Back in the day: 1877 to 1925
1877
George Hearst sent L.D. Kellogg, an experienced practical miner, to investigate claims of new gold discoveries. After a brief investigation, Kellogg optioned the Homestake and Golden Star Claims for $70,000. George Hearst and his partners incorporated their holdings as The Homestake Mining Company in California on November 5, 1877, almost 12 years to the day South Dakota was admitted to the Union.
1876
On April 9, Manuel Brothers, Moses and Fred, together with Hank Harney, discovered a ledge; an out-cropping of ore termed a “lead” (pronounced “leed”), in what is now the Open Cut. They named their claim “Homestake” and the mining camp, which soon leaped to life, took the name of Lead City.
1876
Lead got its start in the Black Hills during the Gold Rush of 1876 when Thomas Carey crossed Gold Run Creek from his Deadwood diggings and, upon finding a good placer claim on Gold Run, told his fellow miners that things looked even better “across the divide”. There was another stampede, albeit a short one, across the creek to the new camp, which first was called Washington.
1874
Gold discovered in the Black Hills on French Creek near the present city of Custer by Ross and McKay, two miners attached to General Custer’s Military Expedition.
1894
Phoebe Apperson Hearst, the widow of California senator George Hearst and humanitarian, presented a library and established a kindergarten, one of the earliest west of the Mississippi. It was her sincere belief that “money should be used for the good of mankind”
1880
The U.S. Census listed the 1,440-citizen community of Lead, S.D. as a town. By 1900 the number of residents had grown to 6,212 and then to 8,392 in 1910, making it the second largest city in South Dakota. It was also the most prosperous with the best wages, constant employment for the town’s skilled mechanics, minors and laborers,
1911
Phoebe Apperson Hearst, with the help of Thomas J. Grier, Superintendent of Homestake, conceived the idea of the Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building with the idea that both would be presented to the citizens of Lead as a gift from Homestake. The complex would include a beautiful modern opera house, bowling alley, swimming pool, library, social rooms and facilities for billiards. All facilities would be free to the public with the exception of the opera house. Homestake officially announced the project to the public on November 13, 1911.
1912
In early July, workmen began sinking test pits in the lot to determine the foundation that would be used during construction. The site chosen for the $250,000 complex was a piece of land located on Main St. between the Hearst Free Kindergarten in the basement of the Christ Episcopal Church and the Halloran Block to the east. Part of the area was at that time owned by the city and was ceded to the Homestake Mining Company. Since the lot was triangular in shape, it became necessary to square it by moving Julius St. 18 feet to the south, which had the effect of substantially straightening that section of street.
1914
On Monday, August 31st, final touches were put on the Opera House and adjoining Recreation Building. The eagerly awaited grand opening in the beautiful new Opera House was performed by the Sheehan English Opera Company led by Joseph F. Sheehan, “American’s Greatest Tenor.” The company, billed as “one of the best making dates in the United States,” presented selections from the operas of “Martha,” “Il Trovatore,” and “Bohemian Girl,” with admission prices ranging from twenty-five cents to one dollar. Every seat in the 1,016 occupancy was bought by fashionably dressed men, women and children from Lead, Deadwood and surrounding towns.
The grand opening was over, but the entertainment had just begun for the citizens of Lead and surrounding communities. Silent movies began immediately, with several showings daily. Admission prices were five cents with the hopes they would not have to be raised about ten cents.
In the beginning lines of people stretched out into the street to view the silent pictures. Silent films such as “The Boy from the Poor House” and the comedy “The Mysterious Package” and “Our Neighbors” were a few of the features people lined up to see. During the early years, a three-piece orchestra with piano, cello, and violin were part of the entertainment offered.
Traveling road shows were scheduled at frequent intervals and greeted with full houses. Such presentations as D.M. Howe’s “The Time, the Place and the Girl,” a musical comedy would begin a tradition of live entertainment that would continue for years.
On September 22, Homestake Superintendent and Opera House and Recreation Building founder, Thomas Grier passed away. The Homestake Opera House immediately closed its doors out of respect, informing the public that it would remain closed until after the funeral. A musical extravaganza by the Elks Minstrels, which had been scheduled for that time, was postponed until the next week. Lead was in mourning. His body arrived in Lead a few days later for a funeral procession in which thousands would line the streets to watch.
1915
One of the most popular groups on the road show circuit was that of Clint and Bessie Robbins. In 1983 Clint Robbins had joined a road company in Minneapolis, where he met Bessie Burrows, also a member of the troupe. The couple were married on September 7, 1893.
“The Robbins spent many years after their marriage in Vaudeville in New York and other eastern cities, this followed by musical comedy. Returning west they joined a stock company as a Vaudeville feature at Sioux City, Iowa, and while there developed their rag doll act. This gave them several successful seasons in Vaudeville circuits. They began their tours of South Dakota with the Chase-Lister company…The Robbins show had actors in their casts who later won fame in larger circuits, among them Lyle Talbot, later a successful movie actor and Bob Traut, an announcer for the National Broadcasting Company. The esteem in which the Robbins were held and the pleasure given by their performances is shown by the fact that they played the same towns every year for 20 years until they disbanded.” (Lead Daily Call, Dec. 4, 1943)
The couple gave their first performance in the Opera House in February of 1915, and the company of 15 remained in Lead for a week, each night’s performance completely different. Their first productions included “The Daughter of the Tenement,” “Ishmael,” “The Whirlpool,” “The Heart of a Thief,” “The Highwayman,” and “The Baby.” Favorites of the local citizens, Clint and Bessie Robbins returned to the city frequently over the years.
1916
During its early years the Opera House provided a variety of entertainment for the public, and one of the forms especially popular with the men was wrestling. On October 23rd, a crowd of more than 600 watched a match between Harold Christensen, amateur heavyweight champion of the world and Earl Caddock, native of Iowa. Caddock defeated Christensen and later faced a new challenger in Jess Westergaard. Matches took place after the regularly-scheduled movies and ticket prices ranged from $1.00 to $1.50 for auditorium seats and $2.00 for a seat on the stage. While audiences were mostly male, a few women were reported to attend the less refined entertainment. On one particular evening a reporter noted with some surprise that there were actually as many as 25 ladies in the crowd.
On November 20th, Opera returned to the stage of the Opera House with performances by the Chicago English Opera Company. Three railroad cars brought the extensive collection of scenery, properties, and wardrobe to Lead. The beautiful stage settings were exact reproductions of those used at Covent Garden in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
1917
World War I greatly influenced entertainment at the Opera House, as patriotic rallies and special benefits began to be scheduled along with the regular movies and other live entertainment. The Opera House responded by donating 10% of its gross receipts for the week of June 18 – 25 to the Lead Chapter of the Red Cross. War news releases became a regular part of the evening entertainment and kept audiences informed of important events around the world. The Patriotic War Tax was added to the ticket prices of each performance.
1918
In late September, the Opera House played an unforeseen role in the tragic Spanish influenza epidemic. Beginning in the Rapid City area, the disease quickly spread throughout the Black Hills communities, forcing the Health Department to place a closing ban on all theatres and churches. The Homestake Opera House held its last performance on November 5th and remained closed until January of the following year.
On October 11th, 53 cases of influenza were reported in Lead, with over 500 cases being reported by October 21st. Because the doctors and nurses were not available in sufficient number to effectively treat the large number of sick scattered throughout the city in private homes, it was decided to convert the Homestake Recreation Building into an emergency hospital. Beds, bedding, and other necessary equipment were quickly gathered from numerous sources, and the newly-converted “hospital” was ready for use. Dr. Mattox of the Homestake Hospital staff was placed in charge of the new facility.
The number of patients continued to increase until there were 1510 being cared for in the Opera House and Recreation Building. The stage, aisles, and all other available spaces were filled with beds, the theatre lobby itself being used as a pneumonia ward. According to a statement to the Call by Dr. Mattox, “The emergency hospital had 69 cases of pneumonia, of which 30 recovered, a remarkably high percentage of recoveries.”
From October 11th to December 29th, the dates of the first and last deaths in Lead, 94 people had died in the city. Described as “one of the saddest features” of the epidemic was the loss of four schoolteachers “who voluntarily went to death through their heroic determination to contribute their assistance in the fight against the disease.” Etta Hermina Danielson, Gladys Evelyn Hofsoon, Edith Schwanke, and Helen Delaney contracted the disease while nursing the sick.
1919
By January conditions had improved and churches and theatres were reopened. Thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, the Homestake Opera House opened its doors to the public on Monday, January 27th.
On April 13th, the Opera House closed its doors once again, this time out of respect for Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who died at her home in Pleasanton, California. Work in all departments of Homestake was suspended in memory of the great philanthropist who had been Lead’s friend.
1920
The Homestake Mining Company decided that it wanted both the kindergarten grounds and the space occupied by Christ Episcopal Church, so that the Hearst Mercantile Company Store could be located there. Homestake moved the Christ Episcopal Church brick by brick to its present location, where it was reassembled complete with a new bell tower. Church services were held in the opera house during the relocation process.
1922
The Hearst Mercantile Company Store opened its doors to the public.
1923
On October 8th, the Opera House stage was the scene of a 10-round boxing match between Billy Papke of Sacramento, California and Billy Foster of Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to this main, an 8-round semi-final between Johnny Ryan of Lead and “Fighting Fool” Pepper of Rapid City and a 6-round preliminary match between Harry Krosky and Kid Carter, both of Lead. Officials included a referee, director, timekeeper and physician. Rules of the committee included: “There will be no rough stuff on the part of the spectators tonight,” said Jimmy Boyle. “Any fellow caught swearing, smoking or drinking will be thrown out…Ladies who intend to see the bouts will be welcomed and special efforts for them to enjoy the program will be made by the committee in charge, but children will not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.”
George Hearst sent L.D. Kellogg, an experienced practical miner, to investigate claims of new gold discoveries. After a brief investigation, Kellogg optioned the Homestake and Golden Star Claims for $70,000. George Hearst and his partners incorporated their holdings as The Homestake Mining Company in California on November 5, 1877, almost 12 years to the day South Dakota was admitted to the Union.
1876
On April 9, Manuel Brothers, Moses and Fred, together with Hank Harney, discovered a ledge; an out-cropping of ore termed a “lead” (pronounced “leed”), in what is now the Open Cut. They named their claim “Homestake” and the mining camp, which soon leaped to life, took the name of Lead City.
1876
Lead got its start in the Black Hills during the Gold Rush of 1876 when Thomas Carey crossed Gold Run Creek from his Deadwood diggings and, upon finding a good placer claim on Gold Run, told his fellow miners that things looked even better “across the divide”. There was another stampede, albeit a short one, across the creek to the new camp, which first was called Washington.
1874
Gold discovered in the Black Hills on French Creek near the present city of Custer by Ross and McKay, two miners attached to General Custer’s Military Expedition.
1894
Phoebe Apperson Hearst, the widow of California senator George Hearst and humanitarian, presented a library and established a kindergarten, one of the earliest west of the Mississippi. It was her sincere belief that “money should be used for the good of mankind”
1880
The U.S. Census listed the 1,440-citizen community of Lead, S.D. as a town. By 1900 the number of residents had grown to 6,212 and then to 8,392 in 1910, making it the second largest city in South Dakota. It was also the most prosperous with the best wages, constant employment for the town’s skilled mechanics, minors and laborers,
1911
Phoebe Apperson Hearst, with the help of Thomas J. Grier, Superintendent of Homestake, conceived the idea of the Homestake Opera House and Recreation Building with the idea that both would be presented to the citizens of Lead as a gift from Homestake. The complex would include a beautiful modern opera house, bowling alley, swimming pool, library, social rooms and facilities for billiards. All facilities would be free to the public with the exception of the opera house. Homestake officially announced the project to the public on November 13, 1911.
1912
In early July, workmen began sinking test pits in the lot to determine the foundation that would be used during construction. The site chosen for the $250,000 complex was a piece of land located on Main St. between the Hearst Free Kindergarten in the basement of the Christ Episcopal Church and the Halloran Block to the east. Part of the area was at that time owned by the city and was ceded to the Homestake Mining Company. Since the lot was triangular in shape, it became necessary to square it by moving Julius St. 18 feet to the south, which had the effect of substantially straightening that section of street.
1914
On Monday, August 31st, final touches were put on the Opera House and adjoining Recreation Building. The eagerly awaited grand opening in the beautiful new Opera House was performed by the Sheehan English Opera Company led by Joseph F. Sheehan, “American’s Greatest Tenor.” The company, billed as “one of the best making dates in the United States,” presented selections from the operas of “Martha,” “Il Trovatore,” and “Bohemian Girl,” with admission prices ranging from twenty-five cents to one dollar. Every seat in the 1,016 occupancy was bought by fashionably dressed men, women and children from Lead, Deadwood and surrounding towns.
The grand opening was over, but the entertainment had just begun for the citizens of Lead and surrounding communities. Silent movies began immediately, with several showings daily. Admission prices were five cents with the hopes they would not have to be raised about ten cents.
In the beginning lines of people stretched out into the street to view the silent pictures. Silent films such as “The Boy from the Poor House” and the comedy “The Mysterious Package” and “Our Neighbors” were a few of the features people lined up to see. During the early years, a three-piece orchestra with piano, cello, and violin were part of the entertainment offered.
Traveling road shows were scheduled at frequent intervals and greeted with full houses. Such presentations as D.M. Howe’s “The Time, the Place and the Girl,” a musical comedy would begin a tradition of live entertainment that would continue for years.
On September 22, Homestake Superintendent and Opera House and Recreation Building founder, Thomas Grier passed away. The Homestake Opera House immediately closed its doors out of respect, informing the public that it would remain closed until after the funeral. A musical extravaganza by the Elks Minstrels, which had been scheduled for that time, was postponed until the next week. Lead was in mourning. His body arrived in Lead a few days later for a funeral procession in which thousands would line the streets to watch.
1915
One of the most popular groups on the road show circuit was that of Clint and Bessie Robbins. In 1983 Clint Robbins had joined a road company in Minneapolis, where he met Bessie Burrows, also a member of the troupe. The couple were married on September 7, 1893.
“The Robbins spent many years after their marriage in Vaudeville in New York and other eastern cities, this followed by musical comedy. Returning west they joined a stock company as a Vaudeville feature at Sioux City, Iowa, and while there developed their rag doll act. This gave them several successful seasons in Vaudeville circuits. They began their tours of South Dakota with the Chase-Lister company…The Robbins show had actors in their casts who later won fame in larger circuits, among them Lyle Talbot, later a successful movie actor and Bob Traut, an announcer for the National Broadcasting Company. The esteem in which the Robbins were held and the pleasure given by their performances is shown by the fact that they played the same towns every year for 20 years until they disbanded.” (Lead Daily Call, Dec. 4, 1943)
The couple gave their first performance in the Opera House in February of 1915, and the company of 15 remained in Lead for a week, each night’s performance completely different. Their first productions included “The Daughter of the Tenement,” “Ishmael,” “The Whirlpool,” “The Heart of a Thief,” “The Highwayman,” and “The Baby.” Favorites of the local citizens, Clint and Bessie Robbins returned to the city frequently over the years.
1916
During its early years the Opera House provided a variety of entertainment for the public, and one of the forms especially popular with the men was wrestling. On October 23rd, a crowd of more than 600 watched a match between Harold Christensen, amateur heavyweight champion of the world and Earl Caddock, native of Iowa. Caddock defeated Christensen and later faced a new challenger in Jess Westergaard. Matches took place after the regularly-scheduled movies and ticket prices ranged from $1.00 to $1.50 for auditorium seats and $2.00 for a seat on the stage. While audiences were mostly male, a few women were reported to attend the less refined entertainment. On one particular evening a reporter noted with some surprise that there were actually as many as 25 ladies in the crowd.
On November 20th, Opera returned to the stage of the Opera House with performances by the Chicago English Opera Company. Three railroad cars brought the extensive collection of scenery, properties, and wardrobe to Lead. The beautiful stage settings were exact reproductions of those used at Covent Garden in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
1917
World War I greatly influenced entertainment at the Opera House, as patriotic rallies and special benefits began to be scheduled along with the regular movies and other live entertainment. The Opera House responded by donating 10% of its gross receipts for the week of June 18 – 25 to the Lead Chapter of the Red Cross. War news releases became a regular part of the evening entertainment and kept audiences informed of important events around the world. The Patriotic War Tax was added to the ticket prices of each performance.
1918
In late September, the Opera House played an unforeseen role in the tragic Spanish influenza epidemic. Beginning in the Rapid City area, the disease quickly spread throughout the Black Hills communities, forcing the Health Department to place a closing ban on all theatres and churches. The Homestake Opera House held its last performance on November 5th and remained closed until January of the following year.
On October 11th, 53 cases of influenza were reported in Lead, with over 500 cases being reported by October 21st. Because the doctors and nurses were not available in sufficient number to effectively treat the large number of sick scattered throughout the city in private homes, it was decided to convert the Homestake Recreation Building into an emergency hospital. Beds, bedding, and other necessary equipment were quickly gathered from numerous sources, and the newly-converted “hospital” was ready for use. Dr. Mattox of the Homestake Hospital staff was placed in charge of the new facility.
The number of patients continued to increase until there were 1510 being cared for in the Opera House and Recreation Building. The stage, aisles, and all other available spaces were filled with beds, the theatre lobby itself being used as a pneumonia ward. According to a statement to the Call by Dr. Mattox, “The emergency hospital had 69 cases of pneumonia, of which 30 recovered, a remarkably high percentage of recoveries.”
From October 11th to December 29th, the dates of the first and last deaths in Lead, 94 people had died in the city. Described as “one of the saddest features” of the epidemic was the loss of four schoolteachers “who voluntarily went to death through their heroic determination to contribute their assistance in the fight against the disease.” Etta Hermina Danielson, Gladys Evelyn Hofsoon, Edith Schwanke, and Helen Delaney contracted the disease while nursing the sick.
1919
By January conditions had improved and churches and theatres were reopened. Thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, the Homestake Opera House opened its doors to the public on Monday, January 27th.
On April 13th, the Opera House closed its doors once again, this time out of respect for Phoebe Apperson Hearst, who died at her home in Pleasanton, California. Work in all departments of Homestake was suspended in memory of the great philanthropist who had been Lead’s friend.
1920
The Homestake Mining Company decided that it wanted both the kindergarten grounds and the space occupied by Christ Episcopal Church, so that the Hearst Mercantile Company Store could be located there. Homestake moved the Christ Episcopal Church brick by brick to its present location, where it was reassembled complete with a new bell tower. Church services were held in the opera house during the relocation process.
1922
The Hearst Mercantile Company Store opened its doors to the public.
1923
On October 8th, the Opera House stage was the scene of a 10-round boxing match between Billy Papke of Sacramento, California and Billy Foster of Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to this main, an 8-round semi-final between Johnny Ryan of Lead and “Fighting Fool” Pepper of Rapid City and a 6-round preliminary match between Harry Krosky and Kid Carter, both of Lead. Officials included a referee, director, timekeeper and physician. Rules of the committee included: “There will be no rough stuff on the part of the spectators tonight,” said Jimmy Boyle. “Any fellow caught swearing, smoking or drinking will be thrown out…Ladies who intend to see the bouts will be welcomed and special efforts for them to enjoy the program will be made by the committee in charge, but children will not be admitted unless accompanied by an adult.”
