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

Page 257

NEW YORK SHOW WEEK MAY 4TH.

STEREOPTICON.--The usual collection of views. 5 minutes in one.

HR.--CHALK SANDERS.-- Crayon sketch artist. This man pays special attention to the comedy end of his work, and attempts but little artistic drawing. As a consequence he gets near to his audience than any man in the same line whom I have ever seen. In fact, he makes quite a hit in a very poor place on the bill, and, if I could do so to advantage, I would most certainly shift him down later. 8 minutes in two.

AR.--CHARLIE HOWARD.--Hebrew comedian. This is the Howard who formerly was a member of the team of Whitelaw & Howard. He is just fair and that is about all; fills the time acceptably in a small place on the bill.  11 minutes in one.

AR.--VITAGRAPH.--The selection of views this week I do not think quite as strong as they have been for the last two or three weeks. Two or three of the mechanical pictures were exceptionally good, but there did not seem to be a view that could be distinctly called a feature as in the last two or three lists. 23 minutes in one.

YRR.--RIALTO.--A young woman doing a spectacular drapery dance, and I agree with the other houses on the Circuit that she is very poor indeed. If I had got her first, I should have closed her or materially reduced her salary, but she was recommended to me very highly, and the act was booked with the idea that it was quite a big novelty. This only emphasizes the fact that all new acts should open in New York first, and I have endeavored to carry out that idea so far as possible, but once in a while circumstances are such that I have to send them elsewhere, and, of course, the people in the other houses are not thoroughly in touch with the circumstances on Monday and don't know what to do. The act is not positively bad, but simply mediocre. 10 minutes, full stage.

GRR.--CLARICE VANCE.--Coon songs, and unquestionably the best singer of this class of songs in the business. She does not have quite as big a collection of new material as I thought she would have; still, she went very well indeed and sang four or five songs. 10 minutes in one.

GYH.--MR. & MRS. JIMMIE BARRY.--A man and woman in a rural comedy sketch, or rather a sketch which introduces a "rube" in the comedy section of it. It is an especially satisfactory offering and makes a big hit. Barry has a great deal of personality and is quite a good singer, and the woman looks neat and feeds him all right. 23 minutes, open full stage, close in one.

YRR.--WARD & CURRAN.--These two old time performers seem to have got a new lease of life, and the offering that they gave us this afternoon I consider really better than anything they have ever done. Ward manages to extract a good deal of humor out of his character of the judge, and while Curran's voice is not as good as it used to be, he still seems to get hold of the audience in a way; and in his characteristic way as two different persons really develops quite a bit of ability. The weakest part of their act is the close in one which they really ought not to do, but as it is very valuable to us we have got to stand for it. 29 Minutes, open full stage, close in one.

this time and went very strong indeed. 15 minutes in one.

GHR.--ZAZELLE & VERNON.--Two men in a comedy bar act. One of them made up straight and the other comedy. It is a very funny act, and aside from that they do some p retty good bar work, and conclude with some burlesque boxing that is laughable. 17 minutes, open full stage, close in one if necessary.

NH.--BROOKS BROS.--In a regulation talking act. One man in white face, and the other black. These people are reliable at all times, and while it is not at all a great act, they always manage to please, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule. They got a lot of laughs and held their audience closely to the finish (and they were on quite late). 18 minutes in one.

NH.--FRANK WHITMAN. The dancing violinist. This man does some trick work on a violin which is all right, and closes his act with a violin song and dance which really makes quite a hit. He is the only performer, who I ever saw attempt this specialty, who could come any where near doing it. 11 minutes in one.

GRR.--JOHN AND LILLIAN HOOVER.--A man and woman in a comedy juggling and dancing act. As a small act, from a three-a-day show standpoint, it is a good turn, but while I was obliged to give them two shows this trip around in order to get them at any reasonable sort of salary, it is not by any means a two shoa day act, but is all right in this place on the bill. 10 minutes, full stage.

MH.--JOHN [CHINKE?] LEECH.--It has been a great many years since we have played Leech, and I don't think we shall be very anxious to play him again. He does a turn of stories and imitations, but does not make a great deal of it, for it depends entirely upon before [he?] gets through. 15 minutes in one.

Saving...

NEW YORK SHOW WEEK MAY 4TH. STEREOPTICON.--The usual collection of views. 5 minutes in one. HR.--CHALK SANDERS.-- Crayon sketch artist. This man pays special attention to the comedy end of his work, and attempts but little artistic drawing. As a consequence he gets near to his audience than any man in the same line whom I have ever seen. In fact, he makes quite a hit in a very poor place on the bill, and, if I could do so to advantage, I would most certainly shift him down later. 8 minutes in two. AR.--CHARLIE HOWARD.--Hebrew comedian. This is the Howard who formerly was a member of the team of Whitelaw & Howard. He is just fair and that is about all; fills the time acceptably in a small place on the bill. 11 minutes in one. AR.--VITAGRAPH.--The selection of views this week I do not think quite as strong as they have been for the last two or three weeks. Two or three of the mechanical pictures were exceptionally good, but there did not seem to be a view that could be distinctly called a feature as in the last two or three lists. 23 minutes in one. YRR.--RIALTO.--A young woman doing a spectacular drapery dance, and I agree with the other houses on the Circuit that she is very poor indeed. If I had got her first, I should have closed her or materially reduced her salary, but she was recommended to me very highly, and the act was booked with the idea that it was quite a big novelty. This only emphasizes the fact that all new acts should open in New York first, and I have endeavored to carry out that idea so far as possible, but once in a while circumstances are such that I have to send them elsewhere, and, of course, the people in the other houses are not thoroughly in touch with the circumstances on Monday and don't know what to do. The act is not positively bad, but simply mediocre. 10 minutes, full stage. GRR.--CLARICE VANCE.--Coon songs, and unquestionably the best singer of this class of songs in the business. She does not have quite as big a collection of new material as I thought she would have; still, she went very well indeed and sang four or five songs. 10 minutes in one. GYH.--MR. & MRS. JIMMIE BARRY.--A man and woman in a rural comedy sketch, or rather a sketch which introduces a "rube" in the comedy section of it. It is an especially satisfactory offering and makes a big hit. Barry has a great deal of personality and is quite a good singer, and the woman looks neat and feeds him all right. 23 minutes, open full stage, close in one. YRR.--WARD & CURRAN.--These two old time performers seem to have got a new lease of life, and the offering that they gave us this afternoon I consider really better than anything they have ever done. Ward manages to extract a good deal of humor out of his character of the judge, and while Curran's voice is not as good as it used to be, he still seems to get hold of the audience in a way; and in his characteristic way as two different persons really develops quite a bit of ability. The weakest part of their act is the close in one which they really ought not to do, but as it is very valuable to us we have got to stand for it. 29 Minutes, open full stage, close in one. this time and went very strong indeed. 15 minutes in one. GHR.--ZAZELLE & VERNON.--Two men in a comedy bar act. One of them made up straight and the other comedy. It is a very funny act, and aside from that they do some p retty good bar work, and conclude with some burlesque boxing that is laughable. 17 minutes, open full stage, close in one if necessary. NH.--BROOKS BROS.--In a regulation talking act. One man in white face, and the other black. These people are reliable at all times, and while it is not at all a great act, they always manage to please, and this afternoon was no exception to the rule. They got a lot of laughs and held their audience closely to the finish (and they were on quite late). 18 minutes in one. NH.--FRANK WHITMAN. The dancing violinist. This man does some trick work on a violin which is all right, and closes his act with a violin song and dance which really makes quite a hit. He is the only performer, who I ever saw attempt this specialty, who could come any where near doing it. 11 minutes in one. GRR.--JOHN AND LILLIAN HOOVER.--A man and woman in a comedy juggling and dancing act. As a small act, from a three-a-day show standpoint, it is a good turn, but while I was obliged to give them two shows this trip around in order to get them at any reasonable sort of salary, it is not by any means a two shoa day act, but is all right in this place on the bill. 10 minutes, full stage. MH.--JOHN [CHINKE?] LEECH.--It has been a great many years since we have played Leech, and I don't think we shall be very anxious to play him again. He does a turn of stories and imitations, but does not make a great deal of it, for it depends entirely upon before [he?] gets through. 15 minutes in one.