--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Whitney, Horace G. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 18 number: 8 published: 1915-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Horace G. Whitney, "The Story of the Salt Lake Theatre III," *Improvement Era* 18, no. 8 (June 1915): 686–696.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1808unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1808unse start_page: 686 end_page: 696 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1808unse publication_year: 1915 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Story of the Salt Lake Theatre III The Story of the Salt Lake Theatre" BY HORACE G. WHITNEY, DRAMATIC EDITOR OF THE DESERET NEWS In Four Parts —Part III The second epoch in "The Story of the Salt Lake Theatre" might be said to have ended with the death of President Brigham Young, which occurred in 1877. After 1872, the house had en- tered upon a new career. The old stock company began to disin- tegrate. The railroad had entered Salt Lake, business opportu- nities expanded, and many of the active men connected with the drama, turned to other channels. Z. C. M. I. had been founded with H. B. Clawson as its superintendent. John T. Caine went into public life and was elected to various positions, which finally culminated in his going to Congress. David McKenzie who, prob- ably with most justice, can be called the dominating figure among the home players of those days, retired from acting, but occasion- ally took a hand in the management of the house. Mr. McKenzie's later years were passed in the active ser- vice of the Church. He was a clerk in the office of the First Pres- idency, and was also president of the High Priests' Quorum of *An address delivered before the Cleofan Society, January 27, 1915. the old Salt Lake Stake, and later of the Pioneer Stake. He has often shown me an interesting book in which he had compiled a list of all the plays in which he ever appeared. He was also a rare narrator of some of the "green room legends" of the Salt Lake Theatre, and among others of his stories was one relating to the first production of "The Lonely Man of the Ocean." He told of the shipwreck scene in which he played the hero, and Nel- lie Colebrook the heroine. All the crew had been stricken down by yellow fever, the bodies of the sailors lay on deck, and he and the heroine were about to give up in despair, when on the horizon appeared a distant ship. The hero seized a match to fire a signal gun, exclaiming to the heroine, "Dear one, thou shalt yet be saved !" He applied the match to the cannon,, but a faint sizzle was the only response. The cannon went on sputtering, the hero kneeling in agony. The property man, Charles Millard, who had loaded the cannon, stood in the wings, filled with equal anxiety. Finally, seeing that the cannon was not "going off," he whis- pered to McKenzie, "Touch her again." Again the sailor applied the match, whereupon the in- genious Millard fired a pistol in the wings. It was only a crack, but it sufficed, and McKenzie shouted "Our signal is heard. We are saved !" The curtain fell, and no sooner was the view of the audience shut out from the actors than the yellow fever vic- tims on deck began to sit up and demand an explanation. Phil Margetts, one of the stricken sailors, was standing in front of the cannon, when "bang" it went off with a roar. The wad struck him in the back, and laid him flat, and re-bounding hit JAMES M. HARDIE Bert Merrill in the hand, inflict- A popular singer and actor of the '60s. ing a wound whose effects he felt for several days. The audi- ence, mystified at the explosion, sent a committee behind the cur- tain, to learnwhat the trouble was, and Mr. McKenzie himself had to appear and explain the reasons for the belated signal. Stock Company Scatters Annie (Asenath) Adams, the heroine to McKenzie's heroes, and with him immensely popular with the audiences of those days. married James H. Kiskadden, in 1869. Her daughter, Maude Adams, was born November 11, 1872, and soon after her mother took her to the coast. The two returned to Salt Lake several times, as our narrative later will show, and it has often been narrated as a part of the history of the American stage, how Maude, at the age of nine months, was carried across the stage of our theatre on a platter, as a substitute for another infant suddenly incapacitated by a crying spell — heY very first appearance on any stage. J. M. Hardic, by this time a fine romantic actor, went abroad to seek his fortune, and for years was heard of starring in this country and England. He died some years ago, and is bur- ied in Liverpool. Sara Alexan- der also left the state to follow a professional life. She is now liv- ing in New York with her niece, Lisle Leigh, a well-known ac- tress. John C. Graham went into the newspaper business and re- moved to Provo, where he acted occasionally, and died in 1906. Nellie Colebrook appeared only at rare intervals after 1874, and died some years ago. John Lindsay left and became a travel- ing star in the west, re-visiting the old playhouse at intervals with his daughters. He wrote his experiences in a book called The Mormons and the The- atre, which is full of interesting GEORGE M. OTTINGER episodes. W. C. Dunbar, with The veteran fire chief as the King, in John T. Caine and E. L. Sloan, "Hamlet." founded the Salt Lake Herald, in 1870, and Dunbar, drollest of all our comedians, rarely appeared on the stage thereafter. Margaret Clawson retired to care for her rapidly growing family, and H. E. Bowring removed to Brigham City and died there. Henry Maiben, a delightful comedian and a rare Christian gentleman, only occasionally appeared, but once or twice came out of his retirement to play with the Home Club, in the '80s. Phil Margetts alone, of all the old players, remained almost constantly in the harness till age and illness incapacitated him. Long after his fellow players had retired, he formed vari- ous companies to support him in "Our Boys," "The Lancashire Lass," "The Charcoal Burner." "The Chimney Corner," and many others. He appeared in the Home Dramatic Club's production of "The Lights o' London," about 1887, and imparted all his old vigor and humor to his role, that of Joe Jarvis when the fiftieth ; anniversary of the Theatre was celebrated, in 1912, though he was partially paralyzed, he was wheeled upon the stage, and from his chair, he delivered a selection from Shakespeare with a readiness and distinctness which told his mind was as clear as in his old his- trionic days. He died in September, 1914, "the last of the Old Guard." The Old Guard — And speaking of the "Old Guard" I feel a personal pride in having been instrumental in bringing together, a few years ago, the five pioneer players known as "The Old Guard of the Drama in Utah," Messrs. Clawson, Caine, McKenzie, Margetts, and Mrs. Clawson, having them photographed in a group, and securing their personal memoirs. I realized it could only be a short time before all of them would receive the final call from the great man- ager who arranges all our entrances and exits. Each has since joined the "innumerable cara- van." Their pictures will be found in the Christmas News of 1910, accompanied by the follow- ing notice "Those familiar with the history of the drama in Utah will not need to be told the names of the grand old quintet whose faces look forth from this page, or the distinguished part they played in the early history of the state. They are almost the sole links that connect us with the days of Nauvoo. Clawson, Caine, Mar- McKenzie, and Margaret getts, Clawson What a pathway of ! achievements they can look back upon What a stupendous total ! in the sum of general good is piled up to their credit ! What a debt did the pioneers of Utah, MRS. M. BOWRING for whose pleasure they toiled, As Lady Macbeth. owe to them How many cares ! they vanquished, how many smiles they started, how many tears they wiped away, in the old days when the community was coming !" •up through the hard processes of formation "A joyful occasion it was, as may be imagined, when the five survivors of the old Deseret Dramatic Association (its official 690 IMI'R< >VEMENT ERA title) came together a few weeks since at the request of the man- agement of The Descrct News and posed before the camera for the picture shown on this page. It was the first time they had met in many years, and the greetings, the inquiries for each other's health and welfare, the solicitude for 'dear old Phil,' who still suffers from a paralytic stroke, and is helped in and out of the — carriage by members of his family all make up a delightful babel of sounds. What a flood of reminiscences is let loose! Mrs. Clawson, Mr. Margetts, and Da- vid McKenzie, three survivors of the once famous 'Under the Gaslight' cast, salute each other by their stage names. Who that beheld them can ever forget them —'Old Judas,' 'Byke' and 'Snorkey,' the one-armed sol- dier whom the villains tried to kill by tying him to the railroad track ? Imagine the gentle-faced Aunt Margaret of today in that role or as Judy O'Trot ! Bishop Clawson comes in a few minutes late, and his old time managerial associate, John T. Caine, aus- terely informs him that he is docked $2.00 for keeping the re- hearsal waiting! " 'Dear old John Graham wouldn't he have liked to be BERNARD SNOW here?' ruminates his old associ- of the early Social Hall and ate and fellow-comedian, Phil ' Theatre days. Margetts. Graham, the Bermu- das of that 'Under the Gaslight' cast how his image stands out : Lindsay, Hardie, Nellie Colebrook, Harry Bowring, W. C. Dun- bar, Al Thorne, and a host of others whose names are now but a memory, come in for some mention or other, as the skein of rec- ollections is unwound, and very tender, very gentle, grow the tones of the veterans, as the exchange of reminiscences goes around." President Young's Interest During all those years, President Brigham Young maintained the active, personal and almost affectionate regard that he always manifested for the threatre. In the middle and later seventies, when increasing responsibilities and advancing years told upon his energy, he attended the performances less frequently, but through his agents he kept in the closest touch with its affairs. Some idea of his interest in and connection with the house, and of the respect and veneration with which the players regarded him, is obtained from the following selections: In his interesting recollections of the early drama in Utah, contributed to the Christmas Nezvs some years ago, David Mc- Kenzie says "President Young was ardently devoted to theatrical enter- tainments, especially those of an amusing character. He said to the audience, on the opening night of the theatre: 'If I had my way I would never have a tragedy played on these boards. There "V. " tfttiL 4 **i «7T# V" ±3L^2k~?*iMa _^MwkJ~2^^. JMmm^B/^Mm^m^ ^mm L mm &£**"§ HL MM % Tj II *-*%^M ^HR^^^^^B ' house ought to be as sacred as the temple, and might be made so by the proper conduct of those who were engaged in them. He used every laudable means to in- culcate those views, but Presi- dent Young was no autocrat and his good counsels were not al- ways enforced, although not al- together unheeded. Yet I know of several instances where im- proper conduct on the part of performers caused their instant dismissal." John T. Caine, in his speech, Christmas night, 1862, said: "For all the grandeur of conception, magnificence of de- sign, and beauty of execution, which characterize everything that surrounds us here tonight, we are pre-eminently indebted to him who is ever foremost in every good work, the patron of JOHN C. or ah am the fine arts, the friend of the As Lord Ul" Kl, m Ame,ican ' Cousin"'"° industrious talent, and in the fullest and broadest sense the .irstcitizen of Utah." President Young, in the familiar arm-chair, in the body of the house, sat and listened to this encomium and we can well imagine the applause which followed. Mrs. Adams' Reminiscences Mrs. Annie Adams Kis- kadden once said, in an article contributed to the Christmas Neivs, entitled "Green Room Memories :" "Our first nights in those days were very interesting JM?Il x/yu/0 events. Though the city was small, we often played to audi- MRS. A. A. ADAMS ences that filled every portion of Mother of Maude Adams, in 186S. the house, and sometimes oar plays ran a week. Our audiences always included Church leaders, with President Brigham Young at the head the judges, the terri- ; torial officials sent out from Washington, and often the mili- tary from Fort Douglas. The fig- ure of President Young, seated at the end of a bench in a large arm-chair, is as clearly before me while I write, as though it were yesterday. He was a great critic of the drama, and was very par- ticular as to the class of plays that the company presented. He often dropped in on us at rehear- sals, and frequently went over the house from top to bottom to see whether it was kept in or- der." Sara Alexander is quoted in the Christmas News, a few years W. C. DUNBAR Famous comedian, vocalist, and bagpipe ago, as saying: performer; also one of the founders "There is no other theatre of the Salt Lake Herald. built in these days just as 'com- fy' as the old Salt Lake Theatre, and no stock company was ever quite so homelike and jolly as that we belonged to, and as for the stage, President Young knew more about the needs of a large stage than any manager now liv- ing.'' Lambourne's Tribute Alfred Lambourne, in his Playhouse, tells of his first meeting with President Brigham Young as follows "It was upon the Scene- Painter's Gallery that the writer first met Brigham Young. It was of a late afternoon in au- tumn the rehearsal for that ; night's play was over, the Scene- J. M. SIMMONS Painter's brush was moving rap- Pioneer actor, as Alonzo in "Pizzaro. idly upon the broad spread of canvas before him, and he thought himself alone. Anon was heard the sound of firm, yet almost inaudible footsteps upon the gallery stairs. Then the maker appeared, and it was the Pres- ident, the great 'Mormon' leader. Unheralded he had come upon a tour of inspection. Brigham Young was famed for com- pleteness he possessed a genius for details. Carefully the Pres- ; ident examined each water tank, each barrel of salt. He ap- MAUDE ADAMS IN GIRLHOOD DAYS— ABOUT 1890 peared to think that day, of the Playhouse's danger from fire. He broke, with the end of his gold-headed cane, the thick crusts that had formed over the tops of the barrels of salt. I watched him shake his head and compress his lips there came a frown ; upon his face. His orders for safety, one could see, had been neglected, he did a labor which should have been remembered and performed by others. No doubt someone would be repri- manded. I have always believed that during the handshake that came a few minutes later, the 'Moses of the West' 'sized me up,' as we are wont to say, spiritually, mentally and physically, with those steady, keen and searching eyes." (to be concluded) Anticipation (Thoughts translated from hymn 208, Danish Hymn Book.) Think, O my soul, when clouds are disappearing, The gloomy mists of life are fled and gone, What promised rest for all is sweetly nearing When Jesus shall forever be our sun. When earthly riddles all are solved and straightened, The anxious whys and wherefores are explained, God's boundless grace each weary soul will lighten, As concepts of his hidden ways are gained. Think of the time when, with the clearest vision, We'll see our Savior whom we here believed And loved and worshiped. O what fond transition, When, blest and saved, by him we'll be received! Our trembling feet his shepherd care has guided, He blotted out our sins — how great his love! To test our faith, our souls he often chided; What joy when we shall meet him there above! Think of departed ones, their joyous greeting, When earthly strife and trials all are past; The glorious morn that brings the blessed meeting, Where peace and harmony forever last! Think, further, when, in temple halls of glory, With angels we shall praise our Lord supreme, Converse with friends upon the gospel story, And of this life, which vanished like a dream! To those who, faithful, in this world are striving, And through Christ's power have entered through "the door," — These joys shall come hope constantly reviving, When freed and saved, they'll live forevermore! SALEM, UTAH JOHN A. Ol.SEN. I " A JBraost of Ifjr Eattil* Verses from the poem, "The Rose of Love." tagft IiY ALFRED LAMBOURNE In this Full time, this Hey-day of the Year, My Soul, accordant with the Fairness wrought, Now with the Queenly Roses owns the Sphere, All Earth is Mine in Luxury of Thought. v i T see the Fair Ones where 'mid Northern Hills The wild Cicada from the Vine is heard That Beauty of the South my Vision fills, Where Sings in Ecstasy the Mocking-bird. That Isle so Verdant fair before me Lies — Within the Soul old Melody awakes That Dewy land where Form with Feature vies, The Rose-like Beauties by Killarney's Lakes. And Albion with Streams and Meadows bright That Laugh and Smile beneath the Skies of Gray, Where Roses still are Rivals —Red and White And English Maids are Fresh and Fair as they. h Where Grew the Roses of the Long Ago, And where, Red-hearted, open now Love's Flowers, I walk in Paths by many a gray Chateau, And in quaint Gardens by old Castle towers. Where o'er the River sound the Lorelei's notes, And Moonlit rocks above the Waters rise, And Hail, as yet the dying Echo floats, The Maids of Rhineland with their Love-lit Eyes.