Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1921 Thomas G. Moses traveled from Chicago to San Francisco for a large project. He wrote, “After four hard weeks of hustling, we got the big show ready… the big Shrine show opened October 17th and it was certainly a big hit. Thousands could not get near the building.”
Moses was referring to the San Francisco Shrine Circus and Arabian Fete that ran from October 17 to October 25, 1921. The program was changed nightly and included exhibitions by wire and trapeze artists, contortionists, juggler, acrobats, Japanese jugglers, hoop roller, Spanish dancers, lion tamers, and Hawaiian singers and dancers (“San Francisco Chronicle,” 2 Oct 1921, page 6). Popularity contests were also held, with the crowning of a Queen and selection of the most beautiful baby boy and girl. The “San Francisco Chronicle” announced, “There is entertainment to suit all tastes. The first night’s vaudeville show was one of the many thrills not the least of which was the tight rope performer’s offering on a rope stretched over the heads of the persons on the floor from balcony to balcony” (San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Oct 1921 page 13).
The prelude to the Shrine circus included a large parade, winding from Islam Temple on Geary Street to the Auditorium, by way of Geary, Kearny and March Street. One of the parade floats was a “Sphinx” mounted on a truck that announced the dates of the circus, October 17 to 25. Fed fezzes, red coats, and white pantaloons were work by members of the Islam band and patrol, leading the way for the officers of Islam Temple. The parade also featured “1000 visiting Shriners, the Athens Temple divan with its band and two patrols from Oakland. The “San Francisco Chronicle” also described, “The “caged novices,” six men in grotesque costumes with their shrill shouts and weird antics followed” Charlie Chaplin, a group of circus performers and a menagerie exhibit of mountain cats and lions brought up the rear of the procession” (18 Oct 1921, page 13).
An article headline in the “San Francisco Examiner” announced, “20,000 Attend Shrine Circus in Auditorium,” reporting, “The Shrine Circus opened at the Exposition Auditorium here last night with an attendance of more than 20,000 persons. The circus, which is for the 1922 session fund will continue through next Tuesday. The decorative scheme of the interior of the auditorium represents an Arabian village” (Oct. 18, 1921, page 14).
The “San Francisco Chronicle” described the interior on opening night: “The Auditorium has been transformed into an Arabian village, populated and conducted by hustling Shriners and their friends. The decorations are gorgeous. Balloons of many colors are strung around the balcony. The many booths housing the concessions, where one pays good money gladly for the cause, have facings of Arabian architecture. In the main floor is a kiosk for musicians. Atop it is a glowing ball of facets which reflect a variety of brilliant colors when played upon by spotlights” (18 Oct 1921 page 13).
The “San Francisco Examiner,” described: “Color, color everywhere and so many San Franciscans inside and outside the Civic Auditorium that you couldn’t get within a hundred feet of the building. That was the situation at 9 o’clock last night when the big street parade of the Shrine Circus reached the Auditorium. They say the Shriners sold 100,000 tickets for the big show – apparently the arm of ticket buyers all turned out for the big night. Inside – if you were lucky enough to get inside – was a glittering midway which circled the building. At one end, on the stage, the circus took place. The Shriners in their colorful costumes of red and green and blue and gold and every other hue in and out of the rainbow, paraded around the midway. Then the show started, Mexican acrobats, tumblers, high wire artists and clowns in rapid succession…More than $20,000 was spent in transforming the Civic Auditorium into an Oriental City. Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine had done its work well.” The purpose of the Shrine Circus was to raise $250,000 for the entertainment of the Imperial Council of the Shrine which met in San Francisco the following June” (Oct. 18, 1921, page 3).
To be continued…
