The Mormons and the Theatre

In Short

John S. Lindsay presents a vivid insider history of theatrical life in nineteenth-century Utah, tracing how Mormon settlement culture embraced dramatic art alongside religious devotion. Spearheaded by Brigham Young, who viewed innocent entertainment as essential to communal morale, the movement built grand performance spaces in the isolation of the West. Lindsay chronicles the resident stock companies, visiting touring stars, backstage mishaps, financial shifts, and rival venues. The work endures as a rare, colorful record of how a pioneer community merged artistic ambition with frontier survival and religious life.

The Story

The narrative opens by establishing the distinct cultural stance of the Latter-day Saints toward social amusements. Unlike many contemporary religious groups that viewed playgoing with suspicion, the Mormons integrate dancing and drama into their daily life under ecclesiastical supervision. Brigham Young actively encourages these pastimes to alleviate the grueling strains of pioneer settlement, insisting that lighthearted entertainment keeps the community united and resilient. This cultural commitment experiences a severe interruption in 1857 during the Utah War, when federal troops under Albert Sidney Johnston march toward the territory, forcing actors and citizens to abandon Salt Lake City and prepare their homes for burning before peace is negotiated.

Following the peaceful resolution of the conflict, the community returns and redoubles its commitment to the arts, culminating in the construction and opening of the grand Salt Lake Theatre. Church leadership explicitly defines the stage as a space for uplifting, non-tragic entertainment, banning Gentile performers in favor of local talent who view acting as a religious mission. In these early years, performers work without monetary compensation, receiving occasional small disbursements or trade items like flour before eventually transitioning to modest salaries paid partly in tithing office credit.

As the years progress, the Salt Lake Theatre evolves into a major destination on the national touring circuit. Prominent visiting stars like John McCullough, Madam Scheller, and the Bates family perform alongside the local stock company, bringing classical works and contemporary melodramas to mountain audiences. The narrative details the everyday realities of frontier theater, from comedic audience interruptions and local romances—such as the competitive courtship of young actress Asenith Adams—to organizational reshuffles and expensive stage modifications.

The latter chapters outline the shifting landscape of Western entertainment as transcontinental transit and local commercial competition alter the ecosystem. The arrival of rival venues like the Walker Grand Opera House, backed by Gentile business interests and managed by national impresarios like Jack Haverly, creates fierce competition for talent and audiences. This commercial pressure forces the original Salt Lake Theatre into cooperative booking arrangements to survive. Through every transition, Lindsay maintains a deep appreciation for the craft, concluding with a reflection on the timeless power of theatrical genius to transcend physical surroundings and external changes.

How It Unfolds

Faith and footlights align Brigham Young establishes dance nights and theatrical performances throughout Mormon settlements to lift pioneer spirits, laying the groundwork for widespread local dramatic companies across Utah territory.

War halts the stage The 1857 threat of advancing federal troops forces theatrical life to a standstill as actors join the militia and citizens evacuate Salt Lake City under threat of total destruction.

A pioneer temple opens Peace returns, allowing the community to build and open the magnificent Salt Lake Theatre, where local actors perform wholesome productions viewed as an extension of their religious duties.

Stars visit the territory National touring actors and famous musicians travel to Utah, joining forces with the established local stock company to deliver diverse repertories ranging from Shakespeare to popular melodramas.

Comedic backstage reality Production life features quirky local occurrences, including drunk patrons interrupting plays from the pit, actors adjusting to tilted stages, and romantic rivalries playing out offstage among the cast.

Commercial rivalries emerge The construction of rival commercial spaces like the Walker Grand Opera House challenges the Salt Lake Theatre's dominance, ultimately requiring strategic management compromises to maintain top-tier bookings.

The People

• Brigham Young seeks to provide uplifting, wholesome recreation for his followers to relieve frontier hardships. He actively directs amusement policies, builds the Salt Lake Theatre, bans tragic or immoral plays, and initially oversees performer compensation through church channels.
• John S. Lindsay seeks to develop his craft as a dedicated actor while serving his community. He begins as a local stock performer working for minimal compensation, advances to leading dramatic roles, and navigates the evolving commercial realities of the Utah stage.
• Asenith "Senith" Adams seeks artistic success as a popular young actress while navigating intense personal romantic attention. She attracts rival suitors inside and outside the theater company before ultimately marrying bank cashier James H. Kiskadden.
• John McCullough seeks to establish himself as an independent starring actor following managerial setbacks in California. He brings classical dramatic expertise to the Salt Lake stage, performing alongside the resident stock company to enthusiastic mountain audiences.

In Its Own Voice

"He recognized the natural desire for innocent amusement, and the old axiom 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,' had its full weight of meaning to him."

— The author reflects on Brigham Young's motivation for promoting theatrical arts among his pioneer followers.

"while they were assisting in a great measure to pay for the great Thespian temple in which they were performing, they were enjoying the labor immensely and gave the same enthusiastic efforts to it they would have done to a mission"

— Lindsay describes the missionary-like dedication of the early local theatrical company members.

"Ye gods! What a transition from the Salt Lake Theatre to this shack!"

— The troupe reacts to the primitive conditions of a makeshift mining camp theater during a regional tour.

What It's Really About

Underneath its anecdotal narrative of stage performances and touring schedules, the book explores how art functions within a tightly knit religious community. It addresses the balance between spiritual devotion and secular recreation, demonstrating how organized entertainment can serve as an instrument of social cohesion rather than a moral distraction. Lindsay examines how pioneer isolation required self-reliance in culture, transforming everyday working people into accomplished actors, musicians, and stagecraft technicians. Furthermore, the narrative illustrates the inevitable friction between communal religious ideals and external commercial market forces as Utah integrated into the broader American economy.

Why Read It Today

This account will appeal to readers interested in Western American history, theatrical memoirs, and the cultural history of Mormonism. Lindsay writes with an engaging, direct tone that captures the atmosphere of nineteenth-century stage life, blending practical detail with warm humor. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, offering an authentic glimpse into frontier life where high culture and wilderness hardship existed side by side.

Readers should be prepared for the book's episodic structure, which reflects its origins as a historical record organized chronologically by theatrical seasons. The text features numerous lists of forgotten plays, cast rosters, and historical figures that may require patient reading from non-specialists. Additionally, the memoir reflects late-nineteenth-century cultural attitudes and language native to its era. Despite these period characteristics, the book remains a memorable, human portrait of how early settlers built a vibrant artistic culture against all odds in the remote American West.

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