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

Page 99

(Carl D. Lothrop)
Boston Show, Week of June 15, 1908.
(Monday June 15--Afternoon Show.)
Overture. 1.30, 7 minutes.
Polk and Polk. On at 1.37, 9 min, full stage; 3 shows. A really excellent equilibristic act, done by two men in full-dress costumes. This act is good enough to open any show and can close creditably in the small towns. Great value for $80-100. XX1
Wood and Lawson. On at 1.46, 9 min, in 1; 3 shows. Man and woman in a neat singing and dancing act. The woman in the act has improved considerably in the last year. They will make good in any of the houses where they have been routed for next season. XX
The Kikudas. On at 1.54, 6 min full stage, 4 min close in 1; 10 min in all. Man and woman in a Japanese juggling act. Costumes are extremely handsome, as good as any ever worn here. The woman does no work in the act whatever except to pass to the man the articles he juggles. The man is exceptionally clever, one of the best Japanese jugglers I have ever seen. However, I think that $125 is too much for the act; $80-100 is plenty enough. At $80 I would mark the act XX1, at $125 XX is the best I feel I could give it.
Four Flood Brothers. On at 2.04, 10 min, full stage. Personally I consider the old act of the two Flood Brothers superior to this, with the four. Two of them do practically all of the acrobatic work, while the other two butt in with their alleged comedy stunts. There is a very apparent straining after laughs that do not come. Not strong enough for a closing act in this house by any means. X1
Collins and Brown. On at 2.14, 14 min, in 1. The worst gold-brick of all the K. & E. acts we have played. How they ever got a contract for $200 is beyond my comprehension. $80 and 3 shows is about their rating. X
Una Clayton and Company. On at 2.28, 32 min, full stage. Playing her new sketch, "His Local Color". A very clever woman whose work is reminiscent of that of Charlotte Parry and Eva Williams. It would improve the sketch greatly if it was trimmed to 24 min. This Miss Clayton tells me she is going to do. Even in its present shape I think it will make good in almost any house and is a find at the money. XX
Herbert Cyril. On at 3 o'clock, 11 min, in 1. Cyril always scores here and did very well this afternoon. If his voice was just a little better, he would come pretty near Whit Cunliffe's Class. XX
Reynolds and Donegan. On at 3.11, 10 min, full stage. A very pretty, novel and effective act, the best roller-skating exhibition we have ever had. Miss Donegan makes a particularly charming appearance. XX1


Kinetograph. On at 4.21, 27 min. "Dedication Festival, Boston Normal School". A specially-taken picture of a recent local event. "The Whimsical People"; an excellent colored trick comic.
Harry Bobker. On at 4.48, 7 min full stage, 6 min close in 1; 13 min in all; 3 shows. Could do entire act in 1, if necessary. A series of character impersonations that are practically imitations of Bobby North, Cliff Gordon and Ben Welch. This fellow should be a find for the continuous houses, and I think will make good in most of the smaller cities. At $40-50 he is a decided bargain. XX
Cuts:
Four Flood Brothers. Business with skirt. Spitting water. Mock prayer.
Collins and Brown. "Cherry tree" parody. Reference to "Three Weeks".
Comment. An excellent summer bill; in fact, with a couple of changes it would be good enough for any week.

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(Carl D. Lothrop) Boston Show, Week of June 15, 1908. (Monday June 15--Afternoon Show.) Overture. 1.30, 7 minutes. Polk and Polk. On at 1.37, 9 min, full stage; 3 shows. A really excellent equilibristic act, done by two men in full-dress costumes. This act is good enough to open any show and can close creditably in the small towns. Great value for $80-100. XX1 Wood and Lawson. On at 1.46, 9 min, in 1; 3 shows. Man and woman in a neat singing and dancing act. The woman in the act has improved considerably in the last year. They will make good in any of the houses where they have been routed for next season. XX The Kikudas. On at 1.54, 6 min full stage, 4 min close in 1; 10 min in all. Man and woman in a Japanese juggling act. Costumes are extremely handsome, as good as any ever worn here. The woman does no work in the act whatever except to pass to the man the articles he juggles. The man is exceptionally clever, one of the best Japanese jugglers I have ever seen. However, I think that $125 is too much for the act; $80-100 is plenty enough. At $80 I would mark the act XX1, at $125 XX is the best I feel I could give it. Four Flood Brothers. On at 2.04, 10 min, full stage. Personally I consider the old act of the two Flood Brothers superior to this, with the four. Two of them do practically all of the acrobatic work, while the other two butt in with their alleged comedy stunts. There is a very apparent straining after laughs that do not come. Not strong enough for a closing act in this house by any means. X1 Collins and Brown. On at 2.14, 14 min, in 1. The worst gold-brick of all the K. & E. acts we have played. How they ever got a contract for $200 is beyond my comprehension. $80 and 3 shows is about their rating. X Una Clayton and Company. On at 2.28, 32 min, full stage. Playing her new sketch, "His Local Color". A very clever woman whose work is reminiscent of that of Charlotte Parry and Eva Williams. It would improve the sketch greatly if it was trimmed to 24 min. This Miss Clayton tells me she is going to do. Even in its present shape I think it will make good in almost any house and is a find at the money. XX Herbert Cyril. On at 3 o'clock, 11 min, in 1. Cyril always scores here and did very well this afternoon. If his voice was just a little better, he would come pretty near Whit Cunliffe's Class. XX Reynolds and Donegan. On at 3.11, 10 min, full stage. A very pretty, novel and effective act, the best roller-skating exhibition we have ever had. Miss Donegan makes a particularly charming appearance. XX1 Kinetograph. On at 4.21, 27 min. "Dedication Festival, Boston Normal School". A specially-taken picture of a recent local event. "The Whimsical People"; an excellent colored trick comic. Harry Bobker. On at 4.48, 7 min full stage, 6 min close in 1; 13 min in all; 3 shows. Could do entire act in 1, if necessary. A series of character impersonations that are practically imitations of Bobby North, Cliff Gordon and Ben Welch. This fellow should be a find for the continuous houses, and I think will make good in most of the smaller cities. At $40-50 he is a decided bargain. XX Cuts: Four Flood Brothers. Business with skirt. Spitting water. Mock prayer. Collins and Brown. "Cherry tree" parody. Reference to "Three Weeks". Comment. An excellent summer bill; in fact, with a couple of changes it would be good enough for any week.