The big theatre was planned and erected. William H. Folsom was the architect and personally superintended the construction of the building. This same gentleman, also, designed and built the big turtle-shaped Tabernacle, proving that he was a constructive genius. On March the sixth, 1862, the Salt Lake Theatre, although far from being finished, was so far completed as to be used, and on this date it was opened with such ceremonies as would not only be deemed unique in any other community, but would be set down as sacriligious by pious people of other faiths. On this occasion the theatre was filled to its utmost capacity by invitation. No admission fee was charged, the invitations being extended by President Young to the church authorities, state, county and municipal officers, the workmen who had erected the building, some two hundred with their families. Some even who held invitations could not get in; it resembled a huge revival meeting. The President and his counsellors, a number of the apostles and other church dignitaries sat on the stage in front of the green baize drop curtain. The parquette was filled with the officials, church and secular, and the dramatic company and members of their families. The circles were filled principally by the men who had worked on the building and their families. There was a feeling of greatest expectancy pervading the large audience. The people were there to witness not a play on this occasion, but something deemed of still more importance, the dedication of the new theatre. The Mormons dedicate all of their public buildings, whether temples, tabernacles, stake houses, ward houses, school houses, theatres, dance halls, or co-operative stores to the service for which they were erected. The ceremony is much like one of their religious meetings with the addition of the dedicatory prayer. On this occasion President Brigham Young occupied the center of the stage. There was a program of vocal and instrumental music, a special choir gotten together for the occasion, and the theatre orchestra, led by Professor "Charlie" Thomas, furnished the music.