Our last blog talked about the role the railroad played in bringing acts and entertainment to opera houses across the United States. In this blog, we'll highlight some of the acts that performed at the Burwell Opera House.
I was not able to find much of the Opera House performances from it’s grand opening in 1883 until 1887. However, the Gibson City website tells that the town held it’s own town meetings in the Burwell Opera House until the new City Hall was built in 1906. This means that the Burwell Opera House was possibly the only structure big enough to hold a large crowd.
On December 9, 1887, the Gibson City Courier ran an ad for a lecture to take place at the Burwell Opera House by Miss Olof Krarer. Miss Krarer, referred to as the 'Esquimaux Lady' is a native of the Eastern Coast of Greenland and, at that time, was the only inhabitant of that frozen region to come to the United States. She was lecturing on her people and her homeland in a lecture titled “Life in the Frozen North”.
Could you imagine how extraordinary this topic would be to the citizens of Gibson City in 1887? To not only meet someone from a foreign country, but one as intriguing and faraway as Greenland!
Lectures seem to be a common event at the Burwell Opera House. In October of 1888, the Opera Hall welcomed Reverend Jordan, a prohibition orator. Rev Mr. Jordan is described by the Courier as “a colored prohibition orator…who proved himself an eloquent and effective speaker.” Now for those who know their history, the 18th amendment restricting the manufacture and sale of liquor wasn't passed until December of 1917. It was ratified in 1919 and went into effect one year later on January 17, 1920. However, calls to ban the production and sale of alcohol started as early as 1826. Many religious organizations and denominations, called for the ban on the import, manufacture and sale of alcohol. Rev Jordan must have been one of the many black religious leaders who wanted to spread the message of prohibition and call for people to 'vote dry'.
Political speeches seem to be a common occurrence at the Opera Hall. In December of the same year there was a “Neutrality in Politics” social and entertainment session.
Can you believe that sports were also played in the Opera Hall? The Courier reported a baseball game being played in the Opera Hall in March of 1891.
In 1892, a famous mind-reader came to the Opera House by the name of Paul Alexander Johnson. I wonder how the citizens of Gibson City responded to a mind-reader?
The Opera Hall was used for more than just paid performances. The 12th Annual commencement exercise for the Gibson City High School took place in the Opera Hall in June of 1892. The Gibson City Courier reports at that time, that the hall could fit 700-800 people. “The hall was crowded with so many citizens, due to the large graduating class, that they had to turn people away, due to standing room only”.
In May of 1905, The Mistletoe Pantomime company from New York performed “Geneva” or “Genevra” at the Opera House. 150 people attended. According to Wikipedia, Pantomime “ is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking countries, especially during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, gags, slapstick comedy and dancing. It employs gender-crossing actors and combines topical humor with a story more or less based on a well-known fairy tale, fable or folk tale. Pantomime is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is encouraged and expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers, such as “Look behind you!” or “Watch out!”.”
In August of 1907, Fred Raymond's Master Paly Old Arkansaw was performed at the Opera House. The paper describes this play as “a veritable triumph of scenic beauty, incidental music, specialties, singing and dancing.”
On Wednesday, May 15,1907, the Irma Opera Company came to perform in Gibson City. Finally, an actual opera company! The performance came at quite an expense to the local opera house management, but not without them thoroughly vetting the company beforehand. Several local opera house managers wrote letters of recommendation about the Irma Opera Company. One stating “You can say to your people that they get MORE for their money or their money back. It’s fine! The best attraction I have ever had – first-class and clean all through.” According to the newpaper article, C.E. Lowry, manager of Burwell Opera House stated “the opinions of the managers were solicited in order to personally satisfy the local management that the Irma Opera Company could be conscientiously recommended to the people of Gibson.” This makes me wonder if the Opera House manager had received negative feedback about the type of entertainment being booked at the Opera House or if he was just trying to justify the expense of this fine Opera Company? I couldn't find any articles regarding the cost of seats for this performance, but hopefully, for Mr. Lowry's sake, they packed the house!
From plays, to political speeches, to sports and more! The Burwell Opera House has clearly proven to be "the center of the town's entertainment"!
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