The San Francisco call., 1906-05-21
ORPH[.|IM OPENS
At THE CHUTES
Good Fun of the Old
Brand Is Dispensed
Once More.
Theater Is Packed at
Both Day and Night
Performances.

Wnen the tale or San FranciSco's
reconstruction is narrated to posterity
the reopening Of the Chutes will be
alluded to as an event of twofold sig
nif1cance. For it meant something
more than primal resumption of the
city's theatrical life. 1t was the first
opportunity afforded for the pleasur-
able foregathering OF a people who
had undergone experience as unpleas-
ant and undeserved as ever befell civil
lied community. Therefore to the
power that revived the Chutes as
public playground the conscientious
historian must award double credit.
1t is conservatively estimated that
no less than 10000 survivors partici-
pated in the convincing demonstration
Of the city's unimpaired sociability and
love OF amusement. More than one
third of that number passed the turn
stiles during the afternoon, and in
the evening the place was packed al
most TO discomfort. There was moth
ing in their demeanor to indicate the
crushed spirit that pessinism has af-
fected 10 see and gratefully mourned
over for almost five weeks. The old
San Francisco buoyancy of tempera-
ment was in evidence everywhere. It
lavishly patronized the catchpenny
contraptions and it boisterousiy ap-
plauded the meritorious vaudeville acts
in the new and greater Orpheum
Even the harmonium with which
Herr Rosner led his famous Hungarian
orchestra-the only instrument of it's
kind used for such purpose in this
country-went UP in smoke, but to the
surprise and delight Of the matinee
throng yesterday they were greeted by
the strains of a harmonium, hastily
imported from Vienna, that was just
as deftly played and melodious Of tone
as its lamented predecessor. How they
did roar welcome when ''Rosey" and
his aids trooped into view and how
proudly did "Rosey," bald and beam
ing, acknowledge the salutation and
plunge at once into the overture, which
was appropriately titled Cheer Up"
and consisted Of potpourri of patri
otic airs. But the great little leader
went farther than that in the way Of
conveying cheer to his multitudinous
admirers, for he relieved the tedium
Of unwonted idleness by composing
march, calling 1t Greater San Fran
cisco" and debating it to Mayor
Schmitz, and playing it during the
lntermissison.
Who doesn't remember the mascu-
line uprising that followed the descent
of each olio curtain? Not those who
participated in it, and certainly none
of the women whose toes and hats it
imperiled. Well, there was little or
none of that sort of thing in the big
ger Orpheum. Some of the chronic
first-nighters were seen to rise invol-
unfairly and to sit down again with
suddenness when they remembered
where they were and how certain con-
ditions have changed. Badinage flew
thick and fast during the rest interval.
Invitations to adjourn and partake OF
corned beef sandwiches and pop"
were numerously extended-and cour-
teously declined. And there was ap-
parent diminution in the quantity of
tobacco incinerated during and between
acts Smoking was permitted by an
indulgent management, but at no time
was the haze remin9ful Of recent
circumstance over which none of US
not excepting the Fire Department
had control.
The bill included Armstrong and
Holly in a sketch of average hun1or;
Caprice, Lynn and Fay, typical SOU
brettes. who sang and danced harmo-
niously: Clifford and Burke, black
face entertainers, whose business was
antique, but retentive Of fun; Valerie
Bergere and company in tightly
compressed edition of Carmen" that
afforded the star fulsome opportunity
to exploit the siren-like qualities that
are here dramatic stock In trade;
Keno, Welsh and Melrose, also funny;
Eva Nudge, entertaining in character
changes; Mosher, Houghton and
Mosher comedy cyclists, and new mo-
tion nictureS