The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19

of the Northwest will be in the field here
with Al Hayman 81 Co. and other man
ayers.
They say they are not talking for effect
and express the desire that nothing of an
exaggerated character be stated, but that
they mean exactly what they formerly
SAID when The CALL announced their pur-
poses.
The probability is now that they will
build here the finest theater in the West.
Inc one In view is expected to cost about
SlZ5,O00, have three galleries and seating
capacity OF at least $500 people. They
may build a larger and costlier theater
even than this
1--WE have had five different propositions
submitted to u.s. said one of the gentle
men yesterday. lone was first, from
capitalists here to build US theater, we to
Lease 1t for period of years. Another was
from men who own the lots, for US to go
In with them and form a company and
take stock and build theater. Another
proposition we are considering is the buy
ing OF real estate outright ourselves and
erecting theater all with our own money
Another proposition is a sort of com bina-
ton OF one OF all OF these, and the other is
IN reference to leasing theater.
1.-The last, by the way, is the least proba-
bic of any. We feel that we must have a
new theater to enable US to take the posi-
ton in the theatrical business on this
coast which we, in justice, should to make
our other investments profitable.
lone of the propositions which we have
ls from men here to build great Thespian
temple, costing 100000 that would hold
5000 or 5000 people. Ii we had theater of
this kind the price of seats could be re-
duced TO as low as IS cents or 81 each at
most Probably we could go lower than
this, at least for certain entertainments
"With such large seating capacity we
could materially reduce prices. Besides
this, if Damrosch or any other men with q
big choral company wanted to come to
San Francisco he would find plenty of room
in such theater. 1t would afford capacity
for any company or occasion.
However, my own opinion is that a
theater with a seating capacity of $500
people is about what is required. This
theater need not cost over S125, 600. 1t
would have three galleries, be modern in
every way and be a theater solely. There
would be no offices or Storerooms in the
building.
"The one we have in view would be
something near the size of Morosco's
Grand Opera-house, only constructed in
the modern style, and with considerably
deeper stage.
II have found here that taxes are very
low, as compared with the north, and
that is something for investors to con-
slider. A theater license, too, is only 500
a year here, whereas in Tacoma and Port
land it has been $3.50 year at each place.
Water and electric light rates are also
much lower here than there. The loca-
tons submitted to US are admirable.
take it ali in all the conditions are
very favorable. We only want to make 5
per cent, and we can do that very easily.
AS to the money we represent being Van
derbilt money, it is not all that. We have
other money besides that. 1t is a strange
thing to me that you have no Eastern
money here. In Portland Tacoma, Seat
tie, Spokane and Los Angeles it is nearly
all Eastern money that is invested, but
here you have none at all. San Francisco
is unique in that respect. The building
and other Improvements are all with home
capital.
eastern investors are glad to get any,
thing that will pay per cent. They can
get it here. ] wonder that they have not
come here. A theater in San Francisco I
consider good investment"
1t is claimed that Hayman has so held
the whip hand on the people owning the
theaters of the north that there is almost
no profit in the business there. In some
cases he charged so per cent, while he
would give the company but 60 per cent,
He had 20 per cent clean, but out of the
20 per cent left the Northern theater-
owners they had to pay all expenses Of
water, lighting and furnish use of theater
and pay contingent expenses, which left
nothing at all.
For long time he charged 10 per cent
for booking merely. In addition to these