Valley Girl Views: The Sunbury Opera House

The Chestnut Street Opera House 1901-1935
Today, Coles Hardware

The Chestnut Street Opera House was not the first Opera House in Sunbury. In J.C. Irwin's "Reminisces of Sunbury", published in 1910, he records that the first "Opera House" was the court house, shows occasionally being held in the building. In 1901, after the opening of the new Chestnut St Opera House, a newspaper article also mentioned the old court house shows.

==============
The Lyons Opera House

In 1885/1886, William C. Lyons purchased the skating rink on Chestnut Street in Sunbury and turned it into an Opera House, which he operated until his death in March of 1901.

"The Sunbury Rink has been purchased by W.C. Lyons and Wm Reese of this place. The Rink will be fitted up for an Opera House. It will be named Lyon's Hall." - Sunbury American, 1885

The Lyon's Opera House held it's Grand Opening for Christmas, in 1885.

Decoration Day ceremonies [Memorial Day today] were held in Lyon's Opera House "on Chestnut Street" in 1886.

1887 Map

It appears Lyon's Opera House was about a block away from what would become the Chestnut Street Opera House, in 1901.

An 1888 article in the Northumberland County Democrat notes that the Opera House, managed by Lyons, has been greatly improved with steam heat.

A Cineomatagraph [early movie, more of a slideshow] was shown at Lyon's Opera House in 1899.

1900 Program - Lyon's Opera House

Ed Flemming listed.

Eddie Flemming - When Sunbury's Constable Was A Clown

"His native town also saw Fleming in the days before World War I when he played at the old Lyons Opera House on Chestnut street and later he appeared three times in the old Chestnut Street Opera House where the Acme Store now stands."

William Lyons died March 16th 1901, at the age of 46. Ground for the new Chestnut Street Opera House was broken less than 2 months later. E.S. Weimer purchased the old Lyon's Opera house from the Lyons estate.

==================

The Chestnut Street Opera House

==================

Rear View of Building, 1977

On December 26th 1879, a notice of intent to apply for a charter to erect an Opera House in Sunbury was published. Names of those on the notice of application included Wolverton Clement, Kase, Davis, Dissinger, Mann, Purdy, Cadwallader, Shindel, Rohrbach, Hill, Greenough & Packer. Lyons Opera house was already operating at this time, and Lyons did not appear to be part of this new venture.

Opera Houses were a sort of status in these days. Every town had one, and the "best" houses had the best shows, and were a source of pride for their communities. Williamsport, Danville, and Lewisburg all had grand Opera Houses. Sunbury had.. a converted skating rink. It was not likely to have been as grand as men such as Wolverton and Clement would prefer to have in their town. However, the notice in 1879 came to nothing.

Notice was again made, February 13th 1901, of intention to Charter the Chestnut Street Opera House. Named this time were Fisher, Packer, Trexer, Davis, and Packer. On February 14th 1901, the Sunbury Daily reported that the "dwelling house and office (not including foundation walls" on lot corner of Center Alley and Chestnut Street, recently purchased by the Chestnut Opera House Company of Sunbury Pa. Office to be removed from the lot not later than March 31st 1901. Dwelling to be removed not later than April 10th 1901..."

Later that year, Ira Thornton Clement Dissinger & Dr. William Shindel, both of Sunbury, started their own quarterly magazine named "Gossip". In the March 1901 edition, the Chestnut Street Opera House is featured.

The Chestnut Street Opera House

From Gossip Magazine, March 1901

"On the tenth , day of this month the iconoclastic hand of progress will touch the old Masser home which has stood for so many, many years at the corner of Chestnut and Center Streets, and the first tangible steps will be taken to create for Sunbury a modern theatre modern in everything that the name implies. In arrangement, heating, ventilation, stage and accessories, convenience a and safety it will probably stand as the equal of any house devoted to amusement along the borders of the Susquehanna.

"Sunbury has never had a real playhouse. In the early days the old State House, which stood in Market Square, near about where the covered well is, in what is now Cameron Park, was the place where various local entertainments were given.

After that was torn down to make way for the new Court House, the old Presbyterian Church at the corner of Third and Chestnut Streets, now the property of the Clement estate, was fitted up with a stage, drop curtains, two sets of scenery and wooden benches. Here it was that Ed Renn, Durell Wharton, "Snod" Gibson, Morris Beckley, George Grant, and a dozen of others entertained in fine minstrelsy and farce comedy. Mrs. Jarley's: Wax Works and Professor Kane's singing class did stunts on that old time stage, and occasionally some Eliza that belonged to a fly - by - night Uncle Tom's Cabin show would chase across the fake floating ice pursued by emaciated bull pups.

It gave way at last to Williams Rees's made over skating rink, which was pretentiously labelled Lyon's. Chestnut Street Opera House.

"In all these. years Sunbury has been growing in importance and population and a good theatre was the one thing needed to make the place metropolitan. After many vain starts by different people and combinations to build a theatre the initiative was finally taken by Mrs. Mary Packer, Messrs. Samuel Packer, J. C. Packer, A. R. Trexler, W. W. Fisher, Henry E. Davis, John F. Derr and Heinrich Klerx.

"The completed theatre will be turned over to the Chestnut Street Opera House Company on September 1st, 1901. Of course everyone is curious about what the house will be like inside out.

Inside the Opera House, 1902

"Entering by the large double doors you will go into a lobby 18 feet long by 14 feet wide. On the right of lobby as you go in will be a gentleman's smoking room 12 feet by 16 feet. Adjoining this will be cloak and toilet rooms. To the left will be the manager's office and entrance to the gallery. The parquet will be reached by three steps. The spectator will then find himself on a broad promenade running clear around the seats. Opening from the promenade from either side of the house will be two ladies' parlors 9 x 6.

"There will be three hundred upholstered seats in the parquet and one hundred and forty six upholstered seats in the orchestra circle. There will be two boxes, each surmounted- by a loge or uncanopied per box. A balcony will run around the house with a gallery ba [unreadable line] there will be seating capacity for one thousand people.

"The stage will be large and up to date in every way. It will have a proscenium opening of thirty - four feet across. The width of the stage proper, from wall to wall, will be sixty feet, and in depth from footlights to back wall of forty feet.

"There will be ten dressing rooms, two for the stars being located on the stage, and eight beneath. All scenery will be overhead. There will be lashed interiors and full electrical equipments, fire doors and the latest devices for safety as well as convenience.

"The theatre will be under the management of W. W. Fisher, who has striven zealously to have a play house built in this place.

"It is likely that William A. Brady's "Way Down East" will be the opening production on the night of the 12th of September next.".

Lyon did not live to see the ground broken for the new Opera House. He died in March 1901. Ground was broken a month and a half later, in May of that year.

The Chestnut Street Opera House Grand Opening was held September 12th 1901.

September 1901

The Chestnut Street Opera House Billboard, At Cameron Park

In 1962, Ryland E. Kester was retiring and auctioning off his properties. The Daily Item, that October, wrote of his retirement, and included a bit of history of the Opera House:

--------------------------------

Famed Old Opera House

"Mr. Kester's purchase of the opera house [1936] called an end to a theatre once ranked as one of the finest in the east. The opera house was built by the late James C. Packer, Sunbury's one-time millionaire playboy for whom Packer's Island, now Island Park, was named.

The opera house was indeed the scene of many glories in the theatre with such greats as Maude Adams, the Barrymores, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Minnie Maddern Fiske and other famed theatre personalities at the beginning of the century playing there.

1908 - Cameron Park showing Chestnut Street Opera House Billboard on the left.

However, the theatre fell into disrepute during the depression, people no longer went to see stage shows and for a while, the opera house was a movie house, unfortunately showing second and third-run films.

Its facilities were once the finest in the area. The towering structure was so high that complete sets could be "flyed," that is hung up until they were needed. There was a "green room,' individual rooms for the stars immediately off stage, chorus rooms, and the structure of the building was patterned after that of the great New York theatres.

Mr. Kester, however, was not in the theatre business, and when he purchased the building in 1936, he converted it into Sunbury's first supermarket for the Acme Company. This firm has rented it ever since.

Mr. Kester reserved the second floor for conducting auctions, selling both new and second hand furniture. In conducting his business, he learned the business of auctioneering and he remained an auctioneer until recently."

-----------------------

"My contemporaries and I can remember," Miss Killian continues, "when Murray and Mackey stayed whole week in our town and, like Ella Kramer, offered a We play lived for. each | different performance. in an age when to sit in the balcony, front row, center, for the matinee left nothing more to be desired. Those a bit older than we dared to attend the evening performances. It was well worth and effort to arrive in line at p.m. to acquire first: row in 'The Peanut Gallery.' - Romayne Killian, in a 1965 interview.

In 1970, the old Opera House became Coles Hardware

"The Sunbury Opera House was owned in later years by James C. Packer and managed by Nate Kaufman, both long deceased, and after the passing of the legitimate theater era it was for some years a movie house, operated by P.A. Magazu, later of Hazelton." - DI 1970

March 1970

==========================

Some Of Those Who Performed

At The Chestnut Street Opera House

====================

"Records indicate that from 1915-1935 571 road shows and 440 vaudeville acts performed."

Some of those who performed at the Opera House include: Helen Hayes, Fancis X. Bushman, Sophie Tucker, Marie Dressler, Walter Huston, & Tyrone Power." - Sunbury Walking Tour Brochure

Helen Hayes

Emma de castro as "rags"

Photo from the Roshon Studio, Sunbury Pa

1902 - 48th Highlanders

"Kilties Band"

1906 - Unknown entertainer inside the Chestnut St Opera House

1909, Merchant of Venice

1911 Goose Girl

1916 Playbill for Birth Of A Nation

Alan Alda’s father performed at the opera house. ( Not in an opera, but a burlesque production)

1918 Henpecked Henry

1918

1919

================
Partial Time Line
=================

Lyons Opera House:

1885 - William Lyons purchases Sunbury Skating Rink and turns it into Opera House.
1885 - December 25th & 26th, Grand Opening
1873 - Hamlet at Sunbury Opera House
1886 - Ida Serven "the singing reader" at Sunbury Opera House
1901 - William C. Lyons, manager of Sunbury Opera House, died March 16th 1901

The Chestnut Street Opera House

1879 - Notice of intent to build opera house
1901 - Notice was again made, February 13th 1901, of intention to Charter the Chestnut Street Opera House. Named this time were Fisher, Packer, Trexer, Davis, and Packer.
1901 - On February 14th 1901, the Sunbury Daily reported that the "dwelling house and office (not including foundation walls" on lot corner of Center Alley and Chestnut Street, recently purchased by the Chestnut Opera House Company of Sunbury Pa. Office to be removed from the lot not later than March 31st 1901. Dwelling to be removed not later than April 10th 1901..."
1901 - William C. Lyons, manager of Sunbury Opera House, died March 16th 1901
1901 - May 1st, ground was broken for the new Opera House on Chestnut Street. By May 10th the brick work had started. By early July the plumbing of the building was underway, and plasterer sand lathers were at work on the interior of the building.
1915 - Lodge No. 43 held initial union meeting at the opera house.
1916 - Joint Memorial Service of the B of L. E. Div 250 & B. of L. F. & E. Div 220 & B of R. T. Div 17 was held at the Opera House, with about 500 in line of march. "We had a roll call of deceased Brothers of all order and had lights of colored globes with the names of the four orders on them, and as a name was called the light was snapped out. There were 104 names on the list" - Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineer's Monthly Journal. (1916).
1917 - Blanche Bates at Chestnut Street Opera House
1918 "Because of business conditions the Sunbury Opera House has been closed for the duration of the war"
1918 - announcement in Lewisburg Journal - "J.C. Packer offers the Sunbury Opera House For Sale "
1921 - J.W. Vogels purchased the Opera House form the state of James Packer. "Mr. Packer heled most of the stock of the company which owned the theater"
1922 - Under the new management of Joseph J. Green. Shows included: Pollard the Juggling Jester, Wolford & Brugad dance, The Telephone Tangle, Doris May in the Foolish age, Theodora
1936 - Opera House purchased by R.E. Kester, turned into Acme Markets
1967 - Purchased by Houtz Tobacco Co, used as a warehouse
1970 - Purchased by Coles Hardware

=============

On The Maps

===========

1907

================
READ MORE

[Research Notes]
=================

A playbill for Hamlet, in 1873, advertises the Opera House in Sunbury, "established 1868". This Opera House would have predated the Chestnut Street Opera House, built in the early 1880s.

The Julius Cahn-Gus Hill Theatrical Guide and Moving Picture Directory. (1903). United States: (n.p.).

June 9th 1923 edition of Moving Picture World

Moving Pictures to be shown at the Chestnut St theater

From the Sunbury Walking Tour Brochure

Opera House opened September 12th 1901, and could seat 1,000 people.

"Records indicate that from 1915-1935 571 road shows and 440 vaudville acts performed."

Some of those who performed at the Opera House include: Helen Hayes, Fancis X. Bushman, Sophie Tucker, Marie Dressler, Walter Huston, & Tyrone Power."

==================

Vogel

1962

. E. Kester, 341 Chestnut St., Sunbury, whose name became synonymous in Sunbury and area with used and antique furniture and bibelots, has called a halt to his career. The aged man who will be 80 next year is too sick to go on. He suffered series of strokes, has lost his sight and is unable to pursue any kind of active business career.

His career, however, spans over half a century of active business life in Sunbury. Mr. Kester started his first store in 1908 on Market Street in a building known then AS the Blaine laundry building which was on the site now occupied by the A. & P. Store.

He remained there for number of years then moved to a site at the corner of Market and Fifth Streets, which is now occupied by Zion Lutheran Church. After the church bought the property, he moved to the corner of South Third and Chestnut Streets. This was approximately in 1934

In 1936, he bought the old Chestnut Street Opera House.

Famed Old Opera House

Mr.Kester's purchase of the opera house called an end to a theatre once ranked as one of the finest in the east. The opera house was built by the late James C. Packer, Sunbury's one-time millionaire playboy for whom Packer's Island, now Island Park, was named. The opera house was indeed the scene of many glories in the theatre with such greats as Maude Adams, the Barrymores, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Minnie Maddern Fiske and other famed theatre personalities at the beginning of the century playing there.

At that time, there was a theatre circuit which included Sunbury, Williamsport and Harrisburg, and the road shows would play here in making their swing. Stock companies played the theatre and later, burlesque. It was the scene of home-town talent shows presented by dead and gone city fraternities and the focal point for many minstrel shows. However, the theatre fell into disrepute during the depression, people no longer went to see stage shows and for a while, the opera house was a movie house, unfortunately showing second and third-run films. Its facilities were once the finest in the area. The towering structure was so high that complete sets could be "flyed," that is hung up until they were needed. There was a "green room,' individual rooms for the stars immediately off stage, chorus rooms, and the structure of the building was patterned after that of the great New York theatres. Mr. Kester, however, was not in the theatre business, and when he purchased the building in 1936, he converted it into Sunbury's first supermarket for the Acme Company.

This firm has rented it ever since. Mr. Kester reserved the second floor for conducting auctions, selling both new and second hand furniture. In conducting his business, he learned the business of auctioneering and he remained an auctioneer until recently. He closed out his antique business some years ago and handled only odds and ends since then, Now, he is selling all his stock.

Joe E. Johnson was scheduled to serve as auctioneer for today's sale.."

Ryland Etwell Kester was born in 1884 in Millville, Columbia County Pa. He married Myrtle M. Stock on March 30th 1907. "Miss Myrtle M. Stock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Stock, of Mountpleasant township, and Ryland Etwell Kester of Millville, Columbia county, were married at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. Harry W. Hart, Hanover, on Saturday, March 30, at 9:30 p.m. by Rev. Harvey Hoover, of Selin's Grove, a brother-in-law of the bride. The newly weeded couple will go to housekeeping at once in a newly-funished home on Elm Avenue, West End, Hanover. The groom, who is assistant superintendent at the Hanover Furniture Co. is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kester, of Millville." Ryland died April 8th 1964, and is buried in New Oxford cemetery, Adams County Pa.

================