California Theatre (San Francisco) Informations

The California Theatre (San Francisco), was located at 414 (now 440) Bush Street, San Francisco. It was built in 1869 by William Ralston, at that time the treasurer of the Bank of California. S. C. Bugbee and Son were the architects and the theatre cost $250, 000 to build.[Note 1] The original theatre was demolished and rebuilt in 1889. It was destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The former site (north side of Bush Street, between Kearny and Grant) is now a California Historical Landmark, with a historical marker commemorating the theatre and its artists.

Ralston's decision to build the theatre was inspired by the acting of John McCullough and Lawrence Barrett, who he felt deserved a theatre of their own to showcase their talent and which he believed would be a lucrative investment. He was right, for the theatre was successful beyond his expectations. It opened on January 18, 1869 with a performance of Bulwer-Lytton's play Money. it was the leading theatre in the city until its demolition in 1888. There were elaborate murals of San Francisco painted by local artist G.J. Denny and a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay on the drop curtain. The theatre claimed to be the first on the West Coast to use calcium light (limelight) with parabolic reflectors, aimed from the house, to light up the stage.

On the first anniversary of the theatre's opening, a Scandinavian bandleader had the following to say,

In spite of the theatre's success, the Bank of California, which owned the theatre, failed in 1875. Soon thereafter, Ralston went swimming and drowned, leading to speculation that he might have committed suicide.[Note 2] The theatre then went into a decline.

In addition to plays, the theatre was also host to opera, and soprano Inez Fabbri performed there on many occasions until the Grand Opera House opened in 1876, as did Nellie Melba.[Note 3]

A new California Theatre, opened on the site on May 18, 1889, but was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, but it never regained its former status after Ralston's death in 1875 and McCullough's departure in 1877. The new theatre was the first on the West Coast to be lighted exclusively with electricity.

The periodical, The Electrical World, had the following to say about the new theatre,

In 1933, the site was registered as California Historical Landmark #86. The landmark marker, located at 430 Bush Street, mentions the January 18, 1869 opening date, and lists a number of artists who played there.

Coordinates: 37°47′27.3″N 122°24′17.4″W / 37.790917°N 122.404833°W / 37.790917; -122.404833

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