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 254a

254
NEW YORK SHOW, APRIL 27, 1903.

STEREOPTICON.--The usual selection of views. 7 minutes in one.

HR.-ALLEN WIGHTMAN.--A young fellow who does a clay modeling act and closes with a large crayon drawing. He is about on the average of all the clay modlers, but was handicapped a little this afternoon by having the lights over his easel go out, which destroyed the effect of his work somewhat. During his crayon sketch, he keeps up a running fire of stories, which, while not especially brilliant, make the act somewhat of a novelty and holds the attention of the audience. Can easily be classed as a good act. 12 minutes open in two, close in one.

N. H. HODGKINS AND LEITH.--A man and woman in a rural comedy sketch. The act is about on a par with the usual run of the three-show-a day acts of this kind, both performers being pretty good delineators of Yankee character, both as regards dialect and action. The act only went fairly well, however, here. 17 minutes, full stage.

YH.--FRED WATSON.--Coon songs. This is not an especially strong act, but at the figure we place him it is all right in the place which he is filling on the bill. 10 minutes in one.

GYH.--EMPIRE CITY QUARTETTE.--Four men in a comedy and dancing act.  The vocal end of the act is clearly all right, all of them being good singers; two of the men are pretty fair comedians, the other two are simply sticks so far as comedy is concerned. It will compare favorably with singing quartette, but it is hardly deserving the place in the bill which I am obliged to give it. 17 minutes in one.

YHR.--GIRARD AND GARDNER. A man and woman in a sketch called "The Soubrette and the Cop." It is about the same as these performers presented here before and is carried through by Girard's eccentric dancing and his charicature of a monkey. 23 minutes, full stage.

GHR.--GEORGE THATCHER.--Mr. Thatcher had a lot of new material, the most of it being exceptionally good. He seems to have lost none of his ability to present an act in an original way entirely peculiar to himself, and while he did note go especially strong this afternoon, I agree with Boston that it is about the best act he has given us in the last two or three years.  16 minutes in one.

GHR.--THREE LIVINGSTONES.--One man and two women in a very clever acrobatic act, the man being in evening clothes and the women in full dress. An exceptionally clever acrobatic act. 10 minutes in full stage.

HR.--GILLIHAN AND MURRAY.--Two men in a black faced singing, dancing, and talking act, introducing a change of costume to a wench and fancy dressed coon. It is a good show from the three-shows-aday standpoint. 18 minutes in one.

GRR.--THE TWO RACKETTS. A man and woman in an act which introduces a little dancing, a little singing, and a little acrobatic work. I had been of the opinion that there was considerable instrumental work, but the only thing that he did was his old imitation of a railroad train on a drum, a small accompaniment to his song with the bells, and his playing of the chimes while balancing himself with one hand on the steeple of the church. It can be called a fair act. 17 minutes full stage.

HR.--DOROTHY WALTERS.--This is a young woman who does a little singing and a little whistling. The whistling being very good indeed. She is attractive so far as he stage appearance goes, and it is a good small act. Seven minutes in one.

The show this afternoon is a pretty difficult one to get a very good line on, for the reason that we had an exceptionally dull audience, even the good big acts like Williams & Tucker and Girard & Gardner did not seem to crate any enthusiasm, but I attribute it somewhat to the gathering, and look for it to be much better tonight.

S. K. HODGDON.

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254 NEW YORK SHOW, APRIL 27, 1903. STEREOPTICON.--The usual selection of views. 7 minutes in one. HR.-ALLEN WIGHTMAN.--A young fellow who does a clay modeling act and closes with a large crayon drawing. He is about on the average of all the clay modlers, but was handicapped a little this afternoon by having the lights over his easel go out, which destroyed the effect of his work somewhat. During his crayon sketch, he keeps up a running fire of stories, which, while not especially brilliant, make the act somewhat of a novelty and holds the attention of the audience. Can easily be classed as a good act. 12 minutes open in two, close in one. N. H. HODGKINS AND LEITH.--A man and woman in a rural comedy sketch. The act is about on a par with the usual run of the three-show-a day acts of this kind, both performers being pretty good delineators of Yankee character, both as regards dialect and action. The act only went fairly well, however, here. 17 minutes, full stage. YH.--FRED WATSON.--Coon songs. This is not an especially strong act, but at the figure we place him it is all right in the place which he is filling on the bill. 10 minutes in one. GYH.--EMPIRE CITY QUARTETTE.--Four men in a comedy and dancing act. The vocal end of the act is clearly all right, all of them being good singers; two of the men are pretty fair comedians, the other two are simply sticks so far as comedy is concerned. It will compare favorably with singing quartette, but it is hardly deserving the place in the bill which I am obliged to give it. 17 minutes in one. YHR.--GIRARD AND GARDNER. A man and woman in a sketch called "The Soubrette and the Cop." It is about the same as these performers presented here before and is carried through by Girard's eccentric dancing and his charicature of a monkey. 23 minutes, full stage. GHR.--GEORGE THATCHER.--Mr. Thatcher had a lot of new material, the most of it being exceptionally good. He seems to have lost none of his ability to present an act in an original way entirely peculiar to himself, and while he did note go especially strong this afternoon, I agree with Boston that it is about the best act he has given us in the last two or three years. 16 minutes in one. GHR.--THREE LIVINGSTONES.--One man and two women in a very clever acrobatic act, the man being in evening clothes and the women in full dress. An exceptionally clever acrobatic act. 10 minutes in full stage. HR.--GILLIHAN AND MURRAY.--Two men in a black faced singing, dancing, and talking act, introducing a change of costume to a wench and fancy dressed coon. It is a good show from the three-shows-aday standpoint. 18 minutes in one. GRR.--THE TWO RACKETTS. A man and woman in an act which introduces a little dancing, a little singing, and a little acrobatic work. I had been of the opinion that there was considerable instrumental work, but the only thing that he did was his old imitation of a railroad train on a drum, a small accompaniment to his song with the bells, and his playing of the chimes while balancing himself with one hand on the steeple of the church. It can be called a fair act. 17 minutes full stage. HR.--DOROTHY WALTERS.--This is a young woman who does a little singing and a little whistling. The whistling being very good indeed. She is attractive so far as he stage appearance goes, and it is a good small act. Seven minutes in one. The show this afternoon is a pretty difficult one to get a very good line on, for the reason that we had an exceptionally dull audience, even the good big acts like Williams & Tucker and Girard & Gardner did not seem to crate any enthusiasm, but I attribute it somewhat to the gathering, and look for it to be much better tonight. S. K. HODGDON.