Woodland Opera House
The Woodland Opera House is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a California Historical Landmark . It is one of four still functioning 19th-century California opera houses and is located within the Downtown Historic District in Woodland , California.
history
The structure, designed in 1885 by prominent San Francisco architect Thomas J. Welsh , was the first opera house in the Sacramento Valley . The contractor who constructed the building was William Henry Curson of Woodland. In July 1892, a fire that originated in Dead Cat Alley behind the theater destroyed much of what is now the Downtown Woodland Historic District , including the Opera House. It was unclear whether this would be rebuilt when local businessman David N. Hershey bought the property and was helped by other business people in the city. Between 1895 and 1896 the opera house was rebuilt by the building contractor. Construction costs were $ 8,990. A large part of the original building material was reused, including the partially standing walls.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some of the most famous actors and their ensembles performed here. These included Nance O'Neil , James A. Herne , Harry Davenport , Helena Modjeska , John Philip Sousa and his troop, comedians Weber and Fields , George M. Cohan's troop, "Gentleman Jim" Corbett , John L. Sullivan and the emerging ones Movie stars Sydney Greenstreet , Walter Huston and Verna Felton .
By 1913, more than 300 guest performances had taken place on this stage, and the Woodland Opera House had become an entertainment hub in the area. A lawsuit dating back to an incident in 1912 - a visitor mistook the door to a loading ramp for an exit and fell from about three feet and broke his arm - and the decline in ticket sales due to the rise of the movies led to the closure of the theater.
New beginning
The opera house remained closed and was inactive for nearly six decades when it was purchased by the Yolo County Historical Society in 1971. On November 5, 1971, the Woodland Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a monument . In 1976 it was declared a California Historical Landmark and donated to the State of California in 1980. After a reconstruction that cost around two million US dollars, the opera house reopened in 1989. Additional work was carried out over the next nine years, led by Gary Worth, a Woodland architect. Much of the material was provided by Brocchini & Associates of Oakland, including period wallpaper, lighting, and paints.
During the reconstruction, the building was statically updated and made earthquake-proof . Central heating and a Kilam system were installed, a sprinkler system and an alarm system were added, as well as barrier-free access. An extension for mechanical equipment was created, as well as premises for administration, a souvenir shop, the mid-level lounge and a roof terrace. The interior restoration work won an award from the California Preservation Foundation and the League of Historic American Theaters.
With the help of the Woodland Rotary Club , a green area was created on the south side of the building in 1990.
Architecture of the building
Today's opera house is a simple, two-story red brick building . The structure has a length of about 32 m and a width of about 18 m. The walls are around 50 cm thick. A stage at the north end of the building was destroyed by fire in the 1930s. It was 18 m above street level. Part of the building has a common wall with the structures on the west side.
The interior of the building is a typical example of 19th century American theater architecture. The stage is laid out as a semicircular proscenium . The auditorium is surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped tier with uninterrupted rows of seats. In front of the stage is an extensive orchestra room , as was common in neo-Renaissance theaters .
Theater productions
There are usually five theater productions between September and June, which are usually performed over two to four weekends. A youth theater camp takes place annually in August, the youth theater program runs all year round. In connection with the county's education office, tickets are offered to schoolchildren for performances of the current productions on weekdays at preferential prices.
In addition to the performance of plays, the building is now also used for performances by musicians, comedians and, somewhat less often, for holding weddings.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c State Historic Woodland Opera House Expansion Memorandum ( English ) April 17, 2008. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
- ^ Yolo County California Landmarks ( English ) Office of Historic Preservation - State of California. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ↑ Woodland Opera House plaque Image ( English ) Retrieved on December 10 of 2008.
- ^ David Wilkinson: Thomas J. Welsh . In: Crafting a Valley Jewel: Architects and Builders of Woodland ( English ). Yolo County Historical Society, Woodland, CA, ISBN 1-892626-06-3 , p. 47.
- ↑ a b WOH - History, Tours, and Support Information ( English ) Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Info: The 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. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ↑ Entry in the National Register Information System . National Park Service , accessed June 11, 2016
- ^ The Woodland Opera House Theater (English) . Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ^ David Wilkinson: Brocchini Architects . In: Crafting a Valley Jewel: Architects and Builders of Woodland ( English ). Yolo County Historical Society, Woodland, CA, ISBN 1892626-06-3 , p. 160.
Web links
- Woodland Opera House (English)
Coordinates: 38 ° 40 ′ 40 ″ N , 121 ° 46 ′ 15 ″ W.