The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-03-10
LANGR1sHE IN COLORADO.
First Performances ever given in the
Pixies Peak Gold Region-Appear-
ance and Progress of Jack Langrishe
and Company


and Company
From the Colorado Register, February 10th.
Every old resident of Colorado knows
something at least of Mr.. John s. Langrishe
the pioneer actor, and his estimable lady,
and majority have known him intimately.
They were welcome guests in every house
hold, and on the stage they were always
received with applause. The uniform
amiability, serupulous integrity, and dig
nifed gentlemanly bearing of the man on
all occasions, his kindness, charity, and un-
stained morality in all the walks of life en-
deared him to every class of people, and in
the early times when the rough element
predominated in all public assemblies,
Langrishe was always sure of their respect.
1t is well known that while he prospered
for time and accumulated considerable
property, in those dark days when misfOr-
tune visited the country, it fell upon him
with the rest and left him impoverished.
Then, with small band of devoted follow
ers, he left the Territory and during the
past five years has played in nearly every
section of the Union. His great talents as
an actor, combined with his no less distin-
guished social qualities, have won, let us
hope, substantial rewards.
The first dramatic performance opened
to the people of Denver occurred at Apollo
Hall a small frame building, the upper story
of which was fitted up for the purpose with
temporary stage and hastily executed
scenery, early in November 1859. The
company, under the management of Chas.
r. Thorne, now Or recently in charge of
Nihlo's Garden, New York, consisted of
William and Thomas Thorne, Sam. D.
Hunter, John Jack, and Misses Hardee,
Louis Wakely and Flora Wakely. The
drama of " Theresa's Vow" or 'The Cross
of Gold," was produced, with manager
Thorne in the leading role.
The first minstrel show was opened in
that historic old shell, (long since removed)
known as "Cibola Hail." on Ferry street,
Jim Reed, an old Missouri river pilot, pro-
prietor. Tom. Duncan, Jim. McGangle,
Charlie Marion, A. o. McGrew, (new city
editor of the New York Neaos,) J. B. Caven,
(afterward if not then, highly notorious
character in the Gregory mines, composed
the troupe of burnt cork artists. They be-
gan raking down gold dust in September
1859.
In those times there was but one noun
tain mining camp and that was located at
Gregory Point. In May 1860, Madam
Wakely brought her troupe above mention
ed, from Apollo Hall, Denver, and set up
her budget of histrionics in a two story log
building, owned by Major Hadley of Noun
tain City. The first floor was occupied as
bakery, grocery, barber shop, meat mark
ct and for other purposes. Herbert Pardee
(since dead) represented the leading char
acters, and Dick. Wilmot, also gone to that
bourne from which few actors return when
they "shuffie off," in Cheyenne assumed
the role of low comedian, Or funny man.
FL. B. Norman, who the year previous held
place in the stock of Ben. DuBars theatre
in St. Louis, A. T.. Gooding, and W. II.
Paitello had been added to the original
company, which now presented very
eredi5able showing as to numbers. MILE
Haidee, the prettiest woman on the from
tier, was the chief attraction, and next to
draw poker, drew out the greatest piles of
gold dust and black sand at So. so per head.
"Buz." Caven led the orchestra Haldee
finally married a gambler and ran away
with him. This broke up Mrs. Wakely's
combination. In October of $50 out OF the
fragments new troupe was formed, and
opened in the upper story of the Veranda
Hotel, Lawrence street Central, then just
completed by Col. Albertson. In short
time they were reinforced by the arrival of
G. FL. Irving, J. G. Whitall, James Waters,
John Jack, M. j. Dougherty, and several
others whose names we cannot now recall
and played very successful season of about
nine weeks, when, in consequence Of the
desertion and subsequent elopement of one
of the female members, its career was
brought to an untimely close.
In the Spring of 1861 this theatre known
as the "Varieties, was reopened by Messrs
Langrishe s. Dougherty, with Harry Rich
mond, Messrs. McAuthor, McKinnen, (then
about eighty or ninety years old) and Car
ter, Mrs. Langrishe, Miss Mary Sullivan,
and Miss Kendall. On the second appear
ance of this company scene not known in
the bill, was interpolated which set the vast
audience in roar. The play was Bulwer's
"Alice. or the Mysteries - Maltravers
(Mr. Richmond) was doing his prettiest
bit of pathetic acting, and with streaming
ewes upturned toward the rafters, exclaim-
ed to the heroine in tones of agonized sup
plication, Alice why don't you speak to
me ?" Before Alice had a chance to reply
the answer came short, quick, and emphatic
from an inexperienced stage carpenter
perched on a beam overhead. "D-n it,
Alice amt up here - The orchestra con-
sisted of small drum and brass horn.
After playing to crowded houses for some
time at $1.50 gold as the price of admission,
Mr.. Langrishe moved into the Peoples
theatre, built by !" Uncle" Henry Wait, on
Main street Just above the Central City
Bakery. After playing IN his new quarters
for some time, and reaping considerable
harvest from the prosperous times, Mr..
Langrishe folded his tents and war
robes, and made tour of all the principal
camps of the Territory, where he was sue
cessfll beyond his expectations.
Leaving Mr.. Langrishe to complete his
Territorial excursion, we pass to the next
noteworthy event in the theatrical line,
which was the opening of the Platte Valley
Theatre, frame building erected exclu-
sively for this business at the north east
corner of Lawrence and G (now sixteenth
street, Denver. TEis house opened under
the management of William Murphy in
1851, with Sam. D. Hunter as stage man
ager.
The Eeason however, resulted disastrously
to all concerned, and after few weeks the
doors were closed. This result was brought
about by the greater power of the Peoples
Theatre. {the old Apollo reconstructed1
under the supervision of Dir. LangIishe,
who was held in high esteem by everyone.
On the s1st of March 1862 Mr.. Langrishe
with a large combination came to Central
and opened the National, with the tragedy
of Richard III The season lasted about
three months.
From this time up to 1871 when Lang
rishe left Colorado for the States, his career
was varied. He spent year or two in
Montana with considerable profit. But from
1865 forward, theatricals declined steadily,
and in the fall carried away The great bulk
| of his property AS already stated Mr.. L.
was always popular as man and actor, but
the taste for public entertainments seemed
to die out with the hard times thatfollowed
the first epoch of prosperity in the mines.
WELLINGTON NEVER Lost Cunt is
singular fact in the great Dukes history
that he never lost 4 gun to the enemy.
4 Il Al. y