The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-02
ROMES FINANCES.
Caesars Fine Show Did
Not Pay Well.
The Olympic Club VIII Come Out
About Even-PreSiden Harrison
Explains the Situation.

"Artistcally. and from spectacular point
of view, the Olympic Clubs Circus Max
linus was great success. but financially
veil, financially, you may say that ii was
not failure, but somewhat Of disappint-
ment." So said MagIster Arena for his
Majesty julius Caesar and President of the
Olympic Club William Greer Harrison last
night
Then he stated that withthe execution Of
some 5000 or $4,000 worth Of properties now
on hand there will be hardly any Profit bal
.ance left for the club when all the affairs of
the club are settled.
Mr.. Harrison explained the situation
briefly as follows:
"The main trouble was that owing to the
peculiar construction of the Mechanics Pa
viAon our arena was too small and It's seat
ing capacity was necessarily limited. so
tfaton the most crowded nights 1000 people
only could be accommodated.
: ITO be sure, the crowds looked larger
.becau Sc the arrangement OF the seats was
such asto be deceptive to the uninlhated;
but unless we sacrificed the artistic effect
and:abaud0ned the idea Of reproducing q
: Rom an arena we. could not find rO0mf for
anY more seats, no matter how hard we
tried.
Our EXPENSES were very large, but that
was no fault OF the management Every-
thing had. to be first class aud in keeping
With the plans eutlin ed.
1.-The arena. alone cost 5000, the band
$500; the dancing girls S1u0u, the costumes
gas, electric lights, advertisements. printing
and salaries: to employees and dozen
minor things, until our bills will figure IN
some 500, Coo while our receipts were about
S23. 00Qin all.
1--WE sold 1000 season tickets, admittiag
1000 people ard willie we did not intend
that they should be transferable the hold
ers BANDED them around to their friends, so
that the Pavilion was nightly filed during
the first week with spectators at 40 cents
per head.
= MANY also used the same tickets at the
maiinees, with: the result that the latter
were total failure from financial point
of view.
1.-THE second week did not pay expenses,
because we admitted all the club members
| free hoping they would bring friends along,
which they did not do.
= .Itwas mistake to give the show in the
PAVILION, We ought to have had an arena
built for the purpose large enough to seat
| 1900 people, and when the club repeats the
experiment he managers OF the next Circus
Maxmus viii profit by our experience
| II want to state en- phaiically that there
was nothing at all wrong with the manage
ment, and atali the talk about big leaks
which could have Deen avoided is pure
.lQESfH5ps
Nobody could have done better under
! the circumstances.
" "In.eonclGsionI can only add that l am
| aheady busF with new scheme. which, II
| ! am not iuterfered with, will doubtless net
| to the Olympic Clue an amount Of money as
+ largo as the most saBguine Of the members
| hoped the Circus MaXDius " you'd bring to
/ their treasury"
| - According TO Mr.. Harrison, who discussed
| the matter at length and mentioned many
/. details in su6stautiation Of his statements,
| be realized as soon as he found that the
| arena would netsFat any more people than
/ 1t did that the show could make no money.
| Down in the Olympic Club building the
| boys are all talking finances just now.
l. With the exception of few chronic
kickeIs and 81 told you so" members, how
ever, every body taxes a phllosophie view OF
| the case. ~;
| I'VE thought we would make lot of
money, but we didn't. What is the use
! talking about it now after it's oil over" is
| the prevailing sentiment
-, One thing is quite certain that the clut
| members realize that they had a glorious
time and that their institution has gained a
| great dead of prestige by the unique enter-
! tainment which didn't Fay.
| >. In few days the managers of the circus
will be readY1tO make detailed financial
statement of the affair to the club. and when
/ itis presented the members will all realize
that there is no room for complaint.