The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-11-19

! With speech and song. the newest and
4 prettiest of theatres in Salt Lake City
was opened to the public last evening
a beautiful as well as significant occa-
sion it was at the Colonial theatre. First.
the debut of this playhouse typified the
development of the city and state. The
mayor OF the city and the governor of
the state were there TO testify to this.
/ of equal interest was the aesthetic effect
of the finishings of the house. Under
the subdued light. shining through stained
glass. society and fashion showed forth
And. more important than all else, one
of the greatest singers of the world in a
Observation-Disclosures her best, brought
/ the glory of the occasion to its climax
In one especial way the event was
unique. a great opening of a magnificent
theatre, with a grand opera star. would
naturally imply something distant
though immense Not so last evening.
Nordica was as big ana as glorious as
ever. but so cosy and hoEnelike is this
theatre that it seemed as if she were do
ing her best for The especial qualification
of a little circle of favored friends.
While possessed of a larger seating ca
pacity than the Salt Lake theatre the
Colonial built by the Auerbachs, seems to
be more compact 1t brings a person near
TO the stage and accomplishes an acco-d
I
unusual.
First to impress a person entering is the
metropolitan service accorded in the
checking of wraps, the aid of a maid and
the evident effort to take good care of
the patrons Next, one notices the bal
cony about the foyer. and the general
moderR effect Of this part of the house.
Entering the main portion of the theatre
one is impressed by the soft lighting.
which may bring criticism from those of
the fairer sex who wish to observe every
Dot of LOT Of oil he Nh
stained glass effect toned DOWN the tot
lette5 to such an extent that it is diff
cult 10 serutinize the nlinutiae, but it
makes everything look reasonably pleas
ant Following that, one is impressed by
the beautiful white and gold and green
color scheme of the interior. But of more
permanent interest to the lengthy of limb
is the seats. These are comfortable, One
does not have to tie himself into a bow
knot. Neither is he Obliged to occupy
half the aisle with a portion of his anat-
omy. The seats are of such a character
that one forgets all about them, except 20
enjoy. them-which is the highest kind of
compliment.
Looking around last evening. one could
not help observing Immediately that so
ciety was there. and in force. There were
a few vacant seats, which testified to the
fact that many people in Salt Lake val
ued IS a seat more than an occasion"
Nevertheless expansive Shirt-frontS Were
the rule. and as for gowns and hats-if ii
were not for the fact that the Charity
:.
it would be necessary to call on the so
ciety editor and large corps of milliner
and dressmeker assistants to secure
halfway accurate description of the most
striking gowns. As it was. there Were
many gowns and hats which made posi-
lively their first appearance, but their de-
scription must. be left to the conversation
of the women who observed them
Speeches opened the evening. Mayor
John s. Bransford came first. He spoke
briefly of the significance of this opening
as typifying the growth and development
of the city. Then he gracefully intro
duced Governor John G. Cutler.
Governor Cutler Aarked back to the rem
iniscence of two boys who came to Salt
Lake City with comparatively little of this
worlds goods. They entered the mercan-
tile business and traded shrewdly. though
honestly Soon they got little ahead
and observing the possibilities of Salt
Lake City real estate. they invested heav-
lily in this. At one time. while Mr. Cutler
was county clerk. he said they had to his
personal knowledge, over 100 separate
pieces of realty in Salt Lake City. This,