Once upon a Time at the Opera House

The importance of opera houses to the cultural and community life in nonmetropolitanareas of the country from the last quarter of the nineteenth century to the advent of motionpictures in the 1920s has seldom been documented. As both the civic and arts centre forthe community, the local opera house was a venue for community meetings, politicalrallies, concerts, lectures, and theatrical entertainment. The stories the reader will encounterhere - related with a healthy dose of humour - are based on historical facts, anecdotes,urban legends, and tall tales associated with three of the more than one hundred operahouses that existed in Michigan during this period. As there are similar stories about suchstructures throughout Michigan as well as in other Midwestern and Western states, thiscould be considered a storybook about the golden age of opera houses in many of America'srural regions. Unfortunately, many of Michigan's wonderful old jewel boxes have been razedor burned down. Whereas almost every town in the state once had a facility referred to as anopera house, few remain and, of those that do, few are open for business. The opera housesin Coldwater, Calumet, and Manistee are still in operation, however, and are still serving theircommunities as they have for over a hundred years.