Springer Opera House

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Springer Opera House
National Register of Historic Places
National Historic Landmark
Springer Opera House, interior view (1980)

Springer Opera House, interior view (1980)

Springer Opera House (Georgia)
Paris plan pointer b jms.svg
location Columbus , Muscogee County , Georgia
Coordinates 32 ° 27 '54.2 "  N , 84 ° 59' 28.6"  W Coordinates: 32 ° 27 '54.2 "  N , 84 ° 59' 28.6"  W.
Built 1871
architect Daniel Matthew Foley
Architectural style later Victorian style
NRHP number 70000214
Data
The NRHP added December 29, 1970
Declared as an  NHL June 2nd 1978

The Springer Opera House is a historic theater located at 103 Tenth Street in Columbus , Muscogee County , Georgia . The three-story brick building was built on his property in 1871 by the wealthy businessman Francis J. Springer.

At the end of the 19th century, the opera house had quickly become a well-known venue in Georgia, where many famous personalities performed, such as John Philip Sousa , Ethel Barrymore , Oscar Wilde and Franklin D. Roosevelt . This success was temporary, since the beginning of the 20th century the opera house was primarily used as a cinema, from the middle of the 20th century it stood empty for a while and was threatened with demolition. An initiative by committed citizens of the city led to the renovation and preservation of the building; since 1964 the Springer Theater has been operating the building as a theater again.

In 1971, on the occasion of its centenary, the Springer Opera House was named the State Theater of Georgia by then Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter . It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and declared a National Historic Landmark of the United States in 1978 due to its architecture and well-preserved condition .

History of the Springer Opera House

The Springer is Georgia's oldest theater and one of only seven theaters in the United States to be named a National Historic Landmark . Furthermore, it was named State Theater of Georgia in 1971 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Governor Jimmy Carter , which was confirmed by the Parliament of Georgia in 1992. In 1970 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in 1978 it was declared a National Historic Landmark due to its architecture and good condition.

Famous personalities such as the actors John Edwin Booth , James O'Neill , Joseph Jefferson , Ethel Barrymore , the actress and author Ruth Gordon , the comedian and author Will Rogers , the dancer Agnes de Mille and the singer Ma Rainey performed at the Springer Opera House , the conductor John Philip Sousa and the politicians William Jennings Bryan and Franklin D. Roosevelt . For the Irish writer Oscar Wilde , the Springer in 1882 was one of the stops on his triumphant first American book tour.

Foundation of the theater

Drama was an important part of Columbus' cultural activities very early on. The first theatrical performance there was recorded in July 1828. The stage on which the first play was performed was in a rather unsuitable hall and was still very simple compared to the Springer Opera House, which was built later.

Francis Joseph Springer agreed to build the building, later named Springer Opera House . He was a wealthy grocery businessman who came from Alsace . Springer brought with him a passion for music, theater and dance from his homeland and dreamed of building a European-style theater in Columbus. In February 1871, the new theater opened with an amateur concert by members of the Trinity Episcopal Church .

The Springer Opera House was extensively renovated and expanded in 1902 . The architect responsible for the renovation, John Bailey McElfatrick, was one of the most respected theater architects of his time. He was known for not imitating the style of the English theater, contrary to the standards of the time, even as he himself was never in England. Concrete features of his theaters were, for example, the even distribution of seats in the parquet , shallower and deeper balconies and less extravagant decorations.

Temporary use as a cinema

Exterior view of the Springer Opera House (1933)

Shortly after the Springer Opera House was expanded in 1902, the first boom in the new film industry took place . Some of Thomas Edison's new Vitascope films were shown in the Springer . The screening of these short films heralded the slow but steady decline of the theater in Columbus. Since 1915, when the popularity of films continued to grow, the Springer began showing films on a regular basis, thereby pushing drama aside. This novel movement was evident across the United States at the time. After the stock market crash in 1929 , the theater network completely collapsed; from 1941 the house was only operated as a cinema.

As the commercial enterprise in downtown Columbus declined, so too did the population in the city center. Due to the resulting drop in visitor numbers in the Springer , the operator decided in 1959 to close the building, which almost led to it being forgotten.

Crisis and a new beginning in the middle of the 20th century

In 1963 the Springer Opera House was finally to be demolished after it had been empty for five years. When this decision was made, the Columbus Little Theater Opera House Trustees , a group of citizens who campaigned for the preservation of the theater and raised the funds needed for the renovation, formed. Renovation work began again in the summer of 1964 after the vacant building had been saved from demolition. Both the leaky roof and the lobby on the ground floor were repaired. In addition, the main hall was redesigned in Victorian style and the entire building was adapted to the building regulations valid at that time.

On October 6, 1965, the Springer reopened with the musical St. Elmo , which was based on the Victorian novel of the same name by Columbus-born author Augusta Jane Evans .

The Springer in the 21st century

In 1998 the Springer was completely renovated again for 12 million dollars. During this renovation, the second and third floors in particular, which had remained untouched during the renovation in 1964, were prepared. Among other things, a stage was built to the technical standards of the 20th century, as well as additional class, work and rehearsal rooms. In this renovation and restoration work related. The historic interior was restored in one of the most complex restorations to date, while the theater was brought up to the latest standards of lighting , sound and stage technology . As a result of the renovation and the use of the second and third floors made possible by it, the total area was increased from approx. 3250 m² to just under 7000 m².

The building now (as of 2017) houses the Springer Theater , among other things , which performs its program on two stages: The main stage, Emily Woodruff Hall , a large theater hall in Victorian style , is named after a very committed woman who was also part of the group, which saved the Springer Opera House from demolition in 1964. In addition to the main stage, there is also the secondary stage, Studio 2 , on which primarily plays for young audiences with local up-and-coming actors are performed. The Springer Opera House also houses the touring theater Springer Theatricals and the Springer Theater Academy , one of the most prestigious theater schools in the United States.

Touring theater Springer Theatricals

Springer Theatricals was founded in 1990 by producer , theater director and author Paul Pierce. The Springer Theatricals are a mobile non-profit theater group operated by the Springer Theater . The aim of Springer Theatricals is to awaken the audience's enthusiasm for the theater through inexpensive and professional musical theater in other communities or in their theaters. Paul Pierce and the Springer Theatricals have already been successful on over 40 tours with over 5000 appearances throughout the USA and Canada .

The Dorothy W. McClure Springer Theater Academy

In 1996, actor, theater director and theater instructor Ron Anderson founded the Springer Theater Academy . The Springer Theater Academy accepts children and young people from kindergarten through to teenage years in order to introduce them to drama. The young actors can choose from various offers: There are both year-round courses and intensive courses lasting several weeks during the school holidays. In these courses, the young actors learn core skills for theater acting, which also promotes their social skills. At the end of the course, they present what they have learned to parents and friends.

The Springer Theater Academy is named after Dorothy "Dot" McClure, a theater teacher who was one of the supporters who campaigned for the preservation of the Springer Opera House in 1964.

See also

literature

  • James JW Biggers, Jr .: Springer Opera House . National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus, 1970 ( online ; PDF)

Web links

Commons : Springer Opera House  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ The State Theater , Georgia Office of Secretary of State, 2013; accessed October 2, 2017.
  3. ↑ Digital Asset 70000214 , National Register of Historic Places; accessed November 15, 2017.
  4. ↑ James JW Biggers, Jr .: Springer Opera House , National Register of Historic Places, Inventory - Nomination Form. Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus 1970; accessed October 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ Listing of National Historic Landmarks by State: Georgia. National Park Service , accessed July 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Springer Opera House , Georgia Department of Economic Development, 2017; accessed October 20, 2017.
  7. ↑ cf. Material collection John Cooper: Springer Opera House, Friday, June 30, 1882 . Oscar Wilde in America. A Selected Resource of Oscar Wilde's Visits to America (website); accessed November 14, 2017.
  8. ^ Judy White (transcription): (Columbus) 1828 , Georgia American History & Genealogy; Retrieved October 2, 2017. Originally in: Columbus, Georgia from its Selection as a Trading town in 1827 to its Partial Destruction by Wilson's Raid in 1865 , compiled by John H. Martin, Published by Thos. Gilbert, Book Printer and Binder, Columbus, GA, 1874.
  9. ↑ James JW Biggers, Jr .: Springer Opera House , National Register of Historic Places, Inventory - Nomination Form. Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus 1970; accessed October 2, 2017.
  10. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  11. ↑ James JW Biggers, Jr .: Springer Opera House , National Register of Historic Places, Inventory - Nomination Form. Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus 1970; accessed October 13, 2017.
  12. ^ Springer Opera House , Georgia Historical Society, 2014; accessed October 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ Sandra L. Tatman: McElfatrick, John Bailey (1826-1906) , Philadelphia Architects and Buildings; accessed October 2, 2017.
  14. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  15. ^ Springer Opera House , Georgia Historical Society, 2014; accessed November 15, 2017.
  16. ↑ James JW Biggers, Jr .: Springer Opera House , National Register of Historic Places, Inventory - Nomination Form. Historic Columbus Foundation, Columbus 1970, pp. 8/2; Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  17. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  18. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  19. ^ The Springer Opera House , Georgia Historical Society, 2014; accessed October 2, 2017.
  20. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  21. ^ The Springer Opera House , Georgia Historical Society, 2014; accessed October 2, 2017.
  22. ^ The Springer Opera House , Georgia Historical Society, 2014; accessed October 2, 2017.
  23. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  24. ↑ A Photo History of On With The Show! The Springer Opera House and History of Theater in Columbus , Columbus Museum (blog), 2011; accessed October 2, 2017.
  25. ^ History , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  26. ↑ About Springer Theatricals , Springer Theatricals, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.
  27. ↑ Springer Theater Academy ( Memento of the original from August 25, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / springeroperahouse.org archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Springer Theater, 2017; accessed October 2, 2017.