Who knows about the Opera House that once flourished in Opelika? (Reposting for new group members) It was in a location with a lot of history...the northeast corner of North 8th Street and North Railroad Avenue. The building was built probably in the 1870’s. The first known occupants were “Renfro Brothers- Bankers, Grocers, Warehousemen”, who also operated the Opera House on the second floor. They changed their private bank to First National Bank in 1886, and moved the bank in 1914 to the next location at S. 8th St & S Rail Road Avenue. Newspapers of the day reported that the Opera House presented a variety of entertainment including lectures, choral concerts, and minstrel shows. On January 7, 1880, there was a performance by Buffalo Bill’s Combination acting troop. His Wild West show also came to town twice, but their performance locations are not known (October 19, 1901 & October 8, 1907). In 1893, John Smith T and others bought the building and ran a farm supply business until John’s death in 1930. Sometime before 1940, the A&P supermarket opened in the building. In 1954, radio station WJHO rented the vacant building on Saturdays for a weekly Town Hall Jamboree, with country bands and singing groups performing. The show was emceed by Jack Smollon. Later occupants of the building were the “It” store, and also Western Auto operated by Max Duer, Jr. The building’s roof, upper floor and 2 walls suddenly collapsed June 1, 2004, due to rain water flooding the roof from a clogged drain. The property is now a vacant lot. Credit to Winston Smith T and Jack Smollon for this history above. One story from the Opera House: John Smith T scheduled an all-female show of singers and dancers - a rarity in those days. And word got out that the performance might be a bit racy. There was a good bit of talk and some criticism about the coming show, which was unwarranted since the ladies in question were fully clothed and quite respectable. Nevertheless, the talk spread and John Smith T began to worry that no one would come, and he would lose the up-front deposit money he had to pay to schedule the show. Well, he neednt have concerned himself. That night they had the biggest crowd they ever had for a performance at the Opera House. It was standing room only. Another story...A classical singer once came to Opelika to perform operatic numbers at the Opera House. After a period of time the audience became restless with so much high-toned music. But the singer, being a perceptive performer, saw that she was fast losing her audience. So she stopped the show, whispered a few words to the orchestra leader and announced to the crowd. Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a slight alteration in my repertoire. For my next number I will sing Im a Rootin Tootin Hell of A Cuss from Arkansas. The crowd went wild. She continued in the same vein and it was one of the more popular shows of the season.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 02:19:39 +0000
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