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Keith-Albee managers' report book, February 27-December 11, 1911
Page 113
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B. F. KEITH'S HIPPODROME Sept. 11, 1911. Cleveland H. A. Daniels. ATHLETIC GIRLS: Five of them. From the standpoint of interest this act is probably the hit of the show. It is a shame to put them on to open the bill but there is no other way out of it. If they ever come back from the west I want them again. The wrestling and boxing is great. ART BOWEN: The cartoonist who sings -- this fellow made a mild hit when he was here last year but he didn't seem to land today. He is doing more singing and less cartoon work, and that is where he makes a big mistake. I would much prefer his old act. FOUR HUNTINGS--The same rough and tumble hit as always. A little unfortunate today at the close when one of the boys hurt himself and we had a four minute wait. Will probably be allright tonight. MR & MRS CONNOLLY--Sketch entitled "Sweethearts". I suppose that if I was a student of the drama I would call this a dramatic gem. From a vaudeville stand-point I think the act is a little slow. The scenery is beautiful. there is no action and the plot resolves itself into a dialogue -- one of those Clyde Fitch close conversation affairs that might be a big hit in a small theatre like the Maxine Elliott -- but not quite suited for the second largest theatre in the world. I wouldn't want my judgement of Connolly's act as seen in the Hippodrome to carry any weight regarding his future. It wouldn't be fair. NELLIE NICHOLS:--This young lady walked on and just grabbed the audience by the neck and held them as long as she pleased. She has played here before but never has been a riot and I didn't look for a great deal out of the ordinary. It may be that the audience had heard enough close conversation in the preceeding act and that they were a little skeptical about what was going to follow: so they thought they would hold Miss Nichols for about thirty minutes and get their money's worth right there and then. That is just what they did. WIRELESS BALLOON:--This act is the novelty for the week and if it ever works right and if someone will choke the lecturer I think perhaps we can do some business with it. We have been at Mr. Robert's the inventor since last Thursday and our last session with him was at mid-night Sunday night in the Hippodrome. Evidently the session was not quite long enough for the Balloon didn't work well today and bumped down on the audience a couple of times. The parachute wouldn't let go and several other minor things happened. It has been my unfortunate experience never yet to hear a good lecturer with a vaudeville act. I think the Kinemacolor man we had in Cleveland was the worst and I think this man runs a close second. Roberts should be made to get another man to have this man change his talk so that it wouldn't be ridiculous. We will get the act going right by Tuesday but that will be too late for the newspaper critics who come Monday. WILL DILLON--This man's songs are not up to the standard and some of the suggestive things he says are very raw. He landed here with three pieces of music for an orchestra of sixteen people and it may be that he had to change his act. He was a long ways removed from a hit. On some of his previous visits to Cleveland I have seen him hold the stage for any length of time he cared to, but today he was mighty glad to get off in a very few minutes. 11 minutes to be exact. This didn't loom up very well with Nellie Nichols' thirty. EIGHT PALACE GIRLS--Singing and dancing. Girls have beautiful costumes -- are good looking -- and serves very well for the closing position. I have nothing else to close with unless I use the Athletic Girls if I do then I will waste this act. Note: The show as a whole is up to the standard and if the Balloon gets working right there is no reason why we won't do some business.
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B. F. KEITH'S HIPPODROME Sept. 11, 1911. Cleveland H. A. Daniels. ATHLETIC GIRLS: Five of them. From the standpoint of interest this act is probably the hit of the show. It is a shame to put them on to open the bill but there is no other way out of it. If they ever come back from the west I want them again. The wrestling and boxing is great. ART BOWEN: The cartoonist who sings -- this fellow made a mild hit when he was here last year but he didn't seem to land today. He is doing more singing and less cartoon work, and that is where he makes a big mistake. I would much prefer his old act. FOUR HUNTINGS--The same rough and tumble hit as always. A little unfortunate today at the close when one of the boys hurt himself and we had a four minute wait. Will probably be allright tonight. MR & MRS CONNOLLY--Sketch entitled "Sweethearts". I suppose that if I was a student of the drama I would call this a dramatic gem. From a vaudeville stand-point I think the act is a little slow. The scenery is beautiful. there is no action and the plot resolves itself into a dialogue -- one of those Clyde Fitch close conversation affairs that might be a big hit in a small theatre like the Maxine Elliott -- but not quite suited for the second largest theatre in the world. I wouldn't want my judgement of Connolly's act as seen in the Hippodrome to carry any weight regarding his future. It wouldn't be fair. NELLIE NICHOLS:--This young lady walked on and just grabbed the audience by the neck and held them as long as she pleased. She has played here before but never has been a riot and I didn't look for a great deal out of the ordinary. It may be that the audience had heard enough close conversation in the preceeding act and that they were a little skeptical about what was going to follow: so they thought they would hold Miss Nichols for about thirty minutes and get their money's worth right there and then. That is just what they did. WIRELESS BALLOON:--This act is the novelty for the week and if it ever works right and if someone will choke the lecturer I think perhaps we can do some business with it. We have been at Mr. Robert's the inventor since last Thursday and our last session with him was at mid-night Sunday night in the Hippodrome. Evidently the session was not quite long enough for the Balloon didn't work well today and bumped down on the audience a couple of times. The parachute wouldn't let go and several other minor things happened. It has been my unfortunate experience never yet to hear a good lecturer with a vaudeville act. I think the Kinemacolor man we had in Cleveland was the worst and I think this man runs a close second. Roberts should be made to get another man to have this man change his talk so that it wouldn't be ridiculous. We will get the act going right by Tuesday but that will be too late for the newspaper critics who come Monday. WILL DILLON--This man's songs are not up to the standard and some of the suggestive things he says are very raw. He landed here with three pieces of music for an orchestra of sixteen people and it may be that he had to change his act. He was a long ways removed from a hit. On some of his previous visits to Cleveland I have seen him hold the stage for any length of time he cared to, but today he was mighty glad to get off in a very few minutes. 11 minutes to be exact. This didn't loom up very well with Nellie Nichols' thirty. EIGHT PALACE GIRLS--Singing and dancing. Girls have beautiful costumes -- are good looking -- and serves very well for the closing position. I have nothing else to close with unless I use the Athletic Girls if I do then I will waste this act. Note: The show as a whole is up to the standard and if the Balloon gets working right there is no reason why we won't do some business.
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