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 111

JULY "20-08.    PHILADELPHIA SHOW.    C. E. BARNS.
HARLEM BROS. Acrobatic humorists. 10 mts. Full Stage. Two rather clever acrobats on the mat. One man works straight, the other eccentric. Some applause during the act and considerable at the finish. One of the brothers does ten cart-wheels on the table illuminated by colored electric lights. Fair three-a-day act, but played here too often.
MARIAN HEYLMAN. Vocalist. 13 mts. in one. A pretty girl with three changes of costume. One of them that of a College Boy which is poor and was cut out. Voice is rather sympathetic, but without very much volume. Got a fair hand after each selection and closed fairly well with seashore song and a little dance.
HARRY SMIRL AND ROSE KESSNER. "The Bell Boy and the Maid." 19 mts. Full Stage, close in one. This is a good medley act, including good acrobatic work, dancing, rope jumping and considerable humor. The close in one is particularly amusing. They use two dogs -- a bull and a spitz to help out the fun. Applause at the finish. A good act for this spot.
MARY DUPONT & CO. "Left At The Post." 15 mts. Full Stage. This is a brisk little sketch of the disgruntled bride who imagines that she has been left at the altar when in reality the bridegroom was delayed by an automobile accident. She resolves to "Buy" the first man who comes along. He happens to be a milliner's clerk. His scene with her is amusing, if indeed very unnatural, and just at the violent climax he makes his escape. She received a telephone call apprising her of the bridegroom's arrival at the altar. Miss Dupont should have more capable support. Not an act that will create much favorable comment as it stands.
ROONEY SISTERS. 9 mts. in one. Advanced applause. These clever dancers held their own as usual in this spot. The vocal work is only fair, but their dancing always wins. Closed well.
CARLISLE'S DOG AND PONY CIRCUS. 19 mts. Full Stage. A good children's feature, full of interest throughout. Act opens with some of the regulation dog and pony stunts, which are good though too long drawn out. Proceeds to the "Talking" Pony. This little animal is remarkably well trained; in fact, his answers in addition, substraction, multiplication and telling time of day is even more intelligent than that of "Col. Fred," the horse we had here a few weeks ago. Each one of his answers got a big hand and the finishing was strong. An act that would go anywhere that an animal act is wanted.
WARE'S VILLAGE CHOIR. "The Angelus." 20 min. open in one, close Full Stage. An enlargement of the original Village Choir idea. Opens with a rustic scene with illuminated church drop. The songs of medley and popular selections, the four singers being in rustic costumes. These received a good hand. The scenes following are the exterior and interior of a church with an illumination of "The Angelus" back of the singers and organist, who are in choir regalia. The act worked rather roughly today. The vocal work, of course, is right up to the standard, though too long in the church. The act recalls "The Girl with the Auburn Hair," not as novel and brilliant an act as we had hoped to see, and leaves the audience in a "churchy" mood from which it is not easy to rouse them. Better the old act in one at $250, than this at twice the money or more.


ZANO. The Magician. A slight of hand man of the regulation order without any particular paraphernalia, handicapped also with dialect. Can hold only an obscure spot on the bill. 13 mts. Full Stage.
MILDRED FLORA. Comedienne. This act is well known, opening with some rather indifferent comedy, singing, talking and dancing, and proceeds to a burlesque wire act that is really the whole thing. Did not score until the wire act and then got the supper crowd pretty strong. Worth the money and ought to be a good Park booking.
GENERAL REMARKS. This show is surely a winner and only needs a little show-weather to prove it.

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JULY "20-08. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C. E. BARNS. HARLEM BROS. Acrobatic humorists. 10 mts. Full Stage. Two rather clever acrobats on the mat. One man works straight, the other eccentric. Some applause during the act and considerable at the finish. One of the brothers does ten cart-wheels on the table illuminated by colored electric lights. Fair three-a-day act, but played here too often. MARIAN HEYLMAN. Vocalist. 13 mts. in one. A pretty girl with three changes of costume. One of them that of a College Boy which is poor and was cut out. Voice is rather sympathetic, but without very much volume. Got a fair hand after each selection and closed fairly well with seashore song and a little dance. HARRY SMIRL AND ROSE KESSNER. "The Bell Boy and the Maid." 19 mts. Full Stage, close in one. This is a good medley act, including good acrobatic work, dancing, rope jumping and considerable humor. The close in one is particularly amusing. They use two dogs -- a bull and a spitz to help out the fun. Applause at the finish. A good act for this spot. MARY DUPONT & CO. "Left At The Post." 15 mts. Full Stage. This is a brisk little sketch of the disgruntled bride who imagines that she has been left at the altar when in reality the bridegroom was delayed by an automobile accident. She resolves to "Buy" the first man who comes along. He happens to be a milliner's clerk. His scene with her is amusing, if indeed very unnatural, and just at the violent climax he makes his escape. She received a telephone call apprising her of the bridegroom's arrival at the altar. Miss Dupont should have more capable support. Not an act that will create much favorable comment as it stands. ROONEY SISTERS. 9 mts. in one. Advanced applause. These clever dancers held their own as usual in this spot. The vocal work is only fair, but their dancing always wins. Closed well. CARLISLE'S DOG AND PONY CIRCUS. 19 mts. Full Stage. A good children's feature, full of interest throughout. Act opens with some of the regulation dog and pony stunts, which are good though too long drawn out. Proceeds to the "Talking" Pony. This little animal is remarkably well trained; in fact, his answers in addition, substraction, multiplication and telling time of day is even more intelligent than that of "Col. Fred," the horse we had here a few weeks ago. Each one of his answers got a big hand and the finishing was strong. An act that would go anywhere that an animal act is wanted. WARE'S VILLAGE CHOIR. "The Angelus." 20 min. open in one, close Full Stage. An enlargement of the original Village Choir idea. Opens with a rustic scene with illuminated church drop. The songs of medley and popular selections, the four singers being in rustic costumes. These received a good hand. The scenes following are the exterior and interior of a church with an illumination of "The Angelus" back of the singers and organist, who are in choir regalia. The act worked rather roughly today. The vocal work, of course, is right up to the standard, though too long in the church. The act recalls "The Girl with the Auburn Hair," not as novel and brilliant an act as we had hoped to see, and leaves the audience in a "churchy" mood from which it is not easy to rouse them. Better the old act in one at $250, than this at twice the money or more. ZANO. The Magician. A slight of hand man of the regulation order without any particular paraphernalia, handicapped also with dialect. Can hold only an obscure spot on the bill. 13 mts. Full Stage. MILDRED FLORA. Comedienne. This act is well known, opening with some rather indifferent comedy, singing, talking and dancing, and proceeds to a burlesque wire act that is really the whole thing. Did not score until the wire act and then got the supper crowd pretty strong. Worth the money and ought to be a good Park booking. GENERAL REMARKS. This show is surely a winner and only needs a little show-weather to prove it.