The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-21
DRAMATIC And LYRIC
The Magnificent Temple of Thes=
pis at Logan.
A CREDIT TO THE TERRITORY.
The still Alarm" To morrow Night-Couldock
on the Way-Scanlan and Wilke-
Notes Of the Profession.

We write this week from Logan, where
the baptism of a new opera house with our
own Home club as sponsors, has drawn US
both as party participant and spectator
interested OF the details OF the opening of
the new temple of amusement, you
have already been made acquainted by teie-
graph. 1t only needs to be added that the
occasion was in all ways notable, that the
performance was worthy OF the house, and
that tue people of Logan seemed to be
united in showing to the enterprising
owners that they appreciate the feeling Of
public spirit, which more than any expec-
tation of Immediate pecuniary gain,
prompted the erection of so nota BILE place
OF amusement.
ingoing over the opera house with Hon.
Moses Thatcher, we learned from him that
one OF the prime objects in erecting the
building had been to provide place where
the young people could cultivate their
dramatic and musical talents and the peo
pie be allowed to see heathful and enter
tanning class of amusements. Like Presi-
dent Young-the builder of Che noble old
Salt Lake theatrc--he holds that the
uneatre is one of the greatest of educators
OF course when the class OF amusement
it presents is judiciously selected and
supervised. He knew, he said, that
there was little or no monetary
return az once in a house so expensive as
that which they had put up, but 1t was such
place as the city needed Tor its public en-
tertainments, and it was of character he
thought which would influence others who
were contemplating building business
structures. MIR. Thatcher greatly admired
the play Of Held by the Enemy" and the
healthy sentiment it breathed; he came be-
hind the curtain on the opening night and
congratulated Mr.. Young both on his de-
lineation and his having SO noble charac-
ter as that of the spy to delineate.
The opera house is in three-story brick
with white stone facings; it stands on a
corner and fronts east ami north, occupy
ing the same relative position to the bust
ness heart of the town that the Deseret or
Cunningtoa corner does in Salt Lake; it's
site, therefore, is unexcelled. The first
floor is used by the Thatcher Bros. bank,
and the two upper stories are devoted to
the temple of amusement. The building Is
lO0 feet long from north to south and so
feet wide from eust TO west, and those fig
ures represent the inside dimensions of the
OptEd HOUSE, w lbl one Q6ep gallery
IL can very readily be figured that
the place can accommodate 800 persons;
We took down the numbers of the seats in
the poaSe as they stand on the charts and
touCd the following: Number of parquette
and dress circle chairs, 295: four pro-
secnium boxes. 16; gallery chairs, 215; %
benches ia gallery rear, each capable of
seating 8, l25; gallery chairs, 5; space in
lobby down stairs, which could be
excellently used on special occasions, %
Total 6sl, and the corners in the gallery and
the spaces behing the down stairs rows Ito
say nothing of The aisles) could be utilized
on sta i1:ng room only occasions to lift the
total TO more
All the down stair seats bring 81 the gal
lery CHAIRS 20 cents and the benches 80
cents, which means that if crowded the
house can hold $500. and $500 could be OBJ
talleQ with exhausting very little more
than the regular supply of chairs. The
travelling manager will recognize in these
figures that the Thatcher building forms
one more desirable house in the fast grow
ing chain which is stretching over the
northwest. The building is as compact
and as fl . and substantial as if it were
contrived for Fertilization. Its total cost
was about fifty thousand dollars, and Mr.
Thatcher states that the masons were paid
81, 500 over their contract to make the walls
conform to the ideas of the board of direct
OTS, dIlDuS NilOu are bilS NleSSrS. 1lalcler
themselves and such practical men as Mr.
Ritter, Mr.. Hills and MIR. Sharp, of Salt
Lake.
The entrance to The opera house is at the
south end Of the building; the box Office
the staircases and the lobby are furnished
in nara wood resembling ash or maple, al
polished, and all presenting warm
and handsome appearance; il the
entrance are several clusters OF
incandescent lights, blazing in glass tubes
of various colors; throughout the house,
including all the stage lights down 10 the
super's dressing rooms, electricity is en-
ployed. 1t is the boast of Mr.. Thatcher that
matches are prohibited in the opera house
none Gre wanted. Would that Salt Lakes
theatre could say the same thing The in
terror Of the house has very much the
general appearance af the late Walker
opera house slightly reGuced-ohat is in its
general design, fitting up and coloring.
The ceiling is beautifully decorated, and
paper Of terra Gotta OF brewnish
shade is employed on the walls. Every
thing is rich and warm. The four pros
ceGium boxes are hung with curtains of a
delicate shade, ana the upholstering
throughout is of deep crimson. The drop
curtain has for its subject copy of the cele-
piCluiC VI apGliO WIFI
Cyrenc.'' 1t is done in rich style, the steeds
and the deep blue OF the atmosphe re
through which they are wingiug their way
being the best points. Curtain and
scenery are the werE of Mr.. Ealton. scene
painter, and new stage manager OF the house.
The decorations are the work of Mr.. BY
water aud reflect great taste and skill. The
chairs are all easy and handsomely uphols-
tered. the aisles carpeted, and everything
on walls, chairs, floor and ratings spick
ard span. The electric jets dot the gallery.
shine in tho ceiling ana form row of blaz-
ing footlights in front of the curtain. On
the first night the house was kept in COM
paratlve darkness till the audience was
seated, and ali the lights went up by turn
of the wrist OF Moulton, the United Elec-
trio man, just as the orchestra struck I'D
its first chord. The effect was charming,
unexpected aud brilliant. One of the best
features OF The entire house is the perfec-
ton Of its line of sight There is really not
an undesirable seat in the house Even in
the pfosccnium boxes one gets an excellent
view of the stage. The stage itself is
large and roomy, with ample space be-
hind the wings; its width is 80 feet,
depth So feet, height 30 feet width of pro-
cession arch % feet, hight to grooves Is feet
1t has twelve sets of scenery, and ali the
necessary flies; it has six dressing rooms
well fitted up, and Of its capabilities for
running heavy productions. it need only be
said that the trying mechanical effects of
.'Held by the Enemy were handled in ex-
cellent style and with no inconvenience
whatever Tine acoustics are simply per-
lection; we never remember to have been
in an opera house where it was so easy TO
talk or to listen. Finally, it can be said
that the orchestra under Mr. Harris and
Mr.. Thatcher, ir., is surprisingly good, and
that the house, both fore and aft, is well
and intelligentiy manned by doorkeepers.
ushers aud carpenters The latter are of