Thompson's Opera House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brown's Hall-Thompson's Opera House
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The opera house in 2023
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Location | 644 Main Street, Pioche, Nevada 89043 |
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| Built | 1873 |
| Architect | Brown, Aleck |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Website | Thompson's Opera House |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002074 |
| Added to NRHP | August 16, 1984 |
Thompson's Opera House is a historic building in Pioche, Nevada. It was built in 1873 and has been known by several names. These include Brown's Hall, Brown's Opera House, and the Gem Theater. This old wooden building is connected to a newer brick movie theater, which was built in 1937.
Contents
A Look Back: The Opera House's Story
The Opera House was a very important place for the community. People used it for many things. It was a place for meetings, dances, and live shows.
Early Days and New Owners
A man named Aleck Brown built the theater in September 1873. For its grand opening, professional actors from San Francisco performed a play called Pygmalion and Galatea.
In 1891, Alexander S. Thompson bought the Opera House. He made some improvements, like fixing the floor and making the stage bigger. After he passed away in 1905, his sons, Charles and Frank, took over. They also updated the building in 1907.
From Live Shows to Movies
The Opera House started showing its first silent movie in 1915. In 1935, Frank Thompson became the only manager. He renamed the building the Gem Theater. However, just two years later, in 1937, he built a brand new Gem Theater right next door. This new building was made just for movies.
After the new movie theater opened, the old Opera House was used less and less. It finally closed its doors in the 1940s.
Restoring a Piece of History
In 1984, the Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important historical sites.
Years later, in 2009, Lincoln County worked to restore the building. Today, Thompson's Opera House is active again. It hosts many musical events and community gatherings. In 2022, work also began to fix up the Gem Theater next door. The community celebrated the Opera House's 150th birthday in 2023!
Building Style: Greek Revival
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The Opera House is a two-story building with a rectangular shape. It shows parts of the Greek Revival style. This style is known for its classic look, like the shallow triangle shape at the front of the roof, called a pediment.
Originally, the building had a porch across the front with a railing above it. This porch was removed but has now been put back. The front of the building is covered with horizontal wooden boards called Clapboards. The sides and back have vertical boards and strips, known as board and batten siding. Strong wooden beams hold the building up, using a method called post-and-beam.
Inside the Opera House
The first floor of the building used to have shops and dressing rooms for performers. The main hall, where shows were held, is on the second floor. You reach it by climbing steep stairs from the street. At the back of the building, there's an addition built into the hillside. This part holds the stage, which is also on the second-floor level.
See also
In Spanish: Thompson's Opera para niños
