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

Page 319

NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF AUGUST 24, 1903.
STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 minutes in one.
NR 3--MOONEY & HOLBEIN.--A man and a woman in an acrobatic singing, and dancing act, in which the man does the larger part of the work. He is quite a good eccentric dancer and does some high kicking that is quite effective. The woman does not amount to much, but she dresses neatly and is a pretty good foil for her partner. 19 minutes, open full stage and close with about four minutes in one.
GYN 2--FRANCIS GERARD.--Equilibrist and strong man. This is the first of the acts engaged by Mr. Keith in Europe, and, if it is a criticism of what is coming, we are certainly going to have some exceptionally good material this season. I think it is unquestionably one of the best acts of the kind that I have ever seen in vaudeville. He opens his act with a muscle display while standing in a cabinet, after the style of Sandow, and I really think that he makes a better picture than Sandow does. He then does a lot of equilibristic feats that are all performed in a novel manner and are presented in that clean-cut, graceful style which are so characteristic of European performers. He was splendidly received this afternoon on an early part of the bill, where I had placed him until I could get an idea of the act. He will be moved down tonight. 13 minutes, full stage.
KR 3--REVERE SISTERS.-- A couple of girls in the ordinary style of singing and dancing acts. They were put in today to take the place of Wordette & Kusel, who cancelled on account of sickness, and they did very nicely indeed. They make three changes of costume, all of which are neat and pretty. They sing fairly well and are both lovely. 10 minutes in one.
GRR 3--BATES MUSICAL TRIO.--A man, a woman, and a girl in a straight musical act with a little singing introduced. It is a good average musical act, and an element of novelty is introduced at the finish by a display of colored electric lights introduced during the bell playing. 20 minutes, closing with about four minutes in one.
YYH. 2--HOLDIN'S MANNIKINS.--This is another of Mr. Keith's acts and it is safe to say that we have never seen marionettes in this country before. The general fitting up of the act is great--had a fine stage with a full set of scenery, and everything in first class order-- but it is the working of the figures that makes the act stand out so strongly, and it is hardly possible to conceive how people can produce the effects that they do by the manipulation of strings. Every move made by these little figures is absolutely natural and life-like, and the audience were quick to appreciate this face and were most hearty in their applause. The act is closed with a transformation feature which was very pretty and attractive. It is an exceptionally strong turn throughout. 24 minutes, full stage.
GNH 2--GARDNER & MADDERN.--A man and a woman in their somewhat familiar sketch "Too Many Darlings." It has been done here several times before, but I think went stronger this afternoon than I have ever seen it. It is a might good comedy sketch. 25 minutes, full stage.
GRR 3--THE AVON COMEDY FOUR.-- These people proved it to be a genuine surprise to me at least. The act consists of four men--one of them made up as a Dutchman, another as a Hebrew, another as a "tough", and another as an over-grown "kid". I booked the act for three shows a day as an experiment, stipulating that if they went well we would send them over the circuit. There was so much heavy material that I was obliged to give them one of the strong places in the bill, and they practically made the hit of the show. it is an act that will go anywhere. 25 minutes, open in two and close with about 6 minutes in one.
things and the whole bill stands out pretty strong on account of the large amount of novelties. It was not arranged quite right this afternoon as I was a little uncertain as to Gerard and Holdin, but when it is shaped up properly tonight I think it will be a great bill.
S. K. HODGDON.

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NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF AUGUST 24, 1903. STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 minutes in one. NR 3--MOONEY & HOLBEIN.--A man and a woman in an acrobatic singing, and dancing act, in which the man does the larger part of the work. He is quite a good eccentric dancer and does some high kicking that is quite effective. The woman does not amount to much, but she dresses neatly and is a pretty good foil for her partner. 19 minutes, open full stage and close with about four minutes in one. GYN 2--FRANCIS GERARD.--Equilibrist and strong man. This is the first of the acts engaged by Mr. Keith in Europe, and, if it is a criticism of what is coming, we are certainly going to have some exceptionally good material this season. I think it is unquestionably one of the best acts of the kind that I have ever seen in vaudeville. He opens his act with a muscle display while standing in a cabinet, after the style of Sandow, and I really think that he makes a better picture than Sandow does. He then does a lot of equilibristic feats that are all performed in a novel manner and are presented in that clean-cut, graceful style which are so characteristic of European performers. He was splendidly received this afternoon on an early part of the bill, where I had placed him until I could get an idea of the act. He will be moved down tonight. 13 minutes, full stage. KR 3--REVERE SISTERS.-- A couple of girls in the ordinary style of singing and dancing acts. They were put in today to take the place of Wordette & Kusel, who cancelled on account of sickness, and they did very nicely indeed. They make three changes of costume, all of which are neat and pretty. They sing fairly well and are both lovely. 10 minutes in one. GRR 3--BATES MUSICAL TRIO.--A man, a woman, and a girl in a straight musical act with a little singing introduced. It is a good average musical act, and an element of novelty is introduced at the finish by a display of colored electric lights introduced during the bell playing. 20 minutes, closing with about four minutes in one. YYH. 2--HOLDIN'S MANNIKINS.--This is another of Mr. Keith's acts and it is safe to say that we have never seen marionettes in this country before. The general fitting up of the act is great--had a fine stage with a full set of scenery, and everything in first class order-- but it is the working of the figures that makes the act stand out so strongly, and it is hardly possible to conceive how people can produce the effects that they do by the manipulation of strings. Every move made by these little figures is absolutely natural and life-like, and the audience were quick to appreciate this face and were most hearty in their applause. The act is closed with a transformation feature which was very pretty and attractive. It is an exceptionally strong turn throughout. 24 minutes, full stage. GNH 2--GARDNER & MADDERN.--A man and a woman in their somewhat familiar sketch "Too Many Darlings." It has been done here several times before, but I think went stronger this afternoon than I have ever seen it. It is a might good comedy sketch. 25 minutes, full stage. GRR 3--THE AVON COMEDY FOUR.-- These people proved it to be a genuine surprise to me at least. The act consists of four men--one of them made up as a Dutchman, another as a Hebrew, another as a "tough", and another as an over-grown "kid". I booked the act for three shows a day as an experiment, stipulating that if they went well we would send them over the circuit. There was so much heavy material that I was obliged to give them one of the strong places in the bill, and they practically made the hit of the show. it is an act that will go anywhere. 25 minutes, open in two and close with about 6 minutes in one. things and the whole bill stands out pretty strong on account of the large amount of novelties. It was not arranged quite right this afternoon as I was a little uncertain as to Gerard and Holdin, but when it is shaped up properly tonight I think it will be a great bill. S. K. HODGDON.