Folder: S.F. Districts-Chinatown-Theater.
Newscopy: "San Francisco, California... of the 21,000 theatres in the United States, there is probably none so unique as the Chinese Theatre located on Grant Avenue, in San Francisco. The manager, performers, stage hands, and musicians are Chinese, and entire companies are brought to San Francisco from Canton and Shanghai to appear in the plays which are presented nightly, from 7:00 until after midnight. Back stage, at first glance, seems little different from hundreds of other playhouses. There are ropes, pulleys, props, and the general air of theatrical life. But closer inspection fails to reveal the variety and numbers of curtains and stage sets seen in American theatres. In this respect the Chinese are strangely different from the occidental race, with its flair for gorgeous sets and back-drops. The property rooms in the Chinese playhouse are veritable treasure vaults of richly embroidered gowns, capes, dresses and robes.".
Newscopy (continued): "The wardrobe of the Chinese Theater on Grant Avenue is valued at more than $50,000, and many individual gowns are worth more than two thousand dollars. They are all hand-made in China, and many contain silver embroidery. All are picturesque and vari-colored. All of the histrionic ability of the actors is brought into play during a performance. For hours they continue their monologues and dialogues, occasionally leaving the stage, only to return in a short time, bedecked in a more pretentious costume than before. The entire play often takes months to present, each night being a continuation. A performance is never repeated, and if ardent chinese theatre-goers desire to witness the complete play, it is necessary to arrive promptly at seven o'clock each night of the week. Leon Bo Lun, Chinese actress, is shown above being helped into her costume - one of many gorgeous costumes used in the play."
