While the theatre was not yet built for the 1890 opening of the Elitch’s Zoological gardens — and 1891 is considered the first year of the theatre — there was a “Theatorium” (basically a tent) and there were performances! Below is the program for the afternoon of opening day.
Following Opening Day, they continued to have vaudeville and other acts in the “Theatorium” throughout the summer.
Theatre Staff:
- John Elitch, Proprietor
- Charles E. Schilling, Manager
Productions:
- Week of May 1: The Montgomerys, comedy sketch; Miss Minnie Zola, acrobat; Bailey and Reynolds, comedians; Charles W. Goodyear, comedian; Van Auken and La Van, horizontal bar performers; Bijou Mignon, soubrette; Charles E. Schilling, “musical genius”; Miss Rosa Lee, balladist; Nealy and Sully, Australian marvels; the Family Zola Troupe.
- Week of May 12: The DeForest and Carroll Refined Vaudeville Company, featuring Nealy and Sully and the Zolas.
- Week of May 26: The Brothers Leondor, acrobats; Hallett and Raymond, comedians; Young Faldare, bicyclist; Bert S. Clair, skatorial artist; Pete Shaw, female impersonator; Howard and Alton, sketch artists; Miss Nellie St. John, balladist; the Monroes, gymnasts; Charles W. Goodyear, comedian.
- Week of June 2: Gallagher, Griffen and Devere, comedians; Retlaw and Alton, gymnasts; Prof. A. L. Gleason’s Dog Circus; Roselle, female impersonator; the Brothers Leondor; Bert St. Clair; Miss Annie Girard, song-stress; Sully and Randall, song and dance artists.
- Week of June 9: Crimmins and Gore, comedy sketch; Miss May Kesler, cornet virtuoso; Retlaw and Alton, acrobats; Miss Moulton, Indian club expert; the Brothers Leondor in classical gladiatorial groupings; Roselle; Gallagher, Griffen and Devere; Sully and Randall; Prof. Gleason’s Dog Circus.
- Week of June 16: Phoite’s European Pantomime Company; Ouda, the great aerialist; Sullivan and williams, comedians; Elmourne, equilibrist; Crimmins and Gore; Leavitt, juggler; Mr. and Mrs. John Hartman, re- fined musical artists; Mack and Perry, black-face comedians; Flick and Flock, pantomime artists.
- Week of June 23: Phoite’s European Pantomime Company; DuRell Twin Brothers, comedians, singers, and dancers; Frank and Nora Williams, society sketch artists; Leavitt; Sullivan and Williams; Elmourne.
- Week of June 30: Monsieur Testo, strong man; Miss Fannie Onri, gymnast; Mr. Walter Keene, English comic; Emery and Russell, refined musical artists; the Lees, magicians; DuRell Twin Brothers; Ouda, the wonder; Orville, high-wire performer.
- Week of July 7: Testo; the Lenton Brothers, acrobats; the Beech Family; Walter Keene; Emery and Russell; Orville; Charles W. Goodyear; Fannie Onri.
- Week of July 14: Vanola, the Mexican Wonder; Marlo and Castallat, acrobats; Billy Kennedy in “Musical Idiosyncrasies”; Nealy and Sully; Master Herbert La Martine, child artist; Lenton Brothers; Miss Lizzie Hall.
- Week of July 21: The Two Carles, musical artists; the St. Belmos, aerialists; Vanola; Nealy and Sully; Marlo and Castallat; Herbert La Martine; Miss Lizzie Hall.
- Week of July 28: King Kalkasa, juggler; Herr Drayton, the Modern Samson; Leoni and Nelson, plantation Sketch artists; Hewlette; the Two Carles; the St. Belmos.
- Week of Aug. 4: Dashington Brothers, dancers and comedians; Odel and Ord, acrobats; King Kalkasa; Herr Drayton; Hewlette; Miss Madeline Dale, songstress; Satriano, cornet virtuoso.
- Week of Aug. 11: Heath and Derossette, drill artists; Dyrene, transformation dancer; DeGrau, aerialist; Dashington Brothers; Ronalzo, contortionist; Albion Family.
- Week of Aug. 18: Albion Family; Hallett and Raymond; the Excelsior Quartette; Heath and Derossette; DeGrau; Edgar and Thomas.
- Week of Aug. 25: T. F. Grant, one-legged song and dance artist: James Messinger, Indian club expert; Barrett Brothers, singers, dancers, and comedians; the Albion Family: Hallett and Raymond, black-face comedians; Dollie St. Clair, vocalist.
- Week of Sept. 1: Symonds, Hughes and Rastus, Southern comedians; the Bicketts, aerial artists; James Messinger; Martin and Lonsdale, refined sketch duo; Barrett Brothers.
- Week of Sept. 8: Golden and Quigg; Charles and Carrie Moore; Symonds, Hughes and Rastus; Frank Howard; William and Minnie Bickett; Clivette
- Week of Sept. 15: Golden and Quigg; the Great Nasmo; Symonds, Hughes and Rastus; Clivette; the Bicketts; Prof. A. Mason.
- Week of Sept. 22: The Three Dacomas; DuRell Brothers; Billy Kennedy; the Great Nasmo; Obo and Kilo; Harry Leslie.
- Week of Sept. 29: Retlaw and Alton, comic gymnasts; Week James McNeill, bicyclist; DuRell Brothers; Kennedy and Markley, musical artists; Little Dot and Valentine, child artists; Brothers Colville, aerialists.
- Week of Oct. 6: Kelly and Sandford, comedians and Weak dancers; Bowen and Higgins, musical artists; Ret-law and Alton; DuRell Brothers; Brothers Colville; James McNeill.
