The San Francisco call., 1898-06-26

:" HESE are the trying midsummer
 days when the average manager is
 oyerworking his brain to select
 some entertainmep. sufficiently at
 tractive to profitably retain the at-
 tention of the public. He has more
 than the seasonal handicap this year of regular patrons who are at the various resorts. The existence of war, contrary to the rule in most countries, seems to detract public attention from the pleasures of the playhouse and in addition to this unwelcome fact there is just opening a political campaign. which, considering the patronage and emoluments involved promises to be one of the most important in the history of the State. The prizes in the game are so great, including Governor, United States Senator and nearly all the other offices, State and county, that the contest will undoubtedly be a hot one. This means that a majority of the voters on both sides of the political fence will de- vote a large part of their evening leisure to attendance on political meetings and ''doing" general night politics in the interest of friends who are seeking office. These conditions have grave signif- canoe to the box office, and the only pos sible way of meeting them successfully is to offer the best attractions in the Inarket-such as will command and hold the attendance of the public In view of the fact that San Francisco managers do not have to combat the evil or not weather, the arch enemy which compelS the closing of theaters in the swelterlng Eastern cities, it would seem that the pleasure-loving people of this bailiwick, who have given San Francisco the we'll earned reputation of being the best show town of its population in the United States, might be kept well in hand to the profit and honor Of the managers. The fact is patent that high-class vaudeville succeeds in this particular eHort Tn san Francisco without special regard 10 the weather, and in New York and Chicago, where Old Sols ardent attentions dlEVe the legitimate productions into inipo, pending the advent of Jack Frost, the given the glad hand and conveys the financial craft through the slough of de- tions is to be further advanced in the estimation of the public, to the detriment of the higher divisions of the drama, re- mains to be determined, and the prob lem Is one that is puzzltng some Of the brightest men in the business The man who finds an early solution thereto will certainly receive a rich reward. In the meantime we will accept with more or less gratitude what Providence in the form of the booking agent sends us.
 The local field of entertainment during the coming week will include a new mili- tary drama, Fort Frayne," by the we'll known author, Captain King, at the Co., ing situations and to be a correct repre- sentation of the life of soldiers on the plains and Tn Western garriSonS, With sufficient adventures to give 1t zest. AS the stage mountings and costumes are to be exact and the Frawley Company is to have the advantage of a supervision of the production by the author, the results should be more than ordinarily interest ing.
 The Tivoi will provide comic opera by the revival of the popular musical 'Boc- caccio," promising strong cast, with all the necessary stage accessories.. Follow ing this will come "The Mikado. The .Alcazar withhods the promised war drama for further preparation, and will present the historical play, Frederick fhe Great" comedy with military trim mings. The title role will be in the hands of Lewis Morrison. Morosco's will have Carroll Johnson in white face as an Irish comedian in "The Gossoon," in which part he will doubtless do well The Orpheum offers several new and striking acts to It's long list of good things, and, finally, the California is to reopen with that good and venerable friend that never dies, rUncle Toms Cabin" The cast will be an unusually strong one.