Grand Opera House (Meridian, Mississippi)

Infobox_nrhp2
name = Grand Opera House


caption =
location= Meridian, Mississippi
lat_degrees = 32
lat_minutes = 21
lat_seconds = 50
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 88
long_minutes = 42
long_seconds = 0
long_direction = W
locmapin = Mississippi
map_caption = The Grand Opera House's location in Mississippi
area =
built =1890
architect= Tergenson,G.M.; Rubush,C.M.
architecture= Late Victorian, Empire/Romanesque
added = December 27, 1972
visitation_num = ~63,000 [ [http://www.meridianms.org/Annual_report07.pdf Meridian, MS 2007 Annual Report] ]
visitation_year = 2007
governing_body = Private
mpsub= [http://www.nr.nps.gov/multiples/64000416.pdf Meridian MRA (AD)]
refnum=72000696cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] The Grand Opera House (now MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts) is a former opera house in Meridian, Mississippi. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and renovated in September 2006, it is remarkable for being preserved to its original beauty while incorporating the latest in modern technology and amenities. The Grand Opera House and the adjacent Marks-Rothenberg Department store were built in 1889 by two half brothers, Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg. [http://www.meridianms.org/2000project.htm Grand Opera House Project] ] In addition to the extensive theater renovation, the department store was completely transformed into a state of the art conference facility. Together the theater and conference space make up the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, owned and operated by Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus. [http://www.msstate.edu/meridian/]

Original Opera House

Construction

In the late 19th century, Israel Marks and his half-brothers, Levi, Sam, and Marx Rothenberg, expanded their retail operations by opening a new wholesale and retail mercantile store and an adjoining hotel. The site chosen covered almost a half a block — five lots facing 5th Street and three lots consuming the entire length of 22nd Avenue between 5th and 6th Streets. Construction began in 1889, under the direction of C. Rubush, a builder from Meridian. The exterior of the building was designed by G.M. Torgenson, architect of Meridian's original City Hall. The original designs included a mansard roof, establishing the architectural style as late Victorian, Empire/Romanesque.

For an unknown reason, construction of the hotel was interrupted in process, and the decision to go with a Grand Opera House was made instead. Factors that may have influenced the decision may have been:
*The top price for a ticket to a first-run production by a traveling company with a star, set at $1.50 (about the same price as a room in a decent hotel)
*The profit margin would be much larger for an opera house than a hotel
*Torgenson was familiar with the highly successful Grand Opera House of New Orleans, completed only a few years earlier.
*Mr. Marks spent most of the year in New York City. He would have been aware of the more successful shows, and, most probably, the booking and production houses of Klaw and Erlanger, the founders of the Syndicate—the most powerful commercial force in the American theater at the turn of the century.Seeking quality work, the Marks-Rothenberg partnership hired J.B. McElfatrick of New York and St. Louis to design the interior of the Grand Opera House. McElfatrick had designed over 200 theaters in the United States, including the National Theater in Washington D.C. and the Metropolitan Opera House of Philadelphia, among others.

The Opera House was completed in late 1890, in time for the December 17 opening of Johann Strauss's, "The Gypsy Baron."

The stage, at 30 feet wide by 50 feet deep, could accommodate the largest, most lavish shows from New York. Under the 35-foot high arched proscenium was an ornate painted border which featured the famous "Lady." The "Lady" eventually became the symbol of the Opera House, and today the Grand Opera House is often referred to affectionately as "The Lady."

Alterations and Renovations

The Opera House was remodeled in 1902, reopening on September 17. The change involved moving the original entrance left to the site of the former gallery entry. Three marble steps led up to the entrance, which had a metal extension gate that could be closed when the theater was dark.

The Opera House was remodeled again in May 1920, when it was converted in part to a movie theater. The renovated theater opened on June 7, introducing the silver screen that can still be seen in the backstage area of the theater. This transition also divided the gallery into two areas, allowing a center opening for the film's projection.

Fall of the Opera House

The demise of the Opera House began in 1923, when it was leased to Saenger Films of New Orleans under title of the Plaza Amusement Company at a cost of $1,000 a month for a period of 25 years. After Plaza Amusements reneged on the lease in late 1927 after only four years, a long court battle ensued. The Rothenbergs eventually won the case, but the Great Depression had begun by then, Plaza Amusements had declared bankruptcy, and the Grand Opera House was closed.

After the closing of the Opera House, the department store continued to operate under various ownerships until 1990. [http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/history_renovation.cfm MSU Riley Center - History and Renovation] ]

Restoration Efforts

Cause for Restoration

In the early 1960s, the exterior of the department store was covered with metal siding to modernize the building — a building trend at the time. The siding shattered the character and rich architecture that contributed to the building's appeal. In the 1980s, a portion of the siding was removed to unveil the beautiful windows and intricate brick and mortar design, giving the community a sense of what the building could potentially be again. Over the next two decades, efforts increased to save the Grand Opera House and restore the Marks-Rothenberg building to its original beauty for new use.

Funding

The first major donation to initiate fund raising came from The Riley Foundation [http://www.rileyfoundation.org/] in the form of a $10 million grant in 2000 with a stipulation that Mississippi State University own and operate the center. The Riley Foundation donated another $2.1 million in 2005 for construction and technology upgrades. Other donations by local, state, and federal agencies followed, including a $4 million donation by Lauderdale County, a $3.6 million donation by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and a $3 million donation from the United States Department of Commerce. The project's final price tag weighed in at slightly under $25 million. [ [http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/funding.cfm MSU Riley Center - Funding] ]

Riley Center Today

Now fully restored, The MSU Riley Center is designed to entertain and enrich, further lifelong learning, and improve the quality of life for people of Mississippi and West Alabama through education and the arts. [ [http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/our_mission.cfm MSU Riley Center - Our Mission] ]

The Riley Center includes a theater which seats approximately 950 people, a 200-seat studio theater, and convert|30000|sqft|0|abbr=on of meeting space, including a large exhibit hall, break out rooms, and board rooms, all equipped with teleconferencing capabilities and built-in technical features to create the optimal meeting environment. [ [http://www.msurileycenter.com/about_us/overview.cfm MSU Riley Center - Overview] ]

pecifications

The maple stage is raised convert|41|in|cm|0|abbr=on above audience floor and is finished with dark brown stain. The stage's proscenium is convert|29|ft|4|in|2|abbr=on wide and convert|19|ft|4|in|2|abbr=on tall, with a depth convert|32|ft|6|in|2|abbr=on, and the apron extends convert|7|ft|2|in|2|abbr=on into the crowd at center. The stage's left wing measures convert|8|ft|4|in|2|abbr=on, while the right measures convert|12|ft|6|in|2|abbr=on. [http://www.msurileycenter.com/pdf/2007/MSU_Riley_Center_Theatre_Tech_Specs.pdf MSU Riley Center Tech Specs] ]

Its two sets of black velour legs are convert|24|ft|0|abbr=on x convert|12|ft|0|abbr=on. The stage includes one brick red teaser with gold trim measuring convert|34|ft|0|abbr=on x convert|9|ft|0|abbr=onwith fullness, three slimmer black velour teasers measuring convert|40|ft|0|abbr=on x convert|6|ft|0|abbr=on with fullness, and two convert|24|ft|0|abbr=on x convert|40|ft|0|abbr=on black velour travelers, operated stage left. A convert|24|ft|0|abbr=on x convert|40|ft|0|abbr=on blackout is also present, along with a black scrim and a white bounce of the same measurement.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.msurileycenter.com/ MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts]