Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Part 505: Replacing Henry C. Tryon’s “The Return of the Victorious Fleet” Drop Curtain
Yesterday’s post concerned the 1882 drop curtain for the Salta Lake Theater, painted by Henry C. Tryon. In 1910, “The Salt Lake City Herald-Republican” reported that there were plans for a new drop curtain for the Salt Lake Theater (18 Sept. 1910, page 26):
“After thirty years of almost continuous service, the drop curtain at the Salt Lake theatre is to be replaced by a new one which manager George D. Pyper expects to have in place in time for the engagement of Henry Miller, beginning September 29. The subject of the new curtain will be Salt Lake Valley in the days of the pioneers, and it will be copied from a painting by William M. Minor, scenic artist at the theatre.
It will be difficult to exceed the beauty of the old curtain, whose artistic coloring and good drawing have made it a favorite for years. “The Return of the Victorious Fleet” was painted by Henry C. Tryon, one of the best artists in his line who ever came to Salt Lake. Those who have studied the stately ships coming into harbor may have wondered at the absence of life in the picture. The original, which is in the possession of Mr. Pyper, contained a crowd of people on the steps of the buildings, but Mr. Tryon was not a figure painter, and rather than mar his painting by inferior work, left the out altogether.
Except for the short intervals, “The Return of the Victorious Fleet” has hung in the theatre nearly thirty years. Some years ago an attempt was made to replace it by a picture of the chariot race in “Ben Hur.” The artist made the horses of heroic size, and so near the edge of the curtain that they seemed to menace the spectators who sat close. One critic of the day said that a certain scene in a play created a strong effect until “Pyper’s horses came clattering down.”
The artist attempted to remedy the defect by drawing them smaller, when Le Grand Young, a regular patron of the theatre, objected to sitting in front of the theatre, objected to sitting in front of a horse with a dislocated shoulder out of joint. That finished the curtain, and the same artist painted a second, an evening scene in Venice, which was hung for about a year. Another curtain which will be remembered was a field of carnations. This was secured from the Tremont theatre in Boston, but, did not prove to be popular. “The Return of the Victorius Fleet” was rehung, and has continued in place until now. With the closing performance of “The Spendthrift,” it was rung down forever.”
To be continued…
