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

Page 312

[page number stamped: 312]

(M. J. Keating)

Boston Show, Week of Aug. 17, 1903.

Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1—Interesting lot of home and foreign views.

The Holdsworths, 3 shows, 12 min. open in 3, close in 1—Young man and woman who are fair singers and dancers, and play pretty well on banjos. They also costume their act neatly. It is an acceptable turn for an unimportant place on the bill.

Harry B. Lester, 3 shows, 13 min. in 1—Storyteller and mimic, with songs. His material is for the most part old and probably has been better told by others in his line, and his imitations of Jim Thornton, Nat Goodwin and George Cohan are fair to good. He is a clean looking chap and is all right in the 3-turn section.

The Castanos, 3 shows, 10 min. full stage—Man and woman in novelty whirlwind, contortion and toe dancing. The woman is very stout, but is not ungraceful, and received a good deal of applause for her work. They opened up with a duet, which was so badly rendered that I cut it out altogether, and had them confine themselves to their dancing, which makes a good act.

Si Stebbins, 3 shows, 15 min. in 1—Rube comedian and card manipulator. A funny chap and the most successful card worker in the varieties at the present time. He introduced a lot of tricks that I have never seen before, and went big.

Fadettes Orchestra, 2 shows, 42 min. full stage—No drop in their popularity, although their selections were heavier than usual today and I think a trifle too long, so I have cut them down to 35 minutes. The violin solo by Miss Rosa Wedihorn, who has appeared in that capacity on the circuit a couple of times, scored a hit, and she was obliged to respond with a second number, that was even more enthusiastically applauded than the first. This is the last week but one of their engagement.

Brooks Brothers, 3 shows, 10 in. in 1—Following the orchestra these fellows made a hit. They work in black and white face, the burnt cork man being a comedian, and a successful one at that. It was just the spot for them, as they would not be able to make good further down the bill. 

Menifee Johnstone and Belle Stoddard, 2 shows, 15 min. full stage—Presenting for the first time here a new comedy sketch, “The Golden Rose,” which is an interesting trifle and fairly amusing. It was very well acted, but the finish did not bring applause enough to warrant a curtain call. I think it will go stronger, however, with the evening audience.

Crane Brothers, and Belmont, 2 shows, 20 min. in 1—In a revival of their amusing burlesque “The Mudtown Minstrels.” The audience did not “catch on” at the outset, but when they did, fairly rolled out of their seats with laughter, and the act finished strong.

[Page number stamped: 312]

Bert Howard and Leona Bland, 2 shows, 23 min. full stage-- First time here in four years and also first time for their sketch, “A Strange Boy.” The players and the skit scored a solid hit, Howard catching them with his excellent piano playing.

Ernest Hogan, 2 shows, 19 min. in 1—Colored vocalist, assisted by his wife, a stunning looking woman, who was richly gowned, and has a fair quality of voice. Hogan’s songs were all new and made big hits. In one of them he ave some exceptionally clever character bits.

Rixford Brothers, 2 shows, 10 min. full stage—Trio of tumblers, acrobats and equilibrists, two of them working straight and the third as a comedian. It is a very good act, but not great, and made a fair impression.

Bioscope, 3 shows, 20 min. in 1—Excellent lot of pictures. One of them, “I Want My Dinner,” scoring as much laughter and receiving as much applause, proportionately, as any act on the bill.

Estelle Wordette, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1—In a little comedy sketch entitled “A Case of a Mistaken Identity,” which was inoffensively acted and fitted in very nicely where it was placed on the bill.

Comment:-- The show is much better all around than that of last week and will draw good business provided the weather does not become warm. If there is any fault to be found with it, the criticism would be with the 3-show section, in which there is too much sameness in the line of vocalism, almost every act having song of some kind. The general average all through is the best for several weeks.

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[page number stamped: 312] (M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Aug. 17, 1903. Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1—Interesting lot of home and foreign views. The Holdsworths, 3 shows, 12 min. open in 3, close in 1—Young man and woman who are fair singers and dancers, and play pretty well on banjos. They also costume their act neatly. It is an acceptable turn for an unimportant place on the bill. Harry B. Lester, 3 shows, 13 min. in 1—Storyteller and mimic, with songs. His material is for the most part old and probably has been better told by others in his line, and his imitations of Jim Thornton, Nat Goodwin and George Cohan are fair to good. He is a clean looking chap and is all right in the 3-turn section. The Castanos, 3 shows, 10 min. full stage—Man and woman in novelty whirlwind, contortion and toe dancing. The woman is very stout, but is not ungraceful, and received a good deal of applause for her work. They opened up with a duet, which was so badly rendered that I cut it out altogether, and had them confine themselves to their dancing, which makes a good act. Si Stebbins, 3 shows, 15 min. in 1—Rube comedian and card manipulator. A funny chap and the most successful card worker in the varieties at the present time. He introduced a lot of tricks that I have never seen before, and went big. Fadettes Orchestra, 2 shows, 42 min. full stage—No drop in their popularity, although their selections were heavier than usual today and I think a trifle too long, so I have cut them down to 35 minutes. The violin solo by Miss Rosa Wedihorn, who has appeared in that capacity on the circuit a couple of times, scored a hit, and she was obliged to respond with a second number, that was even more enthusiastically applauded than the first. This is the last week but one of their engagement. Brooks Brothers, 3 shows, 10 in. in 1—Following the orchestra these fellows made a hit. They work in black and white face, the burnt cork man being a comedian, and a successful one at that. It was just the spot for them, as they would not be able to make good further down the bill. Menifee Johnstone and Belle Stoddard, 2 shows, 15 min. full stage—Presenting for the first time here a new comedy sketch, “The Golden Rose,” which is an interesting trifle and fairly amusing. It was very well acted, but the finish did not bring applause enough to warrant a curtain call. I think it will go stronger, however, with the evening audience. Crane Brothers, and Belmont, 2 shows, 20 min. in 1—In a revival of their amusing burlesque “The Mudtown Minstrels.” The audience did not “catch on” at the outset, but when they did, fairly rolled out of their seats with laughter, and the act finished strong. [Page number stamped: 312] Bert Howard and Leona Bland, 2 shows, 23 min. full stage-- First time here in four years and also first time for their sketch, “A Strange Boy.” The players and the skit scored a solid hit, Howard catching them with his excellent piano playing. Ernest Hogan, 2 shows, 19 min. in 1—Colored vocalist, assisted by his wife, a stunning looking woman, who was richly gowned, and has a fair quality of voice. Hogan’s songs were all new and made big hits. In one of them he ave some exceptionally clever character bits. Rixford Brothers, 2 shows, 10 min. full stage—Trio of tumblers, acrobats and equilibrists, two of them working straight and the third as a comedian. It is a very good act, but not great, and made a fair impression. Bioscope, 3 shows, 20 min. in 1—Excellent lot of pictures. One of them, “I Want My Dinner,” scoring as much laughter and receiving as much applause, proportionately, as any act on the bill. Estelle Wordette, 3 shows, 16 min. open in 3, close in 1—In a little comedy sketch entitled “A Case of a Mistaken Identity,” which was inoffensively acted and fitted in very nicely where it was placed on the bill. Comment:-- The show is much better all around than that of last week and will draw good business provided the weather does not become warm. If there is any fault to be found with it, the criticism would be with the 3-show section, in which there is too much sameness in the line of vocalism, almost every act having song of some kind. The general average all through is the best for several weeks.