plainly seen from the back of the auditorium and from the loge seats in the balcony. People can be seen pointing out the [deception?]  to their friends and I believe this fact detracts somewhat from the drawing power that the act would otherwise possess.

Lotta Gladstone-13 mins. in one-Character comedienne. We had expected good things from this girl, from reports received down the line. She came on with a rush and immediately sprung her original laugh on the audience. This laugh carries the act. The monologue is poor and the audience thought so. However, she saved herself two or three times by springing the laugh. She seemed to be clever enough to know that this was her strong-hold. Received a small hand.

Eddie Girard & Jessie Gardner-25 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-In their old sketch "The Soubrette and the Cop." They do nothing new and were here before but a short time ago. However,the act went very strongly and can probably be considered the best thing in our show,from the standpoint of the audience.

Moore & Hight-18 mins.-C.D.F.  in 3Spec. Drop in One-Man and woman, in a "behind the scenes" sketch, on thje lines of McCord's act. They open with the tearing apart of Girard & Gardner's setting, and then finish their act in one with a reversed drop. The audience was mystified at first and hardly knew what to make of it. The act received some laughs. The act starts off strongly, but I think weakens somewhat near the end. It can be classed as good,but not as good as McCord's act.

Gillett's Dogs-15 mins. in one-Without a question of doubt,the laughing hit of the show. These dogs aroused more interest than was aroused by any act on the bill. It is without a question of doubt the best dog act in the business.

John Healy-15 mins. in one-John is too well know n to need criticism. Although he had an audience this afternoon of three thousand,it can be said that he better than he with three hundred; for John always does well. He was well received and liberally applauded.

Adele Purvis Onri-12 mins.-[illegible] in 4-The same old act on the revolving globe, assisted by the little [Jay?]. She has some new [slides?] and light effects;and the act panned out very well for a "small" one, considering its age.

Mary Madden-15 mins. in one-A local act,booked by Mr. Jordan. She sings songs and tells stories. It's a good "small" act, especially at the price.-MH. Fills in time nicely.

Farnum Bros.-15 mins.-Landscape in 4-Good comedy acrobatic act.

To-day is a holiday here, and we had a holiday crowd,probably an audience of 3500 this afternoon,therefore the show "went", as everyone was good natured.  However, the bill is not as strong as last week's. It is evenly balanced, but there seems to be a lack of noise and real lively action. However,there is nothing bad on the bill.

H. A. DANIELS.

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242 CRITICISM OF SHOW. KEITH'S THEATRE,PHILA.,PA. APR. 13TH Ader Trio-12 mins.-Gar. in 2-[good?] act,booked by Mr. Jordan;two boys and a man, in a club juggling act. PriceMH. We used it for an opener, but it can be classed as a good act of its kind and could be given the circuit for a "small" place on the bill. Tanner & Gilbert-13 mins.-Farm drop in 4-Set Cottage R.-Man and woman, comedy singing and dancing act,had the above set,but can work in one,and will do so to-night. Man has a couple of good songs,but the comedy is very ordinary. Paul Stephens-10 mins.-Gar. in 2;close in one-One-legged acrobat; does wire work and stunts with a pole;good "small" act. Edwin Baker & Co.-20 mins.-Spec. Drop in 4-[Sat?] stuff-Two men and one woman,in a Japanese sketch. They carry their own setting which is very pretty;and the act starts off like a large affair. However,it lags suddenly;the dialogue is very ordinary;the comedy,fair. It had hard work to make good in its place on the bill. Jones & Sutton-15 mins. in one-Man and woman,coons;regular weekly coon act,doing the regulation song and dance,which is about as good as any of the "also ran" coon acts that come along regularly. Smith & Fuller-16 mins. C.D.F.3;close in one-Man and woman, in a well known musical act;went well to-day and more than made good. However, they introduce nothing new. Williams & Tucker-25 mins.-Kitchen in 3-"Skinney's Finish." Jac. Tucker made a decided hit with his song "The Pardon Came Too Late." I believe the act went better than "Driftwood," which is saying a good deal. Can be truly said that for an act depending on tough slang and real comedy,it is the best in the business. [Vitagraph?]-20 mins.-Sheet in one-Not as good a selection of pictures as last week. The picture of "Logging in The Great North West" is excellent. However,there are two poor ones in the lot. Culver's Loop-12 mins.-Spec.in Five-Went as strong as last week and received about as much applause. However, the braces that hold the men and the machines in can be plainly seen from the back of the auditorium and from the loge seats in the balcony. People can be seen pointing out the [deception?] to their friends and I believe this fact detracts somewhat from the drawing power that the act would otherwise possess. Lotta Gladstone-13 mins. in one-Character comedienne. We had expected good things from this girl, from reports received down the line. She came on with a rush and immediately sprung her original laugh on the audience. This laugh carries the act. The monologue is poor and the audience thought so. However, she saved herself two or three times by springing the laugh. She seemed to be clever enough to know that this was her strong-hold. Received a small hand. Eddie Girard & Jessie Gardner-25 mins.-C.D.F. in 3-In their old sketch "The Soubrette and the Cop." They do nothing new and were here before but a short time ago. However,the act went very strongly and can probably be considered the best thing in our show,from the standpoint of the audience. Moore & Hight-18 mins.-C.D.F. in 3Spec. Drop in One-Man and woman, in a "behind the scenes" sketch, on thje lines of McCord's act. They open with the tearing apart of Girard & Gardner's setting, and then finish their act in one with a reversed drop. The audience was mystified at first and hardly knew what to make of it. The act received some laughs. The act starts off strongly, but I think weakens somewhat near the end. It can be classed as good,but not as good as McCord's act. Gillett's Dogs-15 mins. in one-Without a question of doubt,the laughing hit of the show. These dogs aroused more interest than was aroused by any act on the bill. It is without a question of doubt the best dog act in the business. John Healy-15 mins. in one-John is too well know n to need criticism. Although he had an audience this afternoon of three thousand,it can be said that he better than he with three hundred; for John always does well. He was well received and liberally applauded. Adele Purvis Onri-12 mins.-[illegible] in 4-The same old act on the revolving globe, assisted by the little [Jay?]. She has some new [slides?] and light effects;and the act panned out very well for a "small" one, considering its age. Mary Madden-15 mins. in one-A local act,booked by Mr. Jordan. She sings songs and tells stories. It's a good "small" act, especially at the price.-MH. Fills in time nicely. Farnum Bros.-15 mins.-Landscape in 4-Good comedy acrobatic act. To-day is a holiday here, and we had a holiday crowd,probably an audience of 3500 this afternoon,therefore the show "went", as everyone was good natured. However, the bill is not as strong as last week's. It is evenly balanced, but there seems to be a lack of noise and real lively action. However,there is nothing bad on the bill. H. A. DANIELS.