The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-23
BARNUM TALKS OF
OLD DAYS IN ZION
Utah Theater Stage Manager
Tells of Playing Here in
Early 'S0s.
FAMOUS IN HIS LINE
He Hopes to Be Able to
Work Out Some Ideals
While Here.
FAMOUS IN HIS LINE

George Barnum, the new stage man
nger at the Utah theater, is undoubt'
edly one of the most interesting per
sons In Salt Lake City today. If some
of the old thcatergoers of the city had
programmes of performances gwen at
the Salt Lake theater as far back rs
the season Of 1SSl-S2, they would there
find George Barnnm, then almost a
boy, playing minor roles He was here
that season with Milton Mobiles, and
the company played ''The Phoenix.
Mr.. Barnum can go along the streets
and tell about many, many changes that
have occurred IN Salt Lake since ms ms
first appearance Despite his travels
TO all parts of the world, he retains a
remarkably clear impression OF salt
Lake during his early visits.
"Right along here said Mr.. Bar
nun as he walked along one of the
downtown streets one day last week,
''there used to be tin drinking cup
fastened to the wooden sidewalk with
chain. We used to dip 1t into the
hero and drink. Quite change to
that" added the stage veteran, as he
pointed to one Of the porcelain drink
ing fountains on corner
Talks of Old Hotels.
"The Salt Lake theater over there
doomed up like giant, - said MIR. Bar
mum, 'There was plenty OF pasture
room around it. The temple was just
well started. AS | recall It, 1t was only
Il little above the ground. recall, too,
that 7 considered the Salt Lake theater
at that time one of the very finest thea
tiers | had ever seen. We used TO play
IL week at a time here and always had
big audiences Salt Lake was consid-
cred one of the best show towns in the
west. We always did a good business
here, and all other companies reported
the same.
Mr.. Barnum recalls the Valley house
and the Cliff house as the leading hotels
of the city. ''By jimminy," said Mr..
Barnum in his enthusiastic way "they
sure did put up good meals down there
at the Cliff house. / can still remem-
Der them. Later | remember being
one of the first guests that ever stopped
at the Cullen hotel. The paint was
still fresh, and there was still a smell
of turpentine around the place. There
certainly have been many changes since
those days
The veteran stage manager and actor
recalls many Of the famous old actors
whom he looked up to and attempted
TO follow. There were great actors
then,' said he, reminisceDtly. "Nowa-
days man is usually picked for a
part because he is type that is needed.
Then some of the great actors could do
anything. We haven It those men now.
Great Field in Stock.
''But ! want to tell you that | be-
licve there is wonderful field In stock,
SI1t T.oiE pfa 7 n n
give Salt Lake some of my ideals Of
stock. ! want company of players,
every one Of whom can do big things.
] want perfection in stock IN matters
Of acting, scenery, properties and every
thing else. Stock has great possibilities,
IT is the best place for the development
Of real actors.
Mr.. Barnum was stage director at
the old Belasco theater for three years
when thut house had the leading stock
company of the country. By gradual
process of elimination Mr.. Barnum said
he gathered together company which
became famous for its splendid stock
productions. From there Mr.. Barnum
went TO Henry b. Harris and acted as
general stage director in charge of the
staging Of all productions of that noted
manager for six years. During that
time he staged manv of the big sue
linn all over the world. and he can talk
of London. Vienna. Paris, Rome and
other European capitals with the same
familiarity that he does of Salt Lake.
Planning Big Production.
At the present time Mr.. Barnum is
busily engaged in every spare moment
with preparations for his "hobbv" . 40
duction-" Rip Van Winkle." Mr. Bar
mum. plans TO produce rip Van Win
kle" at the Utah theatcr with the
completeness Of effects and histrionics
that he believes should obtain in stock.
If Salt Lake likes his work, Mr.. Bar
mum thinks that perhaps he will stay
here and work out some of his ideals
III stock.
"I'm an old idealist,' he said the
other day. 81 want everything to be
the best possible. 7 believe that stock
IS going to develop the great actors
And believe In twenty years America
is going to have some of the greatest
character actors Of stage history. And
stock is where they are going 10 be