Imagine culture in the middle of nowhere. Sort of somewhere close to the brothel towns just outside Las Vegas and the first signs of life around the corner from Death Valley...

The story of a Borax mining community goes awash against the colorful artistry of ballerina Marta Becket who revived a theater in need of both a headliner and audience.

A brief glimpse inside the hotel

Long ago, this fixture on the National Register of Historic Places began as apartments for borax miners. By the time Marta Becket and her husband had a flat tire nearby, dilapidation ruled.

While waiting for the car fix, Ms. Becket peeked in the town theater. Tired of touring or realizing not many middle age ballerinas continue to take the stage, she envisioned a renovation.

Ms. Becket bought the town and parted ways with husband No. 1.

I would rather spend the rest of my life in the middle of nowhere than spend another minute with you.

Might have been one of the last things Ms. Becket’s ex heard

Soon many show biz celebs from LA would drop in on their way to and from Vegas.

One docent implied that Red Skelton might have had a bit of a crush on Ms. Becket. But she wed for the second time, Tom Willet, who supported her project and helped it thrive.

But one fact remained. Remote and desolate Death Valley Junction meant some nights no one showed at all.

How to fill an Opera House

One would think that no audience would mean take the night off. But not Ms. Becket.

The show must go on.

So Ms. Becket painted an audience

Even a partially filled house would look better with more faces, so Ms. Becket adorned the walls and the ceiling.

Each tour may offer variations on the stories, but a favorite involves the whores from Pahrump. The madam sought to infuse the gals with a cultural experience and often brought them to Ms. Becket’s performances.

Ms. Becket wove in the message of that societal divide with ladies of the night atop one wall. Just below, the unsuspecting wives with their husbands.

Ms. Becket also painted in royalty, jesters, jugglers, nuns, knights — an entire Court awaited her performances.

Tricks of the light

See how lighting reveals more than first met the eye…

A look at Ms. Marta Becket

Amargosa and the memory of Marta Becket will linger. Up to age 83, Ms. Becket could still pirouette.

Regardless what future acts play this stage, one decorated front row seat remains reserved for Ms. Becket.

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Ms. Becket died in 2017 at the age of 92.

The Amargosa Opera House of Ms. Becket attracted an eclectic worldwide audience and today people continue to tour the Amargosa Opera House and attend shows.

In that regard, Marta Becket literally put Death Valley Junction on the map.

A cafe on the grounds serves delicious vegan and organic dishes, teas and coffees.