PEOPLE'S THEATER

PEOPLE'S THEATER. Boasted locally as one of the best theaters in the West, the People's Theater opened on August 31, 1857. It was located on the second floor of the Odd Fellow's building on the corner of Bluff and Eighth STREETS opposite the present site of the TELEGRAPH HERALD building. (1)

Designed by Sam Gulich, a talented scenic artist, the theater cost $5,000 in elegant renovations and the scenery alone was priced at $1,000. Fine stucco work and paintings decorated the walls and stage. (2) The drop of a copy of Cole's "Voyage of Life." William E. Keim wrote that "Mr. Gulick had put some brillant work on the proscenium and topped it off with two great eagles done in stucco casts." (3)

Opening night found the cream of Dubuque society in attendance with every seat filled. Stall seats cost seventy-five cents, dress circle and parquette seats sold for fifty cents, gallery seats were priced at twenty-five cents. Private box seats cost five dollars. (4) At other times, pricing became more unique. For the performance of John G. Saxe, "wit and poet," one gentleman and two ladies were admitted for one dollar. (5) In 1859 the theater was used free of charge for a fundraiser to purchase and preserve the estate of George Washington. (6)

Early Dubuque audiences were treated to performances of Shakespeare plays and translations of dramas in foreign languages. Comic performances included skits such as "The Dubuque Fireman" and the "Heiress of Julien Avenue." Benefit night was a special feature of the People's Theater. Favorite stars were given a share of the box office receipts before their departure from Dubuque. (7) On May 22, 1859 the audience was treated choruses of Professor Tretbar's Glee Club, the "superb" music of the GERMANIA BAND and a performance of several gymnasts in a benefit concert given for a Mr. Schill." (8)

Critical reviews of the performances may have been affected by the attitude of the theater's management. Reviewers from the Daily Express were only given three tickets which were non-transferable. When the usual reporter was once unable to attend, his substitute was unable to enter leading to cold reviews for some period of time. (9)

             In making out the free list the directorate
             gave the press only three tickets and cut
             off other men who could have helped them,
             such as hotel proprietors, railroad conductors,
             steamboat captains and clerks. (10)

One of the last performances in the theater, given in 1859, was a pantomime given in the form of 'Puss 'n Boots, or the Fairy of the Cat Kingdom. The season closed on May 14th.

On May 27, 1859 People's Theater burned. This left the Julien Theater without competition until the construction of the ATHENAEUM theater was constructed during the CIVIL WAR.

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Source:

1. "People's Theatre Drew Dubuquers," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, August 24, 1930, p. 111

2. Ibid.

3. "Early Theater Open Two Years," Telegraph-Herald, September 15, 1946, p. 61

4. "People's Theatre..."

5. "John G. Saxe, Tonight," Express & Herald, November 10, 1858, p. 3

6. "A Card," Express & Herald, March 3, 1859, p. 3

7. Ibid.

8. "Schill's Benefit," Express and Herald, March 24, 1859, p. 3

9. Ibid.

10. "Early Theater Open..."