Story of how in four decades an isolated mining camp supply town, Boise, Idaho, overcame major obstacles to earn recognition as a Pacific Northwest "show town" with a fine theatre and large audiences to support frequent performances by national touring companies. Illustrated with over forty historical photographs. Brief biographies of many nineteenth century performers. Covers a wide range of theatrical events: comedies, dramas, minstrel shows, circuses, magicians, musicians and variety shows.

The story of American repertory theatre actress Jolly Della Pringle is best described as an odyssey filled with travel, adventure, dramatic events, romance and many changes in fortune. She lived an extraordinary life in interesting times on the closing frontier of the American West. In the days before radio, motion pictures and television, traveling repertory companies used wagons, stagecoaches and railroads to bring entertainment to cities and towns across America. No history of this movement would be complete without the tale of Jolly Della Pringle who was a major star to the people in the...

In his day, theater actor and manager Jack Langrishe (1825-1895) was about as well known in the West as General Grant was in the East. Langrishe provided entertainment to prospectors, miners and their families in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota and Idaho. He followed the expanding frontier from the old Northwest Territory to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and enjoyed his share of luck--he was out of town during the 1871 Chicago Fire, and was traveling through Indian territory at the same time Custer's command was being wiped out a day's ride away. Best known as a gifted comic actor and producer...