Newberry Opera House

The NOH won first place as Outstanding Theater for 2008 - 09 given at the national conference by The League of Historic American Theaters.

Built in 1881 at a cost of $30,000 the Newberry Opera House has served as the City Centerpiece for 118 years. The structure recently underwent a $5.5 million Renovation which restored it to its' Historic Splendor and converted it to a State of the Art Performance facility. Join us in a walk through the History of the Newberry Opera House.

A Brief History

The Newberry Opera House was completed in 1881 at a cost of $30,000. C.L. Norman, architect from Columbia, S.C., designed the French Gothic inspired structure. The building was designed as a place of entertainment for the local citizenry and as a seat of government for the city. The building is an excellent example of Victorian civic eclectic architecture.

The Opera House quickly became know as "the entertainment center of the Midlands". On its stage appeared touring companies of New York plays, minstrel and variety shows, famed vocalists and lecturers, magicians and mind readers, novelty acts and boxing exhibitions.

The Opera House was used not only by professional performers, but also by the community. Meetings, dances, college commencement exercises, and musicals were held in the spacious auditorium.

Silent "moving pictures" were shown at the Opera House in the early 1900's. A "Thomas Edison Talkie" was presented in the late teens. It used a phonograph record for sound. Slowly, movies replaced the big stage shows, and in the 1920's the Opera House was remodeled as a movie theater.

In 1952 with the showing of The Outlaw, the Opera House was closed as a movie theater. By 1959, there was talk about tearing it down, but a public outcry stopped the wrecking ball. The Newberry Historical Society in 1969 promoted the preservation of the Opera House, as did several other community groups. In 1970 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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