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Show By JOHN BAUER Generol Manager, Valley Music Hall It there is any philosophy to this newly projected column col-umn dedicated to live theatre thea-tre in our Intermountain Area, it is to re-establish a link with the theatrical traditions that were an integral in-tegral part of our ancestors' existence. One has only to go back to that Thursday evening in March 1862 when the old Salt Lake Theatre was dedicated dedi-cated to learn of the high standards set. President Young gave an address on "The Capacity of the Human Hu-man Body and Mind for Improvement and Development." Develop-ment." He pointed out that generations and generations of men had lived upon the earth and, neglecting their duties, they had passed away and failed to enjoy the privileges and blessings of the All-wise Creator. President Young stated that the Saints should understand un-derstand what was in the world and learn to eschew the evil. It was not to learn evil but to recognize the duplicity and falsehood of false men, guard against the inroads of vice and to pursue pur-sue that undeviating course of rectitude that invariably , leads to virtue and honour. ' Sixty years after the dedication dedi-cation of the Salt Lake Theatre, The-atre, the actor Henry Miller spoke of the old Playhouse as "a cathedral in the desert." Surely it had been a cathedral to the people. Author of "The Romance of an Old Playhouse," George D. Pyper, writes: "Its doors have always been open to all parties and creeds. In the tense religious re-ligious and political strife which cursed the community, commun-ity, more particularly in the early days, the Theatre was the one common ground upon up-on which the questions of the hour were threshed out." Mr. Pyper continues: "Though the place has always al-ways been controlled by the Mormon people, vet its use was never denied to those of different beliefs even though they were violent in their antagonisms. This neutrality neu-trality won their respect. The theatre took on the aspect as-pect of a community home and has been so regarded ever since." To quote Henry Miller again: "The Salt Lake Theatre stands today as a monument to the courage, the foresight, and the faith and ideals of the pioneers who made heroic sacrifices in order that they might enjoy the cultural influences of life. It is a constant reminder re-minder of the strength of these men who could smile in the face of adversity." t |