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 special historic building in Abbeville, South Carolina. It's also known as the Abbeville Opera House and Municipal Office Building. This amazing place was designed by William Augustus Edwards and opened in 1904. It officially became a landmark on July 1, 1970, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
This theater has won awards, like the South Carolina Governor's Travel Award for Tourism. It's even called the Official Rural Drama State Theatre of South Carolina! The Opera House is an important part of the Abbeville Historic District.
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A Look Back: History of the Opera House
How the Opera House Began
Around the year 1900, many theater groups in New York City created shows. These shows would then travel all over the country. A popular route for these traveling shows went from New York to Richmond and then to Atlanta. For many years, Abbeville was a common overnight stop for these groups.
Some people in Abbeville thought, "Hey, if these shows are already coming through, why don't we build a place for them to perform?" They believed Abbeville could host these exciting touring productions.
Opening Day and Early Fame
On October 1, 1908, the Abbeville District celebrated a big day. They dedicated a new Abbeville County Courthouse and City Hall. The beautiful theater, now known as the Abbeville Opera House, was part of these grand new buildings. Newspapers at the time said they 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, a type of entertainment with many different acts. Abbeville and its Opera House were very popular during this time.
The Opera House Today
When you visit the Abbeville Opera House today, you see a building that tells the story of Abbeville. It shows how the town has changed since the early 1900s. About 30 years ago, people started working to save and renew Abbeville and the Opera House.
Now, the theater is fully restored and open all year. It has 218 newly comfortable seats in the main area. The stage is very large, measuring about 7,800 square feet (725 square meters). There are also 92 seats in the balcony. Plus, there are four special box seats, each seating up to six people, just like in the old days!
