author
John S. (John Shanks) Lindsay
1840–1906
Remembered as a pioneer actor and theater historian in Utah, this 19th-century writer left behind one of the best-known early accounts of Mormon theatrical life. His work blends local history, memoir, and a clear affection for the stage.
1 Audiobook
The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah
by John S. (John Shanks) Lindsay
About the author
Born in Scotland on November 11, 1840, John Shanks Lindsay later became part of early Utah cultural life. He is remembered both as a performer and as a chronicler of the stage, and records from church and memorial sources place his death on February 22, 1906, in Salt Lake City.
Lindsay is best known for The Mormons and the Theatre; or, The History of Theatricals in Utah (1905). That book looks back on theatrical traditions in Utah with a mix of history, personal recollection, humor, and commentary, making it valuable not just as a reference work but also as a lively firsthand window into the region's entertainment culture.
For listeners interested in theater history, local history, or the cultural life of the American West, Lindsay stands out as an eyewitness writer. Even when little else about his life is widely documented online, his surviving book has kept his voice and his enthusiasm for performance very much alive.