Show I I i lE 9 J I By HAROLD H. H JENSON I II I SALT LAKE THEATRES THEATRE'S HISTORIC PROPERTIES 1 I I Y I Have Ha you ou ever er been underground at the Salt Lake theatre and visited the cellar property room wherein are housed some sortie of the most I I historic relics of ot theatrical days days' If It not you ou have missed something I s especially if you ou are Interested In dramatics for tor a a. wealth of material I lies Hes burled buried beneath the grand old stage It Is very likely that at some somo sometime sometime time when Manager G George orge D D. per Ps-per or Carl E E. E Reynolds well known I property man are not too bus busy they may arrange for tor your visit to these catacombs of ot art Before beginning the main story let it be known that Manager celebrated his twenty fifth year ear as manager of ot the house last Jast I Monday and Mr 11 Reynolds Renolds has been associated d with the theatre nearly as long hence both are well wen qualified to t tell ll of or its mysteries and histories A Story Underneath Underneath the parquet and Immense stage there is what could couldwell couldwell well vell be termed another stor story a a. stor story in fact as ns well wen as words Massive logs put together with wooden pegs as there were no nails in that daj day dav It h 1 ma maj nal e e u up uI a foundation that still s stands ands the test of or time any pieces bf of ark have been chipped aw y b by curiosity seekers One log alone m measures about three feet leet in diameter A maker of ot violins offered a large sum um for this wood alone for It H is so so well seasoned This wording has a double meaning Third Oldest Playhouse use It is a a. well known fact tE that Utah's famed playhouse e is the third oldest in the United SUites States still sun standing the old ld Walnut Street theatre in Philadelphia and the old Boston theatre holding first place honors One can well believe this when viewing the interior from beneath which has never before so far tar as known been told about President Brigham Young and Architect William P P. Folsom proved that they were Vere fifty years ahead of ot their time when it came to ventilation The same s system stem is In vogue toda today except that the air all I in inlets In ets are of ot tin instead of wood but on exactly the same plan and in inthe inthe th the same places The Tho place where gas was made for tor spotlights and t the machine still stands in its corner in the basement where it served 11 even after electricity came Now ow one comes directly and sees the stairway l leading ading down through which magicians and others make their marvelous I I disappearances which however is not so wonderful to see through when explained The Tho Corsican trap is another feature which is 19 still ready for tor use and allows for tor rollers for such races as s take place in Ben Hur Hurt for tor which it was especially constructed years ago Enter the Sanctuary Then the padlock is la taken off oU the sanctuary and one enters the theold theold theold old property room nearly stumbling over o a zinc Image of ot Venus do Milo After making due apologies especially to lo ones one's own gentle genUe body which received the worse bruise from the contact ones one's ees eyes rove ro aro around md the room One sees an old sewing machine of ot ancient type I on which certain parties used to lo take relays relas to lo get costumes through on time A spinning wheel brought across the plains is still sUII in good goodstate goodstate state stale of ot preservation One of the first organs ever brought to Utah litah Is also on though slightly out of tune is worthy of or a a. better belter place for exhibition Wooden Wonders Do you ou remember in old time plays plas how tho the conquering hero alwa always s 's entered holding a n. shield and spear pear In pioneer da days day's s 's these shields were made of ot paper and several are still on view though somewhat dilapidated Then there is fhe jho he solid wood banquet set In those times there was nothing on hand but wood with which to lo make such utensils but the result fooled Cooled most of ot the public Many an actor was made unsteady on his feet teet drinking from a 1 solid wood bottle of ot wine This is Just dust the tho beginning of wooden wonders for ono one is tempted to pick a rosy red apple from a tray only to find its it's wood One sees the marks of ot the pioneer lathe and chisel upon close examination but the finished deception is remarkable One of the few horsehair furniture sets In existence Is also a n. treasured relic and would g a n. fancy lancy price from a n. connoisseur A solid wooden orchestra chair for musicians was first used which is mighty comfortable to salin sit sal in In and the tho clever manner In which they made large logs into solId I pieces of ot furniture Is la a a. tribute to pioneer originality Later came single chairs with red leather upholstering and today one ono finds com corn corni comI combination I folding chairs in red plush in use which marks the progress In the te chair industry I President Youngs Young's bedstead also allo occupies an important place In Inthe Inthe inthe the hall haU of ot relics In those days rawhide was tied across pegs as a's ns no I springs ln I were available I Maude Adams' Adams Cradle I Then one leaves IM the tho dark dingy Y bowels of ot the earth and comes come a upstairs to civilization to another property room Just as historic I Pictures of ot stars of ot today and yesterday esterday are pasted around the walls Alter tel Aster opening the barrier one partakes of ot the odor of or mothballs and 1 properties ripe with age each of which has a a. history Maude Adams' Adams I cradle la is the prized possession for tor or herein the famous stage artist made her debut being carried on stage and placed therein as the star atar of or i A fish lIb made b by hand The Lost Bab Baby y and dirt covered with age I and careless handling Is the second most prized relic of ot Manager for tor this formed a property properly in the first production at the opening of ot the theatre March 8 8 1862 when The Pride of ot the Market was WAI wast played Visit to tho Flies I Leaving Mother Earth a visit to the flies tiles In LII taken In other words to th the gallery bov above where where are are Ar found countless ropes for the I scenery drops drop and curtains curtain The e main curtain is still UlI wound up tip b by hand by a pulley y and windlass A tragedy took look place in the flies files I when Jim Livingston tired of ot life lite and disappointments dl during the playing of or Bonnie Brier Bu Bush ush h b by William Stoddard hanged him him- s self L Many Dressing Rooms The theatre al also o hot holds a record for tOr the number of or tire rooms room for tor t ft twenty individual rooms are found Cound and the green room wherein stars since the beginning f of theatrical days dAya past put and present have been housed has buss a history all alt it Its It own Two super rooms room for lor su supernumeraries supernumeraries super super- r- r I are available wherein fifty can be bt accommodated In each h room which make makes It po possible ibl to take care of or the largest companies ever assembled Even en the curtains curtain and find scenery of or bygone days dAYI Uy still have hare their coveted places plates One curtain The Th Return of or the Victorious Fleet Is le leI still till almost a as good an as new and oc occupied Its ItA place of prominence for tor I years year ear It If pro properties rte could talk each tach could tell ten a t tAte tale ie but Inasmuch All MII ahey ahe cannot the these the few nv sidelight may throw new ne light on past put relics Uc which are art now no but memories I a better belter place and should be hf housed hound at the Deseret l museum In iii the Temple block which may be done |