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The Grand seen in a detail from a 1907 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map overlaid on a 2007 satellite image of Main St. The bump offstage left was for dressing rooms and a prop room. Also see his Mainly Main poster set on Flickr for maps of the theatres on Main St. As the house was only four years old when Wood was commissioned to remodel it, it seems likely that he, already noted as a theater architect, was brought in to correct shortcomings of the original design by Kysor and Morgan, who were not experienced in theater design. A full schedule of upcoming shows is available on the theater’s website, so make sure to check that while you’re planning your trip to Galveston. You can even save some time by purchasing tickets through the online box office.
James Conlon's Corner
From the sun-kissed beaches of Galveston Island, to the dazzling Kemah Boardwalk; from the crystal shores of Bolivar Peninsula to the vineyards of Haak Winery, the Galveston Bay Area is a place where memories are made that last a lifetime. Just a short distance from Houston, this coastal jewel offers a dizzying array of fun family activities, historical architecture, fresh Gulf seafood, world-class attractions, and unforgettable cruises. Support came from individuals, the business and corporate community, local government and, of course, included generous foundation support from around the state and nation. This magnificently restored, historic 1000 seat Opera House is available for convention groups, meetings, receptions, parties or privately booked performances.
Leah Price
The Grand began as a major, live performing arts theatre but after passing through a Vaudeville phase, it slowly evolved into a movie house. The movie house closed in 1974 and was purchased the same year by the Galveston County Cultural Arts Council. They transformed the movie house back into a theatre and then renovated and restored it to its former beauty.
The first grand operas (1828–
Notable performances from recent years include internationally recognized groups like The Beach Boys, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Temptations, The Commodores, and more, as well as local organizations like the Galveston Ballet and the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. The Grand has a very special place in the history of our community and in the lives of many of our residents. It survived the storms of 1900 and 1915, and Hurricanes Carla and Alicia, as well as years of neglect at various times throughout its history. Of these events, the greatest threat to its survival was the 1900 storm, and it remains a testament to the determination of the people of Galveston that The Grand was quickly repaired and reopened.
When $8 million was raised for the Grand’s restoration between 1974 and 1990, it was a remarkable community effort which included the volunteer efforts of literally thousands of residents from Galveston county, the greater Houston area and the state of Texas. The Grand has been through natural disasters, such as fires and hurricanes, as well as neglect during its time as a movie house. It has been rebuilt and remodeled more than once, such as during the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900, when its rear wall and roof caved in. Joe Vogel's research indicates that noted Chicago theatre architect James M. Wood ( c.1907) probably also worked on the project. He's noted (as "Woods") in a July 8, 1888 Los Angeles Herald article as being involved in the theatre's renovation at that time.
The first theatre performance lit by gas, for example, was Aladin ou La lampe merveilleuse at the Opéra in 1823. The theatre had the innovative designers Duponchel, Cicéri and Daguerre on its staff as well. In order to be considered “grand,” an opera house was required to have a fly space above the stage, wings on either side of the stage, individual dressing rooms, an orchestra pit, stage lighting, and a box office. The appropriately named Grand 1894 Opera House contained all these features and more.
Behind the curtains at the Grand 1894 Opera House: A Tour with Maureen Patton - Galveston County Daily News
Behind the curtains at the Grand 1894 Opera House: A Tour with Maureen Patton.
Posted: Tue, 10 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Giuseppe Verdi returned to Paris for what many see as the greatest French grand opera, Don Carlos (1867). Ambroise Thomas contributed his Hamlet in 1868, and finally, at the end of the decade, the revised Faust was premiered at the Opéra in its grand opera format. The Grand received overwhelming support from the Galveston community, raising over $8 million over the course of the restoration project from 1974 to 1990. In addition to restoring all the historic decorative features of the building, like the stage curtain that was originally hand-painted by Frank Cox, many modern conveniences were added, including an air conditioning and heating system, an elevator, and several apartments on what was formerly the third and fourth floors of the hotel side of the building.
OUR HISTORY
In "The Childs Opera House," a lengthy article describing the theatre in the May 25, 1884 issue of the Los Angeles Herald it's noted that the "designer" of the house was a Colonel A.M. Gray. The article can be viewed on the website of the California Digital Newspaper Collection. I would imagine that most of Wood and Lovell’s work on the building had to do with the practical aspects of theater design, and focused on the stage facilities.
Grand operas of the 1850s and 1860s
Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock And Roll IV at The Grand 1894 Opera House - 365 Things to Do in Houston
Neil Berg's 50 Years of Rock And Roll IV at The Grand 1894 Opera House.
Posted: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 08:16:12 GMT [source]
The Artist & the Astronaut tells the unlikely love story between the artist Pat Musick, a civil rights activist, and the Apollo astronaut Jerry Carr as they participate in some of the most historic events in human history. With a cast consisting of stars from Broadway’s greatest rock musicals, as well as amazing rock and roll singers, Neil Berg tells the exciting and incredible 50-year history of the music that changed the world forever! From the progenitors in the 1940s, through the glory years of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, up until MTV in the early ‘80s, Neil weaves fascinating stories and groundbreaking music, offering tributes to important and iconic artists.
Located on a sunny, spotless hilltop that spans three city blocks and is one of the most accessible areas of all downtown, The Grand provides the ideal entry point for retailers and restaurateurs seeking a DTLA location in a protected, highly-controlled environment. Designed by celebrated architect Frank Gehry, with interiors by acclaimed designers David Rockwell and Anthony Ingrao, world-class residences are created at The Grand. From this vantage point, the homes look out to sweeping views of Los Angeles, with access to DTLA's most sought after amenities, on site and around every corner. An article about architect Sydney Lovell in the summer, 2003, issue of Marquee, by Barbara Coy Janssens, says that Lovell was working in partnership with James Wood when, in 1888, Wood received a commission to remodel the Grand Opera House.
It’s now just “The Grand,” the single streetlamp has been upgraded to one with multiple globes, the 10¢ sign has been added, as well as more lights around the theater and store entrances, but the building next door is still painted black. The poles out front have disappeared, and now there’s a short single streetlamp in front, the awning on the right has been bisected for a small newsstand (?) with a round clock shape, probably painted on the awning, and the building to the right is painted black, and it looks like the entrance is framed with incandescent lights. French grand opera was generally well received in Italy, where it was always performed in Italian translation. As they say, all the world is a stage and the possibilities are endless at The Grand 1894 Opera House. For some events, the layout and specific seat locations may vary without notice.
It is likely that few now living have any memory of this long-vanished theater. Opened in 1884, as Childs' Opera House, this theater was at the time the largest yet built in the growing city of Los Angeles. It was built by local entrepreneur and real estate man Ozro W. Childs, one of the city’s most successful developers. La reine de Saba by Charles Gounod was rarely given in its entirety, although the big tenor aria, "Inspirez-moi, race divine", was a popular feature of tenor recitals. Meyerbeer died on 2 May 1864; his late opera, L'Africaine, was premiered posthumously in 1865.
Hurricane Ike hit Galveston Island on September 13, 2008, but The Grand was reopened on January 3, 2009 on its 114th anniversary. All of the damage that the hurricane and the flood had caused was repaired with only 92 days of construction. In its later years, the Grand Theater found some success with programs of Spanish language movies and presented popular Mexican vaudeville acts for the growing Spanish speaking population of the city. But, as the prosperous 1920’s faded into the deepening depression of the 1930’s, the old house once again fell on hard times.
At the time of its construction, it had the largest stage in Texas at 70 x 37 x 69 feet. It was also one of the first theaters to provide indoor running water for the dressing rooms, as well as both gas and electric lighting. Located in the heart of the Postoffice Street Arts & Entertainment District, The Grand 1894 Opera House presents a year-round schedule of performances featuring stars of stage and screen, Broadway blockbusters, dance, music, comedy and more. The building was typical of large theaters in the late 19th century, designed in an eclectic Victorian style combining elements of Classicism, the Gothic, and "artistic" decoration, and all the modern conveniences, including gas lights.
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