Bardavon 1869 Opera House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Collingwood Opera House and Office Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, United States
Built	1869
Architect	J.A. Wood
NRHP reference No.	77000939
Added to NRHP	October 20, 1977

The Bardavon 1869 Opera House is a historic theater in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York. It is the oldest theater in New York State that has been open almost continuously since it was built. Designed by the architect J.A. Wood, it first opened in 1869. For many years, it was a place for plays, concerts, community meetings, and parties.

Originally, it was called the Collingwood Opera House. It was named after James Collingwood, the man who owned and ran it. From 1923 to 1975, it was mostly used as a cinema, but it still hosted some live shows. In 1976, it went back to being a stage for all kinds of live performances. Many famous people, like the actress Sarah Bernhardt, have performed on its stage.

History of the Theater

Building and Early Years

The theater was designed by J. A. Wood, a well-known architect in Poughkeepsie. It was built by James Strang Post, who also worked on many other buildings in the area, including some at Vassar College. In 1905, the theater was updated by another architect, William Beardsley.

On January 1, 1923, the theater reopened with a new name: The Bardavon Theater. Around this time, it was bought by the Paramount movie company. In 1928, a special Wurlitzer pipe organ, designed for movie theaters, was installed. This organ was later removed in the 1960s. In 1947, the theater was updated again, and a large, bright marquee sign was added to the front.

A view of the stage inside the Bardavon Opera House.

Saving the Bardavon

The theater continued to show movies until 1975. At that time, the city was planning to tear down many old buildings to make way for a new civic center and a major road. The plan was to demolish the Bardavon and build a parking lot in its place.

However, many local people wanted to save the historic theater. They worked together and succeeded in getting the Bardavon listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1977. This special status helped protect it from being torn down. The theater was renamed the Bardavon 1869 Opera House.

Since then, millions of dollars have been raised to fix up the Bardavon. Today, it is a busy performing arts center again. It hosts a wide variety of shows, including plays, dance performances, concerts, and operas.

Famous Performances

The Bardavon has been the home of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic orchestra for over 40 years. In a special performance in 1953, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt narrated the story of Peter and the Wolf while the orchestra played the music by Prokofiev.

In 2020, the Bardavon offered a free online show series called "Albums Revisited" for people to enjoy from home.

Who Has Performed at the Bardavon?

Many famous actors, comedians, and musicians have appeared on the Bardavon's stage over the years. Here are just a few of them:

Timeline of Names

• Collingwood Opera House: 1869–1921
• Bardavon Theater: 1923–1975
• Bardavon 1869 Opera House: 1976–present