| Summary: | ments after the performances sometimes appeared in the newspapers. The Independent for November 26, 1905, states, "The Missouri Girl was here this week and better than ever. The company was here twice before and this time was greeted by a packed house which showed that their efforts were appreciated." The Record of November 21, 1907, liked the West-Henry Company and remarks ". in the city two nights last week played to poor houses. The company is A-l and deserves credit. All the players were good, the costumes better than those many city stock companies put out." There were bad shows, too. In a review of the "Man from Sweden" which played on January 19, 1905, the editor of the Independent stated: "they gave a vaudeville entertainment after the regular show which was the worst ever. Mr. Buchanan said they gave it without his knowledge or consent and he will see that nothing like it occurs again." After the November 29, 1907 appearance of the Alfa Stock Company the Carrington Record notes, ". it seems to be a mystery to all who attended it. The show was well advertised, too well, probably, for the turnout it received, but one bad show is all Carrington can stand in one week." Minstrels with black or blackface performers were always popular entertainment. Street parades up and down Main Street when alighting from the train or just before the show were a common practice. On January 17, 1907, another kind of a black troupe performed under the auspices of the Methodist Ladies Aid. They were the Canadian Jubilee Singers composed of the children of slaves who escaped to Canada during the Civil War. "The old plantation melodies and orchestral works will be specially interesting." Often there were dances after the show when the troupes performing carried an orchestra. There were dances and balls, too, with local orchestras. Ara Amadon, the local band leader, also presented concerts and dances at the Opera House. One of these was the St. Patrick's Day Masquerade on March 17, 1909. Admission was one dollar and costumes could be ordered ahead of time from the Buchanans. The dance was well attended, the Independent reports, "but too few were in costume. Fred Beier was dressed up as Uncle Sam." In 1908 the Buchanans threatened to close the Opera House since they said it was not a remunerative enterprise and the space would be rented to the Masonic Lodge. The deal fell through and entertainments continued in much the same way as previously. They installed motion picture equipment and showed films occasionally, but this effort was no great success. The hall, however, over the years held a number of important social affairs. In August 1901, the cantata "David, The Shepherd Boy," was rendered by Carrington talent under the direction of Professor Moore. In December 1905, James Davidson, brother of C. H. Davidson and president of the First National Bank, lectured on his experiences in the Orient and Greenland. He had been United States Consul in Manchuria at the time to the Russo-Japanese War and later participated in Admiral Perry's Arctic expeditions. The lecture was sponsored by the Women's Literary Club for the Library Fund. One of the longest-remembered social events occurred on May 25, 1910, when the ladies of Carrington gave an evening reception in honor of Governor Burke and his wife. The governor had been the main speaker at the afternoon ceremonies for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Foster County Courthouse. In 1911 the frame building of the Opera House was beginning to show signs of age. A huge crowd had gathered in the hall to hear H. W. Campbell speak on "Scientific Farming." Workmen in the basement noticed that the floors were sagging. While there appeared to be no imminent danger the floor was reinforced temporarily with railroad ties which were later replaced by heavy timbers. The next year, on December 1, 1912, a fire starting on the second floor consumed the building and the Buchanan general store and the Opera House were no more. The Bruening Opera House The old downtown courthouse building became vacant early in 1911 when the new one was occupied. The building, no longer of use, was advertised for sale by the County Commissioners with the provision that the building had to be moved from the site. The bid of $1600 by John Bruening of the Wyard Township family for the structure, not including the heating plant, was accepted. The building was moved during the summer of 1911 to a lot on First Street South next to the Buchanan warehouse (Lots 2 and 3, Block 27 of the Original Townsite). The second floor courtroom became the auditorium with a stage and a seating capacity of about 200. The lower floor with most of the partitions removed and a new hardwood floor installed became a skating rink which did not open until November 1912. An advertisement in the December 12, 1911, Independent announced the opening of the Bruening Opera House on December 15: "Madame Sherry to open new Opera House December 15. The company to present the tuneful show here is said to be as good as any on the road producing the celebrated opera. Remember a few seasons ago 'Every Little Movement Has a Meaning All Its Own' was originally sung and given popularity in the Madame Sherry original production in New York City. A strong chorus is carried by the company." The admission was the previously unheard of price of $2.00. During 1912 shows continued at about a biweekly rate with a few showings of motion pictures. After the Buchanan Opera House was destroyed by fire in 422 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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