 Scene 1

The story begins by commenting on the riches of the Matchless Mine and on how Horace Tabor owns the whole town of Leadville, Colorado.Horace sings "It's a Bang Up Job" to the townspeople, praising his new opera house and sharing his disenchantment with his wife Augusta.During intermission at a performance at the opera house, Augusta chides Horace for not acting in accordance to his station in life.