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

Page 98

98.
(Carl D. Lothrop)
Boston Show, Week of June 8, 1908.
(Monday June 8--Afternoon Show.)
Overture. 1.30, 10 minutes.
The Zarnes. On at 1.40, 12 min, full stage; 3 shows. Special set; black panorama. Well-known aerialists, who give full value for their salary. Good enough to open almost any show. XX1
Frank Whitman. On at 1.52, 12 min, in 1. Starts with some ordinary trick violin work, but finishes very strongly with his combination of dancing and violin-playing. Was a distinct hit this afternoon. He looks like a great proposition for the small houses at $75-100, as he is sure to more than make good at number two, while he will be a safe proposition for number four. XX1
Byers and Hermann. On at 2.04, 15 min in all; open full stage, go to 1, close in full stage; special sets. A very, very good combination of acrobatic, contortion and wire work. Can hold a good spot on any bill. Fully capable of closing the majority of shows. XX1
Leona Thurber and Her "Black Berries". On at 2.10, 11 min, in 1. Salary considered, this act is as good as any of its kind. Won a fair amount of applause this afternoon. However, it is quite evident that the day of pickaninny acts is fast waning. X1
Snyder and Buckley. On at 2.30, 13 min full stage, 13 min close in 1; 26 min in all. Doing their very diverting musical act, "The Street Musician", the hits of which are the cat duet and the mechanical minstrels, both of these being excellent features. XX1
Brown, Harris and Brown. On at 2.50, 15 min full stage, 8 min close in 1; 23 min in all. Without rhyme or reason and simply a hodge-podge of nonsense, this act scored this afternoon, as it always does. I have seen Brown work to several different classes of audiences and have never seen him fall down. A sure laugh-winner in almost any show. XX1
Bellclair Brothers. On at 3.19, open 6 min in 1, special plush drop; close 3 min full stage (or 2); 9 min in all. There is no better gymnastic act than this, at any price. A feature for any bill. No acrobatic act that plays this house causes any more talk or receives any more applause. Our experience in Portland proves that it is an extremely valuable act for the small cities, for it became a subject of conversation with all who saw it the week it played there, and undoubtedly proved a drawing-card. XX1
Digby Bell. On at 3.28, 17 min, in 1. Mr. Bell presented rather a soothing sort of a monologue this afternoon. There is nothing in it that raised the audience to any great enthusiasm, although he got laughs all through it and the people showed that they rather enjoyed it. When it comes to paying Mr. Bell $600., however, no stretch of the imagination can make him worth any such money. Even with his reputation, $350. is a very liberal figure for him. He used some new material concerning taxicabs that is very fair, and closed with a recitation that won him some hearty applause when he finished. X1 (Salary considered)


Lorenz and Young. On at 4.39, 15 min, in 1. John Lorenz is an extremely clever eccentric dancer and ragtime pianist, while his new partner is a really great hard-shoe dancer. This is only their second or third week together, and the act gives promise of making thoroughly good for $100-125. XX
Nonrevo. On at 5.14, 15 min, full stage. This is Vernon, the well-known ventriloquist, who is here putting his new act in working order. He is to try it out next week, giving two performances daily between 5 and 7. If it proves O.K. he will play it the following week in the regular show.
Cuts:
Byers and Hermann. Mock prayer.
Snyder and Buckley. Given a little advice on English as it should be spoken.
Comment. A very good show, indeed, for this season of the year.

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98. (Carl D. Lothrop) Boston Show, Week of June 8, 1908. (Monday June 8--Afternoon Show.) Overture. 1.30, 10 minutes. The Zarnes. On at 1.40, 12 min, full stage; 3 shows. Special set; black panorama. Well-known aerialists, who give full value for their salary. Good enough to open almost any show. XX1 Frank Whitman. On at 1.52, 12 min, in 1. Starts with some ordinary trick violin work, but finishes very strongly with his combination of dancing and violin-playing. Was a distinct hit this afternoon. He looks like a great proposition for the small houses at $75-100, as he is sure to more than make good at number two, while he will be a safe proposition for number four. XX1 Byers and Hermann. On at 2.04, 15 min in all; open full stage, go to 1, close in full stage; special sets. A very, very good combination of acrobatic, contortion and wire work. Can hold a good spot on any bill. Fully capable of closing the majority of shows. XX1 Leona Thurber and Her "Black Berries". On at 2.10, 11 min, in 1. Salary considered, this act is as good as any of its kind. Won a fair amount of applause this afternoon. However, it is quite evident that the day of pickaninny acts is fast waning. X1 Snyder and Buckley. On at 2.30, 13 min full stage, 13 min close in 1; 26 min in all. Doing their very diverting musical act, "The Street Musician", the hits of which are the cat duet and the mechanical minstrels, both of these being excellent features. XX1 Brown, Harris and Brown. On at 2.50, 15 min full stage, 8 min close in 1; 23 min in all. Without rhyme or reason and simply a hodge-podge of nonsense, this act scored this afternoon, as it always does. I have seen Brown work to several different classes of audiences and have never seen him fall down. A sure laugh-winner in almost any show. XX1 Bellclair Brothers. On at 3.19, open 6 min in 1, special plush drop; close 3 min full stage (or 2); 9 min in all. There is no better gymnastic act than this, at any price. A feature for any bill. No acrobatic act that plays this house causes any more talk or receives any more applause. Our experience in Portland proves that it is an extremely valuable act for the small cities, for it became a subject of conversation with all who saw it the week it played there, and undoubtedly proved a drawing-card. XX1 Digby Bell. On at 3.28, 17 min, in 1. Mr. Bell presented rather a soothing sort of a monologue this afternoon. There is nothing in it that raised the audience to any great enthusiasm, although he got laughs all through it and the people showed that they rather enjoyed it. When it comes to paying Mr. Bell $600., however, no stretch of the imagination can make him worth any such money. Even with his reputation, $350. is a very liberal figure for him. He used some new material concerning taxicabs that is very fair, and closed with a recitation that won him some hearty applause when he finished. X1 (Salary considered) Lorenz and Young. On at 4.39, 15 min, in 1. John Lorenz is an extremely clever eccentric dancer and ragtime pianist, while his new partner is a really great hard-shoe dancer. This is only their second or third week together, and the act gives promise of making thoroughly good for $100-125. XX Nonrevo. On at 5.14, 15 min, full stage. This is Vernon, the well-known ventriloquist, who is here putting his new act in working order. He is to try it out next week, giving two performances daily between 5 and 7. If it proves O.K. he will play it the following week in the regular show. Cuts: Byers and Hermann. Mock prayer. Snyder and Buckley. Given a little advice on English as it should be spoken. Comment. A very good show, indeed, for this season of the year.