Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-05-03

The reproduction on this page OF
,onv of the house program used on the
onenlng night of the Salt Lake theatre
March 8, 1869, over 40 years ago, can not
Gail TO be scanned with interest. That
was eight years before the railroad en-
tered salt Lake and what II meant to
snend over one hundred thousand dol
lars on a temple OF amusement In those
times, when lumber was $1,000
thousand, and nails were 70 cents a
pound, only men like Brigham Young
and the others whose means went into
the enterprise, could understand,
Ground was broken for the Salt Lake
theater excavation on July !, 1861, only
three months, by the way, prior to the
completion Of the telegraph line into
salt Lake. So when, In the following
March, after 200 men had tolled contin-
uously in its construction, the theater
was ready for Dedication the outside
world was duly apprised Of the erection
of a new temple to Thalia in the heart
of the then almost unknown Rocky
Mountain region.
II may be well to record that while
the first dramatic presentation seen in
the theater occurred on the night OF
Saturday March 8, 1862. the actual
opening occurred two nights earlier, on
Thursday, MarcS g. This occasion was
entirely given up to dedlcatory exer-
cises, Presidents Brigham Young, He
Der c. Kimball and Apostle John Tay-
Tor delivering addresses, a choir render
ing 40, on the mountain tops appear.
Ing" President Daniel H. Wells offer
ing the prayer, w. G, Dunbar singing
"The star Spangled Banner" and the
theater orchestra, then led by Prof. G.
J. Thomas, rendering several popular
selections The chorus and orchestra
also gave an anthem, the words Of
which were written by eliza r. Snow,
and the music by Prof. Thomas.
OF those who took part In the open
ing bills, Pride Of the Market and
State Secrets" quite a number yet
survive, Among them are John T.
Game David Mckenzie, H. b. Clawson,
Mrs, NJ, G. Clawson, II. Il. Bowring
and Phil Margetts,
Last night was an interesting one at
the Salt Lake theatre The first pro-
duction Of light opera, the music by
Harold Orlob, the story by Frank Nal
tese, both Salt Lake boys, and Mr. Or
lob a boy not yet out OF his teans-was
the occasion, and a big house full OF
friends was on hand to celebrate the
event THE Prince and the Peasant |
ought rather to be called a musical /
farce or extravaganza than an opera. |
The music is all Of a light and catchy !
order and the story is written on the |
wildly absurd lines of THE Devils !
Auction, THE Twelve Temptations" /
etc. Perhaps Mr.. Maltese, too when /
he sat down TO write, was not entirely |
unmindful OF THE Chimes of Nor /
mandy" at least In his first act. But
II Is from the musical standpoint
that the work deserves the strongest
concentration. That boy of Is
could turn out so many bright and
catchy airs and compose melodious
strains like those sung by Mrs Ander-
son. Mr. Best and Miss Pye. ia quite
remarkable In few years, If Mr..
Orlob pursues his studies, he will be
heard from.
The story is so ludicrous that II al
most battles attempt at describing, but
Ike most librettists the author prob
ably aimed at nothing more than To
provide a vehicle for the music and the
speclalties, and in this he succeeded.
II his work is to have any long life.
however, he ought TO clear up a few |
Of It's mystlfications and trim down the