Page:The Tourist's California by Wood, Ruth Kedzie.djvu/83

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CHAPTER III THEATRES AND CONCERTS FESTIVALS SPORTS Theatres and Concerts. MONTEREY, the " Old Pacific Capital," is notable for many first things in the history of American California the first flag-raising, the first Eng- lish school, the first newspaper, the first Congress, and the first American theatre. Richard H. Dana, Jr., recorded in 1835 that Monterey was " a great place for cock-fighting, fandangos and various kinds of amusements and knavery." Spanish plays were given in a long, low adobe which still remains a Monterey land- mark. Jenny Lind was one of the first to ap- pear in the theatre of the American intruders who in 1846 seized the Mexican seat of Government for their own. In 1847 she was heard in concert there. The Eagle Theatre at Sacramento had great re- nown among the miners. Thrice a week perform- ances were given in a tent. San Francisco had in 1852 nine theatres five American, one German, one Spanish, one French, 61