Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
PEOPLE'S THEATER: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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. | ||
Designed by Sam Gulich, a talented scenic artist, the theater cost $5,000 in elegant renovations. Scenery alone was priced at $1,000. 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. | Designed by Sam Gulich, a talented scenic artist, the theater cost $5,000 in elegant renovations. Scenery alone was priced at $1,000. 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. | ||
Revision as of 00:02, 17 August 2008
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.
Designed by Sam Gulich, a talented scenic artist, the theater cost $5,000 in elegant renovations. Scenery alone was priced at $1,000. 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.
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. On May 27, 1859, the theater was destroyed by fire.