Elk Notes

Parker Replies

2010-07-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

Parker Anderson, Official Historian The Elks Opera House
Answers Questions

From Muriel Haverland:

When did it become the Elks Opera House? Thanks for your informative articles.

Parker: That has been the subject of much debate. It started out as the Elks Opera House in 1905. People started saying "Elks Theater" within only a couple of years after that. During its long term as a movie theater, it was called Elks Theater almost exclusively. People started calling it "Opera House" again in the 1980s, although many still say "Theater".

From Charlene:

Dear Sir, I am fasinated by this black widow being advertised at your Elks Opera House. What was her name, was she real, and do you reccomend this play as a part of our history? I love history and her name is not in the advertisement. Did you write this play, if not do you know who did? I love the spider picture and pull up this sight to keep looking at it. Please let me know what the history is (If any) on this woman and the writer of this play. Thank you Sir.

Parker: The play was produced, written and directed by Terri Sickler. It dramatizes the sensational story of Gabrielle Darley, a prostitute who once did time for murdering a Fort Whipple soldier in the early 20th century---later on in the 1920s, she opened an apartment house in Prescott (widely believed by historians to have been a front for prostitution).

In 1928, a movie called THE RED KIMONO played the Elks Opera House, and Darley recognized (from an Elks handbill) that it was dramatizing her own story without permission. She sued the filmmakers and won.

The title of the play, THE BLACK WIDOW OF PRESCOTT, is derived from the belief by some historians that other men in her life met questionable ends in addition to the soldier she killed.

Thanks for the question!
Parker

From: Bruce re John Philip Sousa
Any other information you have would be very interesting.
Any chance there's any information as to what was on the program?
I have read the standard biographical stuff but always find it interesting to know about some of the lesser known things about personalities. Guess somehow it makes them seem more real to me. And to know that he was in Arizona and that the building he played in is still standing is fascinating.

Parker: Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I did not find the Sousa program in my files which I thought I had, I'll keep looking. I did, however, find the names of the band members who played with Sousa in Prescott....three women and one man!!!

They were Frances Hoyt (Soprano), Grace Hoyt (Mezzo-Soprano), Florence Hardeman (violinist), and Herbert L. Clarke (Cornetist).

Parker

She's Back.....

2010-07-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

'ZaZa' returns to the Elks Opera House, 105 years after her first appearance in 1905. Booked into the Hardwicke Theater in Phoenix, Florence 'ZaZa' Roberts, first lady of the San Francisco theater at the turn of the century, made an extra appearance in Prescott on Monday evening, February 20, to open the new Elks Opera House.

On August 14 Gail Mangham brings 'ZaZa' back to Prescott to celebrate the Grand Opening of The Newly Restored Elks Opera House. For the past four years Mangham has performed Tea with 'ZaZa' at various venues in Prescott, including Sharlot Hall Museum's Blue Rose Theater where it premiered in January, 2006, as Don't Despise Me, a tag line from the play Marta of the Lowlands, the play that opened the Elks Opera House over a century ago. Written by Parker Anderson the original script was the result of initial research in San Francisco on Roberts' life. She left virtually no private diaries or letters so all that is known of her comes from newspapers, magazines and a few journals. Over the past four years Mangham has continued researching 'ZaZa' to expand on Anderson’s initial efforts, shaping the play over time. As newspapers across the nation scan their archives into the internet, new pieces of the 'ZaZa' puzzle become available. Tea with 'ZaZa' changes with each performance.

Mangham plays 'ZaZa' in 1925, aged 54 and about 18 months before her death. The work is a study of the actor and the theater of the turn of the last century. As such, it is a piece with historical, even anthropological overtones. But 'ZaZa's life is in some ways Every Woman's life--including struggles to find her way in a man's world, love and marriage, great joy and great sorrow, bearing witness as one century fades into the dawn of a new one, full of hope and promise. In the first decade of the 20th century Florence is at the height of her career, but as the promise of the new century faded with the onset of World War I so 'ZaZa's luster faded with age.

The Artist's Path, a nonprofit that showcases Art that Educates, Inspires, and Entertains presents Tea with 'ZaZa', August 14 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM at the Elks Opera House. Joining Mangham and taking the stage for the first part of the event is Lecia Breen, a newcomer to Prescott, whose sublime voice showcases music from Broadway to Opera.

Don't miss The Three Divas--Mangham, Breen and the beautifully restored Elks Opera House. Tickets are available at the Door or Online at www.elksoperahouse.com. Adults $18 – Seniors (55+)/Students $13 (inclusive of all charges). Call 928-777-1367 for information and ticketing. Parker Anderson will conduct a free tour of the opera house at 4:30 PM, midway between the two performances. The beautiful Hassayampa Inn across from the theater is a great place to have something to drink before or after the show while waiting for the tour to commence. More information is available at www.TheArtistsPath.org. There will be a Talk Back with Gail and Lecia in the lobby following the performance. Net Proceeds benefit The Elks Opera House Foundation.

Bing Crosby Celebrity Seat Sold!

2010-04-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

My father, Claude Brakebill, went to college with Bing Crosby at Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington. My father and Bing looked very much alike and often sang together. Unfortunately, my father passed away when I was very young. In remembrance of both my father and Bing Crosby I was pleased to buy the Crosby Celebrity Seat in the Elks Opera House.

Claudia Brakebill Babbitt

Is the Dr. In? Yes, at the Elks Theater!

2010-03-24T16:28:00.001-07:00

As the new physician in town during the late 40's, my husband, Dr. Mel Phillips, was happy to include obstetrics in his practice. It didn't take long before he was delivering most of the babies in Prescott, necessitating much time spent at the hospital. As professionally dedicated as he was, he was also deliberate in programming precious family time, and movies at the Elks Theatre became our entertainment of choice on attempted time off. It was before beepers, let alone cell phones; so he always notified the hospital as to his whereabouts.

For that reason, he never failed an expectant mother, but neither did he often sit through an entire movie before the manager came tapping his should to tell him there was a deputy waiting outside to escort him to the hospital. Many times he was able to return to the Elks before lights out; but, it was there I often stood in the lobby awaiting his return or a ride home from an understanding friend.

As time passed, modern communications simplified contact, but the Elks Theatre will always have a nostalgic personal remembrance for me.

Jean Phillips

Note from Blog Master: The Elks Opera House has also been known as the Elks Theater over the past decades.

Celebration at the Opera House September 12

2009-09-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends of The Elks Opera House,

The work continues as you can see from Kim Kapin's great photograph. We've a long way to go, but we will arrive. On September 12 be sure to drop by the opera house between 4 and 7 PM to Celebrate 230 years of Ruffner women gracing Prescott. Instead of a gift leave a small or large donation for the restoration. The Guild in costume will pass nibbles and Gabe will man the cash bar. If all goes well you'll be able to walk into the theater to see the progress, so be there or be square as a friend of mine use to say. Elisabeth turns 90 this month and will enjoy birthday greetings from one and all!

See you there...Gail Mangham

Elks Opera House Goes Dark After The BrYan MatuskeY Show

2009-07-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

Doing the final show for the Historic Elks Opera House, prior to the restoration, was a treasure of an experience I will surely never forget. All ten of the other performers agreed their spirits filled with a sense of honor just being there. Knowing a bit of the theater's history and changes from a venue of music, dance hall and movie theater was a strong source of inspiration for me while creating the show. I really wanted to make sure the final event of a historical venue recognized all of that while bringing something new to the community. In the end was an eclectic show comprised of live dance performance, movie projections, and live original music panning enough genres to ensure there was something for everyone. Thank you so much to all the Foundation Members, the City of Prescott, all the volunteers, workers and performers, everyone that came to the show, and especially Dawn Casteneda for making that night a now wonderful memory.

In Loving Song,
BrYan Allan Randall MatuskeY

Ask Parker

2009-06-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

Parker,

Looking forward to some interesting answers here.

Tell me, why is it called an “Opera House” and not just a theater?

Thanks,

Tony Reynolds

Hi Tony,

When the Elks was built, it was designed like an Opera House, so it was called such, even though very few operas (only a handful) ever performed there. Within only a few years though, it started being called Elks Theater, which stuck until the 1980s, when people reverted back to its old name for historical purposes.

Thanks for the question!
Parker

First Memory

2009-06-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

My first memory of the Elks Opera House (then universally referred to as the Elks theater) was in 1974. My family had gone on a trip to Snowflake, and we passed through Prescott, heading for Yarnell where we lived. We drove buy the Elks, and saw by the marquee that a nature movie called VANISHING WILDERNESS was playing, and it was the last night. My grandmother had wanted to see that film, as she loved nature movies and TV shows. So even though we'd had a long day of driving, we stopped and went to VANISHING WILDERNESS! That was the first time I had ever been in the Elks, and as an impressionable ten year old, I was awed by the place already then! A year or so later, when we moved to Prescott, I spent many happy hours attending movies in the Elks as I continued to grow up. In fact, in 1982 when the Elks stopped being a movie theater, I was genuinely disappointed....I knew nothing of the Elks history then, and I felt like a happy part of my life was going away.

Welcome to Elk Notes

2009-05-24T07:56:00.001-07:00

Dear Supporters of The Historic Elks Opera House in Prescott, AZ.

Welcome to the Elks Opera House Foundation's blog. My name is Gail and I am your webmistress for this blog. Please send your stories and pictures of your experiences at our 105 year old and counting historic theater. Send to gailm@elksoperahousefoundation.org. And I will post them.

I managed the opera house briefly in 1999 and remember what a daunting challenge it was doing everything from hiring entertainment to cleaning toilets and making popcorn.

Today I serve on the board of the Foundation that is dedicated to the restoration of the theater. I am also pleased to perform the one woman show Tea with 'ZaZa', based on the life of Florence Roberts, first lady of San Francisco theater at the turn of the last century, who opened the theater February 20,1905.

Please visit our website at www.elksoperahousefoundation.org and my website at www.naturallyspeaking.biz or www.gailmangham.com

I look forward to hearing from you,

Gail Mangham, Board EOHF