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

Page 253

CRITICISM [ILLEGIBLE].
KEITH'S THEATRE,PHILADEL.,PA.

Chalk [Sangdero?] - 15 mins. in one-Clever man with the crayon;better than an opener; could entertain for twice his allotted time;good act.

J. N. Taylor-15 mins. in one-Mr. Jordan's act;get [YN?].; Dutch comedian and wooden shoe dancer. His singing and dancing was fair;but his monologue was poor. Couldn't recommend him for the circuit.

John & Lillian [No?ver?]-16 mins.-C.D.F in 3-Eccentric comedy act. Lillian's first dress was a little shy on length;her change was better. The man works in a very clever way and introduces a lot of comedy, although most of it is old. Good act.

Capitol City Trio-13 mins. in one-Two small children,boy and a girl, and a larger girl, using three chairs in one,as the [interlocuter?], tamborine and [bonds?]. Act is on the same line as Crane Bros. & Belmont;but,of course not intheir class. It is a good "small" act. They introduce some good songs and tell some fair jokes. We pay them YH. Good enough for the circuit in a "small" way.

Rialta-10 mins.-Spec set in [3?]-A cheap spectacular affair;not worth one half the money we are paying it. She imitates poorly the "white wing" and fire dance of [Papinta?], and closes with an illusion,using smoked glass with strong side lights. The idea of the illusion is good,but it is presented in a cheap way. Has too good a place on the bill.

Conroy & McDonald-17 mins. in one-Two men, in a straight talking act that is good;dialogue is full of bright stuff and they get the laughs; very good act.

Vitagraph-20 mins.-Sheet in one-A railroad scene in Switzerland and the long film of "A Trip to the Moon." The latter is an excellent picture and received the applause it deserves.

Ten Ichi Troupe-30 mins.-Spec. set in 3-second week;cut out the "black art"and open with the water setting. Ten Ichi changed his act and introduced some new tricks and closed with a fire trick. Went well.

Franco Piper-12 mins. in one-Best straight banjoist,trick banjoist and banjo juggler in the business. He refused to do his juggling in one, and we will try to fix it so he can work in two to-night.

Cressy & Payne-30 mins.-Spec set in 4-"A Village Lawyer." Since the death of Arthur [Sidman?],Cressy is the only one who has been able to do the artistic rural work. His work is too well known to need criticism. Suffice it to say that his act went as strong as was expected and was a pronounced hit.

Orpheus Comedy Four=[12?] mins in one-Four men,dressed [a?] an actor,German, Irishman and a boy. The singing is only fair; the comedy can be classed as fair to good. It is not an exceptionally strong act,but got a great many laughs. However,the audience likes them and they went a great deal better than they deserved. Received much applause.

Guyer & Daly-12 mins.-C.D.C. in 3-Five curtain calls;made the biggest hit of any act we have ever had in this house.

Brooks Bros.-16 mins. in one-Two men, one working white and one blackface; in a talking act that is good.

[Corne?] & Conrad-12 mins.-Spec. drop in 3-Kitchen [wings?]-Two men,billed as "comedy burglers." A good comedy act,using a trapeze,with a revolving pole for a finish.

[Besnah?] & Miller-15 mins. in one-Man and woman, in a singing and dancing act that is not wonderful in any way; but is entertaining and can be classed as fair to good.

Irene Franklin-10 mins. in one-A ballad singer of some ability;probably too good for 5.30 and we will try to arrange to give her a better place on the bill.

Hale & Frances-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Man and woman, doing hoop rolling and club juggling;very good act of the kind and went well.

The Capitol City Trio (see criticism above) is an act booked here by Mr. Jordan for YH.

The show as a whole is good, and when differently arranged will be better than last week's bill. Guyer & Daly,Cressy & Payne and "The Trip to the Moon" in the vitagraph will all be strong drawing features. With the exception of Rialta,there is not an act on the bill that could be called poor;in fact,the "smaller" acts are of an exceptional quality.

H. A. DANIELS.

Saving...

CRITICISM [ILLEGIBLE]. KEITH'S THEATRE,PHILADEL.,PA. Chalk [Sangdero?] - 15 mins. in one-Clever man with the crayon;better than an opener; could entertain for twice his allotted time;good act. J. N. Taylor-15 mins. in one-Mr. Jordan's act;get [YN?].; Dutch comedian and wooden shoe dancer. His singing and dancing was fair;but his monologue was poor. Couldn't recommend him for the circuit. John & Lillian [No?ver?]-16 mins.-C.D.F in 3-Eccentric comedy act. Lillian's first dress was a little shy on length;her change was better. The man works in a very clever way and introduces a lot of comedy, although most of it is old. Good act. Capitol City Trio-13 mins. in one-Two small children,boy and a girl, and a larger girl, using three chairs in one,as the [interlocuter?], tamborine and [bonds?]. Act is on the same line as Crane Bros. & Belmont;but,of course not intheir class. It is a good "small" act. They introduce some good songs and tell some fair jokes. We pay them YH. Good enough for the circuit in a "small" way. Rialta-10 mins.-Spec set in [3?]-A cheap spectacular affair;not worth one half the money we are paying it. She imitates poorly the "white wing" and fire dance of [Papinta?], and closes with an illusion,using smoked glass with strong side lights. The idea of the illusion is good,but it is presented in a cheap way. Has too good a place on the bill. Conroy & McDonald-17 mins. in one-Two men, in a straight talking act that is good;dialogue is full of bright stuff and they get the laughs; very good act. Vitagraph-20 mins.-Sheet in one-A railroad scene in Switzerland and the long film of "A Trip to the Moon." The latter is an excellent picture and received the applause it deserves. Ten Ichi Troupe-30 mins.-Spec. set in 3-second week;cut out the "black art"and open with the water setting. Ten Ichi changed his act and introduced some new tricks and closed with a fire trick. Went well. Franco Piper-12 mins. in one-Best straight banjoist,trick banjoist and banjo juggler in the business. He refused to do his juggling in one, and we will try to fix it so he can work in two to-night. Cressy & Payne-30 mins.-Spec set in 4-"A Village Lawyer." Since the death of Arthur [Sidman?],Cressy is the only one who has been able to do the artistic rural work. His work is too well known to need criticism. Suffice it to say that his act went as strong as was expected and was a pronounced hit. Orpheus Comedy Four=[12?] mins in one-Four men,dressed [a?] an actor,German, Irishman and a boy. The singing is only fair; the comedy can be classed as fair to good. It is not an exceptionally strong act,but got a great many laughs. However,the audience likes them and they went a great deal better than they deserved. Received much applause. Guyer & Daly-12 mins.-C.D.C. in 3-Five curtain calls;made the biggest hit of any act we have ever had in this house. Brooks Bros.-16 mins. in one-Two men, one working white and one blackface; in a talking act that is good. [Corne?] & Conrad-12 mins.-Spec. drop in 3-Kitchen [wings?]-Two men,billed as "comedy burglers." A good comedy act,using a trapeze,with a revolving pole for a finish. [Besnah?] & Miller-15 mins. in one-Man and woman, in a singing and dancing act that is not wonderful in any way; but is entertaining and can be classed as fair to good. Irene Franklin-10 mins. in one-A ballad singer of some ability;probably too good for 5.30 and we will try to arrange to give her a better place on the bill. Hale & Frances-12 mins.-Gar. in 4-Man and woman, doing hoop rolling and club juggling;very good act of the kind and went well. The Capitol City Trio (see criticism above) is an act booked here by Mr. Jordan for YH. The show as a whole is good, and when differently arranged will be better than last week's bill. Guyer & Daly,Cressy & Payne and "The Trip to the Moon" in the vitagraph will all be strong drawing features. With the exception of Rialta,there is not an act on the bill that could be called poor;in fact,the "smaller" acts are of an exceptional quality. H. A. DANIELS.