Cheboygan Opera House - Cheboygan MI

Address: 403 N. Huron Street
City: Cheboygan
State: MI
Zip: 49721
County: Cheboygan
Open: 1877
Capacity: 582
Owner History:
Theater Type: N/A
Number of visits to this page: 15063
Disclaimer:

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General Information:

The Opera House, originally constructed in 1877, played an important role in the history of the colorful lumbering era in Northern Michigan. Twice ravaged by fires and rebuilt in 1888 and 1903, the facility now harmoniously houses its original combination of City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department and the 582 seat Opera House. In 1984, after having been closed for some twenty years, the elegantly restored Opera House re-opened its doors to the public once more. Managed by the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, with the support of The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, this acoustically superb, Victorian theatre has become the focal point for entertainment and the performing arts in the Straits of Mackinaw area and beyond.

Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle

In one form or another, the Cheboygan Opera House has been a source of arts education and entertainment here over the last 125 years. Now, officials are working to recognize the historical significance of the facility. The Cheboygan City Council has given its historical resources commission its blessing to add the Cheboygan Opera House as a historical building under the citys new historical resources ordinance. Cheboygans first City Hall and Opera House was built in 1877 and played an important role in the northern Michigan lumbering era, a local historian says. "The Opera House itself was really a focal point from for the arts and the community from that day forward," said James Conboy, chairman of the Cheboygan Historical Resources Commission.

The original two-story wooden opera house was razed by a fire on Dec. 22, 1886, but officials made immediate plans to rebuild due to its popularity. A new three-story brick and sandstone building was built at a cost of $35,000. It opened on July 30, 1888. Along with the Opera House, the building also housed municipal offices, a police department, jail and a fire department. Fire struck again on Oct. 19, 1903 on the upper level of the city hall, leaving the Opera House in shambles. The original plans for reconstructing the Opera House were followed during rebuilding in order to preserve the acoustics in the theater.

The Opera House reopened for a third time on Dec. 19, 1904. Over the years, the Opera House flourished, drawing several nationally known acts. But when movies became the most popular form of entertainment in the 1960s, the frequency and quality of performances declined. The Opera House portion of City Hall was condemned in the 1960s. "A lot of opera houses were actually turned into movie theaters," said Joann Leal, executive director of the Cheboygan Area Arts Council.

In the early 1970s, the Cheboygan Area Arts Council and Northland Players, which raised $1,000 for an engineering feasibility study, started a push to restore the City Hall Building and save the Opera House. City voters in November 1974 passed a 15-year millage to help restore the Opera House. In August 1977, the city also obtained a federal $1.7 million Economic Development Administration grant for restorations.

A total of $650,000 was raised through donations to cover a third phase of the restoration project due to unforeseen structural problems. The Opera House reopened on April 4, 1984 and has flourished ever since. Acts that have graced the stage over the years include Annie Oakely, Buster Keaton, The Kingston Trio, Donny and Marie Osmund, Roy Clark and Florence Henderson.

Info Updates:
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 Photos:5
Cheboygan Opera House - 1907 From Paul
1907 From Paul
Cheboygan Opera House - Old Pic Of The Opera House
Old Pic Of The Opera House
Cheboygan Opera House - Recent Pic
Recent Pic
Cheboygan Opera House - Auditorium
Auditorium
Cheboygan Opera House - Old Post Card
Old Post Card
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