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

Page 203

Boston Show, Week of Nov. 9, 1908.     Carl D. Lothrop.
(Monday, Nov. 9th--Evening Show)
Musical Spillers. On at 7.10. Full stage, 12 minutes, close in one 5 minutes, 17 minutes in all. Four coons and a cooness in a lively musical offering. Their xylophone and saxophone is particularly good. A little touch of comedy which does not offend. Worthy a much better spot on the bill. XX1
Overture. 7.27, 5 minutes.
Londe and Tilly. On at 7.32, 9 minutes, full stage. Prefer a palace in two, but are working in a garden, full stage this week, as we are playing their act and that of the Bonesettis in the same set, making the few changes necessary in front of the audience. A remarkably good acrobatic novelty, performed by a man and woman. The woman's work is practically all over after the first trick, but she is shapely and makes a good stage appearance. The man is a great equilibrist, classing with Fred Zobedie, while his balancing work on a unsupported ladder is much out of the ordinary. All together an extremely good act for the money, and it is a shame to waste it, as I am forced to this week. XX1
Six Bonesettis. On at 7.41, 8 minutes, full stage. A rattling good ensemble acrobatic act, good enough to close almost any show, and would have that position this week, but for our having the big Jap troupe. XX1
Violet Dale & Co. On at 7.49, 24 minutes. Special drops in 1 and 1/2. Miss Dale has a most excellent idea for her act, and is herself a very clever performer, but she has not a man capable of giving her the support she requires. The act also needs some speeding up in the changes. It seems to me she should make her changes after the methods of the protean acts. The first part of her act, called "A Mexican Tangle", is followed by a burlesque on "The Thief," in which Miss Dale is exceedingly clever. As "The Thief" is now being played in this city, the travesty is very timely. It will be a pity if Miss Dale does not bring her vehicle up to the mark, for it can easily be made a very desirable turn.. I was much surprised to have Miss Dale tell me that yesterday afternoon was the first time Mr. Tracy, her "company," had ever played his part, for I supposed the act would be the same as when played in Washington. She stated that as she could not get consecutive time, it was impossible for her to hold a man under engagement. I told her that if she got the right man, for Mr. Tracy is not up to the mark by many points, either in voice or action, it was my opinion that the future would take care of itself. If anybody knows of a young chap capable of playing a light comedy part, and with a good singing voice, they could do both Miss Dale and vaudeville a favor by putting Miss Dale in communication with him. XX in its present state, with every chance of being made a XX1 offering.


again this season. XX1
Charles E. Evans & Co. On at 9.15, 28 minutes full stage. Playing the George Arliss' farce "It's Up To You, William," for the first time in Boston. A great comedietta, most capably played. It scored a most unequivocal hit, in fact, I consider it second only to White and Stuart's sketches. XX1
Avery and Hart. On at 9.43, 21 minutes in one. These colored chaps had not played here since May, 1907, so while they offered very little new material, their act seemed like a new one to to-day's audiences, and they scored very strongly indeed. I was talking with Hart and asked him why they didn't dig up some new stuff. He nearly took my breath away by telling me that they put on an entirely new act in New York, but were not going to play it again until they got more money. It seems to me that it would be wise for the next party who books them to insist on the new act at the old figure. XX1
Kakuda Japanese Troupe. On at 10.03, 15 minutes full stage. This is the way I got the name over the 'phone from New York, and I did not know that their proper title is Kudara, until I received their contract Sunday. However, names are of little account with a Jap troupe. This troupe in its full strength, numbers ten, but they have a boy of ten or twelve years of age with them, whom I


Chas. E. Evans & Co. "One "Damned."
Avery and Hart--Bug picking.
Comment. A crack-a-jack show, really one of the best vaudeville entertainments i have ever sat through. My only regrets are the practical wasting of the Musical Spillers, Londe and Tilly and the Bonesettis, together with the fact that Violet Dale's act is not the emphatic hit it would be if she had proper support.

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Boston Show, Week of Nov. 9, 1908. Carl D. Lothrop. (Monday, Nov. 9th--Evening Show) Musical Spillers. On at 7.10. Full stage, 12 minutes, close in one 5 minutes, 17 minutes in all. Four coons and a cooness in a lively musical offering. Their xylophone and saxophone is particularly good. A little touch of comedy which does not offend. Worthy a much better spot on the bill. XX1 Overture. 7.27, 5 minutes. Londe and Tilly. On at 7.32, 9 minutes, full stage. Prefer a palace in two, but are working in a garden, full stage this week, as we are playing their act and that of the Bonesettis in the same set, making the few changes necessary in front of the audience. A remarkably good acrobatic novelty, performed by a man and woman. The woman's work is practically all over after the first trick, but she is shapely and makes a good stage appearance. The man is a great equilibrist, classing with Fred Zobedie, while his balancing work on a unsupported ladder is much out of the ordinary. All together an extremely good act for the money, and it is a shame to waste it, as I am forced to this week. XX1 Six Bonesettis. On at 7.41, 8 minutes, full stage. A rattling good ensemble acrobatic act, good enough to close almost any show, and would have that position this week, but for our having the big Jap troupe. XX1 Violet Dale & Co. On at 7.49, 24 minutes. Special drops in 1 and 1/2. Miss Dale has a most excellent idea for her act, and is herself a very clever performer, but she has not a man capable of giving her the support she requires. The act also needs some speeding up in the changes. It seems to me she should make her changes after the methods of the protean acts. The first part of her act, called "A Mexican Tangle", is followed by a burlesque on "The Thief," in which Miss Dale is exceedingly clever. As "The Thief" is now being played in this city, the travesty is very timely. It will be a pity if Miss Dale does not bring her vehicle up to the mark, for it can easily be made a very desirable turn.. I was much surprised to have Miss Dale tell me that yesterday afternoon was the first time Mr. Tracy, her "company," had ever played his part, for I supposed the act would be the same as when played in Washington. She stated that as she could not get consecutive time, it was impossible for her to hold a man under engagement. I told her that if she got the right man, for Mr. Tracy is not up to the mark by many points, either in voice or action, it was my opinion that the future would take care of itself. If anybody knows of a young chap capable of playing a light comedy part, and with a good singing voice, they could do both Miss Dale and vaudeville a favor by putting Miss Dale in communication with him. XX in its present state, with every chance of being made a XX1 offering. again this season. XX1 Charles E. Evans & Co. On at 9.15, 28 minutes full stage. Playing the George Arliss' farce "It's Up To You, William," for the first time in Boston. A great comedietta, most capably played. It scored a most unequivocal hit, in fact, I consider it second only to White and Stuart's sketches. XX1 Avery and Hart. On at 9.43, 21 minutes in one. These colored chaps had not played here since May, 1907, so while they offered very little new material, their act seemed like a new one to to-day's audiences, and they scored very strongly indeed. I was talking with Hart and asked him why they didn't dig up some new stuff. He nearly took my breath away by telling me that they put on an entirely new act in New York, but were not going to play it again until they got more money. It seems to me that it would be wise for the next party who books them to insist on the new act at the old figure. XX1 Kakuda Japanese Troupe. On at 10.03, 15 minutes full stage. This is the way I got the name over the 'phone from New York, and I did not know that their proper title is Kudara, until I received their contract Sunday. However, names are of little account with a Jap troupe. This troupe in its full strength, numbers ten, but they have a boy of ten or twelve years of age with them, whom I Chas. E. Evans & Co. "One "Damned." Avery and Hart--Bug picking. Comment. A crack-a-jack show, really one of the best vaudeville entertainments i have ever sat through. My only regrets are the practical wasting of the Musical Spillers, Londe and Tilly and the Bonesettis, together with the fact that Violet Dale's act is not the emphatic hit it would be if she had proper support.