By Parker Anderson

The famed and admired Elks Opera House in Prescott marks its 100th anniversary today. Many long-term Prescottonians have fond memories of movies and events in the auditorium, and it has played an important role in local entertainment throughout its history. Those familiar with its history know that it has been rocky at times, but the Elks Theater has proven itself to be a survivor, and it is still with us when many other theater of its age around the country have long closed their doors and/or met with the wrecking ball.

In January of 1896, the growing town of Prescott saw the formation of a branch of the Elks Lodge, No. 330, B.P.O.E. For a few years, the lodge held their meetings in various venues around town, but by 1900, they were looking to build a permanent lodge hall of their own. On August 31 of that year, B.M. Belcher, acting as trustee for the Elks, purchased a 50 x 125 foot lot on East Gurley Street for the purpose of erecting a lodge hall. They would later purchase more of the surrounding grounds as plans grew bigger. 

Various delays hampered construction of the new Elks Lodge hall, but by February of 1904, construction workers were excavating the lot under the supervision of architect J.R. Minor. The Lodge had previously discussed and abandoned ideas of adding an opera house to their hall, but Minor decided he could add one at a cost of only $15,000 more than the simple lodge hall would cost. Prescott had been without an entertainment venue of this sort since the Dake Opera House on Nob Hill had been bulldozed the year before. 

Prescott Lodge No. 330 B.P.O.E. became interested in an opera house again, and took steps to start raising the extra money. After meetings with Prescott's business and civic leaders, it was decided to sell and subscribe stock in the building to raise the funds. Once this was accomplished, architect Minor drew up blueprints for the building, which were then put on public display at Dillon's Cigar Store and Smith's Meat Market where an excited Prescott citizenry could look at them. The lodge took bids for construction, and awarded the brickwork to C.H. Valentine for $9983.00, and the stone contract went to Edwin Hall for $1000.00. It was decided to use sandstone brick from-where else?-the Prescott Sandstone Brick Company. 700,000 bricks were ordered, along with 60 tons of gray granite. 

On April 4, 1904, the cornerstone for the Elks Opera House and Lodge Rooms was laid amid an imposing ceremony with speeches, oratory and music. Lodge members A.J. Herndon and T.G. Norris gave addresses, and various objects, including newspapers, lists of lodge members, trinkets, etc. were imbedded in the cornerstone (this was ceremoniously done quite often in those days at the construction of important new buildings). It was the most significant social event in Prescott in years. 

Following the ceremony, construction went ahead full force. While the framework was going up, the lodge ordered twelve tons of theatre scenery for $3000, and spent another $3000 for plush opera house seats from C.F. Weber & Co. in Los Angeles, who was also supplying seats for the First Congregational Church in Prescott. Prescott's two newspapers, the Prescott Courier and the Arizona Journal-Miner, breathlessly kept the public informed of the construction's progress every step of the way. The roof was to be finished with a new substance called Rubberile. 

The construction went smoothly, though there were some mishaps. On July 14, 1904, some scaffolding collapsed and two brickmasons, Hollis Nicks and Estalono Candelaria, fell considerable distance to the ground. Nicks suffered crushed and broken anklebones on one foot, while Candelaria suffered a head cut and bruises. A few weeks later, during a thunderstorm, lightning struck the north frame of the building, causing considerable damage. 

By early February of 1905, the Elks Opera House was completed enough that the lodge invited newspaper reporters to tour the interior. Both the Courier and Journal Miner wrote lengthy pieces about it. "Prescott's Present Pride and Index of the City to Be" screamed the headline of the February 6, 1905 edition of the Courier. The new theatre had eight box seats, various ornamental bric-a-brac such as Elks heads protruding out of the walls, and a clock above the proscenium which always stayed at 11:00 o'clock, that time having particular significance in Elkdom (all of these decorations would be taken out during extensive remodeling 40 years later). 

After setting the date for the Grand Opening of the Elks Opera House for February 20, 1905, the Elks Lodge began to search for a major opening attraction for the show that night. After much debate, they decided to try to get the Florence Roberts troupe, which was on a major national tour at that time. Although forgotten today, the San Francisco-based Florence Roberts was one of the most prominent touring actresses on the road at that time, who drew big audiences wherever she went, and was the toast of San Francisco for many years. Florence's manager, Arthur F. Warde (himself an Elk) arrived in Prescott to negotiate with the lodge, and a deal was struck for Florence Roberts and her troupe to open the Elks Opera House with the play MARTA OF THE LOWLANDS by renowned Spanish-Catalan playwright Angel Guimera. 

Once the news hit the streets, a photo of Florence Roberts was posted on a bulletin board at the Wellington store. Tickets went on sale on February 17 at Brisley's Drug Store, at a price of $25.00 for the lower box seats, $20.00 for the upper boxes, and a price of $2.50 for every seat in the house and $1.00 for a seat in the gallery. Box seats were purchased by Will L. Clark, who purchased two of them, and in addition to his wife, had as his guests Judge and Mrs. Richard E. Sloan, Mr. And Mrs. J.C. Herndon, Mr. And Mrs. T.G. Norris, and Mr. And Mrs. F.L. Wright. The other boxes were taken by Mr. And Mrs. H.P. Anewalt, with Mr. And Mrs. W.S. Goldworthy as their guests. Major and Mrs. Foster of Fort Whipple were given a box as a gift by F.M. Murphy. E.E. Greenwood also purchased a box for the evening. Ultimately, all tickets sold out very quickly. 

Finally, the big day came: February 20, 1905. The Elks contracted with a local florist, Mrs. H.E. Armitage, to set up a stand in the lobby to supply fresh cut roses, violets, and carnations to all patrons who wished them. The orchestra for the evening consisted of Dr. W.S. Smith as conductor, Ernest Emanuel, Richard Lamson, Joe Archambeau, Professor Ellert, a Mr. Squfflet, S.L. Hamilton, George Travis, and Note Allison. Florence Roberts and her troupe arrived earlier that day on train No. 8 from California via Ask Fork. Her entourage of prominent San Francisco actors, all of whom had multiple plays committed to memory, included Melbourne McDowell, Lucius Henderson, William Yearance, Chester Lynton, Sterling Lord Whitney, Gregory Rogers, Forrest Seabury, Philip Lard, Al White, Adele Bosworth, Louise Royce, Georgie Woodthorpe, Lillian Armsby, Stella Rosetti, Anita Allen, and child actress Ollie Cooper. 

The Grand Opening went off flawlessly, and Florence Roberts and MARTA OF THE LOWLANDS brought down the house. At this point, it should be noted what kind of a play MARTA OF THE LOWLANDS was. It is forgotten in much of the world today, but it was a drama of some considerable importance in its era. Author Angel Guimera was the best-known Catalan writer of his time, and while highly renowned in his own land, MARTA (or rather, TERRA BAIXA as it was called in Catalan) brought him to the attention of the western world. The story involves a kept peasant woman, Marta, who is forced by her "master", the villainous Don Sebastian, to marry a simple shepherd named Manelich, who does not understand what is really going on. In Guimera's homeland of Spanish Catalonia, the play was influential beyond imagining. Manelich became a hero for the ages, and a statue was erected to him in Barcelona in 1909. To this day, streets and businesses in Barcelona remain named after Manelich, rare examples of monuments being erected to a fictitious character. While Guimera and Manelich are no longer remembered in the rest of the world, the show and its author remain vastly admired in Spanish Catalonia, where MARTA OF THE LOWLANDS (TERRA BAIXA) is still revived regularly, and the role of Manelich is much sought after. 

Following her performance at the Grand Opening of the Elks Opera House, Florence Roberts and her troupe left immediately for Phoenix, where they had a booking at the Hardwick Theatre the next day. The Elks, however, began its long, colorful, and often turbulent presence in Prescott's history, one that we now celebrate as the theatre marks its 100th anniversary in our lives.

Note: In Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Elks Opera House, Sharlot Hall Museum's Blue Rose Theatre will be presenting "Marta of the Lowlands", the first ever show performed in the opera house in 1905, on Febuary 26, 2005, at the Historic Elks Opera House in downtown Prescott. There will be two performances: at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pre-performance tickets may be purchased at City Hall for $10.00, and at the door for $12.00. 

(Parker Anderson is an active member of Sharlot Hall Museum's Blue Rose Theater, and unofficial historian of the Elks Opera House.) 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(bub8021pa)
Reuse only by permission.
The Elks Opera House on Gurley Street, a long-time center for the performing arts in the city. Completed in 1905, it has become a landmark. 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(bui116pb)
Reuse only by permission.
The 'box seats' of the early days of the Elks Opera House are long gone, but the entertainment is still fresh and new as we celebrate its 100th anniversary.