Early social amusements included dancing, baseball, and the special event of the Circus coming to town. People joined clubs and attended church regularly. Church and school halls were the first amusement halls, and Highland Park became the first amusement park. Motion Picture theatres came to town in about 1908. Dance halls were built beginning in the 1920s. Some early amusements were picnics, parades, rodeos, horse racing, playing pool, and staging theatricals. Churches and schools led out in youth activities. Annual Old Folks Day, sponsored by the LDS Church, honored all Old Folks with a dinner, visiting, and entertainment.
Families provided much of their own entertainment, enjoying picnics and other outings. From early days an outing to Heise Hot Springs was enjoyed. Photos from the 1920s show bowling, skiing, and horseback riding, as well as camping, hunting, and fishing.
Homemade sports included horse races, then auto races, and even informal races between horses and autos. Agricultural fairs began in the 1880s. Horse racing was part of the entertainment. County fairs were gradually overshadowed by the Eastern Idaho district fair, Blackfoot, for the showing and competitions of produce and livestock, but continued to function in later years as showcases for 4-H endeavors. Rodeos, on the other hand, were money- making notions, besides being good entertainment.
Dancing. 1885: "Music for all. Eagle Rock Silver Cornet and String Band take pleasure in informing the people of Eagle Rock and surrounding towns that they are prepared to furnish music for celebrations, public meetings, picnics or dances. Peter J. Haze, Eagle Rock, Idaho. (Ad in The Register)
In 1893, a social note in The Register: Miss Gibson [the future Minnie Hitt] wore a Josephine gown of cream surah silk, full puff sleeves of lavendar pink" to the Terpsichorean Club's Grand Ball, with dancing to Alma Marker's orchestra.
In 1895 Charles Longhurst fiddled for dances. John Herbert played violin and his brother Frank a dulcimer in a pavilion they built on their homestead.
Zada Smith Peterson, an early rural resident, remembered, "People of the area attended church regularly and took part in church-related activities for entertainment. They also had weekly dances for which music was provided by family groups, and the various church organizations sold home made candy and ice cream."
John Lingren built an early dance pavilion at Highland Park; some of the music was provided by a wind-up phonograph with a big horn.
New Sweden pioneers played accordian and fiddle. Sealanders developed their grounds into a park. In the 1920s Roland Beazer and a friend dreamed up a dance hall. He then constructed Riverside Gardens and later in the 1930s, Wandamere, on the Yellowstone Highway south of the city. This popular dance hall was filled regularly with couples, usually dancing with several partners during an evening.
Both for dancing and other entertainments, brass bands were also popular.
Baseball. "The hometown baseball team greeted the spring of 1893 in new gray suits with black trim. Their mentor C. E. Arney had come up in the world. He was editor of the Pocatello Tribune. Frank Hitt took over as manager for the team." So Edith Lovell wrote in Captain Bonneville's County.
In 1902, Rube Grimm organized one of the first teams. The ball diamond was located between C and D streets across from the old Union Pacific Railroad Depot. In 1904 the ball park was moved across the river south of the railroad bridge. In 1917 the city bought a field adjoining Highland Park to add a baseball field to the park. In 1940 Pioneer League came to Highland Park. Before that, in the 1920s, Idaho Falls took part in the Utah-Idaho League. When the old bleachers burnt down, new bleachers were built in 1977 and the ball park was renamed McDermott Field.
Circus. According to former mayor Barzilla Clark, the first circus was on Eagle Rock Street, one block south of Broadway. It caused a tent city of 3,000 persons to rise. Visitors came by wagon or horseback and remained from one to several days.
The circus next was staged across the river. Elizabeth Ririe, an oldtimer, remembers her childhood: "When the circus came to town mother prepared a lunch and father loaded the entire family as well as other relatives and friends in the white top buggy and took off to enjoy a day in town."
A photo from about 1900-1910, reprinted in Post Register Nov. 4, 1979 is captioned by Joe Marker: "All dolled up for the circus. Area residents used to really put on their Sunday best clothes to come to the circus in Idaho Falls. Here a crowd of residents, from babies to adults, are walking from the circus tents, after enjoying a performance. Apparently they didn't mind all the dust." A second photo: "A Circus parade in downtown Idaho Falls in the early 1900s attracted crowds as shown in this photo taken on Broadway. This photo shows the elephants on parade with their trainer in the foreground keeping them in line."
Marker retells the story recalled by Virgil J. Edwards, about the local elephant stampede. In about 1905, a circus tent pitched on the west side of the Snake River buckled under a high wind, and collapsed. The audience got out safely. Nearby elephant handlers were watering the herd in the Porter Canal when the fierce wind hit. It tipped over several buggies and scared the elephants. Most charged for the river, which was narrow and shallow at that time. There was no powerhouse nor cement retaining wall, hence no spillway between Sportsman's Park and Broadway Bridge except during high water. The elephants tumbled over the bank into the river water and came up blowing and squealing. Most swam over to the east bank and made their way up the rocks into the quiet water of the forebay, except one elephant that went on down the main channel. A trainer climbed the lead elephant, "Old Mom", which had not stampeded, and rode her along the bank, and finally succeeded in coaxing the swimmer out.
Handlers tried to coax the others out, but finally had to swim out and climb on some of the elephants' backs and prod them a ways upstream. No sooner were they out than, in a festive mood, some of the elephants took off again, headed for downtown, upsetting buggies. Handlers eventually rounded them up and restored order.
Submitter: Mary Jane Fritzen
Sources: Edith Lovell, Captain Bonneville's County.
Post Register in Bonneville Museum files.
From its inception, the War Bonnet Roundup has been a way to promote Idaho Falls and recall the area's Western heritage. The first roundup was held in 1912 in conjunction with the Bonneville County Fair. The county had split off from Bingham County the year before, and Idaho Falls boosters were looking for a way to enliven the new county's fall exhibit of agricultural produce.
Boosters appear to have had William Cody's flashy Wild West shows in mind when they proposed staging the fictitious battle of War Bonnet. There never was a Chief War Bonnet, and no evidence of a War Bonnet cattle spread which some have imagined. In any case one-hundred native Americans and an equal number of cowboys were to enact the Battle of War Bonnet. The Indians were to attack an old- time stage coach from ambush and the cowboys defend. However the event was canceled when the Indians refused to take part.
Organizers convinced city fathers to allow them to set up the carnival on the newly paved Capital Avenue. Special trains were added with reduced fares, and Idaho Falls was mobbed. Daily crowds at the five-day fair and roundup were estimated between 12,000 and 14,000.
The early roundups were held in the afternoon at the county fairgrounds, now Tautphaus Park. But Idaho Falls could not escape the ebb and flow of world events, which prevented the rodeo from following an annual schedule. The roundup was not held during World War I, during several economically depressed years, nor during World War II. When it restarted after World War II, however, promoters cranked up the publicity to rekindle interest in the event.
In 1921 American Legion Bonneville Post 56 first sponsored the War Bonnet rodeo and has been doing so annually ever since. Proceeds from the rodeo are used to support the activities of Bonneville Post 56. In 1914 and other early years saddles were given as prizes. The Bonneville Post received an offer from a Midland, Oregon man who wanted $10,000 to sell them back a saddle he said was won in an early rodeo.
Promoters moved to the Sandy Downs rodeo arena south of the city in 1970.
Sources: Jon Jensen, Post Register, July 31, 1991
T. H. Stickley, American Legion Bonneville Post 56
Edith Lovell
History of War Bonnet Roundup by Afton Boam Dale, 1968
Beautiful Bonneville, p. 179, by Joe Marker
"Cheyenne Frontier Days," by A. J. Kennard, 1990.
Private correspondence from Richard Engel to Bonneville Post
56.
The hot springs on the north bank of Snake River 15 miles northeast of Idaho Falls were well-known. They are mentioned in fur trade diaries, and the Hayden survey party of 1871 called their bivouac there "Camp Union." They were called Kelly Springs by some for colorful old-timer, Pete Kelly. Pioneer resident Charles Hawley told of seeing deer soaking their feet in the hot water.
Heise Hot Springs was founded in 1894 by Richard C. Heise, who was attracted to the warm springs because they brought relief from his rheumatism. Thus, the resort was established as "Heise Health Resort." The resort was built up and became a popular recreation area.
A tourist brochure published in the early 1900s stated: "The famous Heise Hot Springs, the Carlsbad of America, are located twenty miles east of the city. Visitors who have been guests at all the famous watering places of America and Europe emphatically declare that the Heise Hot Springs offer superior attractions to all."
Submitter: Anny Fritzen
Sources: Edith H. Lovell
Bonneville Museum files.
Theater has existed in some form or another from the very beginnings of Idaho Falls. In the 1880's, wandering medicine shows included Eagle Rock in their travel schedules and according to a 1934 Post Register article, "played to capacity houses." Traveling road shows performing on Park Ave. and D. St. (where Milner Apt. later located) also enjoyed popularity during this early period. In 1907, patrons stood up to view the first motion picture to come to Idaho Falls.
Motion picture made its first home, appropriately, on Broadway. Joe George opened the Dime Theatre in about 1908. At this time, admission was 10 cents for adults, and 5 cents for children. Theatre-goers enjoyed movies without titles or subtitles. Instead, a lecturer explained the action in the film. Early movie houses were poorly lighted and not ventilated.
Idaho Falls became an amusement center for the valley. Along with George's Dime Theatre, the Scenic Theatre, also on Broadway, and the Star Theatre on Park Ave. sprang up. In 1915 George sold the Dime Theatre and opened the American Theatre on A St. The American later became the Gayety, which a 1934 ad hailed as having, "comfortable seats, improved ventilation, good pictures presented on the newest and most up to date equipment," -- quite a change from the first theatres. The Rex Theatre also opened around 1915 on Park Ave. near B St under the ownership of Al Hager. The Rex was later known as Falls Theatre, and then Centre.
Dr. C.M. Cline and C.A. Spath built the Colonial Theatre on A St. in 1919 to the delight of an enthusiastic public. The theatre housed 1,400. It's stage, the largest in the Mountain West, was used for a variety of performances including theatrical productions and motion pictures. In about 1924, Publix bought the Colonial and changed its name to Paramount. Later the Paramount was owned by Fox Motion Picture Studio of Hollywood.
In 1929, George opened the Broadway Theatre on Broadway, which would be the last theatre built downtown. The theatre included a Morton theatre pipe organ. The Broadway became the Rio about 1934. Later, Paul DeMourdant and Hugh Drennan purchased the theatre.
Submitter: Anny Fritzen
Sources:
Post Register, Sept. 10, 1934
Joe Marker, Beautiful Bonneville, p. 151
Idaho Falls Daily Post, Peace and Prosperity Edition, c.1919.
The visual arts have long been a vital and integral part of the cultural history of Idaho Falls. Important contributions have been made by both native-born artists such as painters Ina Oyler, Helen Aupperle, Goldie Hales and sculptors Marilyn Hansen and Elnora Cheney, and artists such as Fred Ochi, Gloria Miller Allen, Suzanne Fonnesbeck, and Shirley Robinson, long-time residents who relocated from other parts of the country. A rich mixture of diverse origins, experiences, and professional training, including individual study by many area artists with nationally famous masters as well as international study by Fonnesbeck in Paris, Aupperle at the Royal Academies of Denmark and Sweden, and Ochi in his parents'native Iwokuni, Japan, has generated a vigorous and dynamic art community within the city.
The formation of the Idaho Falls Art Guild in December 1948 by Ina Oyler, Fred Ochi, Suzanne Fonnesbeck and Helen Aupperle reflects the strong sense of commitment that the artists of Idaho Falls have for their own peer group as well as for the city that has increasingly come to support and appreciate them. Their first shows were held in the gymnasium of the O.E. Bell Junior High School and then at Idaho Falls High School. In 1964 the Guild received permission to use the log building in Highland Park, constructed in 1930, for its shows, meetings, and as a permanent gallery.
The Idaho Falls Arts Council was formed in 1989, preceded by the Idaho Falls Cultural Council initiated by the local American Association of University Women; and previous arts groups.
Submitter: Carol A. Chazin.
Sources: Idaho Falls Public Library and Bonneville Museum
files.
Pioneers shared an enthusiasm for the theatre, both of their own making and imported. Stanley Crowley, who came as a boy in 1910, recalls weeping as he watched "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at the old theatre on Park Ave.
Productions were often presented in church amusement halls. After thirty years of theatrical entertainments, Idaho Falls still lacked an adequate performance hall to attract major traveling shows, when the Latter-day Saints Auditorium was built in 1915. C. E. Dinwoody, who had been manager of Armory Hall, managed the LDS auditorium from 1915 to 1918. Its stage was used for many years.
The Colonial Theater, later changed to the Paramount Theater, was built in 1919 at a cost of $50,000. It had 696 seats downstairs and 331 in the balcony, with box seats, an orchestra pit and eight dressing rooms. Traveling vaudeville acts and minstrel shows entertained, and actors, dancers and musicians performed on a hardwood stage.
Joe George opened Broadway Theatre in 1929. The Spanish-styled theatre seated 900, cost $150,000, was well ventilated and heated, and equipped with an organ.
Dance classes came to Idaho Falls in 1937 when Gladys Pinkerton brought Pinkerton School of Theatre Arts to the Bonneville Hotel to teach dancing, dramatics, and radio work. It was immediately received, and for about six years she commuted from Pocatello to teach dance, particularly Russian Ballet technique. Afterwards the Watson sisters came and taught into the 1950s. They commuted from Pocatello for several years until June Watson married Keith Wright and moved to Idaho Falls. Don Wilson, a professional Hollywood tap dancer, better known locally as a pharmacist, taught private students in the early 1940s. After he retired and spent winters in Arizona, he remained active in dancing into his 80s.
Larry Fotheringham Kroll and Betty Bloxham Anderson started teaching in the 1940s. Betty, who was born in Idaho Falls, said "Performances were always held in the Paramount Theatre until the Civic Auditorium. I enjoyed the musty smell, awful dressing rooms, and the deeper stage and orchestra pit of the Paramount. Everything is now taped, but dancing to live music was totally different. They never played the same, so we always had to add steps, to ad lib. We used a pianist and percussionist. The dancers could hear the rhythm so understood the music better. In Europe the dance master beat the rhythm with a stick or a cane." She studied in London and San Francisco, and remained in Idaho Falls, still teaching workshops for teachers and operating a dance supply store into the 1990s.
Submitter: Mary Jane Fritzen
Sources: Personal interviews with Stanley Crowley and Betty
Anderson; Enid Yurman, Post Register, May 18, 1990; Dr. Charles
Lauterbach, Theatre Department, Boise State University, who is
writing a history of Idaho theatre; personal files of Betty Bloxham
Anderson. For more information consult also the University of Utah
library, Idaho Falls Public Library, and Bonneville Museum.
Two institutions in particular have had a powerful influence on the growth of music and music study. In 1912, the Idaho Falls Music Club was organized, and in 1915, Horace Chesbro began selling pianos here. However there were many people interested in music from the early settlement. In the 1880s bands played for celebrations, and dancing was a popular amusement. Many patient early individual music teachers faithfully nurtured sometimes reluctant students. A few of them were Mrs. Aspinwall, Winifred Auperle, Fred Shade, and Mr. Fox, but there were many more.
During its early years Music Club took the lead in the musical development of the city. It later begat other organizations-- Symphony, Symphony Guild, Opera Theater, Choralaires, Music Teachers Association, Past Presidents Assembly and Scholarships, Junior Music Club and festivals, etc. Some of these have since become independent organizations. Chesbros has become a major wholesale, retail and distributor of musical products--one of the largest distributors of printed music in the U. S., with a world- wide clientele.
Large concerts were generally held at O. E. Bell Jr. High from its construction until the 1950s. Since then, I. F. Civic Auditorium has been used. (See also histories of Idaho Falls Symphony and Idaho Falls Opera Theater, which follow.)
Music Highlights
1883: First music store opened in Eagle Rock by Alma Marker, a
violinist.
1883: Sarah Murphy Crow brought first piano and became first Eagle Rock music teacher. She shipped her mahogany square grand piano to Eagle Rock. Some of her students without pianos practiced at her home. She rode horseback to give lessons to rural students. She was organist for Rebecca Mitchell's Sunday School.
1883: Editor Wheeler wrote, "Eagle Rock has four organs, five pianos, one cornet band of 12 pieces, besides violins and accordions. What town of but 7600 inhabitants can make a better showing?"
1885: Ad in Register: "Music for All. Eagle Rock Silver Cornet and String Band...."
1891: C. E. Arney starts one of first bands. He later said: "On a visit to Pocatello I met and heard play a very fine clarinetist, Charles Laurenson, an English boy, just roaming about the west, as so many were doing in those days. I had played in a band in Iowa--a clarinet, but as a finished musician I was a good blacksmith. But I talked to Laurenson about coming to Idaho Falls and he was receptive, but wanted a job. I returned to the Falls, interested Idleman, the miller, in the lad, and sent for him to come up. He did, and we organized the first band in Idaho Falls with him as a wonderful leader."
1892: Band, Glee Club and Mandolin club gave concert.
1893: First bandstand and pavillion in Highland Park. Grand Ball with dancing to Alma Marker's orchestra.
1899: G. G. Peck family came to Idaho Falls from New England. Their pretty young daughter Ethel was a talented musician; many years later she would be a gracious first lady of Idaho, Mrs. Barzilla Clark.
1911: Idaho Falls High School choirs, Glee Clubs and orchestra perform concert at Scenic Theatre. I. F. High School gives elective choral classes for credit.
1912: Music Club organized as a department of Woman's Club.
1915: Horace and Ella Chesbro move to town and open a piano store in rented building.
1916: Music Club enlarged and reorganized as a separate Club. It was then federated with national. First president of local federation was Mrs. H.D. Spencer, who served 5 years.
1918: Music Club presented nationally-noted violinist, Maude Powell in recital at Methodist Church. Auditorium was filled with 1200 people.
1918: Chesbros build store with living quarters on second floor.
1919: American Legion Post #58 organizes a drum and bugle corps.
1919: I. F. Music Club is largest in state.
1922: Chesbros buy first piece of present location.
1925: Chesbros organize bands in schools, hire several instructors; sell and rent instruments.
1925-29: Chesbro Schoolboys Band is promoted, taught, and uniformed by Chesbro Music Co., and by teacher, Raymond Hanson. They march in parades.
1925: Chesbros begins wholesale business.
1927: I. F. Music Club hosts state Federation Convention in new Bonneville Hotel.
1927: A. L. Gifford begins teaching in I. F. schools, where he becomes bandmaster for about 40 years.
1928: A. L. Gifford requests city funds for band expenses.
1920s: Sunnyland Quartet sings. Members of this popular group: G. W. Charlesworth, Charles E. Dinwoodey, Joe Morley, John E. Pike.
1930s: Radio becomes popular.
1931: First Messiah produced by community.
1937: Community Concerts are started.
1940: Music Club meetings are held in Council chamber of new City Hall.
1941: Community choir, separate from Music Club, is formed and gives first concert at Highland Park May 4.
1942: State convention of Federated Music Clubs held at Hotel Bonneville. Mrs. George B. Veasy, local Music Club president, becomes state president.
1949: Messiah presented for 5th consecutive year by community chorus and orchestra. Marcel Bird directed the orchestra.
1949: I. F. Symphony organized, sponsored by Music Club. (See symphony history.)
1953: I. F. Opera theatre grows out of musical productions sponsored by I. F. Music Club. It is incorporated in 1978. (See I.F.O.T history.)
Submitter: Mary Jane Fritzen
Idaho Falls Symphony grew naturally from a strong musical strain in the city. For many years orchestras had been part of the schools, even when it meant only rehearsing during lunch hours with A. L. Gifford leading. In the spring of 1949 student and adult musicians gathered to rehearse the orchestra for the community's December production of Handel's Messiah. From that base the Idaho Falls Music Club formed the Idaho Falls Symphony. Professor Harold Mealy of Idaho State College auditioned musicians and placed principals, then Marcel Bird, public school music teacher, conducted the first Idaho Falls Symphony concert April 26, 1950 in the junior high school auditorium.
Prof. Mealy became conductor the second season until the end of 1960. Then Robert Lenz, Utah Symphony timpanist and creator/conductor of the Utah Youth Symphony, commuted from Salt Lake City to conduct until 1965. LaMar Barrus of Ricks College music staff conducted until 1970, Dr. Donald McLothlin led the orchestra, 1970-72, and Dr. James Schoeplin, 1973-76. Both were Idaho State University Music Department heads. Mel Flood became first resident conductor, 1977-1980. New York musician Carl Eberl conducted nine years from 1980. In 1990 John Lo Piccolo became resident Music Director and Conductor.
Traditions have been established. Many concerts have featured guest artists, both local and national. Annual youth audition concerts were begun in 1953. Cooperative exchanges among the symphony and college orchestras of Ricks College and Pocatello have continued. Several early concerts were part of the Community Concert series. On January 21, 1954 the Idaho Falls Symphony first performed in the new Civic Auditorium, its home since. In 1957 a women's Symphony Auxiliary was formed, and in 1961, the Idaho Falls Symphony Society was organized with a board of directors, first elected from the symphony. Bylaws provided the unpaid orchestra members the right to vote approval of their conductor each year. A major aim of the board has been developing musical talent and encouraging artistic growth of the youth, as well as providing and promoting good music and bringing outstanding musicians into the community.
Submitter: Mary Jane Fritzen
In 1976-77 local singers were joined by area newcomers searching for an outlet for their singing talents. An I. F. Music Club program of opera selections in April '77 was soon repeated for the public by a group of singers, billed as "The Idaho Falls Opera Theatre." Incorporation of IFOT and its first staged opera, "The Old Maid and the Thief," followed a year later, much to the delight of Lu Doggett, founder of IFOT.
IFOT has now performed 13 major operas, e.g., La Boheme and Carmen; 12 operettas, e.g., Pirates of Penzance, Merry Widow; two musicals, Man of La Mancha, Kismet; plus many school and promotional programs.
Many efforts have contributed to IFOT's survival: Singers perform without payment. The low fees charged for the Civic Auditorium, and the availability of orchestra players from the I.F. Symphony are essential. Volunteers build and move sets, sew costumes, do publicity, programs, makeup and more. Rehearsals have moved from church basements to rented facilities.
IFOT still depends on major contributions for financial support and has recently become a presenter of Broadway musicals. Looking toward the future, IFOT plans to mix major operas with familiar light works for audience appeal. The key to success will be the continued encouragement of new singers.
Submitter: Miles Willard, 1991 Sources: Miles Willard personal files.
Music Club scrapbooks and other records at Bonneville Museum.
Idaho Falls Symphony scrapbooks, 1957-1990, at I. F. Public
Library.
Chesbro Music Co., History compiled 1990 for Music Trade.
Edith Haroldsen Lovell, Captain Bonneville's County, 1963.
She particularly cites Idaho Register and Post Register.
Mary Jane Fritzen and Lowell Jobe, histories of Idaho Falls
Symphony and Music Club in Beautiful Bonneville, 1990.
Idaho Falls High School, The Clio (yearbook), 1911. at
Bonneville Museum; The Spud Weekly, Dec. 22, 1949.
Idaho Falls Arts Council, "Evolution in the Arts," feasibility
study for arts center, Idaho Falls, 1991, for I.F.O.T.
Blackrobes Journey, history of Catholic Church in Idaho Falls,
for account of A. L. Gifford.
Idaho Falls City Council Minutes, and School District files,
for records of A.L. Gifford.
Post Register, Golden Jubilee Edition, Sep. 10, 1934; Enid
Yurman, "Music in the Air," May 18, 1990.
Idaho Falls Symphony programs and files at Symphony Office,
B St. Plaza, Idaho Falls.
Ruth Barrus, "Idaho Falls Musical Heritage," 1978, I. F.
Public Library.
Present and past conductors and players
Lowell Jobe, "25 Year History of Idaho Falls Symphony
Orchestra," 1974. Copy in Symphony office.
Historical materials in possession of Mary Jane Fritzen.