The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in UtahLindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Religion
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah
Lindsay, John S. (John Shanks)
Latter Day Saints; Theater -- Utah -- History
On the 25th, W. A. Mestayer opened a week's engagement in "On the
Slope," and with "The Octoroon" and "An Odd Trick" gave much
satisfaction. "Bill" Mestayer for years was the heavy man at the old
California theatre in its palmy days. As Jacob McClosky in the
"Octoroon" he was simply great. On his last night he appeared as Don
Caesar for the benefit of the Ladies' Library Association. On June
1st, George Chaplin made his regular summer appearance in the comedy
of "School," from which he graduated in one night and appeared on the
following evening as Count Monte Cristo. He played Monte again on the
4th. On the 5th George took a layoff as the Lingards, Horace and
Dickie, got in on that date with "The Spitsefields Weaver," and gave
one performance. Chaplin resumed with the stock company on the
following night, June 6th, and played the week out, giving his
services on the last night for the benefit of the Theatre corporation.
The following week the stock company gave a liberal proportion of
their salaries to the series of performances for the benefit of the
corporation. Seven performances were given for this benefit. James A.
Herne appeared in four of them, Chaplin in one, the company in all
seven. Although Clawson and Caine were the nominal lessees and
managers, they had associated with them before opening this season,
several partners in the venture and the concern was known as the Salt
Lake Theatre Corporation. Mr. Thomas Williams was the treasurer and
presided over the box office during this regime, and with such
peerless _bonhomie_ as made "Tom" (everybody called him "Tom") the
acknowledged prince of ticket sellers. It was evident from this
benefit business that the corporation had not had the profitable
season's business they had expected when they opened with such flying
colors in the previous October. The truth was the corporation was very
much in the hole, and this series of benefit performances were
designed to lighten their financial burdens and did to some extent,
yet the close of the season found them heavily in debt, and there were
serious results threatening, but the leniency of the creditors averted
disaster. The summer was now on but the stars kept on coming. Salt
Lake was a regular resort for them. When they could do no business
elsewhere, owing to heat, they made for the Salt Lake Theatre. It was
the coolest place in the city in those days and before we had any
summer resorts the people would go and see these midsummer night
performances. Our old Hibernian friend, Joe Murphy, was the next in
line, opening on the 15th inst. with more "Help," which he worked for
all it was worth three nights and filled out the remainder of the week
with a new Irish drama, "Maum Cree." This was Joe's debut in Irish
character work and he had come to Salt Lake City again to "try it on
the dog." He had good support and "Maum Cree" received a favorable
verdict from the Salt Lake theatre goers and Joe Murphy was
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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