Washington St. between Kearny and Dupont | map - approximate |
Opened: January 16, 1850. The location comes from a mention in an article in the March 17, 1901 issue of the San Francisco Call by Harry Gates titled "Early Theatricals on the Pacific Coast" which details the city's theatre history in the 1850s. The article notes that the opening play, "The Wife," was presented by a company that had been appearing in Sacramento but got flooded out. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating the article via the California Digital Newspaper Collection website.
Washington Hall is noted in James R. Smith's 2005 book "San Francisco's Lost Landmarks." On page 92, included in the preview of the book on Google Books, he notes:
"Washington Hall, San Francisco's first theatre, presented the city's first full play, 'The Wife,' performed on January 16, 1850 by actor John B. Atwater and his 'Eagle' company, late of Sacramento. The review by the San Francisco Call stated, 'The only thing worthy of note on that occasion was the high price charged for admission, the large attendance and the poor performance.' The play closed after a week and the company disbanded following the treasurer's declaration of a loss of the week's receipts at the 'Monte' tables. Washington Hall, later called Foley's Saloon, fell in the fire of May 1850."
While Smith gives this venue the title of San Francisco's first theatre, the Bella Union beat it with an opening in October 1849, although that was with a minstrel show, not a legitimate play. Along soon after Washington Hall were the National Theatre in February 1850 and the Jenny Lind in October 1850.
More information: Sorry, there isn't any yet.
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