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

Page 127

Aug. 31, 1908.     PHILADELPHIA SHOW.     C. E. BARNS.
THE THREE HANLONS. Knockabout Comedians. 10 min. Full Stage. Two men work straight, one eccentric. Use table, three chairs and a tumbling mat. A mighty good opening act for any house. Could hold a much better spot on the bill. The athletic work is of the Belleclaire order, and each feat got a good hand. The comedy is fair. The finishing feat was remarkably skilful and merited strong applause. An act to be recommended.
BOYD AND VEOLA. Character Singers. 14 min. in one. Both make a good appearance. The woman appears in three changes of costume, each one of them of the Violette order of extravagance, (by the way, a little too low-cut in the bodice to please a fastidious audience.) The woman has only a fair solo voice and relies more upon her figure and costuming. Her solo work got a very poor hand. Boyd, on the contrary, has an excellent voice, and got a big hand for his solo work, showing that he is a strong favorite. The finishing after their medley was good.
MIDDLETON AND SPELLMYER. "A Texas Wooing." 18 min. Full Stage. This is a good act. The stage set is fairly impressive picture of a sub-tropical landscape. The story is that of a young girl who goes West looking for her father, and who falls in love with a young cowboy who alone knows of the dearth of her father some years before. The love-making is full of laughs. The finish of the act is full of pathos and melo-dramatic enough to satisfy the gallery. Strong closing hand. This act could hold a good spot up to the middle of the two-a-day section.
LEO DONNELLY. Comedian. 15 min. in one. A local entertainer who is very popular here and who made his first appearance in vaudeville upon this occasion. His stories are mighty good, all of them new and told with a good deal of assurance and keen appreciation of humor. Donnelly could go anywhere on the Circuit and make good with acquired experience with vaudeville audiences. He ought to be a winner, and can be strongly recommended for an encouragement.
THE ORTMANN TRIO. 14 min. Full Stage. Two men work straight, one of them comedy soldier. Employ two dummy soldiers who aid in the comedy. Feats of all three are good and consist of somersaults and ground tumbling. Comedy is of the rough knockabout order, with table, chair, some burlesque sharp-shooting and bag punching.
FRED WATSON AND THE MORRISEY SISTERS. 13 min. in one. Well known on the Circuit. The costumes of the women are very stunning, their voices good and the whole act got the usual good reception.
VIOLET BLACK AND COMPANY. "In the Subway." 20 min. Full Stage. This is a lively little act. The scene is that of the interior of Times Square subway station, and the action turning upon a case of mistaken identify, a stranded stenographer who begs her way through the gates, and who is mistaken for a man masquerading as a woman. The comedy element was introduced by a burlesque ticket chopper. The interest is sustained through a series of funny misunderstandings and winds up with a lively scene and a big laugh. Not a great act by any means, but timely and well presented.
SMITH AND CAMPBELL. Conversational Duo. 20 min. Full Stage. Good advance hand. Well known on the Circuit. Varied their material somewhat, but the major portion of it was the same as offered here before. Act went better this time than previously. Closed strong.

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Aug. 31, 1908. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C. E. BARNS. THE THREE HANLONS. Knockabout Comedians. 10 min. Full Stage. Two men work straight, one eccentric. Use table, three chairs and a tumbling mat. A mighty good opening act for any house. Could hold a much better spot on the bill. The athletic work is of the Belleclaire order, and each feat got a good hand. The comedy is fair. The finishing feat was remarkably skilful and merited strong applause. An act to be recommended. BOYD AND VEOLA. Character Singers. 14 min. in one. Both make a good appearance. The woman appears in three changes of costume, each one of them of the Violette order of extravagance, (by the way, a little too low-cut in the bodice to please a fastidious audience.) The woman has only a fair solo voice and relies more upon her figure and costuming. Her solo work got a very poor hand. Boyd, on the contrary, has an excellent voice, and got a big hand for his solo work, showing that he is a strong favorite. The finishing after their medley was good. MIDDLETON AND SPELLMYER. "A Texas Wooing." 18 min. Full Stage. This is a good act. The stage set is fairly impressive picture of a sub-tropical landscape. The story is that of a young girl who goes West looking for her father, and who falls in love with a young cowboy who alone knows of the dearth of her father some years before. The love-making is full of laughs. The finish of the act is full of pathos and melo-dramatic enough to satisfy the gallery. Strong closing hand. This act could hold a good spot up to the middle of the two-a-day section. LEO DONNELLY. Comedian. 15 min. in one. A local entertainer who is very popular here and who made his first appearance in vaudeville upon this occasion. His stories are mighty good, all of them new and told with a good deal of assurance and keen appreciation of humor. Donnelly could go anywhere on the Circuit and make good with acquired experience with vaudeville audiences. He ought to be a winner, and can be strongly recommended for an encouragement. THE ORTMANN TRIO. 14 min. Full Stage. Two men work straight, one of them comedy soldier. Employ two dummy soldiers who aid in the comedy. Feats of all three are good and consist of somersaults and ground tumbling. Comedy is of the rough knockabout order, with table, chair, some burlesque sharp-shooting and bag punching. FRED WATSON AND THE MORRISEY SISTERS. 13 min. in one. Well known on the Circuit. The costumes of the women are very stunning, their voices good and the whole act got the usual good reception. VIOLET BLACK AND COMPANY. "In the Subway." 20 min. Full Stage. This is a lively little act. The scene is that of the interior of Times Square subway station, and the action turning upon a case of mistaken identify, a stranded stenographer who begs her way through the gates, and who is mistaken for a man masquerading as a woman. The comedy element was introduced by a burlesque ticket chopper. The interest is sustained through a series of funny misunderstandings and winds up with a lively scene and a big laugh. Not a great act by any means, but timely and well presented. SMITH AND CAMPBELL. Conversational Duo. 20 min. Full Stage. Good advance hand. Well known on the Circuit. Varied their material somewhat, but the major portion of it was the same as offered here before. Act went better this time than previously. Closed strong.