Skip to main content

The Salt Lake Opera Company Records

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_CAINE COLL MSS 30

Scope and Contents

Letters received by Horace G. Whitney (1857-1921), manager of the Salt Lake Opera Company between 1897 and 1906 from costumers, music companies, actors and theatres in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. The letters reveal the complicated logistics (securing permissions, booking a theatre, agreeing on the division profits, costumes, props, the orchestra, etc.) Of taking an opera on the road at the turn-of-the-century. Roughly half of the letters were written by managers of theatres in Evanston, Rock Springs, Pocatello, Park City, Provo, Ogden and Logan in order to entice Whitney to bring the company to their town. The other large group of letters are from costumers, and the Whitmark Music Company of New York. The letters from Whitmark are especially interesting because of their discussion of copyright issues and the payment of royalties. These letters reveal that Whitney sometimes paid hundreds of dollars less in royalties than other theatres to perform copyrighted plays and music. The third, and smallest group of letters are from actors and discuss their availability for roles in upcoming productions.

Dates

  • Creation: 1897-1906

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the The Salt Lake Opera Company Records must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Biographical Note

Horace G. Whitney (1858-1921) was music and dramatic critic writing for the Salt Lake Herald and the Deseret News.

Extent

1 box (.5 linear ft)

Abstract

This collection contains the correspondence received by Horace G. Whitney, the former manager of the Salt Lake Opera Company, from costumers, theatres, actors, and music companies in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.

Arrangement

Collection is not arranged in any particular order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in 1998 from a manuscript dealer.

Historical Note

The Salt Lake Opera Company was organized in 1897 by Heber S. Goddard, Willard E. Weihe, John D. Spencer with Horace G. Whitney as the manager. Goddard, a singer, was something of a celebrity and Whitney and Spencer were well-known locally as members of the Home Dramatic Club. The Company gave its last performance in 1912. The Company performed at the historic Salt Lake Theatre. It also took the show on the road to Pocatello, Logan and other towns throughout the region.

The Company performed thirteen operas in its time. These were: "The Mascot," (February 25, 1897) "Patience," "Chimes of Normandy," "Said Pasha," "The Queen's Lace Handkerchief," "A Trip To Africa," "Madeline," "The Mandarin," Fatitza," "The Wedding Day," "Martha," "The Jolly Musketeers," "The Girl and the Governor," "Robin Hood." The March 8, 1912 performance of "Robin Hood" at the old Salt Lake Theatre was the last performance given by the Company.

For more information see George D. Pyper's book The Romance Of An Old Playhouse.

Processing Information

Processed in May of 1998

Title
Guide to the The Salt Lake Opera Company Records, 1897-1906
Author
Finding aid/Register created by John L. Powell
Date
©2010
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard, 2nd Edition)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)