The San Francisco call., 1897-06-04
DOOM Of THE
THEATEB BONNETS
Mayor Phelan Signs the
Ordinance Prohibiting
Them.
Skull.Caps or Low Lace Cover
ings Only May Be
Worn.
Managers of TheaterS TO Be Punished
if They Allow High Hats in
Their Places.

No more will the towering headgear OF
the society dame obstruct the view OF
those who must by force of price or other
circumstance occupy a seat behind her at
the theater.
No more will the ladies go to the play
houses to see what their neighbors wear
in the way of gems of the milliner's art.
No more will the unfortunate man NOR
tai be com PEELED to crane his neck to the
cracking point and mutter anathemas
under his breath because some one with
a dream of bonnet three feet high sits
before him and wonders how many other
women are dying with envy OF her top
dressing.
No more will the paragrapher for the
local funny press crack jokes at the ex-
pense of the high hat.
Quoth Doc" RottanzI, "Nevermore."
Mayor Phelan signed the high-hat ordi-
nance yesterday, and the law on the sub
ject, now a part and parcel OF the mu-
| nicipal regulations, reads as follows:
Order prohibiting any person from wearing
hats and head covering in theaters or places
of amusement during the performance Pro-
viso.
The people of the City and County of San
Francisco do ordain as follows:
| SECTION L. No person shall wear any hat or
bonnet or other head covering wlthln any
licensed theater in this City and County dur
| ing the rendition OF any programme Hn the
stage or platform of said theater, but every such
| hat, bonnet or other head covering shall be re-
moved from the head by the person wearing
| the same during the time of performance in
| said theater, or during the rendition OF the
| programme on the stage or platform OF said
/ theater; provided, however, tnat the above
| inhibition shall not be held to include skull
! caps lace coverings or other small or closely
! hitting headdress or covering which does not
| Interfere with obstruct the view OF the
stage or platform of such theRter OF persons in
| the rear OF such wearers while in such theater.
Sec 2. No person. firm or corporation having
the lease, management control OF any
licensed theaIer shall permit any person dur
ing The time OF performance in such theater
or during the rendition OF any programme on
the stage or platform OF said theater, 10 wear
any hat, bonnet or covering for the head con-
trary to the provisions OF section 1 of this Or
der; and every person, firm or corporation
having the lease, management or control of
any licensed theater shall give notice OF the
provisions of this order by distributing or
causing TO be distributed, at or before the COM
mencement OF such performance or rendition
OF such programme, generally, among those
present thereat, notices Of said order printed
OF otherwise published on cards, handbills or
other devices, or i'll a conspicuous portion
OF the programme.
Sec s. Any person who shall violate the pro-
visions OF section Of this order shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conyic-
tion, shall be puuishs BILE by Fl not less than
$40 nor more than S25, or Imprisonment in
the County Jail not less than two days nor
N ore than ten days, or by both such me and
Imprisonment.
AS the order goes into full force and
effect Immediately on being signed by the
Mayor the ban is already on the high hat.