| The Days of '98 Show | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Genre | Klondike Gold Rush |
| Show type | resident |
| Location | Eagles Hall, Skagway, Alaska |
| Official website | |
The Days of '98 Show[a] is a Klondike Gold Rush–themed musical theater show performed in Eagles Hall in Skagway, Alaska. It is the longest-running Alaskan theatrical show. Created in the 1920s, the show was put on by the Skagway chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and performed infrequently in the 1930s. By the mid-20th century, the show was performed frequently in the summer, particularly on days when cruise ships and passenger ships docked. It was staffed by unpaid locals and used to fundraise for various causes including a local hockey team, an elderly care facility, and Christmas toys for all Skagway children.
Right after World War II, The Days of '98 Show began being presented with a format that would be used into the 1970s. It featured mock gambling, can-can performances, period costumes from the Klondike Gold Rush era, and a recitation and pantomime of the Robert W. Service poem "The Shooting of Dan McGrew". By 1977, the Eagles encountered dwindling membership and financial difficulties with their sole income stream, The Days of '98 Show, not making a profit that year. They inducted new members into the organization including people who were performing in the play Soapy Lives about the conman Soapy Smith. The two shows merged in 1978 after the members rewrote the script, combining elements from both shows. The revised Days of '98 Show depicts various events from Skagway's frontier history. It portrays Smith and his gang's hold on Skagway and ends with the shootout on Juneau Wharf between Smith and vigilante Frank H. Reid. The show received positive reviews for being an engaging production that teaches about Skagway's history.
- ^ Gottberg 1988, p. 134
- ^ Corrigan, Patricia (1986-06-22). "Alaska: The Cities" (pages 1 and 2). St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Brumley, Richard (1986-06-19). "Alaska". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ Reilly, H.V. Pat (1984-05-06). "Legends of the Alaskan Gold Rush come to life" (pages 1 and 2). Herald News. Archived from the original (pages 1 and 2) on 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-27 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Aarons & Johansen 2007, p. 198
- ^ Bessonette, Colin (1989-08-13). "Tombstones Tell Stories of Gunfighting Past". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ Bunch, Joey (2009-02-26). "Northward Ho!". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on 2024-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
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