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Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 9-December 14, 1908

Page 5

Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R.I., Week of March 9, 1908. (Chas. Lovenberg, Mgr.)
The show this week is only fairly satisfactory, weakened by a couple of the big acts, Joseph Maxwell & Co. and Long & Cotton. With a couple of good acts in their place, we would have had a very strong show.
Burkhart. Magigian [sic]. From the 3-a-day standpoint he is thoroughly all right to play in the continuous houses at the salary, MH. 15 Min. Full Stage, can close in 1, 3 shows.
Claude & Marion Cleveland. Man and woman who are also all right to play in an unimportant spot in the 3-a-day section. Singing and a little comedy. 15 Min., in 1, 3 Shows.
Gus Bruno. Mr. Bruno was available, at small money, and I needed a little more time and put him in. Regardless of this, Mr. Bruno made a hit. To my mind he is one of the best, if not the very best, dialectitian on the vaudeville stage. Some of this stories were old, some were new, which applies to most monologuists. In the early 2-a-day spot he gets away all right and could be depended upon, I think, up to nine o'clock. Should advise securing him while he may be had cheap. 12 Min. in 1, 2 Shows.
Lee Tung Foo. I was obliged to move Mr. Lee or Mr. Foo, whichever it is, up to this spot because he "fell down" in the afternoon show. Played the first time, because of the novelty, this act makes good. It is not good for a repeat, at least in Providence. 13 Min. in 1, 2 Shows.
Rice Brothers. Comedy bar act. Held this spot fairly well. 9 Min. Full Stage, 3 Shows.
Lyons & Parkes. Two boys, harp playing, singing and dancing. This came pretty near being the "hit of the show,"-- certainly it ran at least third. I prefer the act decidedly to that of Keife & Pearl, which act it resembles somewhat, even at the same salary. 17 Min. in 1, 3 Shows.
Long & Cotton. Miss Cotton is very good; Mr. Long is very bad; and they have a very bad sketch and the act fell down. 20 Min. Full Stage, 2 Shows.
Frosini. Accordionist, and a very good one. Made a very strong impression upon the audience. 11 Min. in 1, 2 Shows.
Bessie Valdare Troupe. Bicyclists. To my mind one of the best acts of the kind in the business. 14 Min. Full Stage, 2 Shows.
Lillian Shaw. I think Lillian Shaw is one of the best comediennes in vaudeville. If she had about half the booming that some of these others are getting, she would be just as big a fad. I think she has as much ability as almost any of them. A big hit here yesterday afternoon and night. 20 Min. in 1, 2 Shows.
Joseph Maxwell & Co. As usual with Joe Hart, "stung again." If the act was handed to us about $300. price, which is certainly all it is worth and we could play it in an earlier spot, being enabled thereby to spend a little more money for a headliner, I might, under those conditions, call it a fairly good act, but from the standpoint of salary and featuring, necessary to get your money out of it, it is certainly a "lemon." There isn't one member of the company that has what you would call a decent singing voice. After having had the Romany Opera Troupe singing the "Sextette from Lucia," the rendering of it by this company was taken by the audience as a joke. 21 Min., open Full Stage, close in 1, 2 Shows.
Willard Simms & Co. Here is your headliner and here is the hit of the show. That is all that is necessary to say. 28 Min., open Full Stage close in 1, 2 Shows.
Bradna & Derrick. Equestrian act; a very good one indeed. 10 Min. F S. 2 shows.

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Report on show, Keith's Theatre, Providence, R.I., Week of March 9, 1908. (Chas. Lovenberg, Mgr.) The show this week is only fairly satisfactory, weakened by a couple of the big acts, Joseph Maxwell & Co. and Long & Cotton. With a couple of good acts in their place, we would have had a very strong show. Burkhart. Magigian [sic]. From the 3-a-day standpoint he is thoroughly all right to play in the continuous houses at the salary, MH. 15 Min. Full Stage, can close in 1, 3 shows. Claude & Marion Cleveland. Man and woman who are also all right to play in an unimportant spot in the 3-a-day section. Singing and a little comedy. 15 Min., in 1, 3 Shows. Gus Bruno. Mr. Bruno was available, at small money, and I needed a little more time and put him in. Regardless of this, Mr. Bruno made a hit. To my mind he is one of the best, if not the very best, dialectitian on the vaudeville stage. Some of this stories were old, some were new, which applies to most monologuists. In the early 2-a-day spot he gets away all right and could be depended upon, I think, up to nine o'clock. Should advise securing him while he may be had cheap. 12 Min. in 1, 2 Shows. Lee Tung Foo. I was obliged to move Mr. Lee or Mr. Foo, whichever it is, up to this spot because he "fell down" in the afternoon show. Played the first time, because of the novelty, this act makes good. It is not good for a repeat, at least in Providence. 13 Min. in 1, 2 Shows. Rice Brothers. Comedy bar act. Held this spot fairly well. 9 Min. Full Stage, 3 Shows. Lyons & Parkes. Two boys, harp playing, singing and dancing. This came pretty near being the "hit of the show,"-- certainly it ran at least third. I prefer the act decidedly to that of Keife & Pearl, which act it resembles somewhat, even at the same salary. 17 Min. in 1, 3 Shows. Long & Cotton. Miss Cotton is very good; Mr. Long is very bad; and they have a very bad sketch and the act fell down. 20 Min. Full Stage, 2 Shows. Frosini. Accordionist, and a very good one. Made a very strong impression upon the audience. 11 Min. in 1, 2 Shows. Bessie Valdare Troupe. Bicyclists. To my mind one of the best acts of the kind in the business. 14 Min. Full Stage, 2 Shows. Lillian Shaw. I think Lillian Shaw is one of the best comediennes in vaudeville. If she had about half the booming that some of these others are getting, she would be just as big a fad. I think she has as much ability as almost any of them. A big hit here yesterday afternoon and night. 20 Min. in 1, 2 Shows. Joseph Maxwell & Co. As usual with Joe Hart, "stung again." If the act was handed to us about $300. price, which is certainly all it is worth and we could play it in an earlier spot, being enabled thereby to spend a little more money for a headliner, I might, under those conditions, call it a fairly good act, but from the standpoint of salary and featuring, necessary to get your money out of it, it is certainly a "lemon." There isn't one member of the company that has what you would call a decent singing voice. After having had the Romany Opera Troupe singing the "Sextette from Lucia," the rendering of it by this company was taken by the audience as a joke. 21 Min., open Full Stage, close in 1, 2 Shows. Willard Simms & Co. Here is your headliner and here is the hit of the show. That is all that is necessary to say. 28 Min., open Full Stage close in 1, 2 Shows. Bradna & Derrick. Equestrian act; a very good one indeed. 10 Min. F S. 2 shows.