325 Bush St. |
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Opened: May 22, 1868 as the New Alhambra Theatre. William H. Smith was the proprietor. Note his name partially visible on the side of the building. The photo is one half of a stereo card attributed to Eadweard Muybridge that's in the California State Library Collection
The theatre was on the south side of the street between Montgomery and Kearny. Across the street was the Standard Theatre, a venue also known at various times as Congress Hall, Temple of Music, Sheils' Opera House, Gray's Opera House and Maguire's Opera House.
Architects: Alonzo Gray was the builder who designed the structure. The interior was designed by Robert Stackhouse. The Alhambra was included in the 1868 city directory on a list of
buildings completed that year. Thanks to Art Siegel for
spotting this copy:
"The
Alhambra Theater — On Bush street, above Montgomery, covers an entire
lot eighty-six by one hundred and thirty-seven feet in dimensions. It is
three stories high, the front being
used for saloons, stores, etc. The building cost $56,000; fitting up,
$20,000; and the lot upon
which it stands, $63.000 — making for the entire establishment an
expenditure of $139,000. The
place, since its opening in the early part of the summer, has been in
successful operation, giving
delineations of negro character, and other light performances."
Seating: 1,404 when it opened, assuming 6 chairs in each of the 4 proscenium boxes. It had 420 in the orchestra section and 500 in the parquet section at the rear of the main floor. The single balcony, called the dress circle, held 460.
Sometime before 1900 they had changed the names of the seating sections and added another level of boxes, bringing the total to 8. According to the 1900 seating chart the orchestra section
sat 158, the dress circle at the rear of the main floor held 335. The
balcony sat 328. The total capacity at that time was down to perhaps 869, assuming 6 patrons in each of the 8 boxes.
Proscenium width: 35'
The newly completed theatre was surveyed by a writer for the San Francisco Examiner. This account that was located by Art Siegel was published May 21, 1868:
Thanks, Art!
An opening ad located by Jack Tillmany. Smith was still listed as the proprietor in the 1871 city directory.
An undated view, presumably from the 1870s. Note the Alhambra name on the pediment. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for providing the photo. A smaller version is is on the
San Francisco Public Library website. When this photo appeared in the San Francisco Examiner in 1940 they noted: "Here David Warfield got his start -- as usher, program dispenser and call boy."
In 1874 the Alhambra was rebuilt by Tom Maguire and advertised as
Maguire's New Theatre. This ad from the 1874 Langley city directory noted that it was "recently erected." In the 1875 city directory Maguire still has it but he didn't hold onto it long. He was forced to relinquish it in 1877 following financial reverses connected to the Comstock crash.
This March 1877 article reflects Maguire's financial problems both at
this venue and at the theatre across the street at 318, later known as the Standard Theatre. He had to give up his leases on both of these theatres. Thanks to Jack Tillmany
for finding the article.
At the time, Maguire was also operating the Academy of Music, later known as the Baldwin Theatre, on Market St. at Powell. Lawrence Estevan discusses the career of Maguire in detail in his "Tom Maguire; Dr. David G. (Yankee) Robinson; M.B. Leavitt," completed in 1938 as part of a Works Progress Administration project.
The copy in the collection of the San Francisco
Public Library is reproduced on Internet Archive. In his chapter titled "A Deal With 'Lucky' Baldwin," he comments on Maguire giving up the two theatres on Bush St.:
"But the trend was still downward and Tom Maguire could decipher the handwriting on the wall in 1877. After
spasmodic offerings at his three theatres during the first
months of the year, he announced retrenchments. On April 1st
he reported that his Opera House had been leased to Billy Emerson on a two-year lease, and was to be known as Emerson's
Opera House. Here Emerson opened on April 23, offering his
minstrels. On April 1st it was announced that the Alhambra was also to be re-titled. The Bush Street Theatre opened on
April 7 under the management of Titus and Locke. The first
offering was burlesque by the Salisbury Troubadours.
"The Shut-Down of Baldwin's - Baldwin's Academy had closed ingloriously by April,
and young Belasco, former right-hand man of Maguire, had in
February been enlisted by a new variety house known as
Egyptian Hall to write, direct, and act in specialty plays in
conjunction with 'illusions.' Maguire was deserted by fortune and the public. On and off, however, Maguire continued to produce
plays at the Baldwin until 1882. During this period the relations between Maguire and Baldwin became more and more
strained. Baldwin was forced to cover heavy losses at the
theatre and Maguire was continually gambling in an effort to
keep the enterprise going. Baldwin finally withdraw his
support and Maguire's management was at an end. From that time until his death in 1896, his activities in the theatre
world became increasingly negligible."
Earlier Maguire had the
Jenny Lind Theatre on Portsmouth Square and the
Academy of Music on Pine St., the latter running from 1864 until 1867. His gem,
Maguire's Opera House on Washington above Montgomery, was lost in 1873 for the street project that resulted in what is now called Columbus Ave.
In the 1878 city directory Maguire was gone and this theatre was listed as the Bush St. Theatre.
Haverly's Minstrel's played the Bush St. in 1878. Thanks to Mark Reed for locating this May 5 item in the Daily Alta California.
James Madison, in a 1926 article titled "San Francisco
Theatrical Memories" that appears on a Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco page, commented on the Bush St. He reported:
"After Charles E. Locke gave up the house
in the late seventies, Mike
Leavitt took charge and it was under his regime that Jos. Gottlob,
Charles P. Hall and George Broadhurst received their early theatrical
training."
The 1884 Social Manual of San Francisco noted:
"...The entrance is through a handsome vestibule, on the left of which are the box-office and manager's private office. The seats are chairs of the latest pattern. The parquette and dress circle can easily accommodate seven hundred. The theatre furnishes light dramatic entertainment including opera bouffe and the more refined kinds of variety performance. The present lessee is M.B. Leavitt. The acting manager is Jay Rial."
Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing the copy from the book that's in his collection.
A drawing of the theatre appearing in the January 1, 1887 issue
of the Chronicle. It was with a spread headlined "The Theatres - The
Efforts of Our Local Impresarios - A Year Among the Actors" that also profiled the Alcazar, Baldwin and Vienna Garden. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the article. The
comments about the Bush Street, which they called "A Fashionable and Popular Resort with Theater-Goers":
"All the world's a stage, and it may be added that San Francisco stages furnish the most varied performances in all the world... The snug Bush-street Theater offers to its patrons performances which cannot be excelled... Every San Franciscan is familiar with the many advantages set forth in this temple of amusement, well-arranged stage, handsome scenery and perfect acoustics, making it second to no theater in the West. Being situated on Bush street, between Kearny and Montgomery, it is easy of access, being a few minutes' walk of the leading hotels.
"No man is better known to the profession and public than M.B. Leavitt, the lessee and proprietor, a gentleman who has done much to place San Francisco in the enviable position regarding the drama which it now occupies. Mr. Leavitt's headquarters are in New York, where he selects attractions best suited to the tastes of California audiences, and arranges dates for their appearance here. It is in this especial line that Mr. Leavitt excels, as is evidenced in fact by the growing popularity of the house.
"During this season the following combinations will appear at the Bush-Street Theater, presenting, as they do, a list of first-class attractions rarely offered: H.C. Minor's 'Zitka' Company; Charles H. Hoyt's 'A Train of Cars'; Professor Herrman; the Carleton Opera Company; Roland Reed in his new play, 'Humbug'; Hallen and Hart's Great Specialty Company; Charles H. Hoyt's 'A Rag Baby'; Dan Sully in his new play; Willian J. Scanlan and company; the great Kellar; Charles H. Hoyt's 'A Hole in the Ground'; John T. Raymond in his new play; Edward Harrigan, and his entire New York Park Theater Company and stage artisans, forty-four persons, in his greatest successes.
"On Monday evening, January 3rd, the Howard Athaneum Star Specialty Company of Boston begins an engagement at the Bush Street, and, embracing, as it does, a splendid array of talent, is sure to meet with big success. No expense is spared in producing attractions at this theater, the local management being in charge of Charles P. Hall, who is fully competent and a most popular gentleman with the people of this city. Strangers visiting San Francisco will always find an entertainment at the Bush Street suitable to their tastes, and attend the theater without stopping to ask 'What's on to-night?' Mr. Leavitt is at present in the city, but will remain for a short-time only. in conversation with a reporter he pointed with pride to the record of the Bush Street, and promised great things for the future. He is determined to keep his theater in the first rank, which it now occupies, and what Mr. Leavitt says goes."
The Bush St. and the Standard Theatre across the street are seen in this
detail from image 24 of the 1887 Sanborn Insurance Map in the Library of Congress collection.
An October 21, 1889 ad for the theatre as the New Bush Street. Thanks to Jack Tillmany for locating it.
The main floor seating layout that appeared in the 1890 San
Francisco Bluebook. Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing the image from a
copy of the book in his collection. Also see the seating charts for various theatres in the
1889 San Francisco Blue Book.
It's on Internet Archive. We don't get a balcony chart in either the
1889 or 1890 editions as the assumption was that the readers of this
publication wouldn't be
interested in sitting in the cheap seats.
On
October 27, 1896 The Call
reported that a group of investors had leased the theatre and would
thoroughly renovate and refit it. However, nothing seems to have come of
this plan:
The Call's story was spotted by Art Siegel.
T. A. Kennedy, Mesmerist, played the New Bush Street Theatre in November
1896. This image is from a book in the Glenn Koch collection.
The Call reported on June 26, 1898,
that "After several years retirement caused by illness, the old-time popular manager, M. B. Leavitt, will return to active life again and endeavor to provide amusement for the people of San Francisco. He has secured the famous old Bush Street Theater, which will be entirely renovated at an expense of about $10,000." Spotted by Art Siegel.
The 1898 city directory listed it as the Bush St. Theatre, with an address of 323 Bush. The theatre had a reopening as the New Comedy Theatre on September 2, 1898.
Jack Tillmany notes that this August 1898 ad for the New Comedy Theatre mentions that it was "formerly the popular Bush." The ad advised that it was under the direction of M. B. Leavitt with Alf Ellinghouse as the resident manage, and it had been "Transformed Magnificently Into a Bijou Palace of Luxury and Beauty."
The Call of August 28, 1898 described the remodeling of the old Bush into "its modern successor, The New Comedy Theater," opening Friday, September 2nd:
The article describes improvements to seating, decorations, ventilation, lighting and lounges for men and women. Elsewhere on the page, it states "A novel electric banner will be the new feature of announcing each week's attraction at the New Comedy Theater. This banner is 3 x 20 feet and will be suspended across Bush Street by cable from building to building." Added here by Art Siegel.
The 1899 Sanborn map identifies the theatre as the "Comedy Theater formerly Bush St. Theater."
In October, 1899, the house was renamed the
Deutsches Theatre and operated under the direction of Mme. I. Fabbri-Mueller (better known to history as
Inez Fabbri, a star opera singer of the 1870's who had retired to San Francisco) and with A. Hoffman as manager.
This Deutsche Theatre seating chart is from the 1900 edition of the San Francisco Blue Book. Note that they had done some seating revisions. A second level of proscenium boxes had been added, for a total of 8 instead of the earlier 4. When the theatre opened the two main floor sections were called orchestra and parquet with the balcony called the dress circle. Here it's orchestra and dress circle on the main floor and the balcony actually called a balcony. Thanks to Glenn Koch for sharing the image from a copy in his collection.
Clearly, though the theater was rebranded in some sense, the drawing of the theater on the day of its destruction by fire (seen below), shows that the exterior signage had not been changed from the Comedy Theatre. The programming was a weekly German-language comedy night in the final months of the theatre's existence. Here is one of their ads, from The Call, located by Art Siegel via the California Digital Newspaper Collection:
Closing: The theatre was destroyed in a spectacular fire on December 15, 1899. The Examiner devoted a full page to it in their December 16 issue.
The Call's edition of December 16th, 1899, from the CDNC and added here by Art Siegel, was illustrated with drawings of the theatre in its final hours and the firefighters unsuccessfully trying to save it. The Call's reporter referred to it as a "Hoodoo" or jinxed theater which had only been used in recent years occasionally by a German comedy troupe:
"The building was originally the Alhambra Theater, and gained a reputation as the home of minstrelsy in San Francisco. It was there that 'Billy' Emerson scored his first successes. Later the name of the play house was changed to the Bush Street Theater, and under the management of Charlie Hall was a theatrical mint. Kate Castleton made her hit there with 'For Goodness Sake Don't Say I Told You.' As far back as 1876 Tony Pastor held the boards in the then popular resort, and a long string of other well known artists have appeared there.
"During later years a hoodoo has hung over the place. Theatrical managers who have undertaken to conduct the playhouse have met with financial failures. Everything that was undertaken there went wrong until the theatrical people feared the place and for years its doors have been closed as a regular resort. Recently it had been known as the Comedy Theater, where a performance has been given semi-occasionally by a company of German comedians."
The leader of a disgruntled Filipino circus group was suspected of starting the blaze.
A closer view of The Call's drawing:
Despite the reporting, the Comedy Theatre had regular bookings in the years prior to its destruction, as evidenced by frequent newspaper advertising for its productions.
The Chronicle also published sketches of the firefighting in its editions the next day.
Part of its reporting told the history of the theatre, including the final "hoodoo" years:
More information: The theatre is mentioned on pages 105-06 of James R. Smith's 2005 book "
San Francisco's Lost Landmarks" where he also includes a copy of the Muybridge photo. It's on Google Books.
Maguire's adventures, and those of M.B. Leavitt, are discussed at length in the 1938
monograph by Lawrence Estevan titled "Tom Maguire; Dr. David G. (Yankee) Robinson; M.B. Leavitt."
It was completed as part of a Works Progress Administration project.
The copy in the collection of the San Francisco
Public Library is reproduced on Internet Archive.
A later Alhambra Theatre at Eddy and Jones was destroyed in 1906. The Esquire Theatre on Market St. was once known as the Alhambra. The current Alhambra Theatre on Polk St. (now a gym) opened in 1926.
Jack Tillmany's Arcadia Publishing book "Theatres of San Francisco" can be previewed on Google Books. It's available from Amazon or your local bookseller.
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