Finding Aid to the Lynchburg Opera House Programs
Text
JONES MEMORIAL LIBRARY
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
THE LYNCHBURG OPERA HOUSE (1879-1902) PROGRAMS
The programs are for shows and concerts at the Lynchburg Opera House, which was
located at the corner of 11th & Main Sts. Also included are newspaper clippings which
either pertain to the shows or provide a historical perspective of the theater.
BOX 1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
Programs 1879-1885
Undated Programs 1880's
Programs 1886-1890
Programs 1891-1895
Programs 1896-1900
Programs 1901-1908
Clippings 1879-1901
Opera House History
THE LYNCHBURG OPERA HOUSE
The Lynchburg Opera House was founded by a joint stock company and opened 6
February 1879 with the John T. FORD Company's production of "Julius Caesar", starring
F.C. BANGS. March king John Philip SOUSA, actors Frederick WARDE, John DREW,
and Joseph JEFFERSON, famous for his role as Rip Van Winkle, were among those who
performed on the stage, which also hosted poetry recitations, music festivals by large-city
symphony orchestras, religious and temperance meetings, funerals, Lynchburg High
School graduations and stump speeches by backers of presidential candidates William
McKINLEY and William Jennings BRYAN.
The Opera House was the first theater in the South to use electric lights. The 8,000square foot theater, which could seat up to 1,000 theatergoers was built for $55,000
with two balconies and a peanut gallery overlooking an orchestra pit surrounded by the
horseshoe-shaped stage. Theatergoers paid 10 cents for seats in the peanut gallery and 30
cents for "choice seats" on the lower floor. The basement of the building held a restaurant
and bar.
By the early 1900s interest in theater had diminished and in 1902 the building was
sold to J.W. OULD, who operated a wholesale dry goods business. In 1912 Bruffy
TRENT bought it and opened the Trenton Theater, which operated until 1950. The
Warner Theater opened at the same location a year later.
[Lynchburg Opera House programs, MS1416, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Virginia]
MS1416
2311 MEMORIAL AVENUE
LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501
(434) 846-0501
THE LYNCHBURG OPERA HOUSE (1879-1902) PROGRAMS
The programs are for shows and concerts at the Lynchburg Opera House, which was
located at the corner of 11th & Main Sts. Also included are newspaper clippings which
either pertain to the shows or provide a historical perspective of the theater.
BOX 1
1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
1-8
Programs 1879-1885
Undated Programs 1880's
Programs 1886-1890
Programs 1891-1895
Programs 1896-1900
Programs 1901-1908
Clippings 1879-1901
Opera House History
THE LYNCHBURG OPERA HOUSE
The Lynchburg Opera House was founded by a joint stock company and opened 6
February 1879 with the John T. FORD Company's production of "Julius Caesar", starring
F.C. BANGS. March king John Philip SOUSA, actors Frederick WARDE, John DREW,
and Joseph JEFFERSON, famous for his role as Rip Van Winkle, were among those who
performed on the stage, which also hosted poetry recitations, music festivals by large-city
symphony orchestras, religious and temperance meetings, funerals, Lynchburg High
School graduations and stump speeches by backers of presidential candidates William
McKINLEY and William Jennings BRYAN.
The Opera House was the first theater in the South to use electric lights. The 8,000square foot theater, which could seat up to 1,000 theatergoers was built for $55,000
with two balconies and a peanut gallery overlooking an orchestra pit surrounded by the
horseshoe-shaped stage. Theatergoers paid 10 cents for seats in the peanut gallery and 30
cents for "choice seats" on the lower floor. The basement of the building held a restaurant
and bar.
By the early 1900s interest in theater had diminished and in 1902 the building was
sold to J.W. OULD, who operated a wholesale dry goods business. In 1912 Bruffy
TRENT bought it and opened the Trenton Theater, which operated until 1950. The
Warner Theater opened at the same location a year later.
[Lynchburg Opera House programs, MS1416, Jones Memorial Library, Lynchburg, Virginia]
MS1416
Dublin Core
Title
Finding Aid to the Lynchburg Opera House Programs
Subject
finding aids
Lynchburg Opera House (Lynchburg, Va.)
Description
Finding aid to the Lynchburg Opera House Programs held at Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Va. The collection includes programs for shows and concerts, clippings, and an opera house history for the venue at the corner of 11th and Main Streets in Lynchburg.
Creator
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Publisher
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Date
2023
Rights
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.)
Format
pdf
Language
English
Identifier
MS1416FA
Collection
Citation
George M. Jones Memorial Library (Lynchburg, Va.), “Finding Aid to the Lynchburg Opera House Programs,” Digital Collections, accessed April 27, 2024, https://digitaljones.omeka.net/items/show/484.