Salt Lake Theatre records, 1864-1913

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Salt Lake Theatre (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Title
Salt Lake Theatre records
Dates
1864-1913 (inclusive)
Quantity
9 linear feet
Collection Number
MS 0541
Summary
The Salt Lake Theatre records (1864-1913) contain an extensive list of published materials about the Salt Lake Theatre. It includes plays, reviews, actors and actresses, venues, celebrations, and exhibits. The records were researched by Aaron W. Tracy in anticipation of his Ph.D dissertation, which was never completed.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Aaron Ward Tracy (1885-1966) is best known for his involvement in the organization or Weber State College. He was one of its founders, and an English teacher while it was called Weber State Academy. He later became the head of their English Department, and established the forensics program. Tracy was born to Henry Tracey and Phoebe Draper. He was orphaned, and grew up in the home of David O. McKay. Tracy received his B.A. in English from BYU, and went on to become the principal of schools in both Weber and Box Elder Counties. He was also president of Weber Academy from 1922 to 1936. From 1937 to 1941, Tracy taught at BYU, and during World War II served as historian at the Ogden Defense Depot. He returned from 1951-1952 to the Depot as their training officer. Tracy was also active in state government. He was chairman of the Utah Department of Publicity and Industrial Development from 1945-1949, and was a menber of the Utah State Legislature from 1933-1935, and again from 1959-1961, and 1963. In 1912, Tracy married Ethel Marriott in the Salt Lake Temple, and together they had seven children. He died in 1966.

The Salt Lake Theatre was constructed on First South and State Street. Brigham Young made the decision to build the theatre there in 1858, due to the popularity of nearby Camp Floyd's theatre which was neither big enough nor permanent. An auction at Camp Floyd furnished most of the fund for the building, which was to be the largest structure erected in the Salt Lake valley up to this time. It's main architect was William E. Folsom, and the primary supervisor was Hiram B. Clawson. The original design of the building was simple elegance, with doric style columns at the entrance, and a white chalky plaster front that lit up very well at night. The interior was modeled after the European opera houses, with a parquet and four ascending circles, capable of holding 1500 people. It had two grand boxes at the top, and large storage and rehearsal areas in the back. Because the theatre was an important addition to Salt Lake City, many different entertainments were held there, everything from dramatic plays to lectures, to political conventions. Famous actors of the day graced the stage, including Lily Langtrey, Oscar Wilde, and all of the Barrymores. There were also balls and celebrations honoring various organizations and holidays, such as the Mormon Battalion, and Independance Day. Although it's venues were international and well-known, the Salt Lake Theatre never made much profit, and was usually only able to pay it's expenses. In the twenties, the combination of a faltering economy and the advent of motion pictures cut into it's already insufficient revenues, and Heber J. Grant made the unpopular but neccesary decision to close it. Despite valiant attempts by various groups to keep the theatre open, it closed in 1928, and was razed to the ground.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Aaron Ward Tracy compiled articles from various publications from the years 1864-1913 to make up eighteen volumes of informtion about the Salt Lake Theatre. Each volume covers between two and three years, and consists of announcements, articles, and reviews about plays and actors. Information about other events in and out of the theatre, such as lectures, balls, and political rallies are also included. The seventy-eight page index is divided by name, play, and news. Due to it's size, it is not online, and can only be found in hard copy in Special Collections at the Marriott Library. A copy can be mailed or attached to an email to interested parties.

The name index includes actors, as well as as managers, lecturers, musicians, and other performers. The volume and page mumber are listed for the first instance in which the name is found; in some cases more than one location for those manes most prominent or frequently listed. The play index lists the volume and page mumber where the play is first found. More references may be found to the same play on further pages or in later volumes. The play index, therefore, is only a starting point. The appendix of news items is listed by volume in the order in which the items are found. The spellings of names and titles have been reprinted as they are found in the volumes, therefore if inconsistancy is found, that is the reason. The appendix of news items is listed by volume as well, in the order in which the items are found.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Boxes 1-16 were purchased in 1987 (8.5 linear feet) from Linda Tracy.

Box 17 was purchased in 2006 (0.5 linear feet) from Peter Crawley.

Processing Note

Processed by Jennifer Breaden and Elizabeth Rogers in 1989 and 2007.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1864-1869
2 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1869-1871
3 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1871-1873
4 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1873-1875
5 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1875-1878
6 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1878-1881
7 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1881-1884
8 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1884-1886
9 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1887-1890
10 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1890-1892
11 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1893-1895
12 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1895-1897
13 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1898-1900
14 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1900-1903
15 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1904-1906
16 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1907-1908
17 The Salt Lake Theatre Records 1909-1911
18 The Salt Lake Theatre Records and Account Book 1898-1913

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Theater and society--Utah--Salt Lake City--History
  • Theater--Utah--Salt Lake City--History
  • Theaters--Utah--Salt Lake City--History

Corporate Names

  • Salt Lake Theatre (Salt Lake City, Utah)--History

Geographical Names

  • Salt Lake City (Utah)--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • Histories