Search Results for: tabor opera house

Here is a lovely article written by Carolyn Paletta for the Vail Daily newspaper: https://www.vaildaily.com/entertainment/hundreds-of-19th-century-painted-scenery-sets-discovered-in-leadvilles-tabor-opera-house/ It is another fantastic article about the Tabor Opera House scenery and the venue’s sole full-time employee, Tammy Taber! Tammy’s institutional memory of the building is astounding, as she began working under the leadership of Evelyn Furman. To me, she … Continue reading “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: The Tabor Opera House Makes News Again!”

Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Rae Waszut-Barrett, PhD There is still an astounding amount of historic scenery tucked away at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. When the building was renovated in 1902, the stage was enlarged, and all of the original wings and shutters (c. 1879-1900) were placed above the auditorium. This space … Continue reading “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Above the Attic at the Tabor Opera House”

Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett For the past year, I have slowly plugged along on the Tabor Opera House scenery project. In addition to two site visits, I tracked down a massive amount of information pertaining to the individuals and scenic studios that produced scenery for the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, and … Continue reading “Tales from a Scenic Artist and Scholar. The Fourteen Scenery Collections at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, 1879-1902.”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett I am ending 2020 with a winter scene. It seems appropriate for the winter solstice tonight, despite the fact that there is no snow on the ground, and I live in Minnesota! I will resume posting after the upcoming presidential inauguration, allowing myself a day or two of celebratory … Continue reading “Travels of Scenic Artist and Scholar: The Winter Scene Shutter at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado.”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett In September 2020, I led a group of volunteers at the Tabor Opera House to document nineteenth-century wings, shutters, borders and set pieces in the attic. After my visit, I began examining each piece in detail, creating condition reports, historical analyses, replacement appraisals, and a collections care management document. … Continue reading “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado. Pink Interior Setting by T. Frank Cox, 1888.”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett James H. Cragg was the manager for the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, from 1882 until 1894. During his twelve years there, Cragg implemented a series of improvements throughout the building that included the stage area. He thoroughly understood the stage needs of touring productions, having previously managed … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: James H. Cragg and the Tabor Opera House, 1882-1894”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett H. C. Sprague was the second stage manager for the Tabor Opera House. He lived in Leadville, Colorado for approximately five years, from 1879 to 1884. Only Sprague’s home address changed over the course of this time, although he was absent from the City Directory in 1879 and 1882. … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: Harry C. Sprague (1861-1933) and the Tabor Opera House”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett In 1884, “Harry C. Miner’s Dramatic Directory” listed that the seating capacity for the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, was 800. The size of stage measured 34-ft. deep by 60-ft. wide, and the proscenium opening was 17-ft. high by 23-ft wide. The original scenery employed a system of … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: Nineteenth-Century Stage Managers at the Tabor Opera House, 1879-1901”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett Much has been written about Oscar Wilde’s first visit to America in 1882.  That spring, Wilde lectured at the Tabor Grand Opera House in Denver and later at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville. The event was advertised in the “Leadville Daily Herald” as  “Oscar Wilde. The Great Apostle … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: Oscar Wild at the Tabor Opera House, 1882”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett I continue to explore the history of the earliest scenery painted for the Tabor Opera House between 1879 and 1882.  Evelyn E. Livingston  Furman was integral to the preservation of the scenery at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. She was a good steward, one who safeguarded many … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: ‘Gene Field and the Tabor Opera House”