Bernhardt made her first American Farewell Tour in 1905 – 1906 , the first of four farewell tours she made to the US , Canada , and Latin America , with her new managers , the Shubert brothers . She attracted controversy and press attention when , during her 1905 visit to Montreal , the Roman Catholic bishop encouraged his followers to throw eggs at Bernhardt , because she portrayed prostitutes as sympathetic characters . The US portion of the tour was complicated due to the Shuberts ' competition with the powerful syndicate of theater owners which controlled nearly all the major theaters and opera houses in the United States . The syndicate did not allow outside producers to use their stages . As a result , in Texas and Kansas City , Bernhardt and her company performed under an enormous circus tent , seating 4,500 spectators , and in skating rinks in Atlanta , Savannah , Tampa , and other cities . Her private train took her to Knoxville , Dallas , Denver , Tampa , Chattanooga , and Salt Lake City , then on to the West Coast . She could not play in San Francisco because of the recent 1906 San Francisco earthquake , but she performed across the bay in the Hearst Greek Theatre at the University of California at Berkeley , and gave a recital , titled '' A Christmas Night during the Terror '' , for inmates at San Quentin penitentiary
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Sarah Bernhardt