Yesteryear

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper

Until recently, old theatres were fading from the American landscape. The entertainment venues lived on mostly in the memories of older people who attended silent movies, plays and early talking fi lms in the ornate theatre halls.

In the Lakes Region such buildings as Franklin’s Opera House and Lakeport Opera House and Colonial Theatre in Laconia have been revitalized and offer programs and concerts throughout the year. (The Lakes Region was not the only part of New Hampshire to offer Opera Houses, and there were venues all over the state, from the northern regions to southern parts of the state.)

Those who travel through Lakeport Square may not know a gem of a theatre started as a vital part of the community. A large building in Lakeport Square has been transformed and now houses offi ces and a restaurant, and the second fl oor is the Lakeport Opera House. It recently underwent a renovation project and is now a popular concert venue.

Historically, the Lakeport Opera House was the place to go for entertainment. It was constructed in the 1880s, and locals performed in plays and concerts there. Silent movies were also a wonderful entertainment at one time and families attended shows there.

The theatre had a balcony with gold painted woodwork, and an intimate stage. Saturday afternoons saw many Lakeport area children attending the theatre to see the latest movies; ice cream was available from a vendor on the street.

Another local theatre that played a big part in the area was Moulton’s Opera House. The theatre was located on the second and third fl oors of the O’Shea family’s department store building in downtown Laconia.

The theatre was dedicated by its builder, John C. Moulton in 1887, with the opening night of “Rene, the Huguenot Captain” starring a Mrs. Barry and Mr. Redmund of the Redmund Barry Company.

The former Moulton’s Opera House, Laconia.

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The house was busy that night, (its capacity was 600 seats) with the locals doing it up in style. A local newspaper reported that the house was fi lled with “gaily attired ladies and gentlemen in full formal dress.”

The following night the theatre was again full for the performance of “Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady” with the same theatre troupe.

These shows weren’t high society

• Yesteryear

continued on page 46

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• Yesteryear

continued from page 44 theatre, but they were very popular in Laconia. Considering that some in the audience rarely saw a live play, excitement must have run high.

As well as plays, Moulton’s also featured animal acts; the animals were led up a long stairway to the second-fl oor theatre stage to perform.

The opera house was a beautiful space, with curving railings, balcony seats, an ornate stage and grand orchestra pit.

Sports events were popular at that time, with boxing matches like traveling road shows unto themselves. The great boxer John L. Sullivan was said to have boxed in a match at the Moulton Opera House.

Not long after, when silent movies were born, patrons could watch Clara Bow, Mary Pickford, and other stars on the big screen at Moulton’s.

Eventually, the theatre was closed during the 1930s, probably due to low attendance during the Depression years. It was eventually demolished.

Most people who have lived in the Lakes Region for years remember the Colonial Theatre, also located in downtown Laconia.

The Colonial was built in 1914 and was quite modern for its time. Erected by Benjamin Piscapo of Laconia, the ornate theatre was large, with a seating capacity of 1,400. The entrance walls were sheathed in antique marble, the interior decor featured hand painted scenes, stuccowork, velvet carpets and luxurious parlor suites for the boxes. The theatre also had a great view of the stage from all seats.

Vaudeville fi gured heavily into the early days of the Colonial and even animals were sometimes paraded on the stage during variety shows.

Silent fi lms were a big draw at the Colonial, with the blockbuster “Birth of a Nation” accompanied with a fi vepiece orchestra. The conductor and musicians traveled with the movie. A local woman played in front of the stage for other silent movies.

Over the years, the Colonial was a popular movie theatre, showing all the latest movies for decades. It has recently seen a renovation and is again open, offering all sorts of concerts and plays.

Once a big mill town, Franklin boasted many large homes owned by wealthy mill bosses and businesspeople. But whatever the fi nancial status of Franklin residents, everyone needed some entertainment.

To that end, Franklin town leaders in the 1890s decided to provide their citizens with a spot for plays and concerts. In the 1890s, plans and construction were underway for a town/soldier’s memorial hall. These were the years after the Civil War and sentiments ran high for patriotism. A suitable meetinghouse that would honor veterans, as well as provide a place for entertainment, seemed a good project.

William Butterfi eld designed a Romanesque Revival style building of red granite and brick on the main street of the town. The building was to house town offi ces, the police, and water departments, the city court, a theatre, and function hall.

On September 5, 1893, the building was dedicated and opened to the public. The Hall had 504 fl exible seats on the main fl oor and another 288 fi xed seats on the second level balcony.

Franklin residents loved the structure and embraced the building they dubbed “The Opera House.” (In the 1890s the term opera was commonly used to refer to many forms of musical concerts and theatre.)

For many years the Opera House was busy, with balls, dances, lectures, concerts, vaudeville shows, school plays and graduation ceremonies.

During the Depression years the Opera House became a much-needed social spot for community programs. In the basement of the building, there was even a miniature golf course at one time.

With the advent of World War II, the Red Cross held programs in the Opera House. The need for a sports and entertainment outlet was met when the hall was transformed into a basketball court for games and a venue for wrestling matches.

Sadly, the use of the Opera House declined after World War II. The new fad, the television, came into most homes and people were not going to the theatre as much. Ornate showplaces like the Opera House saw a drop in attendance.

At the same time, the needs of the Franklin town government grew and some of the space was used for offi ces.

In 1999, a group of locals saw the need to transform the City Hall building to its original intent: an Opera House where plays and programs could be enjoyed once again. (Information at www.franklinoperahouse.org.)

In 2001 the fi rst shows in 30 years lit up the stage and the Opera House was once again in business.

While some towns and cities may have lost the once grand opera houses that provided glamour to everyone from laborers and housewives to the wealthy classes, some of the buildings have found new life in the Lakes Region.