Show IISTOHY I I I i 1 111 I OI p I DlLULX 151 I I I T I 111 lI I l i Production of Plays in the Old Bowery and Social Hall Beilldlrig of the Salt Lako Theato rActors i and I Actresses Who Became rarrou4 Therolr Pi N I NT Ol the interesting rr interest-ing features of the his I I 1t1 ry that has been I mule in the Icrntor now State of Utah J vka since its settlement in J the inemoi ible ejr I 1 I f iS47 when the noble I J Pioneers with their rl I scanty belongings decided 1 de-cided to make these 6 > mountain vales their future home has been that of the drum A trite Saying with President Presi-dent Young VMS Iht people I must hive miusements md in line with i that idea he was ever found utili7ing the opportunities tint I presented looking to this end He was not however the only one of the carly settlers who believed that the legitimate legiti-mate drum was not rally n source of imiftment but in able edue ilor of the people when properly duected This 1 Sallie i view pi I rv idetl the mind of many of the leading men at that tune lo the exlcnt tint hardly hid the fatigue f of the long jOlane leoss the plum leen forgotten when steps were liken looking f the erection of some sort ol a stiueture I suitable to the times that could be u > cd fir dramatic prodiietiom I Ihere always has been somt doubt I < to the due of the first drmuti II cd performance given JO in Utah but upon the minority of Mr Henry I P 1 Richards who was then md now is a resident of this citv mil who was a I member of the comp com-p my which presented it it is i stated that The Triumph ol Innocence r isese I 7 7 1171 I I 171 T I 1 4t t Ve I rli ka 1 iw J i UGli I V 4 1 I Rw 4 Z tA I il j I I ei 1 X I iql I r 1 WW I Will 6JV1J1 7 it I i I 11 v sax r 1iig v I I I 47 I I I I I 1 ZRI i y 1 n i l yll 14f I lt I I nb Jt7 tiv 1 4 J 11 I 111 ir f I I 11 I Ah I iTkr1An t IN I I z gi L I I I I = jf i O f Q t 1 F11 I K f 119 I 2 I I Q I 4 j r r I Wt I U Ittn 0 I r I t I I z e X 7t i j 4 Iyo 1 l i I I 1 I I 6 I I I i Pill 11 0 V t 44 I 11 L 1 I 4 I 1 2 I E M 1 4 4 x 11 I I r I q A i ri I 14i T 4 4t I J I 1 i I I 11 1 I i 0 I I I 1 4 I t r I I J I I I M I I i I Ifif W A I 44 tx I q 1141i 17i 11 I 4 1 tr rr 147 4 I i g ir IT f I 1 A I Lk IT i 11 ll 6 10 I 4 I UL411116M 12W l IN N i I 01 t z a I I T17 I I N i q I M I SALT LAM THUATRE I M hill Via givclI in tin Old BUll Iry m the v r w is the play from which the history tlj I tie tlrinn in bull ditts NVhILIILV1 Jlstiry of Lull sis Th oiii my wliieh give this pi met r perftinm vv is organized at the house of Ji scph I IIewood in the seventeenth ward with Robert Canpb as president Its other members being llenr P 1 Rielnida George Nebcl er W D 1 Young John L Smith ViIhun Glover John Ppcr I nsign Rich dipr 1 Blodgett William lldc I Mrs J L I Hewood Mrs Sarah I iwience Kimball atlll Miss i Sarah lliJhm The orchestra wn compo com-po cd of members of the Niuvo Brass bind Phil Mirgelts playing the cornet Shortly lifter tin Robert M icnrc VMS given U the sime plwe with the tl I following t cast I Macaltv John ICy Jacques L 001 it 4 l on = g IICe Vlow Mu hhrie Mis Orun Clemvnlna M I Judd With the appetite for dnim whetted by the performances given in the Old Bowery in 1850 1 and three jcirs after the arrival of the Pioneers it was the strong desire of President Young mil some of the prominent men tint a Temple of 1 hfpis I of more modern design should be erected and accordingly in 1852 the Social Hill I vv is built and on Jail ijth 1S53 the first dramatic performance was given m tint house the bill being Pizirro which vvis at that time and for years after alwivs t enthusiastically received whenever presented i The cut lit i cludi James Ferguson it I Rollo while John Kay impersonated Pi irro the rest of the cast being Joseph M S million us Alonzo U M 1 II irlow 11 C isn James W Cummings Anhbi James J Smith it High Priest t Philip Malgetts Sol iher Robert Campbell Old Peruvian Peru-vian Child II I I H Chvwm Jr Con Mm M 1 G Clawson Uviri Mrs Cori The mine given to the first dramatic I dra-matic eel was The I Musical md i Dramatic Association md it was i under I its auspices tint the I perf > r minr s in the OI 1 Hivvrrv were LIVCII This OJ i ani linn vv I Itr i umh u dd I 1v ill I 1 i Dramatic ailwWon and it II is I under ilautlieCl that the Social Hill vvn opened the orgamintioii continuing with some dnngc ih i the personnel until some time alter the opening of the Salt Inke Theater 1 in 1862 The old days of the stock company com-pany it the Social Hull I are vividly recalled In those who Ind the pleasure pleas-ure of attending the performinces given then The phcrs all give their serv ices free charge md i he iniisienns did likewise believing tint the appreciation of their efforts by tIll people was sufficient compensation lor the Hint spent in preparation and presenta lion The leading light in thentri cils in those das will Hiram li Chvvson who acquired his knowledge know-ledge of the stage under the tutorship tutor-ship of tint able Find distinguished actor M l T I A Lne and I it wis II t J Ij in lIvtl r II Llivvson I ml John T I Ciinc who were the moving spmts in pitMilme upon resident 1 Young to build the bill Inkt Theater I Miss Margaret Indl afterwards Mrs Margaret G Clawson will ever continue to figure is slit has done to the present tune as 0111 of the lound en of the dram In Utah in d I her I character acting is spoken of hy the old timers is being of 1 very high order Another bfillmit member mem-ber l of the old organization wn Jainell J 1 erguson Philip Margetts eirlv disphed great ability ni a comednn ml TlIlllelgs History of Utah mks record of a number of plys in which he scored immense hits I It says I His diiitme Vcidi the grand I jiirvmm in the Chile co11 Burner W14 ill1l11ne so allot was Ili Jere mi ih ClIp I III the Will iw s k IC tim Ins IKkorv m the Speetr UrldeglOom and I his Mock Duke may challenge the world for their n itch It was m isi tint David I Me et da Keii7ie J irnvtd in Utih and a few I days liter his arrival he vas voted a member of the Deseret Dramatic association md mule Im first appear nice upon the Social Hill I stage the I same week in the play All is i not Gold tint litters lie developed i natural aptitude for the stage and oon beemie the hiding figure in the association and some of the I roles which he portrayed received i I national comment John McCullough once remarking that Ins rendition of I the role of Polonnmti ikcspeire s Hamlet las the best he hid ever seen Bernard Snow was mother di tin KiiUhed actor 01 the old tins mil history accords him much favor t lori t plonlld work done in i such roles n Virgmms i Othello 1 Damon Rollo Sif rdwud Mortimer md Ingonur As the country beeame more thickl populated dramatic stirs of the cist I found their way here and it 111 is then tint a new cra m the itncak beg into in-to dawn upon the then Territory md the necessity for a still larger true lure for the accommodation of the patron of the drama became apparent appar-ent md on the 1st I diy of July j Ut I iKfii ground was broken 1 far the j found itions of I hat was to bt on of j I the commodious theater in the country I i tl tt lh try the Silt Iake Theater I The architect mil superintendent of eon struclion was W 11 lolsom though the genius of President Young was apparent in the plans Thc glollnel pi in wis eight by one hundred md I forty four feet with wall forty feet high to the squ ire The I wills were three feet thick to the top of the rock work while those of adobe on top ol this were two and onehalf feet Inik the roof put on jemg a sell supporting one The 1 interior I wis richly decorated and uphol I bttrid The opening at the drop curtain measuring 30 by 31 feet with I I 1 qt l lepll of 0 OJ fet The oere I 1 lao I lit ndlllg tin oprmn 4 I th m vm i ot t > trllllre i vv h 111 I stand on the corner of State and I i I Ilrol I South streets were very nnpos I It las dedicated Thursday Marti h < th tSfts i The lit rctuhr nk ght of the sea I 1021 is the ongiml play bill I an ItIfl 11 tIt of Siturd ly I March 1 th if2 when The pride I t tiihiMirkct md State Secrets I t J a i double bill was given before rin 1 Z audience that completely filled the 1 I p house It has often been told by i N fathers md 1 mothers of the present it J J gelicntion tint money wall II Scarce I I arttclt here in curly dtyi but tint t l I 1 not having it thct did not reel 1 the 1 I i 1 1 loSs of it imstnifcli aa allf kinds of I product egetiblt al1ll home pro dlictions could be exchanged itnong > T the people lor the filling of their tl respective noeds mil in looking Q over tile housi < records of the theitcr I the stitcment is found on the bottom I of the Play bills that ill kinds of prod f X lice I home productions vegetables It It would ilso be atilt etc o accepted at ea A price for admission tickets to the 0 theater The fame of the Salt Lake 11 l ThcaterIII soon utfldd broadcast I 9 i in the land md trivehtg stars z 0 though compelled to come long I dis I tmces lit tcims were anxIous to I I iII i hive the pleasure I of playing h II nwiI th 1eDeserct 5 4 Meanwhile the Deserct Dramatic i f 1 11 company still continued their organ I 11 iition md following The Prid of I si 1 the Mirket the first piece given l I u J came other good plays hiring the i a first season rhiefamong which were I M The Porters I Knot Used l Up The I I Charcoal Burner mid I nviler Thc i > JlIlOc pal characters in these t plays I r wen < impersonated by John T Caine i It 0 Iltrini II Cluvson llcnr Muben I I Philip Mirgetts David McKenzie j I ii f Mrs M d Chvvson Cooke I Mrs I I Mm How ring t Mrs Woodmansee 1 i I I nand I and Mrs Alice Chvvson i i I I I Before the end of the I fist Season 1 j I J sl t 1 the theater the at new t r veteran actor ill 1 Mr T A tyne I w is brought here i 01 I from Denver b Br ham Young and VJ was Installed is diumtic teacher andre I If it readr for the I DeseTct Dramatic i 1 pi i tl r club md his i profession history I m j I I SIlt Lnke 1 dates from this time and tI during his cireer here the theater t I itof going public were given 1 ioj giv-en dehncitionsby him 20 I ot such I dimeters is III r Damon in Damon and t n Ptin is Richelieu I I ot Richard Ill Rollo d 10 in Pirirro Virginiu I I r the Jew in the Mer I 0 chant of Venice mil t It I 11 I any others of equal I L note and his ability ie VMS looked upon as L hh wonderful at that time h particularly m stately J I t ill I md dignified I roles for I I I Inch he well I I w w is so n suited I I ito At the beginning I 1 4 of the second Benson I h the Dcseret Dramatic I I II dub still held the 1 1e t I ie boirds is the stock r romp mv of the house i II i though the manage I tl ment of the house had I bcell 1 delegated to II I N j A B I Chvvson while > le lohn T Caine acted tn is st igc m in iger md I I 11 during the teison the I Ill I I s ime generous p it 0 1 I ronige las bestowed I 1li liI I upon the pcriormin I its tint hid marked those of A the optniog i season at the new lo 1 theater With the opening of 0 I u the third season Cattle the Irvins 0 All rl and in almost entirely new set If of Ill iyq was given among which if were The Lady I ofLons Ingomir 1 1 I nine irlock ot the Glen Ill Climinc Corner Katherine and lie I el true 1 to Marble Heart Octoroon I 1 The Hunchback Green Bushes I 1 lo Still Witers Run Deep Othello I lor Corsican Brothers Colleen 11 awn 11 f I md 1 many others lulhdgt says j J Ql y tint David McKcnzie Danny I Mann in the CoHen Pawn placed I t I JJ If I t t I him upon an equal footing with the I I I ro tan Mr and Mrs > Irvin mil 1 that t I I 11 i i I his interpret ition of this role holds I I 1 I the palm to this day i t n I In June and July 1864 George 1 I I Pumteforte the nghsh 1 actor became I be-came factor f of impoit nice in Utah I 01 ti I theatricals md during this season lit rti alternated with T 1 A lyue I in lead I I 10 mg business Lne had a liking for l I I Ale ri the serious things of the dram t I ft while Pumcefoite chose the lighter i I I to I vein md ill this way the most f is 1h 1 I luliuus tastes wtregratilicd Piunce Ill I I h I forte opened with The Romance I L 011 Poor 1 Young Man and at once J of stepped into popular fivor then followed i he fol-lowed Black Eyed I Susan Used Up ot I Don Cosar de Italian md tile Cor i 4 0 siem Brothers in all of hich he dis I th I I lie played great ability I PI I The coming ol Jnlh Dean Hiyne I I Irt I las a red letter day in the history of t J t i let on thi idle ds Coming with the Potter I th troupe she m idc her debut before a e 11 th Salt 1111 I e audience on the evening I tI i of August i i tit 16165 m Camille i I 1 f I Then followed Mn Hallcr md the I II I jealous Wile Gnseldis Julia in the I I Hunchback leih the t i Forsaken 10 UheriDe md Petrttehio Romeo md II I Juliet Woman in White Eat I Lime I and nnny others The people here 4 fairly idolized her and she was made I i I no so much of that alter a two years it t slay she found it almost impossIble to in I sever the many pleasant ties she lId 311 formed here President Young 1115 I much taken with her ability md I I j r pie ising personality and ill honor of t l her he named the now historic drag J f iiJl if her and filled the De I I alter it Julia m f i nic Nor was President Young htr only 41 I I itlm < r Ii I ir John T 1 Cille tilt then ll 1 lb III I I I Ilh I tit 110 r iniod one I till I I d aterlur her I > I III o 1I IIoI i < qivii i Ilhe nallle cl Julia Dean Came she I I 1 1 1V I I I now being the wife of George D Alder of this city Other phjs in I uhiili julia Dean appeared supported sup-ported by the Deseret Drmiiti is I sociation The I Love 1 Chase Lucre I I in Norgia School for Sca ndal NIsk 1 and Faces 1 Portia The atil I Ma k I I and others I hich goes to show tint I variety was a great feature ot 1 the program thirty I eau ago Manager John T Cunt was tendered ten-dered n great benefit on tin night of February I 5th i860 when E 1 W I Tulhdgcs pllY Je1I1 I lor DC Vere which hid been written for Julia Dean e I Hini was given The house w as crowded md the play eceived I much 1 I i favorable comment It I was at this tune that Mr Caine Ins sent cast for I the purpose of procuring materials I for the refitting of the interior of the theater After his return land in 11 1867 8 9 the theater was 1cl iscil by Messrs Clabon Caine George l I I 1iunceforte was once more seen upon up-on the boards then is was also C I I I I W Couldock and his daughter Mr V I and Mrs injnsh and Amy Stone Among the plays given were i main I I her of the old 1 favorites and in iddi 1 i tion Henry I IV ind others l With the opening of the year I8f S came jllmes J Stork from Califurni i and during his engagement Iliuliis i Money Merry Whes of Windsor t i and Jack Cade wire given Ihe e stock company then appeared n again for a while and next ca I lie Mr and Ili Mrs Waldron it was during 11 I j I their stay tint the first presentation i of King Lear I was given here It was at this time too that Midimc I I I Scheller and Margaret Cimptnn appeared I I ap-peared is did 1irepi Rosa uith her concert company mil John McCul I lough in Shakespearean repertoire James A Ilcrne I mil Lucille I Western Wes-tern Here engaged about tins due and the people wire given Rip Van t Winkle for the first time I The 1 stock company resumed work again in Mayo 1870 issi ted by I such traveling stars as Couldock and others In 1871 Milton Nobles presented I some popular plays followed fol-lowed 1 by Waldron ind 1 Joseph K Emmet in repertory It was it this time that W F Harris ifterwards manager of the thealernude his first appearance Then I followed the Lmgirds Edwin Adams and I John McCullough From 1 1871 to tt 1874 numerous changes had been r inadem the personnel of the stock company mil it cinnot be Slid tint the were nude for the better but the retirement of the older members ii made it necessary to ei gigc other talent which for the most Part wis I imported J M Carter J I AlI Al-I Dunne E I II M mien ALA Wil ton W E Harris and W J Cogs uell ellLater Later I came Carrie Cogswell I once the n lie ofT A Lyric I Kite Dunn Mrs Closbie and 1 Jean Clara Walters while the local actors were A L home I M 1 Forster D 1 J Mackintosh 11 irr Taylor Logan Paul mil Harry Ilorslcy togetlier with Phil Margclts mil John C Graham md 1 also Annie Adams Mrs M 1 Browning Mrs Grist Miss dusic Spencer mil Miss 1 N ipper james M Hirdic I was also a leading spirit in theatricals hrc about this time He w is F A Lyncs 1 fiv ontc pupil I After the Dcscrct Dramatic association had wound up its affairs mil retired from the bo mis limes I Vinson became the number of the house mil under Ins regime came a number celebrities among whom the mines of Fanny I C uhe lit james A Herne I John McCullough J T I Raymond Dion ISouciciult 1 A lyne William lloskms I Agnes I Booth W J Florence 1 and Kath I critic Rogers were noted After Vmson came W T I Hirris I but the old 1 stock company were scattered that Mr IIarri I found it hard 1 to cast almost any kind of a play though with I the ml of local 1 people md It few traveling irtists the theater I I w is kept 1 going part of the time In the year 1880 a number num-ber of the younger set who I had been giving private theatricals for the unusemcnt of their friends conceived the notion ol organizing a house company md 1 1 4 accordingly the Home I Dramatic club came into existence with lleber i M 1 Wells Orson F I Whitney Laron A Cuinmiiif John D I Spencer Miss Loltie I Cl iridnc and Mrs M E 1 umramgs I < the 4 1 original members md II I I L I A I Cuhner and II d Whitney as managers As m opening bill I the I presented Lester I Vatllcks adaptation tion of The Romance of a Poor 1 Young Mm which las given on the evening of April 1st iSSo I before a i good audience The 1 puce in idem immense hit nol ilhbtand ing the fact tint they had 1 been cautioned t cau-tioned against producing it us it would prove too hey lor them It w is produced 1 again mil again mil I each time with success It was plainly evident tint a new era m stock work had dawned In casting other plays new imternlwisw anted mil it was < then that I E dull Clawson I Ilirdie Clawson li S Young mil others came before the public md won Laurels for themselves The I cozniil Iy Ours was next attempted 1 but was not is successful is the Opening I open-ing bill the comedy being too light and frivolous for ill el isses mil I they mice more tinned their cncrgus to the presentation ol the regular dramas md Rosed lie md Pique were given but the best work they overdid 1 w is the present ition on New Years night i8Si ol The Bankers Daughter this play won or the null vidinl I members professional lime remunerated them handsomely ll I li X N = md It can be said of this club that they spared no means in makIng their productions irli tic md fin filled Though first the publir did 1 not take kindly to the I light comedies they were gradual educated 1 up to it and when the Home Dramatic Club presented Confusion which is i practical a hrce it went I with a whoop mil invitations to present u i m other large cities of the lerntor were accepted vervvhirc I the people were simply convulsed at the comical situations the play afford John F White made i great hit in the ph > In the fill of 1881 ground was broken for the building of in Opera house tint was to be run by the Walker Bros md when the foundation w ills were brought to the squ ire the corner stone w u laid I by Dr Banks McKenzie a strong temperance tem-perance advocate who mule man Inends here during his stay Oil the 5lh of June I8S2 the house was formally opened with a concert given by the Careless orchestra mil on the Stir of June the first dramatic bill was I presented under the title of i My Partner 1 Dr D 1 Banks I Me Kenie became the manager el the house ard under his direction Mid nine Junuschik I appeared in i repertory ll rJ L ertory is did the famous I Emma I Ab bolt Many other notables ill the drannticil profession found their way on the Mae of the Walker Opera house After McKenie gave up the management of the house W J Burgess was installed then came John Maguire then the house was leased to Van Horn S Done mil Dougl White became he manager but cozy mil comfortable is tins I pretty little theater was it was never i success Iroin a fin mci d stmdpomt On the night of July id 1810 the building was discovered m limes which soon hi up the heavens md i the inside of the theater uai gutted before they were fimll subdued i The Opera house was never rebuilt i but the wills uere afterwards utilized md 1 hat ismow known as the ALias block was built on the old site During the years between 1882 mil i 1889 the Silt Lake Theater vvu Practically under the management of of W T Hirris although Chwson Cline McKcnzte represented il the owners of the house Dining this time the famous of the drumtic and operatic c slag were seen there = I as wire a number of local companies in addition to the Home Dramatic i club which continued to give performances per-formances occasionally The Careless Care-less Opera company was one of the most important of these mature md some of the other light operas being given Patience was given in 1884 by a local company under the direction of Prof Krouse and liter the Bohemian Girl Daughter of the Regiment Mantilla md many others by various local companies In IS89 the Salt Lake I Dramatic association bought the Theater and and have been the owners of it from that time to the prebent Inimedi I ately I upon their purchase of it the present manger Mr Juries S Burton was instilled md under his able management the best ittnc lions t ol the day hive been given the the itrc going public After the burning ol the Walker Opera house the Theater held full sway and all traveling attractions appeared there as well is the local ventures But in the early part of iSg plans were niidc looking to the erection of whit is now 1 non as the Grind Open house on eat Second South street The house was started b 1 Maltese and 1yper but wis finished by Mr Alex Rogers mil others mil on Christmis eve 1891 the house was formill opened with a stock company tint had been engaged en-gaged for the season The 1 opening bill wis Moths The house finally passed into the hinds of the Salt Lalc I Amusement issociition with John li Rogers is manner and this condition ol affairs existed until the close of the present scison when the house was leased for a period olive o-live vears to Mr H S McGirvie Frol1 1 the beginning the Grand Ins furnished some ol the best phs and actors that were to be had mil Silt Lake 1 people hive hid through its medium continuous performances during every night of the week SUlllbys i excepted About four or five years ago the old 1 Mulloy md Paul table WI renovated ren-ovated remodeled and a stage put in it bow stairs while the upstairs was reserved for the Ire iks and curiosities osities tint were brought here by the managers of Wonderlmd as the building WI now called This was fmllly discontinued mil a stock compm held the boards liter the bouse I halt again been remodeled mil the upstairs part of it taken out md it was thin tint Silt Lake I hid three the itirssmmltmeou 1 bidding for uromgc Alter one se ison the block company wis practically discontinued dis-continued and traveling combuii tions mule dues I there presenting open mil all kinds of drum The Lyceum I was the name given to this theater after it was fixed up the last I lime A number ol first class at frictions luxe appeared there mil it is understood tint the house will play combination next be ison The 1 latest Temple Thespis that bids lot public patronage is in the Old lunnel just west of the Atlas Block down stairs |