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
A year or so ago a "write up" article in "Munsey" claimed for George
B. Waldron the distinction of being the first Gentile actor to play in
the Mormon theatre. How far astray from the historical record the
writer was can be gleaned from the foregoing facts, and those which
are to follow.
Mr. Lyne's first engagement lasted into March, close up to the April
Conference, when a season of stock work was resumed with some special
attraction in the way of spectacular effects for the conference
season. It was the custom during the first regular season to play but
two nights a week Tuesdays and Saturdays the other evenings of the
week being devoted to the necessary rehearsals, as it was
impracticable to get the company together in the daytime for that
purpose, as they all had other occupations which demanded their
attention. Each play was given twice, this was the rule; it was the
exception when a piece ran _three_ nights in succession. It was the
custom to put up a new bill each week, so this gave the company about
a week to get up in a new play and a new farce; with their daily
occupations to attend to as well. Actors today would consider it a
task to get up in a new play and a farce each week with nothing else
to attend to. It will readily be understood from this statement that
the original stock company of the Salt Lake Theatre had no sinecure,
or "soft snap," to phrase it in the present vernacular, especially
when it is made known that during all this season there was no such
thing as salary attached to their positions. They were all working for
honor and glory, and to help Brother Brigham pay for the theatre; but
there was no grumbling; all went merry as a peal of wedding bells for
"the labor we delight in physics pain," and the first regular season
of the Salt Lake Theatre closed after the April Conference, 1863, with
a good financial showing, much of the indebtedness on the building
have been wiped out, and everything in good shape for the ensuing
season.
This first long season's work had to a great extent disclosed the
respective merits of the various members of the company, so that a
number of changes were wrought out, some members gaining promotions in
accordance with public voice and approbation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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