Grant Will Open the New Colonial Theater
Ogden Standard Examiner, 18 November 1908, page 1
Salt Lake, Nov. 18 – Everything is in readiness for the opening of the new Colonial theater, with Madame Nordica, the world-famous prima donna, as the attraction, and the amusement loving public of Salt Lake is looking upon tonight both as an event of rare pleasure and an epoch in the theatrical business of this city.
The opening will be celebrated with due ceremony. Speeches will be made by Governor Cutler, Mayor Bransford, Calvin Heilig, president and John Cort, secretary of the Northwestern Theatrical association. Then the asbestos will soar up and the life of the playhouse will be started.
Tremendous efforts have been made to whip the building into shape for the scheduled date of opening, and it is a matter of congratulation for Manager Grant and the big force of workmen who have labored night and day for the past fortnight in the task that the feat has been accomplished. Difficulties and obstacles, seemingly insurmountable, have been overcome by their tireless energy, so that the playgoers would not be disappointed.
Hundreds of citizens viewed the theater all day yesterday and saw that it was a house of beauty. The decorative effect of the interior is ivory and gold with green sidewalls and green carpets and draperies to match. The seats and carpets are all down, the painters, decorators and carpenters are out, and the electricians are today putting inn the last touches on the lighting system.
The seating capacity of the Colonial is more than 1,800, including 72 box seats, 644 on the main floor, 665 in the balcony and 555 in the top gallery. The sale of seats for tonight's performance will close at Clayton Baynes' store at 6 o'clock tonight, when all the remaining unsold seats will be transferred to the theater ticket office.
Among the boxholders for tonight, according to Manager Grant, are Samuel Newhouse, G. S. Holmes, John Cort and his wife and daughter; Governor Cutler, Mayor Bransford, J. W. Houston, Mrs. R. A. Grant and J. A. Greenewald.
One of the features of this most modern of western playhouses will be the lighting arrangements, every light in the house being hidden. Their soft glow will be shed through frosted glass, and the effect, as demonstrated in all exhibition to citizens and press representatives last night, will be magnificent.
The opening will be celebrated with due ceremony. Speeches will be made by Governor Cutler, Mayor Bransford, Calvin Heilig, president and John Cort, secretary of the Northwestern Theatrical association. Then the asbestos will soar up and the life of the playhouse will be started.
Tremendous efforts have been made to whip the building into shape for the scheduled date of opening, and it is a matter of congratulation for Manager Grant and the big force of workmen who have labored night and day for the past fortnight in the task that the feat has been accomplished. Difficulties and obstacles, seemingly insurmountable, have been overcome by their tireless energy, so that the playgoers would not be disappointed.
Hundreds of citizens viewed the theater all day yesterday and saw that it was a house of beauty. The decorative effect of the interior is ivory and gold with green sidewalls and green carpets and draperies to match. The seats and carpets are all down, the painters, decorators and carpenters are out, and the electricians are today putting inn the last touches on the lighting system.
The seating capacity of the Colonial is more than 1,800, including 72 box seats, 644 on the main floor, 665 in the balcony and 555 in the top gallery. The sale of seats for tonight's performance will close at Clayton Baynes' store at 6 o'clock tonight, when all the remaining unsold seats will be transferred to the theater ticket office.
Among the boxholders for tonight, according to Manager Grant, are Samuel Newhouse, G. S. Holmes, John Cort and his wife and daughter; Governor Cutler, Mayor Bransford, J. W. Houston, Mrs. R. A. Grant and J. A. Greenewald.
One of the features of this most modern of western playhouses will be the lighting arrangements, every light in the house being hidden. Their soft glow will be shed through frosted glass, and the effect, as demonstrated in all exhibition to citizens and press representatives last night, will be magnificent.