Dean R. Brimhall, Manuscript "History of Capitol Reef"

File — Box: 74, Folder: 10

Identifier: IX

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Series: Lila Eccles Brimhall, the wife of Dean R. Brimhall, was born in Ogden, Utah, on November 26, 1891. She attended Weber Academy and went on to the University of Utah where she began her theatrical career in 1913. She graduated from the University in 1914.

After graduation, Lila Eccles went to New York to continue her education and there met Dr. Dean R. Brimhall, whom she married in 1917. After ten years in the East, the couple returned to Utah where Mrs. Brimhall continued her career in the theatre. During the 1930s and forties, Dean Brimhall was in Washington, D. C., working for the government while Lila remained in Utah pursuing her own career.

Lila Brimhall received a master's degree from the University of Southern California and taught at the University of Utah in the Speech and Theatre Department under Maud May Babcock, Joseph F. Smith, and C. Lowell Lees.

During her career Lila Brimhall directed many productions. The Salt Lake City Little Theatre was able to exist mainly through her talent. In addition to directing plays, she performed extensively in local theatre productions including leading roles in I Remember Mama, The Corn is Green, The Circle, The Rivals, Oklahoma, and Promised Valley. Her most memorable role was in The Solid Gold Cadillac.

Mrs. Brimhall toured with Moroni Olsen and his players and was a guest star at the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of California at Santa Barbara. The last production in which she performed was the Pioneer Memorial Theatre's production of Ring Around the Moon.

A University of Utah Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Lila Brimhall in 1958. In 1960 she was appointed as associate professor emeritus at the University of Utah and inducted into the Pioneer State Theatre Hall of Fame on May 9, 1974.

Dates

1886-1980

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.