The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-02
DRAMATIC AND LYRIC
Signor Campobello's Opera Soiree
on Tuesday Night.
THENEw THEATRE DECORATIONS.
Herrmann's yaudevilles Again-Sullivan, the
Pugilistic Player-Ballet Girls and How
They Live-Dramatic Gossip.

Pugilistic Player-Ballet Girls and How
They Live-Dramatic Gossip.
Never in the history Of the Salt Lake
theater has there been such enormous ousl-
ness done as that of the past four nights of
Crystal Slipper With prices of ad-
mission increased one third more than the
usual rates, the houses have simply been
packed from pit to dome; and one OF the
remarkable features of the engagement has
been that little or no objection to the still
prices has been heard, SO perfectly salts
fed were the audiences with the show.
In these days of summer snaps and winter
fakes it is pleasure to be able to record
that any production gives such eminent
satisfaction as did 1.-THE Crystal Slipper"
OF course there are always class of peo
pie who are disappointed, 10 matter what
sort of performance they witness. If 1t
is Hamlet they would rather it had been
something funny, and if it is screaming
comedy they go home as blue as indigo be-
cause there was no villain in it to do dark
and damnipg deeds of sin. 1.-The Crys-
tai Slipper is a spectacular extrava-
ganza and as such has no supe-
rlor on the road, at least. If people
went expecting tragedy or to see heavy
william make trouble, they were doubtless
disappointed and ought to be: but if they
went to see a gorgeous succession of mag
nihcent and delightful spectacleS, visions
Of transcendent beauty and scenes OF
wholesale mirth and revelry, they had
value received for the price OF admission.
The Improvements to the old Salt Lake
theatre, which have been creeping along at
snaiPs pace all summer, owing to the many
attractions that have kept the house occu-
pied and the decorators more or less at bay,
are now nearing completion. There are
yet the touches to be impaired here and
there which the artist calls finishing the
picture, but sufficient progress has been
made to warrant a brief description OF
some of the changes that have metamor-
phosed that historic old temple of Thespis
into charming and elegant opera house,
an honor to the city and a credit TO the
owners. The building and the ground
upon which it stands are the joint property
of the Home Fire and Home Life Insur-
ance companies, of Utah, and the theatre is
managed by board of directors selected
by the two companies of which board
MIR Charles E. Burton is president and
H. Rowe, John G. Cutler, Elias A. Smith,
and Heber NJ Wells are members: More
than year ago committee of inquiry was
appointed by the board to report upon the
advisability of erecting upon the theatre
site an elegant business block, five or six
stories in height, with stores in front and
new and elegant theatre in the rear,
fronting on First East street, the motive
in such action lying in the fact that the
First South street frontage was entirely
too valuable 10 be used only as a theatre
VIE it might command a thrifty business
rental. Preliminary plans were secured
and the subject was under discussion when
the Grand opera house in this city was de-
stroyed by fire While no definite conclu-
siohs were arrived at as to the new project,
the burning of the opera house, and the
fat that this was the only theatre remain
ing IN the city, changed the aspect of affairs
so far, at least, as to delay the completion
OF the plans, and it is understood they are
held in allegiance. Immediately Mr.. Peter
McCourt, of Denver, who has control of
what is known TO the theatrical profession
as the silver circuit and which includes
the principal play houses throughout Colo
rado and Utah, and a proposition
to the Salt Lake management to place
this theatre in his circuit. After consid-
Grafton, terms were agreed upon and con
tract was entered into for number of
years, by which it was agreed the circuit
attractions should all be played at the
theatre. With commendable enterprise the
local management Immediately decided to
spare no expense IN refurnishing and i'm
proving the old place, so that its patrons
would take pleasure and pride and modi-
cum of comfort in being there, and to say
that things are beginning to shape in that
direction is by no means a flight of the
imagination. The new opera chairs which
were only placed in position last week are
q M IA
to be found in any theatre in the west. Ii
was after the most searching investigation
into the merits of all the various chairs
offered for sale by eastern factories that
these were decided upon and the taste and
discrimination of those who selected then
have been applauded at each performance
during the week. The chairs are from the
Grand Rapids factory and were secured
through Mr.. James Dwyer, who is
agent for thia territory. The frame
of the chairs is sixteenth century oak
highly polished, with metallic numbers in
front set in ornaments of ANTIQUE brass
They are upholstered in rich plush of deer
amber, which under the glare of lights
changes to a beautiful orange tint A lux
urioIs feature of these chairs. and one tina
is appreciated by everybody, is that the
seats are longer by some two inches thar
the ordinary opera chairs, contributing a.
the signs have it in the street cars. s'nuie
and ease" The ceiling of the auditorium
was decorated not a great while ago by
that prince of artists the lamented Billy
Morris and though the colors will need re
tracing to harmonic them with the new
work, the management have decided Il
leave the greater portion of the ceiling al
ready work of art, undisJurbed Th,
proscenium arch is shaded in terra colt,
and closely resembles the coors of the new
decorations at McVicker's theatre. Chicago
and is relieved by eavy plastic of tur
quoise green. Clinging to the center O
the arch and fitting in the breeze which
always blows when the curtain is sus
pended and the gas is on, are flakes of gold
leaf which add lustre to the effect TIL
upper proscenium boxes remain in forp
the same as of old, but in the lower boxe
a great change for the better has takel
place. The floor of these boxes has bee
dropped two or three feet and brought on
in front so that the occupants may see tn
entire stage, doubtless new and startlin
revelation to them: and the drapery upo
mony with the arch. Mention has FIR,
ouently been made of the fact that the stag
has been cut back to the inside line of Tia
arch, SO that the boxes are now in the aud
ence instead OF on the stage as formerl,
The walls surrounding the dress circle al
of plastic finished in old copper effect, wit
q four-foot dado of Lincrusta Walton. ha
monious in tone, the ceiling being of tt
same general design, except that it is neatl
trimmed with a border of heavy come
rope. In the panels between boxes an
stalls are six plate-glass mirrors wit
beveled edges, the panels having no miro,
being painted in majolica work on mosa
ground, with plastic border The prevail