Union Hall / Opera House

Downtown Kalamazoo Opera House & Theater (1866–1900)

West side of Portage Street (2nd floor), south of East Main Street (now East Michigan Avenue) (102 Portage Street).

Built as “Union Hall” (seating capacity, 600) in 1866. Renovated and renamed “Opera House” in 1881 in competition with the Academy of Music. Re-named “Grand Opera House” in 1889. Theater torn out and building converted to offices in 1900.

Union Hall (1866-1881)

Operated as Union Hall until June 1881. Theater portion (“the Johnson half”) of the property sold on 22 June 1881 to Henry Kimberly of West Troy, New York, to satisfy a $7,000 mortgage.

“Work will be commenced at once on Union hall. It will be entirely remodeled and finished in modern style, the stage enlarged, new scenery and stage equipments[sic] added, and a ladies retiring room or parlor. It will be seated with opera chairs, properly ventilated and put in first class condition for the comfort of our people and for the creditable presentation of the leading attractions booked for the coming season.”

—Kalamazoo Gazette, 15 July 1881

Opera House (1881-1889)

Renovation work began in July 1881 under the supervision of Chicago architect J.M. Wood, who was responsible for work on opera houses in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Seating capacity expanded to 1,200. Reopened as the “Opera House” in September 1881.

“Opera House, Jeffrey & Powelson, managers; seating capacity, 1,200; rental, one night $25, three $60, license included; share also. Size of stage, 32×60; size of proscenium opening, 20×22; height from stage to grooves, 15; depth under stage, 5; traps, 1; number sets scenery, 14; leader of orchestra, John Baker; scenic artist, Wm H Powelson; stage carpenter, F.W. Downey; bill poster, W.R. Solomon; number of sheets can accommodate 2,000; rates per sheet, 3c.; theatrical teamster, A. Boardman. Newspapers: daily, Telegraph, advertising rates per inch, 40c.; Gazette, advertising rates per inch, 30c.; weekly, Vanity Fair (Sat.)…… Hotel: Burdick, special rates, $2 to $2.50; Kalamazoo, special rates, $1.50 to $2; American, special rates, $1.50.”

—Henry C. Miner’s American Dramatic Directory (New York), 1887

Grand Opera House (1889-1900)

Theatrical manager Walter A. Robinson and local streetcar company manager Arthur Ellithorpe leased the Opera House in February 1889 renamed it “Grand Opera House.” In 1895, A.L. Witherel leased the Grand Opera House and reopened it as “a moral and refined family resort” (Gazette) called the Wonderland Family Theater, but his operation only lasted a few weeks. The Grand Opera House reopened in October under management of W.G. Bush and Al Duray.

After a final series of performances by Irving French and His Jolly Company, the theater property was sold at public auction in May 1900. The theater was torn out and the building was converted to offices.

“The old building has had a checkered career. It was at one time the banner amusement resort of the state, and in the good old days when an attraction was billed it would draw from all sections of the county. Within its historic walls the voices of the world’s greatest actors have been heard. Nearly all of the old school actresses have also appeared there. For a long time the theatre catered to the very cream of the best offerings, which were always well patronized by the theatre-going people of the then large village. Of late the old structure has gone into a decline, and today it is only a shadow of its former beauty.”

—Kalamazoo Morning Gazette, 20 March 1900