The Grand Opera House is
the oldest theater in Dubuque, Iowa. It was built in 1889-1890 at an
estimated cost of $65,000. Done in the Richardsonian architectural style,
the original facade consists of St. Louis brick facing with Bayfield red
sandstone trim.
The opening night
performance was on August 14, 1890, when 800 people came to see the famous
opera "Carmen." They paid $5 for a ticket, a great deal of money
in those days.
Some very famous
actors and actresses have performed on the Grand stage over the years.
Theater legends like George M. Cohen, Lillian Russell, Ethel Barrymore, and
Sara Bernhardt all graced the early Grand's stage.
One of the most
elaborate productions ever put on at the Grand Opera House was "Ben Hur".
There were chariots and horses along with elephants on the stage.
In the 1920s, the
owners of the theater closed it for three months for remodeling. During this
time, they removed the second balcony and all of the box seats, recovered
the seats, covered over the orchestra pit, straightened the front of the
stage (it had been a semi-circle), and replaced the gas fixtures with
electric lights. They also installed a big screen and a projector. For the
next 58 years the Grand Opera House became a movie theater and was known
simply as The Grand.
-from
the History
of the Grand Opera
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