SE corner of Kearny St. and Sutter St. | map |
Opening: Sometime around 1880, frequently listed as The Fountain. The venue was in the basement of the Thurlow Block. This
c.1880 image of the Thurlow shows no evidence of the theatre.
That's Ver Mehr Place on the right, now styled without the space:
Vermehr. Perhaps the sign propped up there is advertising the show at
the theatre. Sutter St. is on the far left.
The theatre, for at least part of its life, was managed by Gustav Walter, his first theatrical venture in San Francisco. Later he was involved in the operation of the Vienna Garden at Sutter and Stockton and the Wigwam Theatre at Stockton & Geary. In 1887 Walter opened the Orpheum Theatre on O'Farrell St.
The photo is one by I.W. Taber that's in the J. Paul Getty Museum
collection. It appeared in the 1880 publication "The Taber Photographic
Album of Principal Business Houses, Residences and Persons" surrounded
by ads for Sullivan's Cloak and Suit House and other building tenants.
Part of the copy read "Thurlow Block, situated on Kearny street between
Sutter and Bush streets, is one of the finest structures in the city..."
They noted that you'd enter on Kearny to access the elevator.
Page 35 from the Taber publication, with a different photo, is in the California State Library collection. The sign propped up next to the building near the wagon at the left says "Concert Every Evening" and something about Oysters.
The listing in the 1881 edition of "Doxey's Guide to San Francisco and Vicinity." It's on Google Books. The Fountain also appears on an Amusements list in a Guide Book and Street Manual published in 1882.
An undated 3" x 5" souvenir card from the theatre. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this on the site Card Cow.
The "Fountain Beer Hall & Theatre" was shown in the basement in this detail from image 24 of the 1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map that's in the Library of Congress collection. Kearny St. is across the top, Sutter is on the right. The building had a center light court with a skylight to light the basement.
Ned Foster took over the operation in 1887. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this item in the August 6 issue of the Examiner. At this time Ned was also the operator of the Bella Union Theatre on Portsmouth Square.
This ad in the July 11, 1888 issue of the Chronicle announced the purchase of the Fountain by Charles Meyer and a Mr. Samm, managers of the Wigwam. Thanks to Art Siegel for locating this. He notes that this is the last newspaper mention of the Fountain that he was able to find.
Closing: The date is unknown. The building was around until 1906.
More information: Sorry, there isn't any yet.
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