Vaudeville Theaters of Chicago
Rice’s Theatre I
Location: South side of Randolph Street, 50 feet east of Dearborn
Life Span: 1847-1850
Architect: Unknown
- The first Rice’s Theatre
Chicago Journal, June 26, 1847
The New Theatre.
The internal arrangements of the New Theatre, now nearly completed, are admirable. A full view of the stage can be obtained from every part of the house, and the plan of the old Coliseum has been followed in this respect. The boxes are elegantly furnished and fitted with carpets and settees, rather resembling a boudoir or a private sitting room in a gentleman’s house, than an apartment in a place of public resort. Altogether the building is tasteful and commodious.
Little did the immortal Will forsee, while a strolling player he performed in some barn in “Merrie England,” that away at the farther extremity of Lake Michigan, in the new world, a temple would have so soon been erected to his favorite muse, erected, too, thus substantially, and finished thus beautifully within the space of six weeks; but there it stands, the striking exponent of Western industry and enterprise.
Much as individual opinions may conflict, relative to the theatre, its utility and influence, yet the most scrupulous must admit that as such establishments must and will exist and be countenanced in this world of ours, it is highly desirable that they be as chastened and elevated and true to nature as possible. In this point of view a new era is unquestionably dawning in the theatrical world in this city.
- Rice Theater Program
Left: July 14, 1848
Right: September 19, 1848
The Chicago Daily Journal1 July 30, 1850
An excellent house welcomed the Opera Troupe to the Chicago boards last evening and La Somnambula was performed as announced. Whatever may be the taste of the theatre-going public in this city with regard to Operas, all must conceed that the music was of a high order, and executed with admirable grace and skill. Miss Brientfs face is eloquent in her favor, to begin with, and her voice, now as soft as a vesper bell, now wild and shrill as a clarion, doubles and completes the charm. Messrs. Manvers and Guibel both possess voices of tone, power and cultivation, and with Miss Brienti and Miss Mathews make melody and harmony that Apollo would not hesitate to accompany upon his ocean-tuned harp.
The Democrat, July 31, 1850
One of the most destructive fires which has taken place in this city for some time occurred last night. Before subdued by the firemen it destroyed over twenty buildings, including the Chicago Theatre half a block in one of the most thickly populated portions of the city. It broke out in the stable owned by Mr. Kelley on Dearborn Street between Randolph and Clark, about 10 o’clock last night. In a few minutes everything was a mass of flames and the fire communicated to the theatre adjoining. The audience, which fortunately was not very large, was alarmed, but Mr. Rice, with much presence of mind, restrained them, and thus enabled all to leave the building without endangering each other by a rush.
The Chicago Daily Journal, July 31, 1850
Owing to the combustible nature of the materials the theatre was soon enveloped in flames. The curtain, the side scenes, and most of the private wardrobe of the company, was saved, but the properties, furniture, and fixtures were all destroyed. The loss falls heavily on Mr. Rice, the estimable proprietor and conductor of the theatre. He had an insurance of only one thousand dollars, while seven thousand dollars will not make good the destruction.
Mr. McVicker, who with his wife occupied rooms in Mr. Gurley’s building, was compelled to make a “flying leap” losing property to the value of two hundred dollars, and of a nature difficult to replace.
The streets were completely strewn with household furniture, Saloon fixtures, and fragments of the wreck of the theatre, and what with the crowds of people filling the sidewalks, and clustered upon the roofs, and at every window, the hoarse call of the speaking trumpet, the foliage lighted up with strange tints, and the sky of a deeper blackness, the huge volumes of smoke, skirted with crimson, and rolling into the glowing abyss, and church spires rising glittering into the night, while it might have been a scene an artist would love to catch and stay upon canvas, yet it was eloquent of destruction and alarm.
The Democrat, August 1, 1850
Nothing daunted by the destruction of his theatre, Mr. Rice was up and doing early this morning, making arrangements for the construction of a NewTheatre, of much larger dimensions, on the site of the old one. We understand it will be of brick.
History of Chicago, A. T. Andreas, 1885
Rice’s Theatre.—Until 1857, Rice’s Theater was the attractive center of dramatic representation in Chicago. For ten years it had been the chief place of amusement in the city, and the popularity of Mr. and Mrs. Rice never waned for an instant. No man had done so much for the interest and amusement of the Chicago public as John B. Rice, and his constant increase in favor testified how deeply that public appreciated his labors. But in 1857, he and his wife determined to retire from the stage, and the theater passed under other management It also encountered the competition of its new rival, just erected by J. H. McVicker, and its end was not long in coming. For several years it led a fitful and unpopular existence, until, in 1861, it became manifest to Mr. Rice that it could no longer maintain its place as a theater. He then had it torn down, and on its site erected a handsome business block.
NOTES:
1 Chicago Daily Journal, 1844 – 1929 (newspaper was relaunched as the Chicago Daily Illustrated Times)
1 Chicago Democrat 1833 – 1861 (merged with Chicago Tribune)
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