Search Results for: tabor opera house

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett One of the projects that I am working on right now is establishing artist provenance for each piece of scenery at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. This means creating a biography for scenic artists and stage mechanics who manufactured scenery and stage machinery for the Tabor Opera … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: The Tabor Opera House and J. C. Alexander (1843-1908)”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett On Dec. 24, 1879, an article in the “Chicago Tribune” described the mining town of Leadville, Colorado, and the newly constructed Tabor Opera House. The opera house was described in detail under the heading,  “The Legitimate Theatre” and mentioned a portrait of H. A. W. Tabor painted over the … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: H. A. W. Tabor’s Portrait at the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado, 1879”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett The Tabor Opera House was purchased by the Leadville Elks in 1901 and renovated in 1902. Renamed the Elks Opera House, new scenery was purchased for the enlarged stage. Old shutters, wings, borders and roll drops were stored in the attic. While examining the scenery in the attic this … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: New Vaucluse Mills and the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett The story of the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, is interwoven with that of Gov. H. A. W. Tabor, Augusta Tabor, and Baby Doe Tabor. The 1932 film was based on David Karsner’s book, “Silver Dollar,” tracing the ups and downs of this one-time silver magnate and his … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: A Roll Drop at Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett When the Tabor Opera House opened in 1879, the “Leadville Weekly Herald” included an article about the new structure entitled, “The Opera House. Description of Leadville’s New Place of Amusement” (November 15, 1879,  page 3 ). In addition to an extensive description of the building and stage area, the … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: James Edgar Lamphere and the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett In America, many nineteenth-century opera houses repeatedly purchased stage scenery, updating and expanding their existing stock. Scenic artists and their stage work drew crowds, just like popular stage personalities. The names of scenic artists were prominently displayed in many advertisements. Articles described their work and the scenic art process … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: The Cox Scenery Collection at the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado.”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett From Sept. 21-27, 2020, I led a group of volunteers to document the nineteenth-century scenery collection stored in the attic at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. The wings, shutters, borders and other set pieces primarily dated from 1879 to 1890; each painted before the stage was renovated … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar: A Railroad Scene for the Tabor Opera House, ca. 1886”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett The Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado, opened in 1879. Over the next two decades, wing and shutter scenery for the stage was repeatedly purchased, refurbished and repainted. The venue was later renamed the Elks Opera House when the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E.) purchased the building … Continue reading “Travels of A Scenic Artist and Scholar. Interior Settings for the Tabor Opera House by Henry E. Burcky, 1890”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett From September 21 to 27, 2020, I led a group of volunteers to document scenery in the attic of the Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colorado. Of the many wings, shutters and set pieces uncovered, one particular border curtain caught my eye.  On the back of the piece was a … Continue reading “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Stark Mills and Drillings for Scenery at the Tabor Opera House”

Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett On June 19, 2018, I first examined the historic scenery collection in the Tabor Opera House attic. It was rumored to be the original installation from 1879, and I wanted to find something that supported this speculation.  I was traveling with my family from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Santa Fe, … Continue reading “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar: Boott Mills Standard Sheeting for Stage Scenery at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado.”