The New York herald., 1851-12-02
Theatrical.

THE DRAMA IN SAN FRANCISCO.
From the Alta Cslifornis, October 81
In these latter days, when all the rehnements and
Injuries Of life have been introduced here on the
Pacific shore-when the days of canvass tents and
wooden sbanties have departed, and whom I wo mag
ni6cent buildings devoted to the drama have arisen
amongst us, il ay not be uninteresting to take q
glance back some two years ago to the time when
the Thespian muse first made her appearances IN our
midst and follow her footsteps up to tho present
time.
The fret theatrical performs snce given in San
Fran cis,o in the month Of January, 1850 In the
second story Of q building In the rear Of the old
Sta California Office, known M Warrington Hall.
The company was under the control Of Messrs.
Atwster and Madison, and the 6rst perform soce
given was "The Wife" and "Charles the ID" The
performances we're not Of n very high order, but
the room was well filed for several nights. The
only two members Of that original company nov
here are Messrs. Wright and DAILY, both playing
at the Jenny Lind thestre. In the month Of
March, Mr.. Rowe, who previously had cir
Gus on the same ground, fitted up his establish
ment for stage performances on koarny street,
near the corner Of where Is now Commercial.
Here company Of English actors, consisting Of Mr..
and Mrs. Hambleton, Mr. and Mrs. BstterJ, Mr..
and Mrs McCron and others, opened. Mrs. Stark,
then Mrs Kirby, soon after arrived, and opened in
immense popularity she has since acquired in Cali
fornia. In the month Of pril Of the same yesr, q
neat little French theatre was opened on Washing.
ton street. The French population was then com.
IL had passed away ID met with but poor support
On the lth Of July, 1850, Messrs. Robinson < Ey.
rard orened the little Dramatic Museum in Cali
fornia street, above Montgomery. This little
establishment had q tremendous run until Septen
Der, when the original Jenny Lind theatre was
opened over Mr.. Maguire's Parker House saloon,
on the Plaza. MIR. and Mrs. Stark played here
through the fall and portion Of the winter In the
hrs Of May, 1851, the building was destroyed; and
at the same time the Dramatic Museum Of Messrs.
Robinson Evrsrd, which had been enlarged, was
also destroyed By ere Immediately after the hre Of
May, he.foundation OF q theatre was commenced
on the ground where the present Jenny Lind nov
stands, and temporary wooden building, with q
theatre In the upper story. erected where Maguires
saloon now IL. company had just commenced
playing in this, which had been la operation bat
few mig hts, whom the hre Of June came and se ain
swept the whole building. IL would seem, in the
older states, that such series Of msfortuncs would
have daunted the most energetic man In the world;
but Immediately after the last destructive are Mr.
Mcguire commenced the construction OF the mae nj
cent estabshment now in successful tide Of opera
tion. This theatre was opened on the night OF Oct.
tth, and has since been extensively patronssd BY
our community. Previous TO this, Messrs Robinson
and Wesenthal had opened the French theatre buili
in July last, on Dupont street, and commenced In
September the construction Of the new American
theatre at the corner Of Ssnsome and Csfornis
streets This Vas opened on Monday evening last
The Jenny Lind Theatre Is estructure which
would do credit to any city in the world, and Of
which California may we'll be proud. Oar people
are theatre going community, and viii, IL pro per
ly conduc ted. support good thestricsl estsslish
erios sectors from the Atlantic have not discovered
this, and come out here to pay US . visit. We car
assure them that they would meet With hearty
reception. and have'the pleasure Of playing to ~
,cliscri N instipg audiences ss any In the world
Thss have We traced ths rise Of the drama Ii