The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-24
THE ROOMS OVER SUFFER- STREET
MARKET TO BECOME A
CONCERT-HALL.
GENERAL REICHERTs PLAN.
AN UNDERTAKING FOR BRINGING
GREAT VIRTUosI TO THIS
CITY.

The old rooms Of the San Francisco
Verein. over the Sutter-street Market, are
about to be transformed into magnifi-
Gently appointed concert-hsll, dining-hall
and suites of apartments where chant er-
concerts of high-cla.s music can be given.
The rooms, which cover nearly quarter
OF the block bounded by Suffer street and
Grant avenue, have fallen out of repair
since the verein acquired property of it's
own and moved to its magnificent club
house on Post street.
Artisans are already at work on the
building, and it is expected that by the
first OF January all the projected altera-
tons will have been completed. The for
NAL opening will take place early in the
year with a grand classical concert, the
proceeds of which will be devoted to
charity.
General Theodore Reichert is managing
the enterprise, assisted by w. IL. Davis.
The property, W hich is part of the Phelan
estate, belongs to Mrs. Frank J. Sullivan
and 1T is she who is having the changes
made, but Reichert and Davis, who have
charge OF the undertaking, are acting also
for several wealthy capitalists, who wish
to see the old quarters of the verein be-
come musical center where concerts of a
high order may be given and which may
in time become the nucleus OF conserva-
tory. In fact, the promoters state, it is not
so much to utilize the building as to foster
music that the changes are to be mode.
In the first place it is believed that a
large central hall downtown is needed.
The old Verein Theater, over the market,
at present is capable of seating $50 people,
but side galleries of iron are to be added,
which will bring the seating capabilitie. of
the house mp to al least 1000 This theater
will be entirely redecorated in an elegant
manner and will be fitted up with scenery,
though it is only intended to use it for con-
certs and amateur dramatic performances
The theater may also be used as a ball
room, the floor being we'll adapted for that
purpose.
The banquet-hall, which is forty feet by
sixty-eight, will also be redecorsted, and
with the adjoining kitchen will be fitted
lie banquets there.
The large suite OF apartments facing
Suffer street will be fitted up as reception
rooms, to be used in connection with the
theater, or for chamber concerts.
Contracts have already been made for
eight arc lights to be placed along the
sidewalk outside the building.
The place has been taken on FIVE years
lease, and if fashionable San Francisco
shows its willingness TO attend the con-
certs that will be given high-class musical
attractions will be imported from the
East. 1t is not intended to pander to any
craving that the public may cherish for
the soothing strains of light and popular
music, The concert-hall will be sacred to
the works of such masters as Bach,
Beethoven, Wagner, Weber, etc, and if a
song of the people finds its way by chance
into the building it will be such folk
song as classic master would not scorn
to utilize for theme.
The promoters of the undertaking in
tend to use the theater for orchestral con-
certs, which will be given under their own
management. They will also open must
cal agency to facilitate bringing attractions
from the East. W. H. DAVIS stated yester-
day that in this connection conservatory
would probably be established. General
Reichert added: 1.-THE gentlemen who
are with US in this musical scheme are
wealthy capitalists and I can state that no
money will be lacking to make it a sue