Buchanan Opera House

In the fall of 1898 the Buchanans completed their two-story retail store building at the Southeast cor­ner of Main Street and Central. Avenue (Lots 1 and 2, Block 28 of the Original Townsite). The second floor equipped with a small stage at one end became the Buchanan Opera House. The first performances noted were on December 17 and 18, 1898, when the Sanford Dodge Company gave two dramatic per­formances. Unfortunately the titles of the plays presented were not mentioned this time.

The Buchanan Opera House continued to be the entertainment center of the city for more than a decade. Improvements were made from time to time. In October 1900, a new drop curtain was in­stalled which had been designed by Olaus Bendixson. It had a painted scene in the center with advertisements of local businesses along the border. Electric lighting with footlights was installed as soon as power from the generating plant became available in the fall of 1903. Dances were held oc­casionally after the stage performances and for years scarcely a week passed by without some sort of an entertainment or social event at the Opera House.

The following performances at the Opera House in the years around the turn of the century have been noted:

Mar. 3, 1899 - Mrs. Charlot's Waxworks together with musical and literary selections

Feb. 1, 1900 - The Nix Family Jollities, Columbia Cornet Quartette and Mandolin Quartette

January 5-8,1901- Sanford Dodge Troupe Nov. 24,1901- Cosgrave Concert Company Dec. 12, 1901 - Sanford Hall and Company in "Virginius," greatest acting tragedy of modern times

Dec. 16, 1901 - Burleigh Cash, baritone; Arthur and Irene Sales, song and dance team; Blanche Turver, Sweet singer; Harry Knapp, juggler. Admission 251, 301 and 501.

May 1, 1902 - "Mr. Buchanan received word that the Sadie Raymond Dramatic Company will shortly ap­pear at the Opera House early in May."

May 8,1902 - "Missouri Girl" "This is one of the best plays on the road. The company carries special scenery.

Oct. 19, 1902 - The Truesdale Minstrel Company "The dog and monkey show was a new feature here and very much appreciated. A special feature was the work of 'Frosti' the song illustrator."

Oct. 29, 1902 - The Raymond Company in "Old Arkansaw"

Nov. 29, 1902 - Sanford Dodge Company with "The Gladiator"

Nov. 11, 1902 - Joy of New York, Best Comedy Com­pany. Grand Street Parade at 12 o'clock. Review: "Played to a packed house last night. The music was fine. After the show the company gave a concert followed by a dance."

Nov. 12,1902 - Columbian Concert Opera Company Dec... 8, 1902. - The Orpheus Colored Concert Com­pany. "The singing was of the highest order."

Dec. 12,1902 -The. Three Girl Company

During the rest of the decade shows of many kinds kept coming to the Buchanan Opera House- min­strels, vaudeville, farces, comedies, concerts, lec­tures, magicians, a few serious plays, even Shakespeare. The Independent for December 31, 1903, reports: "Sanford Dodge and his excellent company were here last night and presented "Hamlet." Their rendering of the difficult master­piece of Shakespeare's was splendid. Mr. Dodge should be congratulated." "Romeo-Juliet" played on November 28, 1906 and "Twelfth Night" on January 11, 1911, when the admission was $1.75, $1.50 and $1.25. There were many good shows and comments after the performances sometimes appeared in the newspapers. The Independent for November 26, 1905, states, "The Missouri Girl was here this week and better than ever. The company was here twice before and this time was greeted by a packed house which showed that their efforts were appreciated." The Record of November 21, 1907, liked the West-Henry Company and remarks " . . . in the city two nights last week played to poor houses. The company is A-1 and deserves credit. All the players were good, the costumes better than those many city stock companies put out."

There were bad shows, too. In a review of the "Man from Sweden" which played on January 19, 1905, the editor of the Independent stated: "they gave a vaudeville entertainment after the regular show which was the worst ever. Mr. Buchanan said they gave it without his knowledge or consent and he will see that nothing like it occurs again." After the November 29, 1907 appearance of the Alfa Stock Company the Carrington Record notes, " . . . it seems to be a mystery to all who attended it. The show was well advertised, too well, probably, for the turnout it received, but one bad show is all Carrington can stand in one week."

Minstrels with black or blackface performers were always popular entertainment. Street parades up and down Main Street when alighting from the train or just before the show were a common practice. On January 17, 1907, another kind of a black troupe performed under the auspices of the Methodist Ladies Aid. They were the Canadian Jubilee Singers composed of the children of slaves who escaped to Canada during the Civil War. "The old plantation melodies and orchestral works will be specially interesting."

Often there were dances after the show when the troupes performing carried an orchestra. There were dances and balls, too, with local orchestras. Ara Amadon, the local band leader, also presented concerts and dances at the Opera House. One of these was the St. Patrick's Day Masquerade on March 17, 1909. Admission was one dollar and costumes could be ordered ahead of time from the Buchanans. The dance was well attended, the Independent reports, "but too few were in costume. Fred Beier was dressed up as Uncle Sam."

In 1908 the Buchanans threatened to close the Opera House since they said it was not a remunerative enterprise and the space would be rented to the Masonic Lodge. The deal fell through and entertainments continued in much the same way as previously. They installed motion picture equipment and showed films occasionally, but this effort was no great success. The hall, however, over the years held a number of important social affairs. In August 1901, the cantata "David, The Shepherd Boy, " was rendered by Carrington talent under the direction of Professor Moore. In December 1905, James Davidson, brother of C. H. Davidson and president of the First National Bank, lectured on his experiences in the Orient and Greenland. He had been United States Consul in Manchuria at the time to the Russo-Japanese War and later participated in Admiral Perry's Arctic expeditions. The lecture was sponsored by the Women's Literary Club for the Library Fund.

One of the longest-remembered social events occurred on May 25, 1910, when the ladies of Carrington gave an evening reception in honor of Governor Burke and his wife. The governor had been the main speaker at the afternoon ceremonies for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Foster County Courthouse.

In 1911 the frame building of the Opera House was beginning to show signs of age. A huge crowd had gathered in the hall to hear H. W. Campbell speak on "Scientific Farming." Workmen in the basement noticed that the floors were sagging. While there appeared to be no imminent danger the floor was reinforced temporarily with railroad ties which were later replaced by heavy timbers. The next year, on December 1, 1912, a fire starting on the second floor consumed the building and the Buchanan general store and the Opera House were no more.

Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 421