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Post by dgriffin on Mar 21, 2009 22:35:29 GMT -5
Scan from an old photo, a reproduction print provided by Fiona. The above is at less resolution than the original scan. I'm conserving my webspace. If you want the full 2.3 megabyte scan, send me an email or PM.
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Post by WestmoGuy on Mar 22, 2009 7:07:27 GMT -5
Where was that located Dave?
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 22, 2009 9:19:29 GMT -5
Westmo, I was about to ask the same question of Fiona. She will see our question.
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Post by WestmoGuy on Mar 23, 2009 6:45:59 GMT -5
Thanks!
I'm thinking Columbia or Lafayette Street
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 23, 2009 9:20:07 GMT -5
Me, too, and I don't know why. I'll email Fiona.
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 23, 2009 19:35:17 GMT -5
 [1886] |
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 23, 2009 19:53:57 GMT -5
 [1894]There was a 3 Ring Circus held there, seating capacity 12,000 My guess is that it was just East of where Utica Plumbing was located. |
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 23, 2009 20:14:12 GMT -5
 [1889] |
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Post by dgriffin on Mar 23, 2009 21:28:32 GMT -5
Hey, those are neat, Jon! That last ad is a classic, composition wise. I have many of the type fonts. I might try to hand set it and print it someday on my 1913 Damon & Peets platen job press.
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Post by fiona on Mar 25, 2009 18:44:03 GMT -5
Dave, by now you should have the info I sent you on the Opera House.You can read the full text of Utica for a century and a half at the library here. Mabye it's on line. I don't know. Oneida County Historical Society has an on line site with excellent descriptions of the Opera House. It is my belief that the Opera House was on the site of the Hotel Utica.
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 25, 2009 22:24:01 GMT -5
 Opera House - looking West on Lafayette Street - 1885 |
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 25, 2009 22:24:47 GMT -5
Back in the Gay Nineties Uticans turned out in their finest to enjoy the leading Thespians of the day on the stage of the Utica Opera House. Broadway productions on their way to the metropolis and leading road attractions made Utica a regular stop to put on their shows at the opera house, generally at a top price of $1.50.
The Utica Opera House opened on October 16th, 1871 and was located on the northeast corner of Lafayette and Washington streets next to where the Hotel Utica is located today. Patrons ascended a wide stairway to reach the box-office and orchestra seats, one flight up. It was necessary to climb two flights to get into the balcony and three flights to go "rush" in the gallery, separated from the balcony by a railing.
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 25, 2009 22:25:28 GMT -5
A magnificent prismatic chandelier with its one hundred jets shed a softened light over the whole of the auditorium. Almost seventeen hundred elegantly upholstered chairs were provided for the spectators.
When Sam S. Shubert took over the lease of the old Opera House on Lafayette Street, a new and even greater era in theatrical entertainment began. During the summer of 1900 the Opera House was torn down until little but the side walls remained intact. Within these was built the Majestic Theater, a dream of splendor.
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 25, 2009 22:26:08 GMT -5
 Opera House Interior |
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Post by jon hynes on Mar 25, 2009 22:26:53 GMT -5
There were two entrances, one off Lafayette Street, leading to the ground floor and balcony, and another from Washington Street, leading to the gallery on the third level and to the gallerette on the fourth level. The gallerette was a unique feature of the house. It was on the fourth floor and immediately in front of the seats in the gallery. There was a single row of seats in the gallerette, seating 75 people and standing room for as many more.
From the main entrance on Lafayette Street three sets of double doors opened into a lobby floored with mosaic tile and wainscoted with Italian marble. The lobby continued upward through two floors and contained two large French block plate mirrors. On the second floor was a balcony looking down into the lobby. This was intended for use as a promenade for the balcony proper.
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