The record-union., 1897-09-05

Manager Todd of the Clunie Opera
house. Sacramento, viii open the recon-
structed theater on the 18th inst with
Frank Bacon's stock company. Mr
Lavelle. late of the Alcazar Theater
MANAGEMENT, San Francisco, has
bought into Bacon's company, and It
is to go upon the road as a high-class
stock company Bacon, Miss Weide-
mann and several old favOrites will be
In the troupe. The leading lady is Miss
Perkins. late chief support to Madam
Modjeska, and an artist Of fine ability.
The opening play will be the low COM
edy Jane" Two plays will be pre-
sented weekly, and the engagement will
be for a fortnight. The opera house
approaches completion. 1t is praC-
tically new theater, and viii be one
of the handsomeset in the country. The
seating capacity will be nearly HOO.
Among the Improvements will be col
lapsing hooks on the seat backs for
womens hats, and the rule hats off
Will prevail without exception. The
dress circle chairs, the latest pattern,
will not arrive from the East in time
for the opening, but win be in place be-
fore October 1st In the meantime or
binary chairs will be used. The old
dress circle chairs have been trans
ferred to the family circle and the
benches of the latter to the new gallery
that has a seating capacity of over 300
The new lobby is cut off from the en-
trance completely. and is set in alcoves
with drapery. Three new aisles viii
traverse the orchestra and dress circle.
and open directly upon the fire-escape
doors on either hand. A new ventilating
system has been put in, and is the best
on the coast. Drop lights have been
discarded, and incandescent set into
the ceiling around the dome. The en-
trance has been finished in light tint
with holdings in keeping, and with
richly tiled floors in parti-cOlors. Two
loge boxes have been set into the or
chestra below the center of the dress
circle, and above the dress circle boxes
two new double line of seats have been
put in below a bulkhead, above which
are two more seat lines. Extra lines
of seats are added to the rear Of the
dress circle, and the floor of the or
chestra has been given increased pitch
The prevailing colors of the house are
light terra Gotta, with light-blue relief
and gold trimmings. The walls and
ceilings have been frescoed to match
the prevailing tints, the ornaments be-
ing floral. A new broad stage door has
been cut in the north stage wall, 50
that a drive 10 the alley will now be
available A new stage entrance has
been constructed on the east opening
from the general approach, 50 that
there viii be no more passing through
the theater to the stage All in all, the
opera house promises to be one of the
prettiest on the coast. and certainly
the best ventilated and lighted. 1t
will be far and away the best
arranged house for exits in the
State, having broad openings on
all sides, so that the largest audi
ence can be turned out in two or three
minutes at the outside and through a
dozen different exits opening on indc-
pendent out-0f-door spaces. There are
other important changes and improve
ments which the general public will ap-
preciate when the opera-house opens
next week.
At the Metropolitan Theater in this
city Monday night Sam T. Shaw's
stock dramatic company will open for
a season of two weeks at popular
prices The new business manager of
the troupe is H s. Duffield, for
years the business representative Of the
popular Frawley Company. Mr.. Duff
field is a gentleman every inch. a cap
able actor, when he chooses to turn
loose. and one of the most collected
ahable and pleasing of business man
ayers. His relation to the Shaw Com
pany gives it a new and high business
character, and we may rest assured
that Duffield would not relate himself
to any dramatic organization of a weak
character. Shaw's Company is a very
popular one throughout the coast. One
of the best evidences of worth in a
troupe is its ability to repeat. This is
what Shaw's does. For instance, this
season it has thrice played engage
ments in Fresno-a critical city-and
each time to the largest possible bust
ness. and on each occasion with in
creasing demand for admissions. The
certified box sheet returns prove this
The company Will open here in one Of
the Frawley Company's successes. The
WesUcrner." A new play will be pre-