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Show The National Enterprise, May 25, 1977 Page two Gaslights final curtain call comes as a surprise by Sheri Poe and Tom Horton Enterprise Staff Writers An idea spawned among the of Columbia ivy columns University two years ago has left a trail of bad debts and broken promises through Salt Lake City. It was just an ordinary busi- ness failure... assuming any business failure can be called ordinary... but its suddenness and other coincidental circumstances left many people wondering. The Gaslight Dinner Theater left debts totaling at least $126,388.47 among a dozen or more creditors. Jeffery Thompson, attorney for the defunct theater, has met with them as well as potential buyers and financial backers and says he "can't paint a very rosy picture" of Gas- lights future. The theater failed for just about any reason one cares to name, depending on whos in the spotlight at the time: Attorney Thompson says, We bent over backwards trying to fulfill the obligations of the theater, but the per- formers' salaries were just too high and the audience was too sparse." Simply poor management were plenty of customers, as we know from their advance ticket sales. But my gut opinion is, it was simply poor man- agement." Gregory Brown, of the Salt Lake County attorneys fraud The Gaslight says, management showed circumstances symptomatic of criminal fraud. But wre are just beginning our investigation." unit, Massarsky was compulsive and inconsistent," according to a former employee. (A co-own- er) The owners refuse to comment on why the theater failed. Justin Barton and E. Vaud Massarsky came to Salt Lake City after their gradua- tion from Columbia and formed Barton and Vaud Corp. to get started in the dinner theater business. The two borrowed what Zions First National Bank will only identify as "a sum," put it together with an unknown amount of their own capital, and opened shop on May 28, 1976, one year ago. mid-five-figu- re We thought the dinner theater idea was a good one," comments a bank official. However, we might have reconsidered the loan if we had known another dinner theater. Tiffanys Attic, was planning to open about the Gaslight operators found the cost of doing business very e high. Thompson says stars were paid as much as $5,000 a week, provided cars and housed in luxury. Producers and directors were routinely flown in from New York City and put up in the Hotel Newhouse. Expenses out of hand," he simply got adds. big-nam- The management apparently knew the operation was in trouble weeks before it acWe tried to tually folded. change the operation into a working, successful thing until the last minute," Thompson explains, and upon re- theater with hopes of theater would not open the next day. He says the decision had been unexpected. ganizing and reopening. I'm afraid people are going to think twice about opening a new dinner theater in this town," he adds. The Gaslight's competition. Tiffanys Attic, had closed just a week earlier, with its management d about two very so called arson fires and what calls one spokesperson harassment preceding the last drama there. The Gaslight bank account is empty," according to a bank official, and most of the theaters equipment was leased or being purchased through a security agreement which protects the sellers interests. With no assets so far identified, creditors say they are reluctant to force close-mouthe- bankruptcy proceedings. Were bound to lose," says Among the Gaslight's creditors are Zions First National Bank, approximately $50,000; Et A1 Advertising, $21,000; counsel for one major creditor. Restaurant and Store Thompson is still trying to find financial backing for the alizing it wouldnt work, closed immediately. We gave it all the chance we could." Two weeks before the end, associate producer Mike Heaton was scouting town for a new ad agency to handle the Gaslight account. The theater was also negotiating to hire a new box office manager. Jiff? at COMMERCIAL DISPLAY 138 EAST 300 SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111 Final curtain call Mr. Executive Host: The last curtain call came on May 7th, when producer Adam Gregor announced to One call will deliver an elegant theme party -complete! We can even furnish the Butler. You - relax and enjoy your guests. employees backstage the According to Assistant state general Dave consumer protection, There Schwendiman, in charge of Cost high Once the curtain ivent up. Expansion will proceed at 0. C. Tanner office O.C. Tanner Jewelry is undergoing a $900,000 expansion at its office and production site at 1930 So. State St. This is the sixth expansion at the factory since 1966. begins on the second-stor- y addition and workers reinforced the existing roof to accommodate the extra weight. Blackner added the concrete Boyd Blackner, architect, said contractor Joel Anderson is constructing a $700,000 second-stor- y addition over present offices at the site. A $200,000 addition to office facilities is also under construction. Both projects are scheduled for completion at the first of the year. Blackner designed the already completed $1 million warehouse on the Tanner grounds and expects the building to be converted to factory facilities in the next expansion phase, already in the planning stage. k He said the current d project features a atrium for employee and visitor use. The atrium is being built to enclose an existing fountain at the rear of the factory building. fast-trac- steel-enforce- construction d features heat recyclers as well as heavy insulation for energy conservation. THE NATIONAL Enterprise Subscriptions S24.00 per year 50 Cents Per Copy 891300 The National Enterprise is published weekly by the National Enterprise Publishing Company, Inc., 500 Continental Bank Bldg., P.O. Box 11778, Pioneer Station, Salt Lake City, Utah 84147. (801)5330556 Second Class Postage Paid in Salt Lake City. Utah R. GEORGE GREGERSEN Publisher ALENEE. BENTLEY Editor MARY McMILLAN GABER ' Editor Managing glass-enclose- Business is uninterrupted at the factory as construction TOM HORTON DEANAISUP Staff VWiters R. PASSEY Creative Director KRISTOPHER IF THE EGYPTIANS HAD KNOWN ABOUT CONCRETE, THEY WOULD HAVE USED IT. long lasting 'durable no maintenance better resaleHower insurance We have 50 years experience in the concrete business. Both the buildings we construct and the materials we sell will last through the ages. PETER HARRISON Production Manager Opinions expressed by columnists herein ve not necessarily the opinion or policy of the National Enterprise. 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