Cheyenne Opera House, 1882. Note from the scaffolding on the third floor chimneys and the material outside the Capitol Ave. entrance that the building is still under construction. Public spirited citizens formed a corporation for the construction of the Opera House. Among those subscribing were J. M. Carey and F. E. Warren. In May, 1882, the magnificent new house opened replacing James McDaniel's 500 seat Cheyenne Theatre as the grandest place for theatrical performances in all of Wyoming. The Opera House opened to a performance by William J. Comley and James Barton's Opera Company of Edmund Audran's hit farcical comic opera Olivette. The hit song was The Torpedo and the Whale, the background music for this page, words at the bottom of the page. The Company of Olivette came from New York's Fifth Avenue Theatre and opened in Cheyenne before opening at Denver's Tabor Grand Opera House at the end of the month. Olivette had played for more than a year at London's Royal Strand Theatre at Aldwych. The Royal Strand was torn down in 1905 to make way for an Underground station. The station is allegedly haunted by an actress awaiting her final curtain call. Special trains brought in an opening night audience from Laramie and Fort Collins. Many of those coming by train undoubtedly booked lodgings at the Inter-Ocean Hotel but a block away. 17th Street looking east towards Capitol Ave. Opera House in center of photo on the left side of street. In the distance is the Elks Lodge at the corner of Central and 17th. As the audience poured into the building, they ascended the grand staircase to the central lobby or atrium illuminated during the day by the skylights above. Ladies recieved silk blue and white programmes. Following English practice, the programmes had been perfumed by pharmacist George W. Hoyt. At the south end of the lobby there was a fireplace. From the third floor balcony surrounding the lobby, one could look down on the crowd below. The following year, Lillie Langtry, the Jersey Lily, graced the stage. Contrary to popular belief, Langtry, Texas, is not named after Mrs. Langtry but instead was named after a railroad official, George Langtry. However, one of two saloons in the Texas town, the Jersey Lily, was named after the singer by the saloon's proprietor, justice-of-the-peace Roy Bean. Later the stage featured Ignacy Paderewski on the Steinway. Cheyenne Opera House, 17th Sreet looking west. But again, it was the railroad that made larger theatrical presentations possible. In much of the Rocky Mountain West, theatre was dependent on resident stock companies or stagecoach production companies traveling from town to town, playing in makeshift opera houses with musical accompanyment by local four-piece "orchestras." Indeed, Paderewski's 1892 national tour required a private railcar, manager, piano tuner, valet, piano tuner, chef, two porters, and, of course, the Steinway. Thus, Cheyenne, being on the rail line from Chicago to San Franscico had the benefit of companies traveling from the east coast to California. Decoration Day Parade, 1908. 17th Sreet looking west, Opera House on the corner past the columnaded building. Note that the orignal auditorium section of the Opera House has been replaced and the rest of the building has been extensively renovated. A fire struck the Opera House in 1901, destroying the stage and auditorium. Frontier Days Parade, 1937. 17th Sreet looking west. Photo by A. E. Gordon. In 1905, a building known as the Annex was constructed upon the site of the auditorium. Following the fire, the Opera House was converted to apartments. The Annex provided rooms for railroad locomotive engineers, firemen, and conductors laying over in Cheyenne. The railroad would relay orders to the men by women messengers known as "call girls." later, the orders would be delivered three times a day over a local radio station. In 1985, the radio "callboard" was replaced by a toll-free telephone number. The Opera House and the Annex were torn down in 1961. Atlas Theatre, south side of 16th Street, 1914. The Tivoli Building is at the end of the street. Note indications in the street that horses continue to be used. The Atlas Building was originally constructed with retail stores on the ground floor and offices on the two upper floors in 1887. In 1908 the building was reconstructed as a theatre. In 1930, the building was renamed as the Strand. For a short time in the early 1960's it operated as the "Pink Pony." In 1971, it reopened as a little theatre. The structure is on the National Register. Carnegie Library, southeast corner of Capitol Ave. and 22nd Street, 1909. The first county library was established in rooms on Ferguson Street (now Carey Ave.). The library depicted was constructed with the aid of a $50,000.00 gift from Andrew Carnegie and opened in 1902. It was torn down in 1969. Stockgrowers National Bank. Music this page: The Torpedo and the Whale From Olivette Music by Edmond Audran I. In the North sea lived a whale. In the North sea lived a whale. In the North sea lived a whale, Big in bone and huge in tail, Big in bone and huge in tail, Oh! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This whale used unduly to swagger and bully. And oh! The ladies loved him so! This whale used unduly to swagger and bully! And oh! The ladies loved him so! This whale used unduly to swagger and bully. And oh! And oh! The ladies loved him so! II. All went well until one day. All went well until one day. All went well until one day. Came a strange fish in the bay. Came a strange fish in the bay. Oh! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The fish was indeed oh! A Woolwich torpedo. But oh! But oh! The big whale did not know This fish was indeed oh! A Woolwich torpdeo. But oh! But oh! The big whale did not know! The Fish was indeed oh! A Woolwich torpedo but oh! But oh! The big whale did not know! III. "Just you make tracks," cried the whale. "Just you make tracks," cried the whale. "Just you make tracks," cried the whale. Then he lashed out with his tail. Then he lashed out with his tail. Oh! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The fish being loaded, Then and there exploded, and oh! and oh! The whale was no mo'! The fish being loaded, Then and there exploded. And oh! and oh! The whale was no mo'! Cheyenne Photos continued on next page.