San Francisco, 1900, on Stage June 1, 2011

The theater of 1900 had no competitors for public amusement. Radio and phonograph had yet to be introduced, and moving pictures were not an individual form of entertainment, but usually part of a larger variety or vaudeville show. This exhibit is an introduction to this world, one where people interacted with each other for entertainment. The photographs, programs, and newspaper clippings used in this exhibit have been reproduced from originals in the collections of the Museum of Performance and Design; California Historical Society; the San Francisco Historical Center, San Francisco Public Library; and private collections.