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

Page 317

(M. J. Keating)
Boston Show, Week of Aug. 24, 1903
Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1--Interesting collection of home and foreign views.
Claflin Sisters, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1--Opening with a song and mandolin accompaniment, one costumed in red and the other in black, with short skirts. They sing and play fairly well. One of them tells some humorous stories, and the finish is a coon song, with a bit of dancing. It is a fair 3-a-day turn.
William Robbins and Lydia Trenemann, 3 shows, 12 min. open in 2 close in 1--The man sings passably well, but his partner is nearly a frost. It is good enough, however, to fill a place in an early part of the 3-show section.
Orville and Frank, 2 shows, 10 min. in 3--Capital "sight" act, consisting of foot jugglery and aerial equilibrism, the boy being the hit of the turn. Orville does considerable signaling for kind applause, which should be suppressed.
Golden Gate Quartet and Fanny Winfred, 18 min. open in 1, go to 2, close in 1--One of the liveliest "real coon" turns, in the varieties. They work with strenuousness all through and finish stronger than the majority of acts offered by the white performers. Their character changes are cleverly done.
Fadettes orchestra, 2 shows, 34 min. full stage--Offered a capital programme of popular selections for this, their last, week, and went as strong as at the commencement of their engagement. If it were possible we should retain them longer.
Harry Davenport, 2 shows, 14 min. in 1--In a bit of characteristic work, done in plain clothes, entitled "English Types", which is one of the most artistic bits of work we have had on this stage for some time. He made a satisfactory impression, and will go stronger with the night audience.
Isabella Urquhart and company, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage-- presenting a farcical comedy sketch called "Even Stephen", which she played here two years ago. It is bright in dialogue and has some amusing situations, added to which Miss Urquhart is a Boston favorite, sot he piece went better than many of greater merit.
Kelly and Violette, 2 shows, 14 min. in 1--Straight singing act by a man and woman, both good vocalists, and excellent dressers. They went strong.
Boyce and Wilson, 2 shows, 14 min. open in 3, close in 1-- Blackface singing and dancing man, with some trivial acrobatic stunts. From a 2-a-day standpoint, the act is a clear case of bunco, and I will put it with the 3-show section to make up time. They are not worth the salary they are getting and should be doing 3-shows.
Bioscope, 3 shows, 18 min in 1-- interesting and amusing lot of pictures, many of which were applauded.
nice Twins, 3 shows, 18 min. in 1-- interesting and amusing both very good singers, and considering the amount of this sort of thing we have in the bill, went very well.
Murphy and Andrews, 3 shows, 16 min. in 1--Man and woman in comedy, talking ans dinging specialties. From a 3-a-day standpoint, they went as well as any act on the bill, causing laughter all through and scoring applause for some excellent topical songs.
Comment:- The show has decidedly too much singing in it, ten of the acts have vocalism of some kind, good indifferent and bad. The 3-turn section is all singing, which makes a very bad show during the "supper hours", and should not be allowed to occur. This, coupled with the fact, that some of the 2-turn stuff did not pan out well, has a tendency to make the entire programme look somewhat slippery. rearrangement tonight may bring it up in a more presentable form. The afternoon audience was one of those dead, dare-you0to-make-me-applause sort of assemblages that invariably make the show look worse, but it may be that we will be disappointed with it under different conditions.

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(M. J. Keating) Boston Show, Week of Aug. 24, 1903 Stereopticon, 3 shows, 10 min. in 1--Interesting collection of home and foreign views. Claflin Sisters, 3 shows, 12 min. in 1--Opening with a song and mandolin accompaniment, one costumed in red and the other in black, with short skirts. They sing and play fairly well. One of them tells some humorous stories, and the finish is a coon song, with a bit of dancing. It is a fair 3-a-day turn. William Robbins and Lydia Trenemann, 3 shows, 12 min. open in 2 close in 1--The man sings passably well, but his partner is nearly a frost. It is good enough, however, to fill a place in an early part of the 3-show section. Orville and Frank, 2 shows, 10 min. in 3--Capital "sight" act, consisting of foot jugglery and aerial equilibrism, the boy being the hit of the turn. Orville does considerable signaling for kind applause, which should be suppressed. Golden Gate Quartet and Fanny Winfred, 18 min. open in 1, go to 2, close in 1--One of the liveliest "real coon" turns, in the varieties. They work with strenuousness all through and finish stronger than the majority of acts offered by the white performers. Their character changes are cleverly done. Fadettes orchestra, 2 shows, 34 min. full stage--Offered a capital programme of popular selections for this, their last, week, and went as strong as at the commencement of their engagement. If it were possible we should retain them longer. Harry Davenport, 2 shows, 14 min. in 1--In a bit of characteristic work, done in plain clothes, entitled "English Types", which is one of the most artistic bits of work we have had on this stage for some time. He made a satisfactory impression, and will go stronger with the night audience. Isabella Urquhart and company, 2 shows, 25 min. full stage-- presenting a farcical comedy sketch called "Even Stephen", which she played here two years ago. It is bright in dialogue and has some amusing situations, added to which Miss Urquhart is a Boston favorite, sot he piece went better than many of greater merit. Kelly and Violette, 2 shows, 14 min. in 1--Straight singing act by a man and woman, both good vocalists, and excellent dressers. They went strong. Boyce and Wilson, 2 shows, 14 min. open in 3, close in 1-- Blackface singing and dancing man, with some trivial acrobatic stunts. From a 2-a-day standpoint, the act is a clear case of bunco, and I will put it with the 3-show section to make up time. They are not worth the salary they are getting and should be doing 3-shows. Bioscope, 3 shows, 18 min in 1-- interesting and amusing lot of pictures, many of which were applauded. nice Twins, 3 shows, 18 min. in 1-- interesting and amusing both very good singers, and considering the amount of this sort of thing we have in the bill, went very well. Murphy and Andrews, 3 shows, 16 min. in 1--Man and woman in comedy, talking ans dinging specialties. From a 3-a-day standpoint, they went as well as any act on the bill, causing laughter all through and scoring applause for some excellent topical songs. Comment:- The show has decidedly too much singing in it, ten of the acts have vocalism of some kind, good indifferent and bad. The 3-turn section is all singing, which makes a very bad show during the "supper hours", and should not be allowed to occur. This, coupled with the fact, that some of the 2-turn stuff did not pan out well, has a tendency to make the entire programme look somewhat slippery. rearrangement tonight may bring it up in a more presentable form. The afternoon audience was one of those dead, dare-you0to-make-me-applause sort of assemblages that invariably make the show look worse, but it may be that we will be disappointed with it under different conditions.