The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-05-26
DEDICATED.U
The New Cheyenne Opera
House Opens.
A Brilliant and Handsome Audience
Present.
A Full Description Of the Building
and Its Decorations.

Thursday, May %, 1892, is a day that
will long be remembered in the history
of Cheyenne, it being the date OF the
formal dedication to the art of Thespis
of one of the finest opera houses-in the
west, aud certainly the finest outside
of Denver. For years IL intelligent
and enterprising citizens, who are also
amusement-loving, have been obliged to
attend on the greatest histrionic artists
and singers and musicians and lecturers,
in baIn-like halls that were forbidding
In their lack of both comfort and con-
veniences. But the more enterprlsing
associated themselves together into a
corporation and builded 4 structure
that not only stands as a monument to
their public spirit but is n lasting proof
70 all corners of the intelligence and re-
anement of this little city of less than
1000 people, so that she who runs may
readr in that handsome block the story
Of u thrift, enterprise and culture.
The formal dedication Of the opera
house wal reserved for the celebrated
Comley-Barton opera company, which
is engaged for a season Of three nights
and a matinee. This event was wide
ly advertised, so that there was not only
q good attendance OF our own people
but also Of visitors from various parts
Of the territory and Of the towns of Col
orado from Denver northward.
The Audience.
The audience which gathered last
evening in the new opera house was
one which would do credit to any town,
both as to character and size. Indeed
1t would be difficult to gather
as large a congregation OF AZ
well dressed and finely appearing ladies
and gentlemen together in other towns
OF several times the size of Cheyenne.
This fact Is noteworthy when it is con-
sldered that the number of visitors was
very small in proportion to the size Of
the audience.
Among those in attendance the best
Of good humOr prevailed-and SO did
small bonnets. The delays between
scenes were the cause Of but little i'm
patience, and from midway in the first
scene the people on the stage labored
with the advantage of having the audi
ence along with them alive to all the
little plays of wittlcism az well rs the
6ner passages Of music.
The evening was made the occasion
Of more than usual display of taste and
elegance in dress, and was another
point in proof of the statement oft re-
peated that Cheyenne is the dressiest
city in the west. Silks and satins ap-
peared In every fashionable shade and
color, from pure white to plain black
made up with all the skill and taste of
the finest dressmaking.
The absence OF large hats and promi-
nent bonnets was quite noticeable, and
certainly detracted none from the
pleasure of the evening, nor did it from
the elegant appearance Of the audience,
which was by far the largest and finest
ever gathered In a Cheyenne theater.
The Opening.
After the audience had assembled
and the orchestra had completed Its
overture, the curtain was dropped
amidst the patting of hands and nun.
murs of admiration. Mr.. Carey was
called from the audience and stepping
before the curtain, made n brief but
well-worded and appropriate speech, de
failing the various steps in the history
OF the city as marked by the public
buildings, paying a merited compliment
to the late f. =. johnson for his earn
est struggle which resulted in our pub
lie school. He located the new operf
house as the third step in an era o.
progress-a building in which all The
stone used was quarried in our owl
county, the brick made in our own city
aud the woodwork, carvings and all
from the shops Of our fellow towns
man, Mr.. Weybrecht. Mr.. Carey ther
said he had in his safe in his office {
paper which makes the fourth step il
Cheyenne's progress, a paper which
closes the contract for all the materia.
for n thorough system OF water works
This statement was greeted witt
rounds of applause. Mr.. Carey CLOSED
his remarks by paying II deserved com
pliment to II. G. Hay, for his earnest
interest in the progress of the operf
house, and calling for a vote Of thanks
which was heartily given.
The Performance.
The Comley- Barton opera company
chose for their opening piece thai
charming French comic opera, soil.