Abbeville Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abbeville Opera House
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Carthouse Square, Abbeville, South Carolina |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | William Augustus Edwards of Edwards and Wilson |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000558 |
| Added to NRHP | July 1, 1970 |
The Abbeville Opera House is a famous old building in Abbeville, South Carolina. It's also known as the Abbeville Opera House and Municipal Office Building. A talented architect named William Augustus Edwards designed it. The building first opened in 1904. It was officially dedicated in 1908. On July 1, 1970, this special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
The Abbeville Opera House has won awards. The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism gave it the Governor's Travel Award for Tourism. It was also named the Official Rural Drama State Theatre of South Carolina. The opera house is part of the larger Abbeville Historic District.
Contents
History of the Opera House
How the Opera House Began
Around the year 1900, many theater groups in New York City created shows. These groups were called "road companies." After a show was ready, they would travel all over the country. A popular route went from New York to Richmond, then to Atlanta. For many years, Abbeville was a common overnight stop for these traveling groups.
Some people in Abbeville thought, "If these companies are already coming through, why don't we build a place for them to perform?" They believed Abbeville could host these amazing shows.
Opening Day and Early Years
On October 1, 1908, Abbeville officially opened its new County Courthouse and City Hall. The beautiful theater, now known as the Abbeville Opera House, was part of these grand buildings. Newspapers at the time said the buildings were "equal in beauty of architecture and modern conveniences of any in the state."
From that day on, many famous and almost-famous performers played on the Opera House stage. This was the "golden age" of vaudeville. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance. Abbeville and its Opera House were very popular during this time.
The Opera House Today
Today, when people visit the historic Abbeville Opera House, they see a building that shows Abbeville's history. It tells the story of the town since the early 1900s. About 30 years ago, people started working to save and renew the Opera House. They also worked to preserve other parts of Abbeville.
Now, the refurbished theater is open all year long. It has 218 newly fixed seats on the main floor. These seats face a large stage that is about 7,800 square feet (725 square meters). The balcony has 92 seats. There are also four special box seats from the early 1900s. Each box can seat up to 6 people.
