Latter Day Saints

The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah

In rather sharp contrast to other Christian denominations, the Mormons believe in and are fond of dancing and the theatre. So much is this the case that Friday evening of each week during the amusement season is set apart by them in all the settlements throughout Mormondom for...

Chapters

7. CHAPTER VII.

The next star to appear at the Mormon theatre was Julia Dean Hayne, and a brilliant one she proved to be. She created on her first appearance an impression that was profound and...

17. CHAPTER XVII

Before this time John Maguire had been heard from; he had found on his arrival at Pioche that there was some sort of a theatre there. It had been built for a minstrel company of...

18. CHAPTER XVIII.

The season of 73 and '74 was somewhat later than usual in opening. The reasons were, Clawson and Caine had renewed their lease of the theatre, and having done so well with it fi...

19. CHAPTER XIX.

To open this season the stock company were brought into requisition again and played up to the 5th of September. On the 7th and 8th Howarth's Hibernica, a panoramic show with sp...

12. CHAPTER XII.

Davenport's engagement ended, Miss Ince resumed and played from September the 5th to the 17th, then departed for the Golden Shores of the Pacific. Now again, after this brillian...

5. CHAPTER V.

The isolation policy peculiar to the Mormons at this period, found expression in a discouragement of all Gentiles (as all non-Mormons were called) and Gentile enterprises in Uta...

8. CHAPTER VIII.

After the close of this eventful season, Mr. George Waldron, who had played the leading support to Mrs. Hayne and become an established favorite, drifted away from Salt Lake, go...

4. CHAPTER IV.

Notwithstanding that during the winter of 1859-60 a number of dramatic performances were given in the Social Hall, they were nearly, if not all, revivals of plays that had been...

23. CHAPTER XXIII.

The season of '78 and '79 was opened on October 4th by Haverly's minstrels, who filled the night of the 5th also, when the stock company stepped to the front once more, and fill...

16. CHAPTER XVI.

The season of '72 and '73 opened on August 7th with George Chaplin and Clara Jean Walters as stock stars. They opened in the classical drama of "Buffalo Bill." This was a long t...

21. CHAPTER XXI.

With the approach of the October Conference, which is always a harvest for the theatre, Mr. Harris got together as strong a company as possible and revived some of the old favor...

14. CHAPTER XIV.

The theatre did not reopen until August the 27th when the season of '70 and '71 was ushered in with a "Benefit" to Miss Colebrook. This was really the first summer the theatre h...

2. CHAPTER II.

When the Mormons came from Nauvoo to Salt Lake they brought with them to this wilderness in the Rocky Mountains, the love of the drama, and as a consequence it was not long, onl...

11. CHAPTER XI

On the first of August, this same year, '67, C. W. Couldock made his first appearance at the Salt Lake Theatre, supported by Jack Langrishe and his company from Denver, where th...

9. CHAPTER IX.

Julia Dean Hayne's final appearance closed the fourth season of the Salt Lake Theatre, counting the opening one which only lasted from March 8th, '62, to the end of April, about...

6. CHAPTER VI.

The Salt Lake Theatre was a source of wonder and admiration to all strangers visiting it. Considering the time and the place of its erection, the isolated condition of the peopl...

15. CHAPTER XV.

The season of '71 and '72 opened on August the 4th, only two weeks after the closing of '70 and '71. The Lingards were the opening attraction; they played only two nights. The L...

25. CHAPTER XXV.

The cultivation and progress of the drama in connection with its kindred arts, poesy and painting, marks the progress of civilization, culture and refinement at any given period...

22. CHAPTER XXII.

On October 5th, the fall Conference was provided for. The house opened for the season of '77 and '78 on this date with a reproduction of "Under One Flag." The stock played throu...

1. CHAPTER I.

In rather sharp contrast to other Christian denominations, the Mormons believe in and are fond of dancing and the theatre. So much is this the case that Friday evening of each w...

3. CHAPTER III.

Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York, And all the clouds that lowered upon our house, In the deep bosom of the ocean buried; Now are our...

24. CHAPTER XXIV.

Retrospectively considered, the building of the Walker Opera House was premature. There was one good theatre here, and not half enough of business for that one; but it served to...

10. CHAPTER X.

The season of '66 and '67 opened on September 8th with Alonzo R. Phelps as the star attraction. Mr. Phelps opened in the character of "Damon" and made a fairly good showing, alt...

20. CHAPTER XX.

In the following chapter, no attempt will be made to give a consecutive and complete list of the attractions which appeared during the season, but a running notice will be made...

13. CHAPTER XIII.

The season of '69 and '70 opened auspiciously on September 4th with the now recuperated stock company in a new play. "The Captain of the Vulture" was played one week and another...