King Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
King Opera House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
King Opera House, 2007
|
|
 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 427 Main Street Van Buren, Arkansas, |
|---|---|
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Part of | Van Buren Historic District (ID76000402) |
The King Opera House is a special building in Van Buren, Arkansas. It's a place where people watch plays and performances. This historic building has been a stage for many different shows since it was built a long time ago. It's also part of the Van Buren Historic District, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
A Look Back: The King Opera House Story
Early Days and Transformations
This beautiful building, built in the Victorian style, first opened in 1891. Back then, the ground floor had a billiard parlor and a restaurant. The second floor was home to the local newspaper, the Van Buren Press. People called the building the "Wallace Block" at that time.
In 1898, a man named Col. Henry P. King bought the building. On February 3, 1901, it was announced that the building would become an opera house. Small shops stayed at the front, but the main part was ready later that year. The very first show, "Faust," was performed on October 18, 1901. The opera house was very busy, hosting many different acts and speeches until 1914.
Fire and New Beginnings
On March 14, 1914, a fire started in a dry-cleaning shop inside the building. The fire badly damaged the opera house's inside. Even with the damage, many shows were still planned. On November 11, 1914, it was announced that the opera house would be changed into a movie theater.
The renovation finished in February 1919, and the building opened as the Van Buren Theater. On June 3, 1919, Joe Huff bought the building. In April 1920, he said it would be remodeled again.
Renaming and Closing
By the 1930s, the building was renamed the Bob Burn's Theater. This was named after Bob Burns, a famous actor and radio star from Van Buren. The front of the building still had shops, and the top floor was an apartment. In the 1960s, Malco Theaters bought the property. They kept the name Bob Burn's Theater. The theater closed its doors in 1974.
Restoration and Modern Use
In 1979, the City of Van Buren Community Development Agency bought the building. They decided to restore it back to the King Opera House. Many parts of the inside, even some strong support beams, still showed fire damage. Much of the restoration work done during this time can still be seen today. The project took a long time, finishing in 1991.
The City of Van Buren managed the building until 2022. Then, they handed over the management to Arts on Main. This is an arts-focused nonprofit group located right next to the opera house.
Inside the Opera House
The King Opera House has a large auditorium for performances. There are 218 seats on the main floor. These seats have a fancy, old-fashioned design. The balcony has about 96 more seats. The stage is big enough for many different types of shows. It is 28 feet wide from curtain to curtain and 26.5 feet deep.
Underneath the stage, the basement has two small dressing rooms and two closets. This area can feel a bit small, especially for plays with many actors.
Mysterious Stories: Hauntings
Many staff members and people in Van Buren say the King Opera House is haunted. The most famous ghost story is about Charles Tolson. Charles C. Tolson was born on December 25, 1868. He was a manager of a theater group and a vaudeville actor. He performed at the King Opera House.
One night, while Tolson was waiting for his train, he died tragically. People say his spirit still lingers in the opera house.
In 2023, a paranormal documentary was made about the opera house. It was directed by Gavin Webb, a filmmaker from Arkansas. The film explores the history of the opera house and why people believe it's haunted. It even talks about stories from before it was the King Opera House. For example, some say a lady in white appears in the men's restroom, asking for her husband before disappearing. This film is called "The King Opera House: A Paranormal Documentary."
