Woodland Opera House facts for kids
|
Woodland Opera House
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Facing the entrance of the building from the plaza.
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 340 2nd Street Woodland, California |
|---|---|
| Built | 1885; 1895–1896 |
| Architect | Thomas J. Welsh |
| Architectural style | 19th Century American Playhouse |
| Part of | Downtown Woodland Historic District (ID99000471) |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000212 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 5, 1971 |
| Designated CP | June 22, 1999 |
The Woodland Opera House is a special old theater in Woodland, California. It's one of only four opera houses from the 1800s in California that are still used today! This historic building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a California Historical Landmark. It's an important part of the Downtown Woodland Historic District.
Contents
History of the Opera House
The first Woodland Opera House was designed in 1885 by Thomas J. Welsh, a famous architect from San Francisco. It cost about $28,000 to build. This was the first opera house to serve the Sacramento Valley area. A local builder named William Henry Curson helped construct it.
In July 1892, a big fire started nearby. It destroyed a large part of downtown Woodland, including the Opera House. People weren't sure if the theater would be rebuilt. But then, a well-known local businessman, David N. Hershey, bought the land. Other business people in the area also helped support the project.
The Opera House was rebuilt between 1895 and 1896. This time, it was built by William H. Winne and cost $8,990. They even used some of the old walls and materials from the first building.
By 1913, more than 300 different traveling shows had performed on its stage. The Woodland Opera House became a major entertainment spot for the whole region. However, the theater closed that same year. Fewer people were buying tickets, and the theater also lost a lawsuit. Someone had accidentally walked through a loading door, thinking it was an exit, and got hurt.
A New Beginning
The Opera House stayed closed for almost 60 years. Then, in 1971, the Yolo County Historical Society bought it for $12,000. Many local groups held fundraisers, and people gave donations. Money also came from different government groups, including the City of Woodland. Soon, the work to restore the building began.
In 1976, it was named a state historic park. In 1980, the building was given to the State of California. After a huge $2,000,000 restoration project, the Opera House finally reopened in 1989. A local architect, Gary Worth, guided the work. Special companies helped find old-style wallpaper, lights, and paint colors to make it look like it did in the past.
During the restoration, the building was made strong and safe, even for earthquakes. They added modern heating and air conditioning, a fire sprinkler system, and easy access for people with disabilities. A new section was built for storage, offices, a gift shop, and a lounge. The inside of the theater won awards for its beautiful restoration.
In 1990, with help from the Woodland Rotary Club, a grassy area called "Rotary Court" was added next to the outdoor plaza. This plaza is called the Intermission Garden. A special brick sign and entrance for the Intermission Garden were also added that year.
Architectural Design
The Woodland Opera House you see today is a simple, two-story building made of red brick. It is about 104 feet long and 60 feet wide. Its walls are very thick, about 20 inches! There used to be a tall stage house on top of the north end, which was 60 feet high. This part was destroyed by a fire in the 1930s. The building also shares a wall with the building next to it on its west side.
The inside of the Opera House looks like playhouses from the 1800s. The stage has a typical proscenium arch, which is like a big frame around the stage. The seating area is shaped like a horseshoe balcony with a large open space for the audience, similar to theaters from the Italian Renaissance period.
Productions and Shows
The Opera House hosts its main shows from September to June each year. They also have a summer theater camp for young people every August. Plus, there's a Young People's Theatre Program that runs throughout the year. Many concerts are held there too. Each show usually runs for 2 to 5 weekends.
The theater also works with the Yolo County Office of Education. This allows students to get very low-priced tickets to see plays during school days.
Many famous performers have appeared on the Woodland Opera House stage over the years. Some of them include Nance O'Neil, John Philip Sousa and his band, and early movie stars like Sydney Greenstreet and Walter Huston.
Besides plays and dramas, the Opera House is also used for different types of music shows, comedians, and sometimes even weddings!
See also
