The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-24
THEATRICAL FOLKS
SUFFER HEAVY LOSS
Managers GOttlOb and Marx
Have Experienced Three
Fires in One Year.

A strange fatality seems to hover about
the theaters controlled by Messrs. Gottloo
& Marx for they have experienced three
fires within a year at their places or
amusement. In January last the Column
bia was burned out, and, strange to say,
the same company now playing there was
the attraction at that time. Then the Cal
ifornia Theater took fire one night in
March, when Melba was filling a popular
engagement. Now comes the third vista
ton at the Baldwin Theater, and yet the
two gentlemen are cheerful under their
losses which have been very heavy. Mr..
Marx looks upon the third calamity as
charm and hopes it will prove so.
They had lately completed over $4,000
worth of improvements in the Baldwin,
and now all that has gone up in smoke
They carried $500 insurance on their car
pets and furniture in the burned theater,
but that will by no means cover their
loss.
William Gillette, who was playing an
engagement that promised to be most sue
cessful, suffered q loss OF $o00O worth or
scenery and costumes, and carried no in
surance Messrs. Gottlob q Marx, with
the energy which has at all times chdrac-
terized them, Immediately began arrange
ments to transfer the attraction TO the
California Theater on next Monday night
1t is probable that the engagement Will
be for two weeks. In the meantime they
have put their force of men from the three
=
featuring properties and constructing the
carpenter work necessary for the produc-
ton of Secret Service" Gillette himself
is getting bids from three firms for cos
tunes, and the production will be given
with as elaborate accessories as the old
one.
ARRANGEMENTS will be concluded by the
first of the year to play the Baldwin
bookings at the Columbia and those OF the
Columbia at the Saliforn MA 1t IS e x
constructed on the site of the old theater,
and one with view to playing extra
ordinary attractions.
Several of the performers in Secret
Service" lost considerable property in the
fire. Their theater trunks, which We're in
sumed. Miss Hope Ross calculates that
She has lost $4,000 in costumes and jeWelry.
Stage Manager Joseph Francoeur, at
o'clock yesterday afternoon, placed lad
der on the Ellis-street side of the hotel
and secured his wife's trunk and some
clothes. His own trunk fell through with
probably now in the debris He also saved
the manuscript and plans of the play.
A. J: Spencer, who represents Jacob Lift
II htn be W s had sSoo n Gs
trunk of which he cannot find a trace.
He was obliged to borrow an overcoat for
He, with a number of others, who were
guests at the hotel, took shelter at the
Iangham, on Ellis street. Manager Gal
lagher of that hosiery said he had loaned
out three pairs of suspenders, a half
dozen shirts, several pairs of socks and
collars innumerable to thespians who had
lost their all. Among those who took ref
uge with him were James Campbell, Doc
Freeman of Cay Coney Island and
Mrs. Perry of the Secret Service" Com
pany.
Mr.. Marx is inclined to think the fire
started in the kitchen of the hotel, which
is Immediately behind the stage. Man
ager Alfred Bowler, who was connected
with the theater several years ago, says
he has repeatedly cautioned the hotel
management about their ovens and con-
Meeting pipes. Everything was all right
on the stage when the last man left after
the performance Tuesday night, and the
Waterman made his rounds at II. / and 2
o'clock and did not notice anything wrong.
Mr.. Marx emphatically declares that the
fire did not originate on the stage, as has
been rumored.