San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-16
WASHINGTON THEATRE.
The Most Successful Variety House
in the Southwest-ConduCted Up
on Strictly Business Princi-
ples-Sound as DOL

as the Law
Allows.
The Washington Theatre, G. Shack
lett, proprietor, corner East Commerce
and Laredo streets, is beginning to be
very favorably known abroad as well
as at home. Public attention has
been so very generally directed to-
wards the older house ofamusement on
Military plaza that only of late has it
come to be accepted as fact that the
Washington, under the present man
agement, is offering attractions in
legitimate variety that challenge COM
parison with those of any of its COM
petitors anywhere. The plain facts
speak for themselves.
Two years ago, the present proprie-
tor, who had then been a resident of
the city for about year, c. Shack
lett, leased the old Washington
theatre which had little to commend
it at that time TO patronage, and COM
menced operations. The accomm oda-
tions were most meagre, the reputa-
ton of the place unsayOry, business
very dull and the outlook
most discouraging. Under the
business hand of the new proprietor
matters soon assumed a different
shape. Improvements were intro
duced, orderly system established,
the character of the performances con-
stantly improved, all indecencies
carefully excluded and new atmos-
phere prevailed the place. The patron
age OF the house increased. Pros
perity attended the new venture,
money was made and judiciously ex-
pended in additional improvements
until TODAY
THE NEW WASHINGTON
Will compare favOrabiy i'll all its APP
pointments with any theater of its
class in the country. The improve
ments and engagements completed
May "a, 1888, when the theater, as it |
now is, was opened tor the public. 1t |
gives AN auditorium 42Xl59 feet includ- |
ing stage, with a rOOmy and excel |
len tly ventilated gallery. There are |
- private boxes and one stage box,
dressing rooms, beauti-
full scenery of which there are II sets,
the drop curtain work Of real art
from the we'll known house of Sos
man ana Landas, Chicago, scenic art
lists OF high repute. The scene repre-
sents one Of the Mexican capitols,
with landscape, painted from an
photograph owned by Mr..
The box fronts are decor
ated in panel with marine views and
the boxes are nicely cur
anl filllN- |
and everything is in first
class style. The seating capacity of
the house is 800; that is. there are
seats for 800 people, and
good standing room for 800 more.
The saloon department occupies an
Il" 2eXlGO and there is no better bar
in any house east or west.
The Improvements completed this
spring cost about 5000 and so liberal
has bJen the patronage enjoyed by the
house that in all probability the
single story "Ln 2SXIO0 feet will be
carried up height of three stories
and be made a professional hotel for
the artists who appear upon the
stage.
The cast for this week can hardly
be eXcelled OH any stage. Willie
Lee, Secotte, De Ivy and Kurtz are
four artists whose SuDeriOrs it were
if not impossible to name.
Young Lee, though boy in years, Cab
give points to any cOntOrtiOnist yet
seen in Texas; as a juggler and par
ticularly as a siX-ball performer Kurtz
has no master; while SecOtte, the
knife thrOwer, and his team mate
De Ivy, as double trapeze performers
have Il national reputation. The class
Of attractions presented at the
are Of a high order of
variety merit and nothing low or
indecent in word or act is permitted.
The business sense Of the proprietor
is manifested in all his management.
His letter heads bear this imprint:
My rules. The same as the better
class of southwestern variety theaters,
and you will be required to be govern
ed by same: My speciality; the prompt
of all accounts and salaries
due, and the good treatment Of my
patrons and employees
In the two years that Mr.. Shacklett
has been running the Washington
theater he has approved the value of
his business methods, in the success
which has attended them He has
made good money, and that money
has been invested in real estate in this
city. Another proof of the sound
judgment and business sagacity of
this gentleman. In conversation he
the idea that San Antonio
is not the place for money making.
He claims that if the has been able to
make a good pile every year during
the hard times, by strict attention to