Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-13
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.

San francisco there are now Lnree OF lHeSe
places, conducted on SO large q scale that
they are formidable rivals to the theaters,
and we understand that a fourth place of
the kind is being built, which will aim at
eclipsing all its predecessors. The enter
tainment provided at all these establish
ments is we'll calculated to draw patronage.
They are large and roomy halls, generally
with a gallery running round three sides.
The floor is level, and covered with small
tables and ordinary wooden chairs. Smok-
ing is allowed, and numbers of walters
glide about supplying the visitors with all
kinds of malt liquors, light wines, lemon
ade, and mineral waters. Various kinds of
eatables may also be procured. At the
upper end of the hall is a well and CON-
pletely appointed stage. An excellent or
chestra is provided, and comic operas are
performed by companies comprising I'M
doubted talent. The visitor to San Fran
cisco to-day has his choice of three of
these operas, and at an expenditure OF
twenty-five cents he may enjoy an evening
of cheerful amusement, hearing good music
well performed, and being free to smoke
his cigar or cigarette, and sip his glass OF
liquid refreshment. while the play is 60
ing on.
The character of the company at these
places-and they are all full every even
ing-shows how popular they have become.
There is a large proportion of foreigners
present as rule, but hundreds of Ameri-
cans are also ha5itues of these so called
gardens. A conspicuous feature is the
number of family parties commonly pres
ent. A family engage one of the tables.
seat themselve round it, from the gray
haired grandfather to the young boy and
girl just entering their teens, and seem
to enjoy themselves thoroughly. Nearly
all the regular guests appear to be people
in comfortable circumstances. The con-
versation between the acts is quiet, every
thing is decorous and orderly, and there is
no trace of any hoodlum tendencies. The
places depending largely upon the foreign
patronage, and foreigners, especially Ger
mans, being mostly acquainted with music,
it is necessary that the musical part of the
entertainment should be good, and as
fact it is good. The managers display
commendable enterprise and liberality in
mounting their pieces. 1t is not uncom.
mon to see forty or fifty members in some
of the choruses, for instance. The scenery
Is new and appropriate, the costumes are
rich, and the effects are carefully prepared.
In fact it is the simple truth that at any
of the three places referred to ore can see
comic opera in all respects as well per-
formed as at any of the regular theaters,
and in some instances very much better
performed than at the theaters.
Now it has already been demonstrated
that this kind OF entertainment meets a
public demand, and that it will pay. We
think the indications are that it pays bet
ter than regular theatricals, and that
eventually the San Francisco theaters viii
be compelled by the competition of the
gardens to reduce their prices radically or
close their doors. But the point we wish
to urge is that these gardens offer attrac-
tions of kind likely to secure remunera-
ton in places where it is impracticable to
maintain regular theater all the time.
Such places, for example, as Sacramento.
1t has long been admitted by our business
men that the lack of public amusements
here has a strong tendency to drive away
trade. People from the country who go to
town to order bill of goods like to COM
bine business with pleasure, and when
they have done their work they naturally
expect to find some OF the amusements from
which they are excluded when at home.
1t seems reasonable that if we cannot sup.
port respectable theater here, we could
at least maintain one of the gardens we have
described above. A form of enterprise
which has proved so profitable an invest
ment in San Francisco ought to be equally
well adapted to the popular taste of Sacra-
mento. We have q large German element
which might be counted on with certainty
to patronize an establishment where good
music was performed under familiar condi-
tions. Certainly it is time our business
men took council together seriously with a
view to the evolution OF some form of pub
lie amusement which would infusc spirit
and cheerfalness into the situation.
Such hall as we have referred to could
of course be utilized for all kinds of enter
tainments Respectable variety perform
ances could be alternated with comic operas
and operettas. Concerts could be given
there. 1t would be necessary to conduct
the place upon high plane OF respectable
ity, but If it is found possible to do this in
San Francisco, where the dissolute element
is SO strong and aggressive, it certainly
ought not to be more difficult in quiet
community like this. These gardens are
common all over Germany, and have been
OF late years introduced in most European
countries as well as in the principal cities
of the Union. Everywhere they have
and, as we have seen, the ten.
dency ia toward their steady increase, and
the elaboration of all their arrangements.
At present those of San Francisco really |
consist of regular vaudeville theater with
a beer.hall attachment. Their popularity |
is altogether beyond dispute, and unless
we are determined to vegetate and stag
nate indefinitely, this or something else in
the way OF public amuscments ought to be
introduced. oftcourse it is not question
OF recreation alone. 1. is quite as much a
question of business, and in that view we
suggest that it be considered.
THE ALBANY BRIBERY CASE.