The theatre on the frontier

the long version

While this book covers St. Louis rather than Illinois, it describes cultural life and theater in the west from about 1815 to 1839, names and describes many of the popular plays at the time, and discusses the traveling companies of actors. The appendix lists the many plays performed in St. Louis during these years. Chapter headings are: -In the nature of a prologue -Amateur nights, 1814-17 -”Pioneers! O Pioneers!” 1818-19 -The coming of Ludlow and Drake, 1820 -Feasts and famines, 1820-26 -Caldwell takes over the Salt House, 1827-28 -The stars come out, 1829-31 -The Salt House in its glory, 1832-35 -A famous partnership is formed, 1835-36 -The first real theatre, 1837 -”The Winter of our Discontent,” 1838 -A season of spectacles, 1838 -A tree, a forest, and a galaxy, 1839 -On the eve of the fabulous forties, 1839 -By way of an epilogue -Appendix -Bibliography