The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-12-25

tage ana \ Complete set Of scenery
me- In those days, like some oil the
'Sdntry Reatres OF the present. con-
sisted 61ainly of an exterior scene, au
nteror scene, a prison, a oriogs anu 'I..1
.ehce. Here the opening play Wa
Lady of Lyons, with James rers1soIu a.
Claude Meinotte and Mrs. WheelocA a. |
Pauline. and old timers say 1t was an
ideal DresentaIou too. Then CAME q
stormy season OF the legitimate win
Bernard snow, the 'ROsciuS OF the
Rocky Mountains" in the heavy le!ds.
The MP and roar OF .his Othello Is
memory which hangs about those NhO
witnessed II, much the same as ter
rible thunderstorm in the COttOuwoods'
or the memory Of the explosion ot the
msgaZints on the bill.
FOR five years the ''Deseret Dramatic
Association" Tor such II Was nov called,
gave periodical performances IN the
Social Hall. Bishop Raleigh was the
president, though there is nothing IN
history. either sacred or profane, 10 IN
dictate that he ever undertook TO play
part. The members OF the company
were: John T. Game, David Mckenzie.
David D. Calder, Bernard Snow, VIM.
g. Dunbar, Henry Maiben, Jos. NJ.
Simmons. II. X. Whitney. David Cand-
land (stage manager), William Broom
head. ] NJ. Barlow, Mrs. WheelOck,
Mrs. Tucker, Mrs. Bull, Mrs. John
HYDE ana Mrs. Cook-an aggregation
OF talent which il would be difficult to
surpass in a stock company OF to-day.
In 1857 began what IS known as the
Utah war, and political excitement ran
too high TO spend a thought upon the
drama so that until the completion OF
the Salt Lake Theatre in lSjl-62 with the
notable exception of a season or two Of
very creditable performances in room
in Harry BOwring's house, by COM
many of which Phil Margetts was the
president and fOunder) theatricals were
allowed 10 languish.
The Salt Lake Theatre was formally
opened 10 tn public on Satnr-
day evening, March Sth, 1852. The
nieces presented were Pride OF the
| Market" and State Secrets" and the
dedication exercises, which were as
unique as they were solemn and I'M
pressive, were held the same evening.
Well, | can't pretend to trace the Lis
tory of this grand old theatre from ITS
opening down through the splendoT
OF its past to the pre- ent, or shouIG
fill up your Christmas issue and
then The kaf would not be told. SUI
fee il many sctors and actresses
of rene wn, aud some of genius have
trod its boards, and only very lew OF
the bright stars of the age have not. In
the following list may be recognized
some of the notable professionals who
discovered at an early day the fertility
of salt Lake City as q field for the ap-
probation of art All of these appeared
prior to 1870: Mr.. and Mrs. Irwin.
USuldock. Pauncefort, Julia Dean
Payne, Edwin Adams, John McCul-
Tough, Neil Warner. Geo B. Waldron,
Madam Scheller, Charlotte Thompson,
E. l.. Davenport, Parepa Rosa, Lucille
Western, James A. HeTne. Annie Lock
hart, Ch; rles Wheatleigh, Joe Murphy,
Ben Cotton, Billy Emerson, Geo. Chap
man. Lolita, h ate Denim, John Wilson,
Milton Mobiles, K. Emmett.
But here am drawing this sketch to
close without so much as mentioning
ore or more of the old players whose
names are as much identified with the
"Old Salt Lake'-as the Theatre Is
| lovingly and Familiarity termed-as are
/ its galleries and its boxes, and its thick
adobe walls. Graham, Lindsay, Hardie,
Thorne. Miss Adams. Nellie ColebrOOk
and in a still later day, J. NJ. Carter,
Z. B. Marden, Mark Wilton, W. I.
Harris, w. ]. COggswell, James
| V:nson, William G. CrOsbie, Frand Rae
but. hold on here,
| I'll see no more,
win the line stretch out to the crack Of
| dDomf
What q world of memories TEEN
through my brain at the mention of
the names and incidents in this retro
spective peep into bygone days. am
thinking now of McKenzie's Danny
Mannn," and Hsrdie's Rob Roy, 5"
and 10 n T. Gaines Charcoal Burner
and Phil Margetts' "Toodles' and
Graham's 'Bermudas" and Dunbar
Miles Ma Cappaleen and Maiben's
Man that Couldn't get Warm. Hello, the
fires gone out, and as l live its Christ
mas morning. 1oRIcK.