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

Page 198a

Virginia Harned & Co. On at 8.46, 22 minutes, full stage. Playing Miss Harned's own sketch, "The Idol of the Hour." Miss Harned seems to consider her dip into vaudeville as a sort of excursion, not as a serious business proposition. She made things most unpleasant for us at the afternoon performance by sending word when called, ten minutes before she was to go on, that she could not be ready for a half hour. Of course, we could not stop to argue, but simply had to make the best of it, and put "La Petite REvue" on in her place, which we were able to do with a wait of only three minutes. Personally I do not consider Miss Harned's sketch worthy of her, and this seems to be the general verdict among our patrons. Like other ventures of this kind, Miss Harned will do for once, but wouldn't be worth anywhere near her present salary for a repeat. XX
6 American Dancers. On at 9.08, 15 minutes in one. This is their fourth week at this house since they made their metropolitan debut here a year ago last August, and I am pleased to say that they went even bigger than ever before. Everything considered, the best dancing act in vaudeville to-day. XX1
La Petite Revue. On at 9.23, 23 minutes, full stage. Another feather in the cap of one Charles Lovenberg, and it looks to me like a genuine Ostrich plume at that. The idea caught the audience from the very start, and the act can be scored as a genuine and very generous hit. I have no cause to regret that we have it for two weeks. XX1
Julius Tannen. On at 9.48, 21 minutes in one. One of the most satisfactory acts we play in one. He is always a sure fire hit here. Lived up to his record of past performances, by delivering an entirely new batch of material. There are few acts at his money, or at any money, that make good in the next to closing spot in this house, as strongly as he does. XX1
Annette Kellermann. On at 10.09, 5 minutes, full stage. Doing her diving. This is the third week she has closed the show here, a record I think that has never been excelled excepting by Houdini. She held to-day's audiences practically intact. XX1
Kinetograph. "Vanderbilt Cup Race of 1908." Not in the same class with several other automobile films we have had. In fact, it looks faky in some spots, and an automobile writer on one of our papers told me that it looked more to him like the race held the week before the Vanderbilt. Not a film that  can stand much featuring. "It Smells of Smoke."--Very good comic. "An Improvised Statue." An excellent comic.
Cuts.--Harry Breen, "Lady from Worcester" verse. Instructed not to make remarks to or about people in the audience, excepting in his extemporaneous songs.
Comment. A rattling good show from start to finish, Harned being the only act to disappoint at all, but this was expected. In fact, I doubt it the disappointment was as great as I really anticipated, for it is very seldom that attractions of the kind, come as near touching par as Miss Harned does.

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Virginia Harned & Co. On at 8.46, 22 minutes, full stage. Playing Miss Harned's own sketch, "The Idol of the Hour." Miss Harned seems to consider her dip into vaudeville as a sort of excursion, not as a serious business proposition. She made things most unpleasant for us at the afternoon performance by sending word when called, ten minutes before she was to go on, that she could not be ready for a half hour. Of course, we could not stop to argue, but simply had to make the best of it, and put "La Petite REvue" on in her place, which we were able to do with a wait of only three minutes. Personally I do not consider Miss Harned's sketch worthy of her, and this seems to be the general verdict among our patrons. Like other ventures of this kind, Miss Harned will do for once, but wouldn't be worth anywhere near her present salary for a repeat. XX 6 American Dancers. On at 9.08, 15 minutes in one. This is their fourth week at this house since they made their metropolitan debut here a year ago last August, and I am pleased to say that they went even bigger than ever before. Everything considered, the best dancing act in vaudeville to-day. XX1 La Petite Revue. On at 9.23, 23 minutes, full stage. Another feather in the cap of one Charles Lovenberg, and it looks to me like a genuine Ostrich plume at that. The idea caught the audience from the very start, and the act can be scored as a genuine and very generous hit. I have no cause to regret that we have it for two weeks. XX1 Julius Tannen. On at 9.48, 21 minutes in one. One of the most satisfactory acts we play in one. He is always a sure fire hit here. Lived up to his record of past performances, by delivering an entirely new batch of material. There are few acts at his money, or at any money, that make good in the next to closing spot in this house, as strongly as he does. XX1 Annette Kellermann. On at 10.09, 5 minutes, full stage. Doing her diving. This is the third week she has closed the show here, a record I think that has never been excelled excepting by Houdini. She held to-day's audiences practically intact. XX1 Kinetograph. "Vanderbilt Cup Race of 1908." Not in the same class with several other automobile films we have had. In fact, it looks faky in some spots, and an automobile writer on one of our papers told me that it looked more to him like the race held the week before the Vanderbilt. Not a film that can stand much featuring. "It Smells of Smoke."--Very good comic. "An Improvised Statue." An excellent comic. Cuts.--Harry Breen, "Lady from Worcester" verse. Instructed not to make remarks to or about people in the audience, excepting in his extemporaneous songs. Comment. A rattling good show from start to finish, Harned being the only act to disappoint at all, but this was expected. In fact, I doubt it the disappointment was as great as I really anticipated, for it is very seldom that attractions of the kind, come as near touching par as Miss Harned does.