Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Rare Books
Recollections of colorful El Dorado Street in early San José
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Rare Books
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Image not available
Manuscripts
This essay was read by Adams before the California Historical Society on April 8, 1890. Adams states that "the Stage is the mirror of mankind; the reflex of society." He begins with a poetic description of California, then relates the first days of paying entertainment in San Francisco, in the form of "Mr. Rowe's the first Circus." He describes the early city of San Francisco as he remembers it, and reports that the first concert in the city's history was given on June 22, 1849 by Stephen C. Massett. The first theater was The Eagle Theater, which opened in late 1849 as a covered tent, and the first performance was of "The Wife, or A Tale of Mantua" given on January 16, 1850, given by the Eagle Theater Company. Adams reminisces of theater manager Tom Maguire and the various theaters under his management, and of the Adelphi Theater, built in 1851. Adams reports that the French, Chinese, and Germans had their own performances as well, and that there was Spanish bullfighting and horse racing near the Mission Dolores. He writes of many performers, including Adelaide Neilson and Edwin Forrest. When the Metropolitan Theatre opened in 1853, it was lauded as "the most magnificent temple of histrionic art in America," according to Adams.
mssHM 19063
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Rare Books
1598
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Visual Materials
No old shelf mark. This map is an impression, possibly in flong, for a stereotype printing plate. Molten metal would be poured onto its surface to make the positive plate for printing. Map shows Eldorado National Forest, which was established in 1910; there are no major roads through the forest, so it is probably from the first half of the 20th century. Three dimensional map for printing plate production. Prime meridian: GM. Relief: no. Projection: Plane. Printing Process: Stereotype.
ephMPCALIF0174
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Rare Books
331010