One of the most astonishing theatrical productions ever conceived in San Francisco was “The Passion.” It was the story of Christ’s martyrdom; it traced the whole sequence of historical events leading to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Lucky Baldwin and his theater manager, Tom Maguire, took a chance and decided to give “The Passion” a lavish production at the Grand Opera House, the only stage in town big enough to contain this biblical epic. In one scene, a hundred mothers were on stage with their babies in their arms. In another scene, Joseph and Mary came down from the mountainside followed by a flock of real sheep.
The city’s clergy claimed the dramatization sacrilegious. Theater critics deemed the play’s dialogue “polysyllable drivel.” San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance forbidding performances that depicted the life or death of Jesus Christ. (Order #1493) This law actually remained on the books until 1938, when it was finally repealed. “The Passion” closed on March 13, 1879 after 8 performances.
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Carol Libby and Karen Hou
Carol Libby & Karen Hou
Arcadia Historical Society