DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee managers' report book, March 9-December 14, 1908

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

Page 102a

COLONEL FRED. 17 min. Full Stage. This is a remarkably intelligent animal. He only needs a little more stage experience to be a vaudeville act of some proportions. "Col. Fred" knows all the tricks of adding, substracting and dividing, writing his answers to questions very clearly on a large slate with chalk held in his teeth and also plays the musical pipes, bell-chimes, et cetera with accuracy, and getting a good hand for the same. The spectacular feature of the act is the closing feat; the stage representing a cottage on one side and a barn on the other. The horse is put in the stable, and by the aid of a red fire, the cottage is made to resemble a burning building. The horse breaks out of his stable into the cottage, wakes up the nurse and seizes the "Prop" baby, carrying it to the rescue. This part of the act has not been brought to perfection yet, but it will undoubtedly be so before the end of the week.
KINETOGRAPH. I The Diabolical Pickpocket. Very amusing comedy film. II. Sweden. A beautiful travel series. III Engaged Against His Will. Only a fair comedy act. The Kinetograph feature on the whole just about holds its own.
HERMAN AND RICE. 11 min. Full Stage. One man works straight, the other eccentric. Use table and chairs for their knock-about acrobatic work, which included a good deal of gymnastics and contortion work, profiting by Rice and Provost and their many imitators. Closed fair.
BESSIE CLIFFORD. 10 min. in One. A dainty singer and graceful dancer in three changes of costumes. Good sepections of songs, all of which went well, and dances likewise. Could hold an early spot in the two-a-day section with credit.
WHITMAN BROTHERS. 10 min. Full Stage. A local act. Two boys, one of them dressed as an alligator, the other as a frog. The contortion work is really remarkable - some of the best we have seen here in a long time. Whether working singly or double, their act is equally interesting. Should be encouraged.
GENERAL REMARKS. In spite of the fact that this bill seems to be shy in comedy, with an excess of music and dancing, nevertheless, it is a sorking good summer show and there was not a dissenting voice among the patrons. The papers this morning gave us excellent notices, but they said specifically about Col. Fred -- I quote only in part:-
"Col. Fred" demonstrated an intelligence that was little short of marvelous. (Record)
"Justifies the title of "The Horse with the Human Brain.' It seems well nigh without the range of possibility that an animal of the so-called lower order could be made to go through the performance "Col. Fred" undertakes." (The Inquirer.)
"A trained animal act gained favorable recognition--Col. Fred- who, although he did not do all that was expected, did sufficient to place him in the front rank of equine stage wonders." (North American.)
"The big Bay's grace and ease before the footlights showed him to be a coming favorite. His education is far beyond that of any horse which has so far appeared at Keith's." (The Ledger.)
Other papers read pretty favorably.

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COLONEL FRED. 17 min. Full Stage. This is a remarkably intelligent animal. He only needs a little more stage experience to be a vaudeville act of some proportions. "Col. Fred" knows all the tricks of adding, substracting and dividing, writing his answers to questions very clearly on a large slate with chalk held in his teeth and also plays the musical pipes, bell-chimes, et cetera with accuracy, and getting a good hand for the same. The spectacular feature of the act is the closing feat; the stage representing a cottage on one side and a barn on the other. The horse is put in the stable, and by the aid of a red fire, the cottage is made to resemble a burning building. The horse breaks out of his stable into the cottage, wakes up the nurse and seizes the "Prop" baby, carrying it to the rescue. This part of the act has not been brought to perfection yet, but it will undoubtedly be so before the end of the week. KINETOGRAPH. I The Diabolical Pickpocket. Very amusing comedy film. II. Sweden. A beautiful travel series. III Engaged Against His Will. Only a fair comedy act. The Kinetograph feature on the whole just about holds its own. HERMAN AND RICE. 11 min. Full Stage. One man works straight, the other eccentric. Use table and chairs for their knock-about acrobatic work, which included a good deal of gymnastics and contortion work, profiting by Rice and Provost and their many imitators. Closed fair. BESSIE CLIFFORD. 10 min. in One. A dainty singer and graceful dancer in three changes of costumes. Good sepections of songs, all of which went well, and dances likewise. Could hold an early spot in the two-a-day section with credit. WHITMAN BROTHERS. 10 min. Full Stage. A local act. Two boys, one of them dressed as an alligator, the other as a frog. The contortion work is really remarkable - some of the best we have seen here in a long time. Whether working singly or double, their act is equally interesting. Should be encouraged. GENERAL REMARKS. In spite of the fact that this bill seems to be shy in comedy, with an excess of music and dancing, nevertheless, it is a sorking good summer show and there was not a dissenting voice among the patrons. The papers this morning gave us excellent notices, but they said specifically about Col. Fred -- I quote only in part:- "Col. Fred" demonstrated an intelligence that was little short of marvelous. (Record) "Justifies the title of "The Horse with the Human Brain.' It seems well nigh without the range of possibility that an animal of the so-called lower order could be made to go through the performance "Col. Fred" undertakes." (The Inquirer.) "A trained animal act gained favorable recognition--Col. Fred- who, although he did not do all that was expected, did sufficient to place him in the front rank of equine stage wonders." (North American.) "The big Bay's grace and ease before the footlights showed him to be a coming favorite. His education is far beyond that of any horse which has so far appeared at Keith's." (The Ledger.) Other papers read pretty favorably.