Grand Opera House (Macon, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grand Opera House
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 651 Mulberry St., Macon, Georgia United States |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | Alexander Blair; W.R. Gunn |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000196 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 1970 |
The Grand Opera House, often called The Grand, is a very old and important building in Macon, Georgia, USA. It was first known as the Academy of Music. This amazing opera house is now a place for performing arts managed by Mercer University. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 because of its long and interesting history.
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The Grand Opera House: A Rich History
The Grand Opera House was built in 1884. Back then, it was called the Academy of Music. It had the biggest stage in the southeastern United States. It could seat 2,418 people, which was almost one-fifth of Macon's population at the time!
In 1905, the building was updated. A new seven-story front was added. That's when it reopened as the Grand Opera House we know today.
Famous Shows and Performers
The Grand has seen many amazing things happen on its stage. In 1908, a show called Ben-Hur even had real horses and chariots! During World War I, the famous actor Charlie Chaplin visited. He helped lead the John Philip Sousa band to raise money.
Many other famous people have performed here. These include Sarah Bernhardt, Will Rogers, and Bob Hope. Music legends like the Allman Brothers Band and Ray Charles have also played at The Grand. In 1973, The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and The Marshall Tucker Band were featured on a TV show called "Saturday Night In Macon."
Houdini's Magic and Trap Doors
The famous magician Harry Houdini also performed at The Grand. He left behind a cool secret: trap doors on the stage! One of these trap doors still works today. It's sometimes used in shows, like the yearly The Nutcracker ballet. People in Macon say these trap doors were put in just for Houdini!
From Stage to Screen
By 1936, live stage shows like vaudeville were not as popular. So, The Grand became a movie theater. It even hosted Macon's only Hollywood premiere. This was for the 1945 movie God is My Co-Pilot.
Saving The Grand: A Community Effort
By the 1960s, The Grand stopped showing movies. There were even plans to tear it down and build a parking lot! But in 1967, a group called the Macon Arts Council stepped in. They wanted to save and restore The Grand.
This group held a special event with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to raise money. Their hard work paid off! In 1970, The Grand was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This helped protect it.
Restoring the Theater
One of the people who helped save The Grand was architect Ellamae Ellis League. She helped make sure the theater could open again for live shows in 1969. During this time, the second balcony was used for lighting equipment. This changed the seating to 1,030 people.
People kept raising money for many years. The building continued to get updates. Another big renovation happened in 1985.
The Grand Today: A Mercer University Partnership
In 1995, Mercer University started managing The Grand. Since then, Mercer has invested a lot to make the building modern. They also made it a key place for community events.
Today, The Grand hosts many different performances. You can see Broadway touring shows, concerts by groups like the Macon Symphony Orchestra, and local community theatre productions. It's still a very active and important part of Macon!
