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

Page 138

SEPT. 14-08.     PHILADELPHIA SHOW.     C. E. BARNS.
COTTER & BOULDEN. "The Whipe in Bits." 16 min. opens in two, closes in one. Man and woman in riding costume, making a very good appearance and singing acceptably. Work in one includes some good wooden-show dancing by the man, which was liberally applauded. The girl's song with her own banjo accompaniment, as well as the duo that follows, took very well indeed. This act certainly should be routed.
BOBBY PANDUR AND BROTHER. Acrobats. 10 min. Full Stage. This act is set very strikingly. As the curtain goes up there is seen an illuminated pedestal, approached on either side with a staircase and supported by a stalwart dummy figure in absolute replica of Pandur himself; in fact, the figure seems like Pandur's double. The illuminated curtain goes up disclosing the two bothers on a revolving table. After a few postures, they proceed to their acrobatic work which consists of hand-balancing, walking up and down the stairs on hands and many of the conventional strong-man feats, performing high above the stage and against a black back-ground which shows off their magnificent forms to great effect. Pandur has trained himself to look like Sandow, and certainly has profited by his master. The closing feat of the double ladders, when he raises his brother on a bicycle support by a band hung around his neck is very spectacular and got a rousing big hand. These people are through showmen. It is an act to please anywhere.
MC NISH & PENFOLD. 16 min. in one. "the Jolly Two. One man works straight, the other, black-face comedy. Open with a fairly good song and proceeds to a good line of chatter. After another song, Mc Nish brings out a table and a broom and some very good fun follows. The act is rapid and keeps the audience in constant laughter. Closed very well.
EDGAR ALLEN AND CO. in "A Fortune Hunter's Miss-Fortune." This is a typical Cohan playlet, simple in plot and lively with situations and fun throughout, with enough music to give it variation, the songs being largely from the "Yankee Prince." The development of the plot moves swiftly up to a stirring duel, making a big finish. This act would go well anywhere before 9:00, and make good.
ELSIE BOEHM. "The Little Girl with the Big Voice." Well known on the circuit, and just as much of a success as on her previous visits. Good applause.
DUNLAP & CO. "The Night of the Wedding." 22 min. Full Stage. This is a picture of low life, in which figure a big-hearted laborer, a widower and his little girl of whom he is very fond, and a red-haired virago, a widow who has all but caught the man in the matrimonial meshes. The woman vents her temper on the child, injures her, and the timely discovery of his ill-treatment on the wedding night of widow and widower leads to a violent scene during which the woman is cast out forever from his home. The interest is sustained from the start, the sympathies well worked up in the child's behalf, and when the climax comes, the applause is great. The best melodramatic sketch we have ever played. It will certainly be talked about.
SAM WILLIAMS. Pianologuist. 15 min. in one. This man was a hit. His manner is very unpretentious, and his work is original and pleased the crowd from the very first. He accompanies himself on the piano admirably and apparently without the least effort. Different enough from Melville Ellis to make him refreshing. His enunciation is very clear and he gives a neat turn to all of his jokes. The close was so strong that they called him back six times. Will be placed further down.


recommended for a fair spot in the three-a-day section.
GORMAN AND WEST. 14 min. in three. These people have been playing "A Special Meeting" for a number of years, and today gave us an act composed of singing, dancing and a little patter in its place. They were both very nervous and the act as presented this afternoon was very crude. Will let them keep at it, and if it improves during the balance of the week, will make a supplementary report.
GENERAL REMARKS. This is a good show that certainly ought to be talked about from one end of the town to the other. There is not a weak spot even in the three-a-day section (with the possible exception of "Gorman & West" which is more crude than lacking actual merit) and some of the numbers actual surprises, for instance, Adeline Dunlap and Co., which newspaper men claim to be the best heart-interest playlet ever seen here; Edgar Allen & Co., which is fun throughout, Sam Williams. By transposing, the Elinore Sisters act will come before Mc Intyre & Heath, for the reason that nobody on earth in the comedy line could ever follow them. They will close the show for the balance of the week. If vaudeville patrons do not appreciate this show, we miss all our guesses.

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SEPT. 14-08. PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C. E. BARNS. COTTER & BOULDEN. "The Whipe in Bits." 16 min. opens in two, closes in one. Man and woman in riding costume, making a very good appearance and singing acceptably. Work in one includes some good wooden-show dancing by the man, which was liberally applauded. The girl's song with her own banjo accompaniment, as well as the duo that follows, took very well indeed. This act certainly should be routed. BOBBY PANDUR AND BROTHER. Acrobats. 10 min. Full Stage. This act is set very strikingly. As the curtain goes up there is seen an illuminated pedestal, approached on either side with a staircase and supported by a stalwart dummy figure in absolute replica of Pandur himself; in fact, the figure seems like Pandur's double. The illuminated curtain goes up disclosing the two bothers on a revolving table. After a few postures, they proceed to their acrobatic work which consists of hand-balancing, walking up and down the stairs on hands and many of the conventional strong-man feats, performing high above the stage and against a black back-ground which shows off their magnificent forms to great effect. Pandur has trained himself to look like Sandow, and certainly has profited by his master. The closing feat of the double ladders, when he raises his brother on a bicycle support by a band hung around his neck is very spectacular and got a rousing big hand. These people are through showmen. It is an act to please anywhere. MC NISH & PENFOLD. 16 min. in one. "the Jolly Two. One man works straight, the other, black-face comedy. Open with a fairly good song and proceeds to a good line of chatter. After another song, Mc Nish brings out a table and a broom and some very good fun follows. The act is rapid and keeps the audience in constant laughter. Closed very well. EDGAR ALLEN AND CO. in "A Fortune Hunter's Miss-Fortune." This is a typical Cohan playlet, simple in plot and lively with situations and fun throughout, with enough music to give it variation, the songs being largely from the "Yankee Prince." The development of the plot moves swiftly up to a stirring duel, making a big finish. This act would go well anywhere before 9:00, and make good. ELSIE BOEHM. "The Little Girl with the Big Voice." Well known on the circuit, and just as much of a success as on her previous visits. Good applause. DUNLAP & CO. "The Night of the Wedding." 22 min. Full Stage. This is a picture of low life, in which figure a big-hearted laborer, a widower and his little girl of whom he is very fond, and a red-haired virago, a widow who has all but caught the man in the matrimonial meshes. The woman vents her temper on the child, injures her, and the timely discovery of his ill-treatment on the wedding night of widow and widower leads to a violent scene during which the woman is cast out forever from his home. The interest is sustained from the start, the sympathies well worked up in the child's behalf, and when the climax comes, the applause is great. The best melodramatic sketch we have ever played. It will certainly be talked about. SAM WILLIAMS. Pianologuist. 15 min. in one. This man was a hit. His manner is very unpretentious, and his work is original and pleased the crowd from the very first. He accompanies himself on the piano admirably and apparently without the least effort. Different enough from Melville Ellis to make him refreshing. His enunciation is very clear and he gives a neat turn to all of his jokes. The close was so strong that they called him back six times. Will be placed further down. recommended for a fair spot in the three-a-day section. GORMAN AND WEST. 14 min. in three. These people have been playing "A Special Meeting" for a number of years, and today gave us an act composed of singing, dancing and a little patter in its place. They were both very nervous and the act as presented this afternoon was very crude. Will let them keep at it, and if it improves during the balance of the week, will make a supplementary report. GENERAL REMARKS. This is a good show that certainly ought to be talked about from one end of the town to the other. There is not a weak spot even in the three-a-day section (with the possible exception of "Gorman & West" which is more crude than lacking actual merit) and some of the numbers actual surprises, for instance, Adeline Dunlap and Co., which newspaper men claim to be the best heart-interest playlet ever seen here; Edgar Allen & Co., which is fun throughout, Sam Williams. By transposing, the Elinore Sisters act will come before Mc Intyre & Heath, for the reason that nobody on earth in the comedy line could ever follow them. They will close the show for the balance of the week. If vaudeville patrons do not appreciate this show, we miss all our guesses.