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
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 filled out the remainder
of the Conference dates with the "Lancashire Lass" and the "Hidden
Hand." On the 23rd Susie Spencer was a beneficiary, playing "The
Little Rebel." Susie's life was not without a spice of romance, and
its chapter of sorrow. Susie Spencer was a very pretty little girl and
talented; the managers found her very useful in parts where her petite
stature was suited to the character, and such occasions were not
infrequent. Miss Spencer was progressing nicely in her art and had
already become a favorite with the patrons of the drama, when she met
her fate in the person of Mr. Ed Marden. Marden was one of the
Cogswell party who came from California by way of Southern Utah, and
waiting on Brigham Young, informed him they had received a revelation
(via the Planchette route) instructing them to come to Salt Lake and
join the Mormon Church, as it was the only true and authorized church.
The party were duly baptized and confirmed into the Church, and at
once installed as members of the stock company. Marden became on very
short acquaintance infatuated with the pretty Susie and laid siege to
her young and guileless heart with that adroitness and dexterity which
come from much experience, with the result that Susie soon became Mrs.
Marden. Marden was a member of the stock here all during the "Jimmy"
Harris regime. He and "Jimmy" were fast friends, they both came to
Utah Gentiles, joined the Church and married Mormon girls. Soon after
the close of the Harris management in '77, Marden drifted off and left
his Susie a heart-broken little woman. He was through with Utah, and
through with the Mormon Church, and through with his little Mormon
wife, and cast them all aside as he would a worn-out suit. He never
came back, and Susie, after a year or two of repining, found
consolation in the affections of a better man. She became the wife of
Mr. Rice, a well-to-do banker of the mining town of Frisco, Utah,
where she lived happily in her new alliance until a few years ago,
when she passed away from earth, still young in years.
The next stellar attraction was Mrs. Scott Siddons, a niece of the
great Sarah Siddons, who appeared on November 22nd in a dramatic
recital; with what success the writer cannot tell, as he was away
again at this time. This lady had just closed a week's engagement at
Portland, Oregon, when I arrived there. I met her at the hotel before
her departure, and she impressed me as being an extraordinary woman
and a brilliant actress.
December 25th, Nat Goodwin and Eliza Weatherby opened a four nights'
engagement in "Hobbies;" they gave on the following evenings "Under
the Rose" and "Cruets." This was Goodwin's first engagement in Salt
Lake.
On January 10th and 11th, 1879, Alice Gates' Comic Opera Company
played to exceptionally large houses.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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