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Show A GREAT SHOW TOWN. When tho assertion Is mado that Salt Lako is a great show town, it Is dono without mental reservation, or oven an Inclination to exaggerate. By "show town" Is meant a city keen to appreciate theatrical amusements and their attendant feature of diversion. diver-sion. Unllko many other religious denominations, de-nominations, a great portion of Salt Lako's population, tho Mormons, ro-gard ro-gard a theatre as an institution absolutely abso-lutely necessary for their proper diversion. di-version. This condition alono creates a larger field for theatric amusement than obtains oven in larger cities elsewhere. else-where. Today Salt Lako City has theatres the-atres which cater to first-class attractions attrac-tions only, others confined exclusively to vaudeville, and still others in which melodrama is tho principal feature. Thoro aro already four theatres successfully suc-cessfully running nnd two more will be opened for tho coming fall season. Six theatres in a city of tho size of Salt Lako speak well for tho metropolitan activity of tho city and tho amusement amuse-ment craving of its people. While the city is situated so far west of the great populous districts of tho cast, it might bo thought that llrst-class companies com-panies could not afford to visit hero. If It woro a question of population nlono, such might bo tho enso. But fortunately for Salt Lako, Us position on tho great transcontinental lines of ralway Insures visits from all tho loading theatrical companies, either going to or returning from California nnd the Pnclflc coaiU. During tho season sea-son just closing, this city has beon visited by such well known professionals profes-sionals as Mrs. Flsko, Kyrlo Bellow, Mrs. Leslie Carter, Ethel Barrymore. Maude Adams, Wllllo Coller, John Drew, E. II. Sothorn, and Julia Marlowe. Mar-lowe. In tho music world wo havo had Sousa's band, Creatoro's band, Ysayo, tho violinist, the Conrlcd Metropolitan Opera company, Molba, tho noted singer, nnd many other people favorably favor-ably known In the theatrical and musical musi-cal worlds. Charles Frohman, tho great Now York manager, regards Salt Lako with especial favor, and the attractions ho introduces to Broadway, he also, during the courso of n season, introduces, to tho Utah metropolis. If it's the cream of theatric amusement amuse-ment you want, If you desiro to see the great stars who dazzlo London and Now York, If you want to seo tho very best offorings of tho foot-lights, all you havo to do is to becomo ono of Salt Lako's population and havo the price of a ticket in your pocket. Another featuro which conduces largely to our ability to supply audiences for our theatres, Is tho fact that Salt Lake is a groat stopping placo for tourists and a city whoro stnto nnd other conventions conven-tions nro hold. With a largo floating population, such as Is created from theso sources, tho theatre affords not only a convenient but a .necessary means of amusement. "Strangers within tho gates" of a city go to our theatres, often for tho good reason that they- can hero seo what they aro denied at homo the best professional talent from Now York and London. Often a groat operatic or oxtravaganza company jumps from tho east to tho Pacific coast, but rarely Indeed do they pass tho doors of this city. Klaw and Erlangor's celebrated "Mothor Gooso" company is a case In point. In point of numbers and cost of transportation, this was tho most oxpenslvo theatric company ovor seen In tho west. It traveled a thousand miles before reaching us from the coast and another thousand after leaving leav-ing us for tho enst two thousand i miles .over tho rails, with only Salt Lake between, considered a good enough town to bo worthy of consideration. consid-eration. "Mother Gooso" played hero a whole week at advanced prices to tremendous business. Consider tho entire map of the United States west' of tho Mississippi river, and, while you will find somo larger cities, you will not find a town where tho footlights shino on more persistent and enthusiastic audiences, and tho box ofllco returns aro more generous to tho managers. |