Discover Death Valley’s haunting theater where the walls literally have eyes

Marta Becket’s Desert Theater Empire at Death Valley

A flat tire in Death Valley changed American arts forever. Broadway dancer Marta Becket found an old hall in 1967 while stranded near Death Valley Junction.

She soon quit New York, rented the space for $45 a month, and named it the Amargosa Opera House. When few people came to watch, she spent six years painting a Renaissance audience on the walls and ceiling instead.

Her one-woman shows caught National Geographic’s eye in 1970, bringing fame to this desert stage where she danced for over 40 years.

The Amargosa Opera House still stands today, where her painted audience waits silently for your visit.

From Ballet Slippers to Radio City Spotlights

Marta Becket first put on ballet shoes at 14 in New York City. This late starter quickly caught up, landing a spot in the Radio City Music Hall ballet corps.

She learned how to dance with perfect timing alongside dozens of other performers in the famous venue.

Her early days at Radio City taught her skills she later used when she created her own shows in the California desert.

Broadway Lights Called Her Name

Marta joined Broadway in 1946 with Show Boat, starting her theater career.

She performed in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in 1951 and Wonderful Town in 1953, building a strong Broadway track record. While the big stages gave her great experience, she felt boxed in creatively.

She grew tired of being just one dancer among many, always following someone else’s ideas instead of creating her own.

She Created Her Own Path

By 1954, Marta had enough of commercial theater. She broke away and made her own dance pieces with titles like The Mirror, The Carpet, and The Lemon. These solo works let her express herself freely.

She built a one-woman show that gave her total control over her art.

This bold choice freed her from taking orders from directors and producers, allowing her to dance exactly how she wanted.

Tom Became Her Partner On and Off Stage

Marta married Tom Williams in 1962, gaining both a husband and a business helper. Tom handled the money side while she focused on performing.

They traveled across America in their trailer, bringing her one-woman show to new audiences. Tom drove between towns while Marta practiced for upcoming shows.

Their teamwork helped her art reach small venues throughout the country.

A Flat Tire Changed Everything

In March 1967, their trailer got a flat tire near Death Valley Junction, about 95 miles from Las Vegas. While waiting for repairs, Marta walked through the nearly empty mining town.

She found Corkhill Hall, an old rundown community center built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company. Standing in the empty building, she saw its hidden potential.

This random stop would change both the building and her life forever.

Her Desert Theater Came to Life

Marta rented the old hall for just $45 monthly and named it the Amargosa Opera House. She cleaned, painted, and fixed up the space, working hard to bring her vision to life.

On February 10, 1968, she held her first show for only 12 people. The small crowd didn’t bother her.

She believed in her art and knew that fans would find their way to her theater, even in this remote desert spot.

Mother Nature Sparked Her Greatest Idea

In 1968, a summer storm flooded the theater with 16 inches of muddy water. After cleaning up, Marta looked at the bare, damaged walls and got inspired.

If real crowds were small, she would paint her own audience. She grabbed her brushes and started creating Renaissance-era viewers who would never miss a show.

This clever fix turned a disaster into the spark for her most famous artistic work.

She Painted for Four Years Straight

Marta spent four years covering the theater walls with over 150 Renaissance characters. She painted lords and ladies wearing fancy period clothes, each with unique faces.

She worked between shows, climbing ladders day after day. The painted crowd grew row by row, watching from their permanent seats.

By 1972, she finished the murals, creating a full house of silent fans. Her painted viewers became as much a part of the show as her dancing.

The Ceiling Became Her Canvas

Marta looked up at the plain ceiling and saw another blank canvas. She spent two more years on her back, painting detailed designs overhead.

She created cherubs, clouds, and fancy trim that turned the simple room into a European-style opera house. When she finished the ceiling in 1974, the change was complete.

The once-empty hall now looked like an old-world theater with its detailed artwork. Every surface added to the magic of her desert performance space.

Reporters Found Gold in the Desert

National Geographic writers stumbled upon Marta performing for her painted audience in 1970. Their story caught the eye of readers across America.

Life magazine followed with their own article, spreading word about the unusual desert theater even further. This publicity brought curious visitors from around the world to the remote spot.

Famous guests like author Ray Bradbury and comedian Red Skelton made the trip to see her perform. The once-unknown dancer became a celebrated artist, drawing people to a place they would never otherwise visit.

Her Final Curtain Call Came at 92

For more than four decades, Marta danced regularly at her beloved Amargosa Opera House. She performed multiple shows each week, maintaining a demanding schedule well into her senior years.

Her final performance took place on February 12, 2012, when she was 87 years old. She lived five more years, passing away on January 30, 2017, at age 92.

Her desert theater stands as a testament to artistic determination and the power of following one’s vision, no matter how unlikely the setting or circumstances.

Visiting Amargosa Opera House, California

You can visit the Amargosa Opera House at California Highway 127 and State Line Road in Death Valley Junction to see where Broadway dancer Marta Becket created her desert theater empire.

She painted Renaissance audiences on the walls when real people didn’t show up. Daily tours run at 9am and 6pm for $15 adults, $5 kids, no reservations needed.

Live shows happen October through May, and there’s a 23-room hotel on-site.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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