Cover; Local Glories; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Introduction; Part One A Heady Time: Thousands of Opera Houses; 1 Signs of Civilization; 2 A Time of Change; 3 Culture and the Public; Part Two On Stage: Performances, Performers, and Patrons; 4 Early Struggles; 5 Theater Thrives; 6 Celebrities and Stars; 7 Other Entertainments and Enlightenments; 8 Music and Opera; 9 What the Public Wants; Part Three In Town: Public Halls and Public Roles; 10 Business Connections; 11 Public Places and Civic Events; 12 Challenges; 13 Immigrants; 14 Symbols of Pride
Part Four Born Again: Revived Opera Houses and Their Communities15 The Phoenix Rises; 16 Successes; 17 Engines for Regeneration; 18 Like Family; 19 Connecting Again; Afterword; Appendix: A Listing of Extant Opera Houses by State; Notes; Bibliography; Index
Summary
"This book explores the creative, social, and communal roles of thousands of "opera houses" that appeared in towns in the late 1800s and flourished with an astounding array of cultural performances and public activities until the advent of movies. Now, these entertainment halls are now coming back to life as theaters and art centers, as people become increasingly aware of their potential for historic preservation and cultural activities"-- Provided by publisher
