DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 4, 1905 - April 23, 1906

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Keith-Albee managers' report book, September 4, 1905 - April 23, 1906

Page 168

Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of January 29, 1906. (Charles Lovenberg, Manager.)

I am not at all satisfied by the bill this week. It is unquestionably the most unsatisfactory we have had this season. The three a day section is particularly weak and there isn't a single act in the big end of the show that anyone would go out and say "That's great", it drags and is heavy. Probably upon re-construction I can improve it some especially by adding the act that is to come to replace the Messenger Boy's Trio who came in, under false pretenses, and were closed after the first performance.

Francis Wood.  Comedy hoop rooler. This man just gets by to open the show in a continuous house. 11 min. full stage, 3 shows.

Pierce & Opp.  If these fellows were to open the show they could be classed the same as Francis Wood, but they are not good enough for second place. 16 min. in 1, 3 shows.

Saona.  Impersonator of famous men. This act is all right from the three a day standpoint, but I think it would be fully paid at AR. 11 min. in 2, 3 shows.

Alf Gibson.  This man would be all right about second on the bill, but is not good enough for fourth place. There is too much sameness to his act, all of his stuff is very old and the larger portion of it is cribbed from Charlie Case. Is all right to play, considering his act for second place, but not any better than that. 12 min. in 1, 3 shows.

Lennon & Edwards.  This act didn't come up to expectations either, altho it is a good three a day offering. The singing is good and the comedy bad. 17 min. open in 3, close in 1, 3 shows.

Allini's Educated Monkey, "Peter the Great."  This is the most wonderful animal I ever saw and probably most striking act we have in the bill. He works on the trapeze and rings just as a man would. He catches and pitches balls with his trainer. Turns somersaults from one trapeze to another and really is a very good act. 12 min. full stage, 3 shows.

Messenger Boys Trio.  Closed after the first performance.

Keno, Walsh & Melrose.  Wellknown act on the circuit. Very good, but the novelty has worn away. 15 min. open full stage, close in 1, 3 shows.

Edward Clark & Winning Widows.  This act is, in no sense, worth anything like the salary that we pay it. It went very mildly this afternoon, very little applause being given it, and there is very little comedy to the act. The act is worth no more to me than YHR although they probably could not afford to carry it around for that money. 27 min. open full stage, can close in 1, 2 shows.

Lillian Shaw.  This girl didn't go quite as well as last year, owing to the fact that her place was a little too stiff. In the re-construction, she will go on about 8:15 at which point she should be all right. 17 min. in 1, 2 shows.

S. Miller Kent & Co.  This act didn't live up to its reputation either. It is a very nice sketch, very decently played and is worth about YRR, to be billed about 4th in the advertising and put on about 8:30. If Kent was a man of greater reputation, the act might be worth what we pay it, but under the circumstances, it is not. 18 min. full stage, 2 shows.

Qiuigley Bros.  Wellknown talking act which went fully as strong as

Quigley Bros.  ever. 18 min. in1, [illegible]

Wotpert Trio.  Exceptionally fine European acrobatic act which was described from Philadelphia last week. 9 min. full stage, 2 shows.

Motion Pictures.  "The Train Wreckers." Very good.

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Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R. I., Week of January 29, 1906. (Charles Lovenberg, Manager.) I am not at all satisfied by the bill this week. It is unquestionably the most unsatisfactory we have had this season. The three a day section is particularly weak and there isn't a single act in the big end of the show that anyone would go out and say "That's great", it drags and is heavy. Probably upon re-construction I can improve it some especially by adding the act that is to come to replace the Messenger Boy's Trio who came in, under false pretenses, and were closed after the first performance. Francis Wood. Comedy hoop rooler. This man just gets by to open the show in a continuous house. 11 min. full stage, 3 shows. Pierce & Opp. If these fellows were to open the show they could be classed the same as Francis Wood, but they are not good enough for second place. 16 min. in 1, 3 shows. Saona. Impersonator of famous men. This act is all right from the three a day standpoint, but I think it would be fully paid at AR. 11 min. in 2, 3 shows. Alf Gibson. This man would be all right about second on the bill, but is not good enough for fourth place. There is too much sameness to his act, all of his stuff is very old and the larger portion of it is cribbed from Charlie Case. Is all right to play, considering his act for second place, but not any better than that. 12 min. in 1, 3 shows. Lennon & Edwards. This act didn't come up to expectations either, altho it is a good three a day offering. The singing is good and the comedy bad. 17 min. open in 3, close in 1, 3 shows. Allini's Educated Monkey, "Peter the Great." This is the most wonderful animal I ever saw and probably most striking act we have in the bill. He works on the trapeze and rings just as a man would. He catches and pitches balls with his trainer. Turns somersaults from one trapeze to another and really is a very good act. 12 min. full stage, 3 shows. Messenger Boys Trio. Closed after the first performance. Keno, Walsh & Melrose. Wellknown act on the circuit. Very good, but the novelty has worn away. 15 min. open full stage, close in 1, 3 shows. Edward Clark & Winning Widows. This act is, in no sense, worth anything like the salary that we pay it. It went very mildly this afternoon, very little applause being given it, and there is very little comedy to the act. The act is worth no more to me than YHR although they probably could not afford to carry it around for that money. 27 min. open full stage, can close in 1, 2 shows. Lillian Shaw. This girl didn't go quite as well as last year, owing to the fact that her place was a little too stiff. In the re-construction, she will go on about 8:15 at which point she should be all right. 17 min. in 1, 2 shows. S. Miller Kent & Co. This act didn't live up to its reputation either. It is a very nice sketch, very decently played and is worth about YRR, to be billed about 4th in the advertising and put on about 8:30. If Kent was a man of greater reputation, the act might be worth what we pay it, but under the circumstances, it is not. 18 min. full stage, 2 shows. Qiuigley Bros. Wellknown talking act which went fully as strong as Quigley Bros. ever. 18 min. in1, [illegible] Wotpert Trio. Exceptionally fine European acrobatic act which was described from Philadelphia last week. 9 min. full stage, 2 shows. Motion Pictures. "The Train Wreckers." Very good.