The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-15
THEATERS SEEKING
CENTRAL LOCATIONS
Shuberts and BelascO Will
Enter Field in Down.
town District
Concentration Promises to Be
Order of All Business
in ''the City,

There has been agitation in real es-
tate circles since it was announced
that the Shuberts intended to build a
theater in this city. which was in
creased when the further announce
nent was made that Belasco intended
also 10 enter the field with new
thester, and in the downtown dis
trict.
Where are these theaters TO go? 1t
kas been proven beyond a doubt that
8 theater has TO be in a central loca-
ton. and that no matter what the at
traction. people viii not attend a shoY
place II il is inconveniently situated.
A wei known firm has offered TO
the Shuberts site in Mason street
above EDDY. and adduced reasons why
a theater should be built there. Some
persons still cling 10 the notion that
the site of the old Columbia theater
In Powell street is undoubtedly the
best location for theater as it is
reached by all car lines. and 1t is
whispered that the Pringle brothers
might possibly have a theater located
in the hotel which it is proposed TO
erect on the Young property.
Belasco spoke wisely when he said
uown- interested people at one time
declared that an uptown theater would
DE a paying investment. and advO-
Gated the retention of at least one or
TWO playhOuses in the vicinity of Fill
more street Their argument was that
The rclOseness Of q theater to a resi-
Dental district was its chief attrac-
ton. and went on TO say that patrons
objected 10 going downtown TO a thea
70G- IL would =
as a deterrent TO attendance after they
had been educated TO an uptown play
house.
How this argument could have been
advanced seriously is a matter of won
DER. for. judging from Orpheum at
tendances. San Francisco does not care
a rap how far a theater is from the
residential district, so long as it is
downtown and near TO the various car
lines.
DISTANCE Is NOTHING
Most persons never give the matter
Of distance a thought. They have
long ago formed the habit of going
downtown TO a theater. and downtown
the theater if it wants TO be success
ful. must be. II is an exploded idea
10 imagine that any one desires the
show places 10 be uptown. The thea
ter goer wants to be in the locality
of the good restaurants, for restau-
rant is one of the attractions to thea
ter gOers. The Columbia theater is to
be one block from the St. Francis,
which viii cater 10 the theater trade.
Store keepers are interested espe-
cially in the downtown theaters. Their
maunees attract women downtown.
and this puts temptation in their way
10 shop. The night trade of the thea
ters also assists the store keepers.
refreshments in vain. Windows are
not dressed solely for the day trade,
but store keepers take into account
that q pretty display at night has
value, or else blinds would be drawn
and electric light bills saved.
FOR TRANSIENT BUSINESS VALUE
1t has been admitted that the average
theater gOer prefers TO take his pleas
ure downtown rather than have it
administered 10 him up town. 1t is
admitted also that when a person gets
into a car he does not care how far il
goes 50 long as it takes him within
reasonable distance OF his show house
While the uptown resident likes to
20 downtown. the person who lives
downtown objects strenuously to GO
ing uptown for his theater. The num-
Der OF people living downtown is in
creasing steadily every month, and
when the district east OF Jones street (
IS built up. as il undoubtedly will be
within q year or so, downtown thea
ters viii be more than ever a necessity. /
It has TO be taken into consideration .
afso that San Francisco supports all the
year round an immense floating popu- I
latiOn, and this class has to be con-
sidered. II san Francisco is TO be a !
tourist city it must bring its amuse-
ment places as close together as is
possible.
The rule that applies 10 banks. dry
goods houses and retail stores gener-
ally applies as well to theaters They
should not be scattered. Proximity
does not injure business, but rather
aids. When the Alcazar. Orpheum and
Fischers were within a few feet of each
other in O'FarreIl street. they did not
-hurt each others business, but. on the
contrary, increased it, II the Orpheum
was unable TO sell a seat the person
could walk across the street to the
Alcazar, or TO Fischers. as the case
may have been. The Columbia was
not far away while people threw IN
their hands ar traversing the few
blocks TO the California theater in
Bush street The Grand opera house
in Mission street was declared sun-
getatable" though it was really easy
Of access.
Twenty odd years ago the bringing
Of the theaters together was not re-
garded as inadvisable. Old timers will
remember with regrerful memories the
days of the old Bush street theater.
where some of the finest companies
that ever ventured on the Pacific coast
showed. There was the old California
with its good stock, and the Standard
where Charlie Reed introduced his
samaIe song, which was sung from one
end OF the continent to the other.
These houses were in Bush street and
around the corner. IN Montgomery
street was the old Platt's hall, where
ambitious amateurs pleased their faith
ers and mothers with extraordinary
displays OF histrionic talent.
POLICY OF CONCENTRATION
In the Mission there are several
places Of amusement. and. not taking
the Valencia into consideration, It will
be found that there is one street which