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

Page 14a

LILY LENA, English Com:- 20 min. in 1. On at 9:18. There is no discounting Lily Lena's emphatic hit. The audience took kindly to her from the first, but was not enthusiastic till after the third song. She won the crowd with the last two very strong,- so strong that at the finish they gave her five curtain calls and compelled an encore. She is certainly one of the daintiest and sweetest little personalities that ever appeared on our stage, and her five changes of costume are stunning. She will certainly be a winning card for the balance of the week.
MR. & MRS. SIDNEY DREW, "Billy's Tombstones":- 24 min. F.S. On at 9:38. There is nothing to be said about this act than that they duplicated their former big scream here, and are a very welcome addition to a strong bill. Would that the poor fellow who wrote this brilliant sketch had left a few more behind him. His passing was certainly a calamity to Vaudeville.
SMITH & CAMPBELL, Conv. Com:- 16 min. in 1. On at 10:03. Advance hand. These people have an entirely new line of stuff, but it does not seem to be as bright as formerly, or else it was not of the Quaker City brand of laughing goods. They were half way through before they got the crowd at all, and all through their act people were leaving their seats,- a very discouraging sign, as it is so rare here. The act may pull up later, but at both sessions on Monday this pair just about got by. The big scream ahead of it might have had something to do with it.
DUFFIN-REDCAY TROUPE, Casting:- 8 min. F.S. On at 10;21. Well known act, and as every body knows, one of the greatest casting acts in the world. Went with the usual applause. As a closing feature it is not to be excelled.
KINETOGRAPH:-
VIEWS OF LONDON:- A decidedly interesting travel film
SCULLION'S DREAM:- The novelty of this film quite overcomes any of its minor features. It can be ranked as good, but not especially brilliant in humor.
CARNEY & WAGNER, S. & D.:- 9 min. in 1. On at 6:35. Man and woman making neat appearance, both singing fairly and dancing very well on dancing mat. The wooden-shoe work at the finish got good hand.
THE WYNNEWOODS: "Messenger Boy's Dream":-19 min. F.S. On at 6:45. Two girls, one of them remarkably pretty and singing fairly well. The smaller of the two appears in four changes of costume,- messenger boy, soubrette, errand-girl and prince. May develope into something professional later, but at the present time it is very amateurish and needs a whole lot of work and experience. Received small applause at finish. A small house act at best.
GORDON & CHACON, Col. S. & D.:- 14 min. in 1. On at 7:04. An ordinary coon act which can hold only an obscure spot in the three-a-day section.
GENERAL REMARKS:- This show is without any falldown, with perhaps the disappointment of SMITH & CAMPBELL who had a hard time to score just a little bit after "Billy's Tombstones". It is strange that these people go so well in some other houses, and yet with us just about managed to hold down a hard spot. It may be that Philadelphians are tired of this fare, but I am as keen on humor as the next man and they cannot get many laughs out of me with that material, however hard they work. THE FIVE MAJORS was a little surprise in excellence and our headliners were all that could be desired. In spite of the fact that there are some strong shows in town, Lent and twenty eight continuous revivals in progress we shall do business

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LILY LENA, English Com:- 20 min. in 1. On at 9:18. There is no discounting Lily Lena's emphatic hit. The audience took kindly to her from the first, but was not enthusiastic till after the third song. She won the crowd with the last two very strong,- so strong that at the finish they gave her five curtain calls and compelled an encore. She is certainly one of the daintiest and sweetest little personalities that ever appeared on our stage, and her five changes of costume are stunning. She will certainly be a winning card for the balance of the week. MR. & MRS. SIDNEY DREW, "Billy's Tombstones":- 24 min. F.S. On at 9:38. There is nothing to be said about this act than that they duplicated their former big scream here, and are a very welcome addition to a strong bill. Would that the poor fellow who wrote this brilliant sketch had left a few more behind him. His passing was certainly a calamity to Vaudeville. SMITH & CAMPBELL, Conv. Com:- 16 min. in 1. On at 10:03. Advance hand. These people have an entirely new line of stuff, but it does not seem to be as bright as formerly, or else it was not of the Quaker City brand of laughing goods. They were half way through before they got the crowd at all, and all through their act people were leaving their seats,- a very discouraging sign, as it is so rare here. The act may pull up later, but at both sessions on Monday this pair just about got by. The big scream ahead of it might have had something to do with it. DUFFIN-REDCAY TROUPE, Casting:- 8 min. F.S. On at 10;21. Well known act, and as every body knows, one of the greatest casting acts in the world. Went with the usual applause. As a closing feature it is not to be excelled. KINETOGRAPH:- VIEWS OF LONDON:- A decidedly interesting travel film SCULLION'S DREAM:- The novelty of this film quite overcomes any of its minor features. It can be ranked as good, but not especially brilliant in humor. CARNEY & WAGNER, S. & D.:- 9 min. in 1. On at 6:35. Man and woman making neat appearance, both singing fairly and dancing very well on dancing mat. The wooden-shoe work at the finish got good hand. THE WYNNEWOODS: "Messenger Boy's Dream":-19 min. F.S. On at 6:45. Two girls, one of them remarkably pretty and singing fairly well. The smaller of the two appears in four changes of costume,- messenger boy, soubrette, errand-girl and prince. May develope into something professional later, but at the present time it is very amateurish and needs a whole lot of work and experience. Received small applause at finish. A small house act at best. GORDON & CHACON, Col. S. & D.:- 14 min. in 1. On at 7:04. An ordinary coon act which can hold only an obscure spot in the three-a-day section. GENERAL REMARKS:- This show is without any falldown, with perhaps the disappointment of SMITH & CAMPBELL who had a hard time to score just a little bit after "Billy's Tombstones". It is strange that these people go so well in some other houses, and yet with us just about managed to hold down a hard spot. It may be that Philadelphians are tired of this fare, but I am as keen on humor as the next man and they cannot get many laughs out of me with that material, however hard they work. THE FIVE MAJORS was a little surprise in excellence and our headliners were all that could be desired. In spite of the fact that there are some strong shows in town, Lent and twenty eight continuous revivals in progress we shall do business