California Theatre (San Francisco)
Encyclopedia
The California Theatre (San Francisco), was located at 414 (now 440) Bush Street, San Francisco. It was built in 1869 by William Ralston, at that time the treasurer of the Bank of California
. S. C. Bugbee & Son were the architects and the theatre cost $250, 000 to build.Anpther source puts the figure at $150,000. (ref.The Oxford Companion to American theatre (2004) The original theatre was demolished and rebuilt in 1889. It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. A memorial plaque commemorates the theatre and its artists.
and Lawrence Barrett
, whom he felt deserved a theatre of their own to showcase their talent and which he believed would be a lucrative investment. He was right for the theatre was successful beyond his expectations. It opened on January 18, 1869 with a performance of Bulwer-Lytton
's play Money. it was the leading theatre in the city until its demolition in 1888. There were elaborate murals of San Francisco painted by local artist G.J. Denny
and a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay on the drop curtain. The theatre claimed to be the first on the West Coast to use calcium light (limelight
) with parabolic reflectors, aimed from the house, to light up the stage.
On the first anniversary of the theatre's opening, a Scandinavian bandleader had the following to say,
In spite of the theatre's success, the Bank of California, which owned the theatre, failed in 1875. Soon thereafter, Ralston went swimming and drowned, leading to speculation that he might have committed suicide.This is somewhat belied by the evidence that he was seen thrashing about in the water at the time of his drowning. The theatre then went into a decline.
In addition to plays, the theatre was also host to opera, and soprano Inez Fabbri
performed there on many occasions until the Grand Opera House opened in 1876, as did Nellie Melba
.Melba's performance was cut short by a fire in the neighbouring building causing a stampede for the exit by San Francisco's Social Register who were there en masse and decked out for the occasion, leaving behind furs and other valuable belongings in the pandemonium, with an estimated value of $4000.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0D17FF3B5811738DDDA00894DD405B8885F0D3
The periodical, The Electrical World, had the following to say about the new theatre,
. located at 444 Bush Street. reads,
Tablet placed by the Commonwealth Club of California
and the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company
1932"
Other actors who played at the theatre include Helena Modjeska
, Adele Blood
, Tittell Brune
and, Hobart Bosworth
.
Bank of California
The Bank of California was opened in San Francisco, California, on July 4, 1864, by William Chapman Ralston. It was the first commercial bank in the Western United States, the second-richest bank in the nation, and considered instrumental in developing the American Old West.-History:The ancestor of...
. S. C. Bugbee & Son were the architects and the theatre cost $250, 000 to build.Anpther source puts the figure at $150,000. (ref.The Oxford Companion to American theatre (2004) The original theatre was demolished and rebuilt in 1889. It was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire. A memorial plaque commemorates the theatre and its artists.
History
Ralston's decision to build the theatre was inspired by the acting of John McCulloughJohn Edward McCullough
John Edward McCullough was an American actor.He was born in Coleraine, Ireland. He went to America at the age of sixteen, and made his first appearance on the stage at the Arch Street Theatre, Philadelphia, in 1857...
and Lawrence Barrett
Lawrence Barrett
Lawrence Barrett was an American stage actor.-Biography:He was born Lawrence Brannigan to Irish emigrant parents in Paterson, New Jersey. He made his first stage appearance at Detroit as Murad in The French Spy in 1853...
, whom he felt deserved a theatre of their own to showcase their talent and which he believed would be a lucrative investment. He was right for the theatre was successful beyond his expectations. It opened on January 18, 1869 with a performance of Bulwer-Lytton
Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton
Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton PC , was an English politician, poet, playwright, and novelist. He was immensely popular with the reading public and wrote a stream of bestselling dime-novels which earned him a considerable fortune...
's play Money. it was the leading theatre in the city until its demolition in 1888. There were elaborate murals of San Francisco painted by local artist G.J. Denny
Gideon Jacques Denny
Gideon Jacques Denny was a marine artist who was born in Wilmington, Delaware on July 15, 1830. As a young man, he worked on ships in the Chesapeake Bay. He traveled to California in 1849 with the Gold Rush. He worked as a teamster on the San Francisco docks and was a member of the San...
and a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay on the drop curtain. The theatre claimed to be the first on the West Coast to use calcium light (limelight
Limelight
Limelight is a type of stage lighting once used in theatres and music halls. An intense illumination is created when an oxyhydrogen flame is directed at a cylinder of quicklime , which can be heated to 2572 °C before melting. The light is produced by a combination of incandescence and...
) with parabolic reflectors, aimed from the house, to light up the stage.
On the first anniversary of the theatre's opening, a Scandinavian bandleader had the following to say,
"“The first year [1869-1870] the California Theatre cleared $100,000. On the evening of our first anniversary, Mr. Barrett stood at the stage door and invited every single individual belonging to the theatre, saying that after the performance we should all meet up in Pacific Hall on the second floor of the California Theatre building, facing Bush street. Upon coming into the hall we were surprised with a large banquet table set in the form of “T” and furnished from the best caterer, Maison-Doree, at $5 a piece.”
In spite of the theatre's success, the Bank of California, which owned the theatre, failed in 1875. Soon thereafter, Ralston went swimming and drowned, leading to speculation that he might have committed suicide.This is somewhat belied by the evidence that he was seen thrashing about in the water at the time of his drowning. The theatre then went into a decline.
In addition to plays, the theatre was also host to opera, and soprano Inez Fabbri
Inez Fabbri
Inez Fabbri , née Agnes Schmidt, was an Austrian American soprano, voice teacher and impresaria. She sang in Austria, Germany, England, South America and the Caribbean, making her home in San Francisco where, in the 1870s, she was the most important musical personality and prima donna assoluta of...
performed there on many occasions until the Grand Opera House opened in 1876, as did Nellie Melba
Nellie Melba
Dame Nellie Melba GBE , born Helen "Nellie" Porter Mitchell, was an Australian operatic soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian Era and the early 20th century...
.Melba's performance was cut short by a fire in the neighbouring building causing a stampede for the exit by San Francisco's Social Register who were there en masse and decked out for the occasion, leaving behind furs and other valuable belongings in the pandemonium, with an estimated value of $4000.http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0D17FF3B5811738DDDA00894DD405B8885F0D3
The new California Theatre
A new California Theatre, opened on the site on May 18, 1889, but was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, but it never regained its former status after Ralston's death in 1875 and McCullough's departure in 1877. The new theatre was the first on the West Coast to be lighted exclusively with electricity.The periodical, The Electrical World, had the following to say about the new theatre,
"The new temple of ThespisThespisThespis of Icaria , according to certain Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, was the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play...
is situated on the site of the famous old California Theatre. It is perfectly fire-proof, and has 19 exits. The main entrance, on Bush street, is formed by a Roman arch of massive proportions and striking design. The vestibule is rectangular in shape, is finished in antique oak panelling, with pilasters and arabesques, and is lighted by thirty-two 16 candle-power lamps and an electrolier of eight 82's. In the beautiful foyer is another large electrolier.
In the auditorium, behind the eight proscenium boxes, with dome-shaped canopies supported by columns, rise arches of Indian fretwork carrying pillars surmounted by 88 candle-power lamps enclosed in opalescent globes shaped like pineapples. The ceiling consists of three concave divisions extending from wall to wall parallel with the front of the stage, gradually rising upward, and separated by narrow panels or chords. It is crossed by four bands of dark color, in which, as well as in the chords and fantastic tracery of the decorations, are set numbers of lamps. From the ceiling, over the parquet and near the boxes, depend three rich electroliers similar in design to those throughout the house, formed by a centre fixture of opalescent glass held in cast metal work, with four pendants of the same shape hanging by chains attached to arms radiating from the stem of the fixture. All the electroliers were specially designed by J. M. Wood, of Chicago, the architect.
Throughout the house the decorations are so designed that lamps in the midst of bands of flowers, dados and carvings, not only afford light, but add hitherto unknown features to the general ornamentation. At the back of the metal and plastic tracery of the boxes, balcony and gallery, panels of cathedral glass are inserted, which soften the radiance of 16 candle-power lamps set behind, and give to the railings the effect of carvings thrown into relief by mellow light. For producing winter and moonlight effects, and as a substitute for calcium light, six movable bunch lights, with silvered reflectors, are provided.
The rheostats, which control all the lamps in the house, are of novel design. They are divided into six parts, which are in connection with six step-by-step switches, capable of being operated rapidly and positively. The handles of the switches can be locked to a shaft which runs through all; by tightening the handles of the switches to the shaft every part of the house can be dimmed at once, and by loosening any number, any portions can be regulated at the will of the switch-man. Being equally divided, one-half the lamps in the auditorium can gradually be turned down while the other half is being lighted, producing a fine blending effect. This is probably the only theatre in the country where the switches are so arranged."
Plaque
A commemorative plaqueCommemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
. located at 444 Bush Street. reads,
"On This Site January 18, 1869
The California Theatre
Built By William C Ralston opened With the Following Stock Company:
John McCullough - Lawrence Barrett - Harry EdwardsHenry Edwards (entomologist)Henry Edwards , known as "Harry", was an English-born stage actor, writer and entomologist who gained fame in Australia, San Francisco and New York City for his theater work....
-
Willie EdouinWillie EdouinWillie Edouin was an English comedian, actor, dancer, singer, writer, director and theatre manager.After performing as a child in England, Australia and elsewhere, Edouin moved to America, where he joined Lydia Thompson's burlesque troupe, performing with this company both in the U.S. and Britain...
-
E B Holmes -
William Mestayer -
John T Raymond -
W F Burroughs -
W H Sedley-Smith -
John Wilson -
Edward J Buckley -
Mrs Judah Emelie Melville -
Elizabeth Saunders -
Annette Ince -
Marie E Gordon -
Sophie Edwin -
Minnie Walton -
Julia Buckley
This theatre remained a brilliant center of drama until August 11, 1888 -
Among artists who played here were:
Charles W Couldock -
Edwin AdamsEdwin AdamsEdwin Adams was an American stage actor, considered to have been one of America's best light comedians....
-
John Broughan -
Edwin BoothEdwin BoothEdwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
-
Barton Hill -
Walter Montgomery -
Mrs D P Bowers -
Adelaide NeilsonAdelaide NeilsonLilian Adelaide Neilson , born Elizabeth Ann Brown, was an English stage actress.-Early life:Neilson was the daughter of a strolling actress, named Brown, and was born, out of wedlock, at 35 St Peters Square Leeds in the West Riding of Yorkshire...
-
Lotta CrabtreeLotta CrabtreeLotta Mignon Crabtree was an American actress, entertainer and comedian. She was also a significant philanthropist....
Tablet placed by the Commonwealth Club of California
Commonwealth Club of California
The Commonwealth Club of California is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization based in Northern California. Founded in 1903, it is the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States...
and the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company
1932"
Other actors who played at the theatre include Helena Modjeska
Helena Modjeska
Helena Modjeska Helena Modjeska Helena Modjeska (October 12, 1840 – April 8, 1909, whose actual Polish surname was Modrzejewska , was a renowned actress who specialized in Shakespearean and tragic roles.Modjeska was the mother of Polish-American bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski....
, Adele Blood
Adele Blood
Adele Blood was an American actress in silent movies, vaudeville, and theater.- Family :Adele Mary Blood was born in San Francisco, California, she was the daughter of Ira E. Blood and Frances Emma Stewart. Mrs. Frances Blood was a member of the Alameda school department for many years...
, Tittell Brune
Tittell Brune
Minnie Tittell Brune was born Minnie Tittle in San Francisco where she made her first stage appearance as a child of four and a half when she played Little Jim in Lights of London at the Californian Theatre of her home town....
and, Hobart Bosworth
Hobart Bosworth
Hobart Bosworth was an American film actor, director, writer, and producer.-Early life:Born Hobart Van Zandt Bosworth, he was a direct descendant of Miles Standish and John and Priscilla Alden on his father's side and of New York's Van Zandt family, the first Dutch settlers to land in the New...
.