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Building History

This theatre served as a multi-purpose venue staging lectures, dramatic presentations and musical performances. It was at one time managed by Frederick Belasco, younger brother of the playwright and director, David Belasco (1853-1931), who gained acclaim in New York theatre. The Belascos were a Sephardic Jewish family that migrated to the U.S. from London, UK, c. 1850.

Due to the deep recession that slowed the economy between 1893 and the late 1890s, many theatres in large Pacific Coast cities went bankrupt. The Alcazar closed in 06/1896, and stayed dark for over two months in the summer of 1896. The San Francisco Call reported in its edition of 08/07/1896, that new ownership intended to reopen the venue: "The Alcazar Theatre, that has been sleeping a full of shadows since the latter part of June, will soon awaken into light and life. Since Manager Grover's assignment there has been a blank place on O'Farrell street between Stockton and Powell. Hereafter the old Alcazar will be itself again. It has been leased and will be managed by Frederick Belasco, brother of Dave Belasco of Leslie Carter fame, Frank Doane, the well-known and popular Eastern commedian, and J.B. Jordan, a business man whose reputation extends from British Columbia to San Diego. The new managers express their intention of catering to public taste in plays, companies and prices. Messrs. Belasco & Doane intend to produce society comedies and dramas by the best authors, in fact, a whole round, according to their assertion, of the best dramatic works, both musical and literary of the present decade. The opening will be announced later and will probably be in the first week of September. Part-owner Doane indicated that the theatre reminded him of notable New York theatres in which he'd worked: "'The Alcazar is a closer counterpart to the Casino in New York than any playhouse I have ever played in. We have the plant here and we intend to give the people of this City something that they will consider worth their money.'" (See "Will Awake Once More," San Francisco Call, 08/07/1896, p. 16.)

Building Notes

This theatre preceeded the Alcazar #2 built at the corner of .Sutter and Steiner Streets.

Demolition

The masonry structure of the Alcazar Theatre #1 was weakened in the San Francisco Earthquake of 04/18/1906, and its interior burned in the fires that swept the city over the next two days. Its charred walls were razed in 12/1906. (See "Will Raze Alcazar Walls," San Francisco Call, Vol. 101, No. 21, 12/21/1906, p. 11)

PCAD id: 11776