Junction City Opera House: a Jewel on the Prairie

We're nearing the completion of our Capital Campaign. Watch this space for images of the construction as we return beauty and elegance to this venerable treasure.

History

The 1880's

1880	Voters approved bonds for building an Opera House in Junction City.
1881	A large portion of the Opera House collapsed during construction causing $6000 in damage.
1882	The Opera House was named City Hall because the theater portion served more as a community center than an opera house. City offices, including the fire station, were located in the front portion of the building.
1883	The first Thanksgiving Ball was held.

The 1890's

1890	On January 1, City Hall was renamed Blakely Opera House after Major William Sayer Blakely, former mayor of Junction City
	The Opera House closed for interior remodeling.
1898	Fire from an unknown cause destroyed the entire Opera House on January 14. See Musings from Gaylynn Childs to learn more. The Opera House reopened after the south portion was rebuilt using native limestone from quarries near Fort Riley. The front was restructured with a similar facade but slightly different tower.
1899	The Opera House was the site of the grand community banquet welcoming home the local unit of the 20th Kansas Infantry from the Spanish American War.

The 1900's

1901	Memorial Service for President McKinley held on the Opera House stage.
1902	John Phillip Sousa and his band performed on the Opera House stage.
1904	Original town clock was rebuilt and restored to the Opera House Tower.

The 1910's

1914	City leases the Opera House to a private operator who presents a combination of theater productions and moving pictures.
1917	The Opera House, again under city management, is refurbished to accommodate WWI soldiers and families
1919	The Opera was again taken over by private management and operated as the City Theater showing moving pictures

The 1930's

1930s	R.B. Fegan leased the Opera House to operate a movie theater for several years early in the Depression
1936	R.B. White, contractor for the new municipal building, purchased the Opera House from the city.
1937	City offices moved from the Opera House to the new Municipal Building across the street.
1938	The Opera House is used for storage of building supplies. The town clock is started again after public outcry.

The 1940's

1940s

The Opera House was gutted and remodeled into a "modern movie theater," the Colonial Theater

1980's

1982	The Colonial Theater is closed and the Opera House was returned to the city with the hope of restoration and use for theater productions and the arts.

The 2000's

2003	In November, the Opera House was placed on the State Historic Register.

Last Updated December 20, 2006