n Theatre in

mfort and convenience, especially behind the curtain. When it is considered that not only the architectural designs, the mechanical construction, but all the interior decorations and the scene-painting was done by local talent, it speaks highly for the artistic and mechanical skill that was centered in Salt Lake even at that early period of its history. William H. Folsom was the architect and personally superintended its construction. He was also the architect of the big Tabernacle with its turtle-shaped roof spanning a stretch of 150 feet without a supporting column. The first installment of scenery was painted by W. V. Morris and George M. Ottinger, both clever artists, and with their assistants they gave the theatre stage a very nice investiture

put it on in good shape for the actors who needed such assistance. John Squires was the tonsorial artist-he was a busy man in those days. He had his shop in a little adobe house that stood directly opposite the "President's Office" on the lot where the Amelia Palace was afterwards erected. John was the President's barber, and had a large run of custom from the church and tithing offices, besides nearly all the actors patronized him, so that he was a prosperous man in the community. He continued to shave his share of the people up to within a recent date, when he was obliged to

t bravely ushered in a supplemental season on May 14th. Only five weeks after the Irwins had closed their long and brilliant run, the stock were hard at it again, notwithstanding the summer days were come; they kept going till the 18th of June, when the "veteran tragedian" (Lyne, at the time 58 ye

l "Armand Duval" in "Camille," when Matilda Heron first produced that play in New York. After his New York engagement, Pauncefort drifted West, and in 1864 came to Salt Lake for a brief engagement of a week or two. He had just concluded a stellar engagement with Jack Langrishe at Denver. Denver at that time was not so large as Salt Lake City, nor could it boast anything like so good a theatre. The great overland road had not been projected at this time, and people crossing the country from Denver to Salt Lake or San Francisco were obliged "to stage it," or travel with private conveyances. So George had to stage it, not a difficult thing for an actor to do. He was accompanied by Mrs. Florence Bell who was featured with him as co-star during his first engagement. He opened on July 20th, 1864, just four nights after Lyne closed, in "The Romance of a Poor Young Man," in the character of "Manu

"the powers that be." George was given plainly to understand that although Mormons believed in and practiced polygamy, they drew the line in morals at promiscuity, and he could not continue his present intimate relations with Mrs. Bell and his engagement at the Salt Lake Theatre. George took the hint and severed the

to the theatre after the Pauncefort season, the writer met him on the stage near his box and took occasion to express his pleasure at seeing him occupy his accustomed seat after so long an absence, remarking, "It is a long time since you were here, President Young." "Yes," he replied. "I told John T. and Hyrum (t

apacity. The Conference over, the following week T. A. Lyne opened his third engagement and played up to the 10th of December; a very long engagement, lasting eight weeks. Pauncefort should naturally, according to all professional ways of looking at it, have filled this time; and no doubt would have had the preference over Lyne if the managers had not been handicapped by the strong prejudice of the "President" against this actor; for he was the newer and more attractive star. Lyne had already played two long engagements and exhausted his repertoire, besides Pauncefort had introduced us to a more modern and popular school, and from financial considerations alone, any manager would have given him the preference, but he did not get back into the theatre for a second engageme

g around about four months. Why this engagement ended so suddenly in the very height of its brilliancy is somewhat puzzling to understand, as there wa

ement went to San Francisco, where he remained fo