THE DIXON OPERA HOUSE

It was during the early part of 1876 that comments were made about the fact that the City of Dixon was not prepared for the cultural movement which was occurring across the country at the time. Citizens were suggesting that the building of an opera house would be an appropriate step in keeping pace with the direction many cities were taking.

Four Dixon businessmen decided to form a partnership and erect such a building. They were F. A. Truman, who was in the real estate business and County Treasurer; John D. Crabtree, a prominent Dixon attorney at the time; H. J. Stephens, who owned and operated a dry goods and grocery business and James A. Hawley, County Clerk and cashier at the Dixon National Bank.

A time of dirt streets, plank sidewalks and building materials which had to be brought to the site by horse drawn wagons, but quickly the building was constructed. The ground measurement of the structure was 84 by a 100 feet and the material from which it was built was fine white marble. The height of the building was four stories which was surmounted by an elegant and artistically designed roof in the mansard style.

The auditorium itself was 61 by 61 feet, which with the galleries, furnished a seating capacity for an audience of nearly 1,500 people. The side walls, ceiling and dome were frescoed, the work done by celebrated artist of the period, John Gionetta, of Chicago. His art work at the Palmer House Hotel in their dining rooms had lead the owners of the Opera House venture to employ Mr. Gionetta.

The stage was characterized as, "perfection itself," by many of the performers who gave performances in the Opera House. Measuring 25 by 60 feet in size with an opening toward the audience of 36 feet and a height of 26 feet. The scenery was new and described as of the finest work and quality. The grand drop curtain, which was delivered very close to the scheduled opening date and also gave the owners cause to be worried that it might have been lost in shipment, was a beautiful work of art.

On it was a view of the Gulf of Venice and was done by well known scenic artist, F. C. Noxon, of the Olympic Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri. On each side of the drop curtain, in alcoves, stood appropriate pieces of statuary facing the auditorium.

Above the stage were eighty border lights and the whole Opera House was illuminated by gas. The entire building was furnished with chandeliers, a center one having some forty burners. For the comfort of entertainers, there were six large and commodious dressing rooms.

A passenger and baggage elevator was installed which connected the building with the basement. This grand structure had every modern theatrical appliance and improvement of the period. The main entrance to the auditorium and galleries were wide and roomy as were the aisles.

The galleries contained seats which were finished with moldings and carvings of black walnut, while the auditorium was furnished with opera chairs of a fanciful and unique design. A $1,600 Chickering Concert Grand Piano rendered the furnishings of the Opera House complete.

H. J. Stephens, Jr. became the Treasurer and Manager of the Opera House. The fees were set at $25 to $30 for one night's rent with ushers and stage hands included. A license could be attained for $2.50 to post city bills. The owners opened the doors to the building on Nov. 30, 1876 for the first performance in the Dixon Opera House. The performance that evening was done by the Payson English Opera Company.

Through the years of the life of the Opera House, many well known performers and lecturer's who spent their lives entertaining audiences had appeared in Dixon. Some of those early attractions included; Henry Ward Beecher, with a lecturer on Feb. 16, 1877; The Barnabee Troupe with a concert of classical and semi-classical music on March 15, 1877; Susan B. Anthony , who lectured on women's suffrage on Mar. 26, 1877; General Tom Thumb, famous American dwarf and his wife, on April 14, 1877; Theodore Tilton on Jan. 18, 1878 with a lecturer and Dr. Henry Reynolds the originator of the Red Ribbon movement, lectured in the Opera House for a three day period. On the evening of his last lecture, he organized the "Dixon Reform Club," with a membership of one hundred and thirty-two.

In June of 1903 fire destroyed all but the outer walls of the magnificent building, with $40,000 in damages which had been done. The Opera House was rebuilt by William J. McAlpine, a contractor who resurrected the building with remarkable speed. The Opera House was reopened on Nov. 17, 1903 with over 1,000 guests in attendance for the comedy performance of "When Johnny comes marching home."

But once again tragedy would take place, as a second fire would take place on Feb. 18, 1920. This time, the entire building would totally be destroyed and losses were over $100,000 in damages. L. G. Rorer, who was manager of the Family Theatre at the time, formed a corporation to rebuild the structure. Mr. McAlpine was once again chosen as the contractor for the project. By 1922, the Dixon Theatre would open its doors to serve the community as the city's largest motion picture house for over 60 years.

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