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 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 lasting, and each
additional character she appeared in only served to strengthen her
hold on the admiration and affection of her audiences.
The advent of such a well-known and popular actress into the heart of
the Rocky Mountain region at such a time, years before the completion
of the overland railroad, had in it a rich tinge of romance and wild
managerial venture. Julia Dean came to Salt Lake City under the
management and in the dramatic company of the veteran Western manager,
John S. Potter. Some time prior to this she had gone to San Francisco
from New York by way of the Isthmus, had played a successful
engagement there, and being "at liberty" after it was over, Mr.
Potter, who was an old acquaintance of Mrs. Hayne, made her a
proposition to organize a company and play her through the principal
towns of California. This was done, and after the state had been
pretty thoroughly toured, the fair Julia appearing in many places that
had very "queer" theatres, the tour was extended through the cities of
Oregon and then through the sparsely inhabited territories of Montana,
Idaho and Utah, finally arriving in Salt Lake July 26th, 1865, on a
regular old-time stage coach, a tired and jaded-looking party. There
was in this company John S. Potter, manager (then a man of sixty or
more), Julia Deane Hayne (the star), George B. Waldron (leading man),
Mr. and Mrs. O. F. Leslie (juveniles), Mr. A. K. Mortimer (heavies),
Charles Graham (comedian). Mr. Potter himself played the "old man"
parts, Miss Belle Douglas playing characters and old woman parts, and
"Jimmie" Martin, property man and filling-in parts. The fame of
Brigham Young's theatre had reached them in their travels, and they
had traveled many miles to get the opportunity of playing in it. A
week's engagement was soon effected, and on August 11th, 1865, "The
Potter Company" with Julia Dean Hayne as the stellar character, opened
up in the play of "Camille." They were received by a packed house, and
with every demonstration of welcome and approbation. Mrs. Hayne, who
was no longer girlish in face and figure but a mature woman, verging
on towards the "fair, fat and forty" period, was nevertheless so
exquisitely beautiful and girlish-looking when made up for "Camille"
or "Julia" in the "Hunchback," that everybody sang her praises. The
entire community seemed to have fallen irresistibly in love with the
new star, and henceforward she had fair wind and smooth sailing while
her lot lay cast among the Saints. While the Potter Company were
playing in the theatre, supporting Mrs. Hayne, the stock company were
of course getting a needed rest, but their salaries (?) were going on
as usual, and the management could not well afford to have two
companies on its hands, so after the first week, the novelty being
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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