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Guide to the California First Theater Collection
455.1  
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Table of contents What's This?

Collection Contents

Box Boxes 1-4

Series I:  Administrative records, 1939-1999

Physical Description: 45 folders in 4 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series contains records of the California First Theatre State Historic Monument and State Parks documentation of visitors, production attendance, weather, and historical collections provenance. In addition, this series contains one of the significant documents in the building's history, the original bill of sale for the land to Jack Swan, signed by both Swan and Marcelino Escobar, Alcalde of Monterey, 1844, and a reproduction of the abstract of title. An interesting anecdote by Swan, "My Old Spectacles," in autograph, is also in this series.
Box 1, Folder 1-16

Warden's weekly report

Box 1, Folder 1

1937

Box 1, Folder 2

1938

Box 1, Folder 3

1939

Box 1, Folder 4

1940

Box 1, Folder 5

1941

Box 1, Folder 6

1942

Box 1, Folder 7

1943

Box 1, Folder 8

1944

Box 1, Folder 9

1945

Box 1, Folder 10

1946

Box 1, Folder 11

1947

Box 1, Folder 12

1948

Box 1, Folder 13

1949

Box 1, Folder 14

1950

Box 1, Folder 15

1951

Box 1, Folder 16

1952

Box 2, Folder 1-14

Supervisor's weekly report

Box 2, Folder 1

1953

Box 2, Folder 2

1954

Box 2, Folder 3

1955

Box 2, Folder 4

1956

Box 2, Folder 5

1957

Box 2, Folder 6

1958

Box 2, Folder 7

1959

Box 2, Folder 8

1960

Box 2, Folder 9

1961

Box 2, Folder 10

1962

Box 2, Folder 11

1963

Box 2, Folder 12

1964

Box 2, Folder 13

1965

Box 2, Folder 14

1966

Box 3, Folder 1-8

Supervisor's weekly report

Box 3, Folder 1

1974

Box 3, Folder 2

1975

Box 3, Folder 3

1976

Box 3, Folder 4

1977

Box 3, Folder 5

1978

Box 3, Folder 6

1979

Box 3, Folder 7

1980

Box 3, Folder 8

1981

Box 4, Folder 1

Abstract of Title (reproduction).

Box 4, Folder 2

Original bill of sale for land to Jack Swan, 1844.

Box 4, Folder 3

Manuscript essay by Swan, "My Old Spectacles," 1874.

Box 4, Folder 4

Gift agreements and loan documentation.

Box 4, Folder 5

List of First Theatre productions under Denny-Watrous Management, 1937-1959.

Box 4, Folder 6

List of First Theatre productions, 1937-1962, prepared by Vera Stewart.

Box 4, Folder 7

Merienda schedule, 1949.

Box 4, Folder 8

Supervisory Practices Course SP-1 study guide, Dept. of Parks and Recreation, January, 1966. Robert Reese, trainee.

Box 4, Folder 9

Visitor Register, 2/27/1927-8/11/1928.

Box Box 5

Series II:  Correspondence, 1848-1958

Physical Description: 2 folders in 1/2 box

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content:

This small series highlights correspondence related to the California First Theatre, in particular that related to gifts received as part of the historical collections.
Box 5, Folder 1

Correspondence - Isabel Hartigan with Lucille Lane, 1948.

Box 5, Folder 2

Gift Correspondence, 1958.

Box Box 5

Series III:  Ephemera, 1880-1972

Physical Description: 14 folders in 1/2 box

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content:

This series contains ephemeral items such as performance programs and tickets from the California First Theatre, and other interesting theatrical and festival memorabilia from San Francisco, Monterey, and Chicago.
 

Subseries i:  First Theatre ephemera, 1944-1972

Physical Description: (5 folders)

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains only California First Theatre-related ephemera.
Box 5, Folder 3

Hand-written song lyrics for two songs, n.d.:

All for a Woman's Love, The Black Sheep Loves You Best of All.

Box 5, Folder 4-6

Performance programs

Box 5, Folder 4

1944, 1959

Box 5, Folder 5

1960-1962

Box 5, Folder 6

1963-1972

Box 5, Folder 7

Performance ticket from "The Unkissed Bride"

 

Subseries ii:  Non-First Theatre ephemera, 1880-1962

Physical Description: (9 folders)

Scope and Content Note

This series contains a number of interesting ephemeral items from other performance houses and entertainment venues
Box 5, Folder 8

1939 Golden Gate International Exposition brochure and admission ticket.

Box 5, Folder 9

Kirby's Opera House (Chicago, IL) performance program, 1880s

Box 5, Folder 10

Lake County promotional brochure, n.d.

Box 5, Folder 11

Leavitt's Bush St. Theatre (San Francisco, CA) performance program, 1885

Box 5, Folder 12

Monterey, CA event and informational brochures: Hotel Del Monte,n.d.; Merienda celebration, 1945; Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West Admission Day Celebration program, 1954; State Historical Monuments at Monterey brochure, n.d.

Box 5, Folder 13

Orpheum Theatre (San Francisco, CA) 10th anniversary souvenir booklet, 1897.

Box 5, Folder 14

Picture post cards, various Monterey area views: Hotel Del Monte, Monterey cypress trees, California First Theatre, etc. n.d.

Box 5, Folder 15

Tivoli Opera House (San Francisco, CA) performance program, 1899

Box 5, Folder 16

Zepeda's Mexican restaurant (Monterey, CA) menu, 1962

Box Boxes 6-11

Series IV:  Olio Performance Sheet Music, 1840s-1940

Physical Description: 47 folders in 6 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series contains approximately 150 pieces per box of an extensive collection of American sheet music. Date range spans 1840-1940.
Not arranged in any particular order.
Box 6

Box 1 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 7 folders
Box 7

Box 2 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 6 folders
Box 8

Box 3 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 9 folders
Box 9

Box 4 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 8 folders
Box 10

Box 5 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 8 folders
Box 11

Box 6 of 61840s-1940

Physical Description: 9 folders
Box Box 12

Series V:  Oversize Materials, 1903-

Physical Description: 5 folders in 1 box

Scope and Content Note

This series contains materials larger than the standard letter format that need to be stored flat. Includes a nice watercolor of the California First Theatre, maker unidentified.
Box 12, Folder 1

Periodical: California Ladies Magazine , December, 1903.

Box 12, Folder 2

Photograph, mounted: Interior of California First Theatre, WPA photo series taken by Sibyl Anikeeff.

Box 12, Folder 3

Photoreproduction: Newspaper article re: Lola Montez residence in Grass Valley, CA. n.d.

Box 12, Folder 4

Promotional brochure: Monterey Chamber of Commerce re: Monterey Peninsula recreation and living. n.d.

Box 12, Folder 5

Watercolor on paper, unframed: California First Theatre. Unidentified maker. n.d.

Box Boxes 13-15

Series VI:  Photographs, 1852-1890

Physical Description: 7 folders and 172 items in 3 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series contains all photographs and photographic material in the collection. Contains a large number of stereopticon cards of various Monterey, other California and European views.
Box 13

Subseries i:  First Theatre related photographs, n.d.

Physical Description: (2 folders)

Scope and Content Note

In this subseries are a pair of audience photographs and two photos used as props in productions.
Box 13, Folder 1

Photographs

Physical Description: (4 items)
Box 13, Folder 2

Photoreproduction, "Lola coming!" political cartoon

Physical Description: (1 item)
Box 13-15

Subseries ii:  Non-First Theatre related photographs, 1852-1890

Physical Description: (3 folders in Box 13 and 2 additional boxes)

Scope and Content Note

None of these photographs are directly related to the First Theatre, but many do portray the surrounding environment of the Monterey Peninsula.
Box 13, Folder 3

2 mounted albumen prints: Unidentified man, n.d.; View of San Francisco waterfront, 1852.

Box 13, Folder 4

13 card-mounted albumen prints, various subjects, incl. Pacific Grove, Del Monte, Monterey, Mission San Miguel.

Box 13, Folder 5

Souvenir photogravure album: cast of Trilby, London stage production, 1895.

Box 14, Group 1

Cartes de visite and cabinet card photographs

Scope and Content Note

43 cartes de visite and cabinet card photographs, various subjects, including late 19th century theatrical personalities in San Francisco, along with various San Francisco views such as interior views of the Palace Hotel, Mark Hopkins mansion, Stanford mansion, and other California and non-California locales.
Box 14, Group 2

Stereopticon cards

Scope and Content Note

55 stereopticon cards, various views, including Yosemite Valley and other California locations, European and Asian landmarks.
Box 15, Group 3

More stereopticon cards

Scope and Content Note

74 stereopticon cards, various views, including Yosemite Valley and other California locations and non-California locations, European and Asian landmarks.
Box Box 16

Series VII:  Publicity, 1874-1965

Physical Description: 12 folders in 1 box

Scope and Content Note

This series contains periodicals, some containing articles related to the California First Theatre, others with articles relating to Monterey in general.
Arranged alphabetically by title of publication and then chronologically if more than one issue.
Box Box 16, section 1

Subseries i:  First Theatre-related publications, 1937-1962

Physical Description: (2 folders)

Scope and Content Note

This subseries contains multiple copies of an article about the reopening of the California First Theatre and a selection of newsclippings.
Box 16, Folder 1

Californian, The. V:29. August 11,1937

Physical Description: Six copies.
Box 16, Folder 2

Assorted newsclippings, 1937-1962.

Physical Description: 10 items.
Box Box 16, section 2

Subseries ii:  Non-First Theatre-related publications, 1874-1965

Physical Description: (9 folders)

Scope and Content Note

Publications in this subseries do not contain any articles that mention the California First Theatre and were likely used as props.
Box 16, Folder 3

American West, The. I:1, Winter 1965.

Buick Magazine. II:6, September 1936.

Box 16, Folder 4

Californian, The. V:10, March 31, 1937.

Box 16, Folder 5

Days Doings, The. XIII:333, October 10, 1874.

Box 16, Folder 6

Film Year, The. 1949.

Box 16, Folder 7

MotorLand. XXXII:4. April 1933; XXXV:2. August 1934.

Box 16, Folder 8

"The Mid-Spring Stage - A Season Still Active." New York Times, The. Sunday, May 13, 1928.

Box 16, Folder 9

Noticias del Puerto de Monterey . XIII:4. December 1969. Monterey: Monterey History and Art Association.

Saludos amigos! City of Monterey: Office of the Mayor. n.d.

Box 16, Folder 10

Rambler, The. I:8, March 1936.

Box 16, Folder 11

Theatre World. Vols. II-V. 1945-46 - 1949-50.

Box 16, Folder 12

Women's City Club Magazine . I:9 October 1927. San Francisco: Women's City Club.

Box Boxes 17-18

Series VIII:  Scrapbooks, 1870-1960

Physical Description: 10 items in 2 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series contains scrapbooks of accumulated news clippings and theatrical advertisements from New York City, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, along with a scrapbook of California First Theatre playbills from 1938-1960.
Box 17, scrapbook 1

455-63-6  FT Scrapbook of various New York theatrical advertisements and announcements, 1889 - 1899, including the Metropolitan Opera House and other prominent 19th century performance houses.

Box 17, scrapbook 2

455-97-6  FT Scrapbook of California First Theatre playbills from 1938-1960, incl. handwritten list of productions on rear pages through 1963 and typewritten list through 1965.

Box 18

Empty scrapbook covers

Physical Description: 3 items
Box 18, scrapbook 4

Scrapbook remnants of few pages and no covers chronicling the history of the California First Theatre, productions and restoration (no dates).

Physical Description: (2 items)
Box 18, book 5

455-63-2  FT Scrapbook of song lyrics, newsclippings, advertisements and envelope of playbills from San Francisco performance houses, 1894 - 1898.

Box 18, book 6

455-63-3  FT Broadside advertising sale of livestock, 1870.

Box 18, book 7

455-58-5  FT Scrapbook of theatre advertisements and playbills, Virginia City and Boston areas, 1878 - 1883.

Box 18, book 8

455-62-1  FT Scrapbook of theatre advertisements and playbills, Chicago and surrounding metropolitan area, 1913.

Box Box 19

Series IX:  Scripts, Scores, Musical Instruction and Part Books, 1855-1943

Physical Description: 11 folders in 1 box

Scope and Content Note

This series contains an assortment of play scripts, musical scores, and music instruction books with dates ranging from 1855 to 1943. Approximately half of the items date before 1900. It is possible that some of the musical selections in these books were used for the Olio performances after the plays presented at the Theatre.
In 11 folders arranged chronologically.
Box 19, Folder 1

Rachel, Mlle. Adrienne Lecouvreur. New York: Darcie and Corbyn, 1855.

Box 19, Folder 2

Newburgh Musical Bulletin . II:1, January 1872.

Box 19, Folder 3

Peters Musical Monthly. XIV:85, September 1874.

Box 19, Folder 4

Sherman and Hyde's Musical Review . IV:1, January 1876; IV:7, July 1877; IV:9, September 1877.

Box 19, Folder 5

455-58-15 to  455-58-19 5 play scripts, plus 1 Samuel French catalog, 1880-81.

Box 19, Folder 6

Bower, Harry A. Imperial Method for the Drum. Cincinnati: John Church Co., 1898.

Box 19, Folder 7

Loeschhorn, A. Loeschhorn's Progressive Piano Studies. New York: T.B. Harms and Co., n.d.

Box 19, Folder 8

Dodge, May Hewes and John Wilson. In the Garden of the Shah. New York (?): Willis Music Company, 1920.

Box 19, Folder 9

U.S. School of Music. Home Study Lessons for Piano. New York: U.S. School of Music, 1925.

Box 19, Folder 10

Part book: Song, "Taking a Chance on Love" by Duke, Fetter, and Latouche. New York: Leo Feist, 1940.

Box 19, Folder 11

Big Song Magazine. III:4, May 1943.