The record-union., 1898-06-09
LOCAL THEATRICAL CHANGE.
CLUNIE OPERA-HOUSE AND Or
PHEUM HISTORY.
something Concerning the New
Management and New Season
About to Open.

In the lives of theaters as in the lives
of men there are changes which tell for
good or i'll. Perhaps the theater is more
sensitive to change than any other
agency of entertainment. Give the
atrical establishment bad name, and
1t is practically irrevocable. Let 1T,
however, pass through as many hands
as it may, if its record is marred only
by the mutations of public caprice or
the shifting of success and failure in
money making, and the reputation of
the house may remain unlnJured.
The Clunie Opera-house, now the only
theater of Sacramento, was erected by
Thomas j. Clunie several years ago.
and opened after brief season under
Ben Cotton, under the direction of a
firm, one of whom was a scenic artist
and the other without theatrical ex
perience of any kind Since then it has
been alternately in the hands of theat-
rical people, operate artists and vau-
deville companies, and for the greater
length of time it was managed through
the agency of the proprietorship.
Early in it's history it was graced by
two famous artists, the elder Salvini
and Mary Anderson. From them to
negro minstrelsy, the theater circus. the
spectacular and vaudeville, with occa-
sional dramatic and operate seasons it
has vacillated, until less than year
ago the owner practically rebuilt 1t,
giving it handsomer interior, enlarged
seating capacity and improved ingress
and egress facilities. About that time
it came under the lesseeship of the
Orpheum organization, with the late
Gustave Walter as director general, and
Frank r. Clifton as local manager. 1t
had fair measure of success as The
Orpheum No. 3D. but it was found that
for continuous vaudeville the commun-
ity is not sufficiently large to maintain
constantly open house with one class OF
entertainment all the time upon the
boards.
With the recent death of Mr.. Walter
the Orpheum people deemed it advis-
able to change the character of the
house and on Saturday afternoon of
this week it will open with Hopkins
Transoceanic Variety Company for
three performances, when 1t Will be-
come what is known as a combination
house. Through all its changes of man.
agement the house has remained clean
ly. 1t has been uniformly we'll con-
Quoted, and no scandals have been re-
lated. to it. Nothing has attached to
the pretty theater to injure its good
name, and it, therefore. enters this
week upon a new career with its fame
untarnished, and the prospect for its
future fair and promising.
There were many efforts made to Sc
cure control of the house when it was
known that the vaudeville management
would strike it from its list of circuit.
But the lessees wisely and after ma
ture deliberation, preferred the claim
and offer of Frank r. Clifton, who now
becomes the manager-in-chief, and the
one interested party in its control and
management. He secures this advant-
age solely by virtue of the far-seeing
and practiced judgment of the Orpheum
management of San Francisco, upon
whom the responsibility of fixing the
immediate future of the house devolv-
ed
Perhaps Mr.. Clifton could come to his
new responsibility with no better in
dorsement than is thus given, since
the Orpheum people have had years OF
experience in catering to the public
taste ard are best of all others quail
fed 70 pass upon Mr.. Clifton's capac-
He, however. assumes sole responsible
ity and while cut free from the Or
pheum circuit. bears such friendly re-
lationship 10 it, that whenever he sees
fit to play Orpheum attractions avail
able he will enjoy that privilege.
This. it is obvious, is a decided gain
for amusement lovers in this city, as it
insures the frequent opening of the
house That it may, however be ca
pacitated to receive any manner OF the
atrical, operate or other legitimate
troupes, some changes sooner or later,
and the sooner the better will have to
be made in the stage fittings For.
while we'll appointed as to scenery, and
all usual stage properties of perma-
nent character, and while it's stage has
sufficient depth and breadth for any
class of business. it lacks in the hight
of the fixtures to admit of scenery car
ried by many road companies, and in
this day all companies are of that or
der, railroad and steamer facilities in
our day being so great that the best
that the metropolitan centers see upon
the stage is transported to lesser cities
and towns with comparative ease.
This enables most companies to carry
their own scenic effects. The opera
mouse stage VIII llpL tame SOih0 VI lily
loftier scenes, and it will be necessary
to raise its grooves and fly galleries 50
that flats from the lowest to those
twenty-four feet in hight may be re-
ceived This requirement Will. doubt
less be supplied by the ownership since
it increases the drawing value of the
house and enlarges the opportunity for
this community to enjoy the perform
ances of the most pretentious troupes
on the road or that may ever take to
the road.
The new lessee and manager. Frank
T. Clifton has been known in this city
for several months. and III that time as
Assistant Orpheum Director has es-
tablished himself so We'll with the the
ater-going and business public that his
new venture assures him a most kindly
welcome. Mr.. Clifton was born in Que
bee. the son OF the Financial Inspector
of Upper Canada. While yet a boy he
became enamored of American institu-
fions and emigrated to Ogdensburg.
N. Y. and ever since has been a resi-