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

Page 154

SEPT. 28-08     PHILADELPHIA SHOW.     C, E. BARNS.
ROBINSON TRIO. 19 min. in one. Two men and a woman, all colored, doing the regulation songs and eccentric dances. Act went very well in the three-a-day section. This used to be the Robinson-Parquette act, but is neither better nor less attractive than it was before. All right for a good spot in the three-a-day section. Will open the show for balance of the week.
BUSCH TRIO. Comedy Talking Gym. 14 min. F.S., close in one. Two precocious children with their father. The little girl is quite an acrobat. The little boy, called, "The youngest comedian in the world," is quite amusing with his jokes and mannerisms. The father does some trapeze work and altogether the act is novel enough to hold the interest and got a good hand.
LEONIE PAM. Comedienne. 14 min. in one. This little woman pretty nearly died standing up in the afternoon, but won out better at night, as her place was changed from sixth to third. The audience did not seem to see her at all and gave her almost no applause on her first selection, which rather took the heart out of her, I fancy. At any rate, her next two songs just about got by, and she went off to a very weak hand without even a curtain call. The fact seems to be that she lacks personality and voice, and her humor was not spontaneous, with much straining for effect. She could hold about a $85:00 spot, but hardly later than 7:45 o'clock. The audience was particularly good natured this afternoon and her fall-down could not be attributed to what performers often call "the frappe Philadelphia crowd." In her new place on the bill, she will give satisfaction, I am confident, but she is far over paid.
RAFAYETTE'S DOGS. 12 min. F.S. Half dozen fox terriers, some poodles and two bull dogs, all of them very well trained. They do a great many of the regulation stunts and some that are quite novel. This is a good act for all parts of the house, but particularly so for the children.
OSCAR LORAINE. Protean Banjoist. 18 min. in one. This man offers a very good act. Impersonates Kubelek, Rigo and Ole Bull. The violin work was very clever and got strong applause, so that he was compelled to respond to an encore. Could hold a good spot on any bill and will be shifted lower for balance of the week.
"THE PATRIOT." Grand Opera. 23 min. F. S. Made the same hit that it did last week and promises continued popularity. Newspapers treated it editorially quite generally on Sunday. Big applause. Fine notices.
BILLY BEARD. Held a hard spot very well with a good line of talk which won laughter and applause, and the songs which were not well sung for the reason that his intonation is not clear and only about half of his words could be understood. Closed well. Was put down the bill on compulsion, but negotiated with satisfaction.
THOS. SHEA & CO. "The Bells." 37 min. F. S. This little classic was admirably presented today by Mr. Shea and a strong company. Held the interest of the audience with great intensity and wound up with an immense finish. The stage set and the effects were very realistic and altogether the act was on as high as a plane as could be wished for. Newspaper comments very flattering.
JOHNSON & HARTY. Songs and Parodies. 11 min. in one. These people had a pretty hard spot on the bill after Shea, but they held it


TWO DELTONS. Comedy Acrobats. 11 min. in one. This is a good strong-man act of the head and hand balancing order. Are worthy of a good spot. Applause fair.
GENERAL REMARKS. This is the hardest show to play we have had in the house for some time. It takes at least eight minutes each to set for Thos. Shea, for "The Patriot" and for "Globe of Death." Howard and North are now not doing an act in one by any manner of means, as they carry two drops, the back drop being set in two. As Shea has to be set right down to one, there was a three-minute wait going from "The Patriot" to Howard and North, and a three-minute wait going from Howard and North to Shea. Leonie Pam, by her fall-down, left a bad spot which Billy Beard will have to fill, although he does not really belong there. With an entire re-arrangement, caused by the length of time taken to make the three important sets and the fall-down of Leonie Pam, the show should play better.

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SEPT. 28-08 PHILADELPHIA SHOW. C, E. BARNS. ROBINSON TRIO. 19 min. in one. Two men and a woman, all colored, doing the regulation songs and eccentric dances. Act went very well in the three-a-day section. This used to be the Robinson-Parquette act, but is neither better nor less attractive than it was before. All right for a good spot in the three-a-day section. Will open the show for balance of the week. BUSCH TRIO. Comedy Talking Gym. 14 min. F.S., close in one. Two precocious children with their father. The little girl is quite an acrobat. The little boy, called, "The youngest comedian in the world," is quite amusing with his jokes and mannerisms. The father does some trapeze work and altogether the act is novel enough to hold the interest and got a good hand. LEONIE PAM. Comedienne. 14 min. in one. This little woman pretty nearly died standing up in the afternoon, but won out better at night, as her place was changed from sixth to third. The audience did not seem to see her at all and gave her almost no applause on her first selection, which rather took the heart out of her, I fancy. At any rate, her next two songs just about got by, and she went off to a very weak hand without even a curtain call. The fact seems to be that she lacks personality and voice, and her humor was not spontaneous, with much straining for effect. She could hold about a $85:00 spot, but hardly later than 7:45 o'clock. The audience was particularly good natured this afternoon and her fall-down could not be attributed to what performers often call "the frappe Philadelphia crowd." In her new place on the bill, she will give satisfaction, I am confident, but she is far over paid. RAFAYETTE'S DOGS. 12 min. F.S. Half dozen fox terriers, some poodles and two bull dogs, all of them very well trained. They do a great many of the regulation stunts and some that are quite novel. This is a good act for all parts of the house, but particularly so for the children. OSCAR LORAINE. Protean Banjoist. 18 min. in one. This man offers a very good act. Impersonates Kubelek, Rigo and Ole Bull. The violin work was very clever and got strong applause, so that he was compelled to respond to an encore. Could hold a good spot on any bill and will be shifted lower for balance of the week. "THE PATRIOT." Grand Opera. 23 min. F. S. Made the same hit that it did last week and promises continued popularity. Newspapers treated it editorially quite generally on Sunday. Big applause. Fine notices. BILLY BEARD. Held a hard spot very well with a good line of talk which won laughter and applause, and the songs which were not well sung for the reason that his intonation is not clear and only about half of his words could be understood. Closed well. Was put down the bill on compulsion, but negotiated with satisfaction. THOS. SHEA & CO. "The Bells." 37 min. F. S. This little classic was admirably presented today by Mr. Shea and a strong company. Held the interest of the audience with great intensity and wound up with an immense finish. The stage set and the effects were very realistic and altogether the act was on as high as a plane as could be wished for. Newspaper comments very flattering. JOHNSON & HARTY. Songs and Parodies. 11 min. in one. These people had a pretty hard spot on the bill after Shea, but they held it TWO DELTONS. Comedy Acrobats. 11 min. in one. This is a good strong-man act of the head and hand balancing order. Are worthy of a good spot. Applause fair. GENERAL REMARKS. This is the hardest show to play we have had in the house for some time. It takes at least eight minutes each to set for Thos. Shea, for "The Patriot" and for "Globe of Death." Howard and North are now not doing an act in one by any manner of means, as they carry two drops, the back drop being set in two. As Shea has to be set right down to one, there was a three-minute wait going from "The Patriot" to Howard and North, and a three-minute wait going from Howard and North to Shea. Leonie Pam, by her fall-down, left a bad spot which Billy Beard will have to fill, although he does not really belong there. With an entire re-arrangement, caused by the length of time taken to make the three important sets and the fall-down of Leonie Pam, the show should play better.