| Show OLD SAL SALT T LAKE THEATER WIDELY KNOWN AMONG OLD TIME STARS OF FOOTLIGHTS I I 7 I i i r- r t I t Ii g r t t I I ts t r t I t j Tc 1 I 4 J w 4 q- q I c i fr r r ti I ic R r J Lk L k I l ti I i w V I The old Salt Lake L. theater theater now now just a memory Tho The upper I photo shows the historic during the period of or its construction construction con con- I lower Jower left as it looked during durin the height ht of its career and lower Jower right an interior view 7 World Famed Maude Adams Made First Appearance on Its Stage By Dr JAC JACK THOMAS Cathedral in the desert As such do George D. D man man- ager of the Salt Lake theater fox for more than 30 years actors from all aU sections of the world and thousands of or remember the stately state show show- house that gained nationwide fame lame In the 65 3 years ears of its existence at State and First South streets When wreckers tore down the massive massive mas mas- sive walls in 1928 they destroyed the he second oldest theater in the coun cairn tr try ry Only the Walnut Street theater in m Philadelphia Pa was older The people must ha e amusement as well as religion Brigham Youn said shortly after aUer the pioneers settled set et tied in the cil city so o he ordered plans drawn for the theater which was to tobe tobe be the largest building thus far attempted at at- ats tempted by the founders lounders of or Salt SaIL Lake The Theater as ao It was first named was wao dedicated March 8 1862 and from the start was considered a community house Laborers Get Passes Most l of or the workers were paid in n promises of or future tickets ticket Mr P pcr explains Those who remember the Grecian Grecian- Doric Done exterior of the theater its it par- par quette and four circles capable of seating 1500 per persons ons the elaborate ceiling and lacy bey filigree on boxes and proscenium probably little lilUe realise real ize ise the effort those features cost the pioneers Obtaining material was the chief difficult difficulty The railroad had not yet et I reached the city and purchases of nails and other supplies from the departing army of or General Johnson proved invaluable Early gatherings were lional Soup pails were brought in at times and sampled between acts One night a socially prominent woman owner of or the first set of or false teeth In n the eit city passed the plate plat around for tor the inspection of privileged friends Earl Early Programs Novel Early programs contained rules strange to modern playgoers Cash also merchandise grain and home manufactures received at cash prices in payment for tickets many stated Regular prices Babies in arms 10 extra was wao one way of eliminating the annoyance of or crying infants infant No persons policemen excepted carrying firearms or other weapons will be admitted Stran Strangers ers having no other place to deposit their arms can leave them with the treasurer at it athe atthe the he box office oUke who will check forand for forand or orand and return them to the owners at atthe atthe the close of or the performance was wasa a warning that of kept the treasurer treas treas- busy checking pistols The rho Big Ten a chorus of or the elder elder eld eld- eldr eld- eld er r daughters of ot Brigham Young was wasa a popular feature on early programs at the theater Mr 1 reports Despite Despite- the inconveniences of travel the first stock stars from the outside Mr and Mrs Selden Irwin reached here November 4 1803 1863 from train Denver From then on th the was frequently visited by outside companies com corn panics who gained in favor among Salt Lake theatergoers Few were the theatrical stars of or the last 50 years ears who did not perform at nl th the Salt Lake LakeI I th theater Those connected with the theater could boast the world famed d Maude Adams made her first sta stage e appearance appearance appear appear- ance here even though it was not her first speaking part She was a babe in Ia arms when her het mother Annie i j Adams a stock actress carried her onto the stage during a n performance of ot The Lost Child ChUd A highlight of th the theaters theater's history was the year fifty jubilee March 7 C co 0 o 11 II 1012 Invitations were Issued t to o persons who had attended the original performance following the dedication The celebration marked t the he last Jast appearance of or the Salt Lake Opera company compan with Mr l singing sing i In ing ng the title role of or Robin Hood |
