DIY History | Transcribe | Keith-Albee Collection | Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

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Keith-Albee manager reports, September 2, 1902 - September 3, 1903

Page 305

305

NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF AUGUST 3, 1903.

STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 in. in one.

AR.--Prof. Struck. Magician. This fellow is about as ever as any of the small magicians whom we play, but I think he is absolutely the worst talker that I ever saw. His voice is very low indeed, and he does to seem to have the big gift of gab, which all artists in his line should have, developed to any extent whatever. His work, however, is really clever, but he will never be anything but an opening act I am afraid. 17 minutes full stage and close in one. Could do the whole act in one if necessary.

NR.--THE HOLDWORTHS.--A young boy and a girl who do a singing and dancing act and incidentally play banjoes. It is a mighty neat, clean, and attractive act, and makes a turn that starts the show off all right. Both of them are good dressers, good dancers, and their double banjoe work is really excellent. 12 minutes, open in two and close in one.

AR.--THE CASTANOS.--These people also opened with duet singing and then did some novelty dancing after the style of De Forest and incidentally the woman introduces some contortion work that is exceptionally good in view of her physique. She is not a gross looking person at all, but is just a little inclined to stoutness, and it is a wonder to me how she accomplishes the work that she does. 14 minutes full stage.

HR.--AL COLEMAN.--Story teller and mimic. This young fellow tells stories very well indeed, and he got a lot of applause this afternoon and seemed to please the audience during the entire time he was on the stage. He does not appear, however, to have a very strong personality and that, I fear, will always keep him in the early part of the bill. 15 minutes in one.

AH.--AUGUSTE DEWELL.--Trapeze performer. This is really about as strong an act of this kind as I have ever seen on our stage. It is not that he does anything so especially remarkable, but he works with a degree of snap and finish that appeals to the audience, and everything he did this afternoon got a good, strong hand. He can be set down as one one [of] the hits of the bill. 11 minutes, full stage.

GRR.--SHANNON & BROWN.--Two men in a German comedy talking act. They are not nearly as good as the old team of Carlin & Brown, but they please fairly well and by good, hard work their bar-room scene managed to finish up very acceptably indeed. 15 minutes in one.

GHR.--EDGAR BIXLEY & CO.--Two men and one woman in one of those non-describable acts which it is a pretty difficult matter to classify successfully. They were undoubtedly the hit of the bill this afternoon, but there is not an ounce of really artistic ability in the whole three. They reach their audience entirely through their strenuous method of working, but that they do reach them there is no gain-saying. The act was booked for one week only here in New York as I had never seen it, and while personally I am pretty well satisfied that it will be a strong act all over the circuit, I would a little rather have the others see it during the week before deciding. 2[8? 3?] minutes full stage. Can close in one if necessary.

AR.--NELLIE BEAUMONT.--This is one of the original Beaumont Sisters who was so well known in the Broadway production. She has just returned from Europe and has a specialty which is a representation of the English coster girl. Coster singing is not especially well appreciated in this country, but the woman sings the songs very well indeed, and does a little dance at the finish which carries her off all right. While she did not go very strong this afternoon, I have an idea that she will do much better with the night audience. 13 min. in one.

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305 NEW YORK SHOW, WEEK OF AUGUST 3, 1903. STEREOPTICON.--Usual selection of views. 5 in. in one. AR.--Prof. Struck. Magician. This fellow is about as ever as any of the small magicians whom we play, but I think he is absolutely the worst talker that I ever saw. His voice is very low indeed, and he does to seem to have the big gift of gab, which all artists in his line should have, developed to any extent whatever. His work, however, is really clever, but he will never be anything but an opening act I am afraid. 17 minutes full stage and close in one. Could do the whole act in one if necessary. NR.--THE HOLDWORTHS.--A young boy and a girl who do a singing and dancing act and incidentally play banjoes. It is a mighty neat, clean, and attractive act, and makes a turn that starts the show off all right. Both of them are good dressers, good dancers, and their double banjoe work is really excellent. 12 minutes, open in two and close in one. AR.--THE CASTANOS.--These people also opened with duet singing and then did some novelty dancing after the style of De Forest and incidentally the woman introduces some contortion work that is exceptionally good in view of her physique. She is not a gross looking person at all, but is just a little inclined to stoutness, and it is a wonder to me how she accomplishes the work that she does. 14 minutes full stage. HR.--AL COLEMAN.--Story teller and mimic. This young fellow tells stories very well indeed, and he got a lot of applause this afternoon and seemed to please the audience during the entire time he was on the stage. He does not appear, however, to have a very strong personality and that, I fear, will always keep him in the early part of the bill. 15 minutes in one. AH.--AUGUSTE DEWELL.--Trapeze performer. This is really about as strong an act of this kind as I have ever seen on our stage. It is not that he does anything so especially remarkable, but he works with a degree of snap and finish that appeals to the audience, and everything he did this afternoon got a good, strong hand. He can be set down as one one [of] the hits of the bill. 11 minutes, full stage. GRR.--SHANNON & BROWN.--Two men in a German comedy talking act. They are not nearly as good as the old team of Carlin & Brown, but they please fairly well and by good, hard work their bar-room scene managed to finish up very acceptably indeed. 15 minutes in one. GHR.--EDGAR BIXLEY & CO.--Two men and one woman in one of those non-describable acts which it is a pretty difficult matter to classify successfully. They were undoubtedly the hit of the bill this afternoon, but there is not an ounce of really artistic ability in the whole three. They reach their audience entirely through their strenuous method of working, but that they do reach them there is no gain-saying. The act was booked for one week only here in New York as I had never seen it, and while personally I am pretty well satisfied that it will be a strong act all over the circuit, I would a little rather have the others see it during the week before deciding. 2[8? 3?] minutes full stage. Can close in one if necessary. AR.--NELLIE BEAUMONT.--This is one of the original Beaumont Sisters who was so well known in the Broadway production. She has just returned from Europe and has a specialty which is a representation of the English coster girl. Coster singing is not especially well appreciated in this country, but the woman sings the songs very well indeed, and does a little dance at the finish which carries her off all right. While she did not go very strong this afternoon, I have an idea that she will do much better with the night audience. 13 min. in one.