The Washington times., 1906-07-15
In the Good Old Days at Frisco

The destruction Of San Francisco was
replete with pathOs for the entire dra-
matte profession. II was one Of the
best showdown in the country and made
large contributions TO the Development
Of the drama and the art Of acting in
the United States. 1t was a great home
OF famous stock organizations. which.
while not quite as famous as Wallack's.
Daly's. the Boston Museum. or the Arch
and Walnut, OF Philadelphia, trained
many players, who are now established
along the Great White Way. Among
those who have been associated inti-
mately with what Frisco has done for
the stage Is Miss Jeffreys Lewis. OF the
Columbia Theater company. who was
for many years one OF the prime favor
ties OF the Pacific Coast. and who was
several times the manager OF theaters
in the city OF the Golden Gate.
OLD Play Bills Were Destroyed
In the destruction of Frisco and It's
theaters many valuable records of the
stage were lost. and one OF tho most
valuable OF these collections was that
collected by George Lask. who was a
long while the stage manager OF the
Tivoli, These old playbills told OF the
historic days which old Californians so
love to recall. They We're reminiscent of
the days when stars" went 10 the far
West almost as If they were going ~
another planet. They also showed that
California was in truth a .'Lorelei,' for
she lured the best people of that day
across the expanse OF the Continent
These casts also told the other side Of
the story, rs weil-th8t nearly four do
cades ago Sen Francisco was thea
trical nursery, from which came some
OF the men and women who later enjoy
ed all that fame had TO give.
In those days San Francisco maintain
ed stock company second 10 none in
the country at the California Theater
about which All entire volume might be
written. Its excellence made possible
the presence OF the greatest artists. An
entire company could not then be taken
across the Rockies TO California, but the
principals went knowing that the IA
nous company would give intelligent
support to their carefully worked-out
performance. in those days the stage
property was Tor the most part. bor-
rowed. but fun credit was given for
every acess1ry. from flowers to furni-
ture Not ul.Ty were the firms named
but fulsome adjectives were added by
u-av Of IN express .on Of good Will These
and other features were characteristic
Of the Remembered July In 1910
v.lan the lale AugUstin Daily introduced
his fifth Avenue TheaJer Company from
New York 20 the San Francisco public.
T. history OF Jhis notable engagement
is Interesting.
In ,Ae arat place the company. which
was among the most distinguished that
ever visited the coast, was not heard tn
the leading thePtcr Ut in the little
opera house" on Bush street JeffTeys
Lewis was a member OF that famous
company. The personnel OF this COM
pany has been frequently named. 1t
was when the peerless Fanny Daven-
port was the leading lady. The COM
pany opened at the Bush Street Opera
Houge on July l9. 1873. in Big BOnan-
"a" Others IN the cast were Miss
Emily RigeI, Miss Mamie Sargent, Mrs
c. II Gilbert Miss Alice Grey, Miss
Kate Holland. Miss Jenreys Lewis,
Miss Stella C0ngdOn. q. II. Gilbert.
Charles Fisher. George Parkes. John
Drew. James Lewis. Maurice Barry
more Frank Chapman. ". Davidge.
and D. r. Harkirs. All Of these names
were featured ahead OF the program
With the announcement Of each char
acter in the cast were the good. old
fashioned explanatory clauses. which
left not the slightest doubt OF the part
each one was to play in the drama
II was explained in the cast that Uncle
Rymples. the part taken by Davidge.
was a ''sagaciOLs old SOUL" that Eu-
genia, Fanny DaverpOrI's role. was the
heroine Of a romance, beginning at the
depot, and lasting for eight blocks
with unexpected results" that Virgie,
which the graceful Emily Rigel played.
was "a heroine Of a romance tinged
with dissolving views" that Barrymore
played the part OF Dr. Jack Lymer, who
was 'in want OF practice and
patient" that John Drew played the
role OF Bob Ruggles. straight from the
Big Bonanza" and that Kate Holland
interpreted BaldeT. who had floor 10
let. The drama in which this dis
tInguished company first appeared in
Frisco was featured by DAILY as Big
Bonanza" the last great society novel
ty." Nowadays IL gees without saying
that the scenes and settings are care
fully and correctly worked out one
expects to nave perfect appointments
at the play quite as much as at a cere-
lnonious dinner But when the Big
Bonanza" was produced twenty-five
years ago # was deemed expedieut 70
announce that Il would be given with
new and fashionable toilettes. new
furniture a la mode. and q cast that in
cludes all the favorite artists"
Supported Edwin Booth.
The big stock company of the old
California theater supported Edwin
Booth when he was In San Francisco in
1876 at the very zenith of his career.
The first California Theater. IN Frisco.
opened January IS. 1859. with Lawrence
Barrett and John Mccullough as the
Iessees. II was quantity announced that
on that occasion the entertainment
will consist of the opening address from
the pen of +. Brete HaTte, Esq, deliv-
cred BY Mr.. Lawrence Barrett, after
which will be enacted Lord Lytton's
comedy of Money" Mccullough and
John T Raymond were in the cast Ten
wears later Raymond was starring as
M11lberrv Sellers IN Mark Twain's Col.
Sellers The late Felix Morris was
also In the company. In 1873 the pro>
grams had the name Of John T. Ray
mond in large type designating him as
the leading man. Maggie Moore was
the regular company sOubTette. In 1873
when Walter Campbell was engaged for