Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-01
SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
INTERESTING TALKS UPON YARI-
Gus SOCIAL TOPICS.
Effects of Cheap Theatrical Rates
An Innocent Abroad-An
Eastern Adventures.
correspondence of the REcoRD-UxIoN.l

Correspondence of the RECoRD-UNIoN.l
SAN Francisco, July 20, 1885.
The introduction of cheap theatrical
rates has created several changes in the
conditions of actors and audiences. Most
noticeably is this true Of the Tivoli Opera
House. 1t is to-day the only place in
America where every night in the year
opera can be heard for quarter. Several
times il has been fortunate in pleasing pub
lie fancy, so that play has run from five
to nine weeks, but within the last year it is
exceptional when a play runs three weeks,
and frequently two programmes are neces-
sary in that time. The reason is that when
there was only one cheap-priced show
everybody went there. Now they can
choose between four or five theaters for the
same price, and go only once to the Tivoi
until they expect the same variety OF plays
furnished by attendance on other houses.
II would seem that to increase salaries for
ACKNOWLEDGMENT study was only Just,
but the contrary is another result of low
prices. Managers say that increased ex-
penseS of new scenery, costumes and en-
semble leave no surplus for salary, and
compel reductions.
HARD WORK FOR POOR PAY.
In learning opera there is singing rehear-
sal every day from 10 until l o'clock.
Every piece has five to seven rehearsals of
music and business on the stage, lasting
from 10 until 3 o'clock. At again per-
formers must be in their dressing-rooms,
making sometimes five changes of costume
during piece, and get out at II o'clock.
By the time light supper is eaten and
they are in bed midnight markes the clock.
Beside these regular working hours, there
must be private study on ones dialogue,
music words and melody, sound of orches-
tratiou, certain amount of other peoples
music for cues dancing, other business;
also attention to selecting, perhaps to hav-
ing made costumes appropriate to epoch
and nation; clear understanding Of the
plot and motif; TO evolve something new
from out ones originality that will add to
attraction of the part. In dialogue, if the
exact words are forgotten, it is compare
lively easy to fake" some pertaining to
the idea so as to prevent break, but an
orchestra will not harmonic with music
of an actors impromptu composing. Like
time and tide it waits for no man, so opera
music must be dead-letter perfect if He
would not put OUT his confreres and get
himself put out of place. Three weeks
are usually allowed to learning a piece,
but frequently i'll half that time an imper-
alive change of bill takes for study many
hours after the evenings work that should
be given to sleep. Then when the actress
ambles about the stage with apparent ease,
knowing that $40 for chorus, or perhaps
any price up to S35 for prima donna warb-
ling Will pay for her weeks work, the
audience say These actors have an easy
time and are all wild. | could play that
part myself. Cheap prices have affected
onnt haf branch of gngial ~, or,f
An INNOCENT ABROAD.
A year ago [ was invited to pass the af
tenOon with q Jewish family where were
gathered forty of the mothers and daugh,
tiers in Israel. The girls occupied the par
lors and amused themselves with music
Rotations and comparing fancy work
which nearly everyone had on hand, and ;
few games of casino and four-hand euchre
Just for fun Most of them were stran
gers to me, butsby-and-by, when their face
had become familiar, / noticed that none o
the doWagers who had entered were anon!
US. Curiosity got the better of politenes
and | whispered to my young hostess
"Lottie, where are all the old ladies?n
Holding one eye shut, she fixed her othe
steadily on me for a minute and said
"Where have you been for the last forty Q
fifty years? Girls, this poor young thin
wants to know where our mas are. They'r
upstairs, dear, making flannel caps for tn
poor little heather around Sahara. Woul
you like to 90 up and sew awhile?n
All the girls were giggling, and | wa
glad OF any excuse TO get away so sal
Yes, if you would find me a thimble.
Shaking her head solemnly, she al
swered: Sweet child of Nature Com
on, Pet.
On the landing she explained: NO
l,oT ,,l L.
party. This is a poker matinee'-all tC
ladies; see? and tonight Mrs. Cohen. ne1
door, gives another one for gentlemen an
ladies. We girls don't care much for poke
but our mothers all play about three reguli
games a week beside Occasionals. | SUI
pose the girls would rather talk about the
beaux. Money? OF course you green,
Ten cents fifteen never higher than twel
ty-cent ante. Mrs. Bowers has a part
for fifty cents, but we consider it vulgar
makes stakes so high. Come in, and S,
the games Nearly all cur Christian neigI
bOrs give poker parties once a week an
have lots of fun"
Last week, meeting my hostess for Il
first time since that occasion, it was natur
TO mention poker matinees.' She a
swered, 3" Oh, they are all out of style no'
! haven't heard Of one in six months. tt
Mob Hill folks started keno but Just abo
that time theaters all put down prices al
now we go TO the shows instead of pla
ing. Counting out refreshments we alwa
had to furnish at card parties, theate
don't cost near the money and are mo
amusing. Another reason keno never g
much start is that the papers took to tai
ing so much about women gambling. tn
we were afraid the reporters would :
hold of names and-s-h-h-give US ava
Probably men play as much as ever doy
town, but there is not near the private gaI
bling any more.
AN UNCONSCIOUS ARGUMENT.
Miss Ellie Wilton may not 50 reali
but with her play of Separation she
doing much to prove that women W
desire and have ability for intellectual pr
suits have a right to lift themselves abe
the monOtonous round of domestic lat
known as their sphere" The heroi
has a genius for music, and because
husband forbids her occasionally singi
for charitable purposes, leaves home. AT
fifteen years of willful agony to her and
obstinate sorrow to him, they are reunit
by the daughter. The parts are well
anced, and the plays lesson is GO
though there is some query why all part
are transported to Europe under q fin
pretext of seeing the sights WI
Miss Wilton went away she was of ST.
der, girlish figure, that has grown pluI
and womanly She has had the good SCI
to discard the disappointed blonde h;
with which she used to disfigure hers
and wear her own pretty brown loo
Her appearing costume has pale-bl
gauzy Jersey, with long, narrow he
extending to the top of her corset, fir
and back. Apparently there is no garm
above the aforesaid stays, and the eff
while not loud, is rather startling at
glance.
BARKIs Is wILLIN'
Since London made a pell-meu disp
of wickedness, almost every large city
America has tried to set up for a rival
publicly sweeping its own door-yard.
Francisco preserves q discreet silel