Ellen Eccles Theatre celebrates 100 years

The Ellen Eccles Theatre, located at 43 S. Main St. celebrated its 100-year anniversary at the end of March.  

Originally called the Capitol Theatre, the doors first opened in March 1923.  

“It’s pretty remarkable to still be here after 100 years,” said Wendi Hassan, executive director of the Cache Valley Center for the Arts. “We hope it will last a couple more hundred years.”  

To celebrate, the theater put on a three-day series of events.  

“The three events represent the three pillars that have kept the theater going,” said Alek Nelson, director of marketing and media for the Cache Valley Center for the Arts. 

On the first night, March 29, they honored local talents and arts organizations. 

“This featured more than 100 performers from at least 10 groups around the county,” Nelson said. 

On the second night, March 30, donations were made by Peter and Mayor Holly Daines for a free showing of “Back to the Future.”

This paid tribute to the theater’s movie showing days while live performing arts were in jeopardy, according to Nelson. 

Finally, on March 31, the last night featured Grammy Award winners Marc Cohn and Shawn Colvin in homage to the theater’s many years as a touring stop.  

“Ever since the theater opened, it created a really good circuit, so acts from around the world would come here as they were traveling around the U.S.,” Nelson said. 

According to Hassan, the theater showed comedy groups including the Marx Brothers;George Burns and Gracie Allen; and Abbott and Costello.   

Today, the administrators of the space are guided by two conflicting goals, according to Hassan: to preserve the space and to maximize its use.

The dedication to preservation is evident in the framework of the theater. Hassan said between 1989 to 1993, the theater was expanded, but the original lobby, theater, stage and fly system has the same footprint.   

The theater has undergone many changes as the socioeconomic status of the country has changed. According to Hassan, a Vaudeville show cost $1.25 in 1923.  

“If you went to a show, and you didn’t have enough cash money, the theater accepted spoons, eggs and produce,” Hassan said. “There was adaptation to whatever was going on in the world.”  

According to the website, tickets for the show on March 31 ranged from $11 to $55.  

Today, the Ellen Eccles Theatre is at capacity in what they put on the stage, according to Hassan.  

“Our goal is to have more people interact with what is already being done,” she said. 

The greater the number of audience members, the more the theater can help the companies using the space stay strong. Full audiences attract higher profile shows and allow the theater to continue to be a good partner to the other venues in the community, according to Hassan.

“It’s a celebration and also a show of gratitude to the community,” Nelson said. “Nothing could happen here without the community.”

-Andie.Allen@usu.edu

Featured photo by Heidi Bingham