Bird Cage Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bird Cage Theatre |
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| General information | |
| Type | Theatre |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Tombstone, Arizona, United States |
| Address | 535 E Allen St |
| Town or city | Tombstone, AZ 85638 |
| Country | US |
| Coordinates | 31°42′43″N 110°3′55″W / 31.71194°N 110.06528°W |
| Opened | December 26, 1881 |
| Closed | 1892; reopened in 1929 for the first Helldorado Days; reopened in 1934 |
The Bird Cage Theatre was a famous theater in Tombstone, Arizona, United States. It was open off and on from December 1881 until 1894. When the local silver mines closed, the theatre also closed its doors in 1892. Later, in 1934, it was rented out and used as a coffee shop.
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History of the Theatre
The Bird Cage Theatre first opened on December 26, 1881. It was owned by a couple named Lottie and William "Billy" Hutchinson. Billy Hutchinson was a performer himself. He wanted to put on nice, family-friendly shows, like the ones he had seen in San Francisco. He hoped many people would come to watch.
After the theatre opened, they even had a "Ladies Night." Respectable women from Tombstone could come to these shows for free. However, the town of Tombstone was a rough mining town. The type of shows Billy wanted to put on didn't really fit the audience. So, they soon stopped Ladies Night. They started offering more exciting entertainment that appealed to the miners.
The walls of the Bird Cage Theatre have many bullet holes. These holes are from the many exciting events and shootouts that happened there during the American frontier days.
What Kind of Entertainment?
One of the first performers at the Bird Cage was Mademoiselle De Granville. She was also known as "the Female Hercules." She was famous for her amazing strength. She could lift heavy things using only her teeth!
Other acts included:
- Burns and Trayers, a funny Irish duo.
- Irene Baker, a comic singer.
- Carrie Delmar, a serious opera singer.
- Nola Forest, a comedian.
The theatre also held masquerade balls. Miners could enjoy drinks and dance all night long if they wished.
Cornish wrestling competitions were also very popular at the Bird Cage Theatre. The results of these matches were even published in newspapers back in the United Kingdom!
Stage magic shows were a big hit too. One magician claimed he could catch bullets with his teeth. He had a very close call when someone from the audience challenged him!
Why the Theatre Closed
In March 1882, miners at the Grand Central Mine hit water deep underground. At first, it wasn't a big problem. But soon, the water flow became too much for their pumps. The valuable silver ore they were looking for ended up underwater.
Because of this, the Hutchinsons sold the Bird Cage Theatre. The new owners were Hugh McCrum and John Stroufe. They hired a new manager named Bignon. He had managed another theatre in San Francisco. Bignon fixed up the building and changed its name to the Elite Theatre. He also brought in new performers. Bignon's wife, known as "Big Minnie," was very tall and strong. She would sing, dance, and play the piano.
Large Cornish engines were brought in to pump water out of the mines. This helped for a few more years. But on May 26, 1886, the main pumping station at the Grand Central Mine burned down. A few months later, the price of silver dropped a lot. This caused many mines to lay off their workers. Many people started to leave Tombstone. Because of this, the Bird Cage Theatre finally closed its doors in 1892.
Is it Haunted?
Many people say that the Bird Cage Theatre is haunted! It has been featured on several TV shows that investigate ghosts. These include Ghost Hunters in 2006, Ghost Adventures in 2009 and 2015, Ghost Lab in 2009, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files in 2011.
Gallery
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The Bird Cage around 1940
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The stage where performers entertained
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Part of the Bird Cage Museum today
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The basement poker room
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This bar was placed here in 1935. It is an original bar from Tombstone, but not the theatre's first.
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Staircase leading to the box seats
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A dumbwaiter used in the theatre
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One of the private box seats
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An original faro card game table
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The "honest box" from the faro table
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Another view of a box seat
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The original 1881 rosewood piano on the stage
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One of the two dressing rooms downstairs
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Bird Cage Theatre para niños
