[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >>> GOING TO THE THEATER HAS ˇ ALWAYS BEEN SPECIAL TO ME, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS ONE LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL OHIO THEATER IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO SEE "THE NUTCRACKER."

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I LOVE THE LINCOLN THEATER.

GOING TO SEE SHOWS.

I HAVE BEEN IN SHOWS THERE.

ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE.

>> I LOVE THAT ONE, TOO.

OTHER TOWNS AROUND OHIO HAVE BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC THEATERS, TOO, AND MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN PRESERVED AND RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL DESIGN.

>> ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN JEFF DARBEE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT A FEW OF THESE HISTORIC THEATERS FOR HIMSELF, STARTING WITH THE HOLLAND THEATER IN BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO, AND LET'S JUST SAY IT DEFINITELY DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> WE ARE IN BELLEFONTAINE, THE COUNTY SEAT, ABOUT AN HOUR NORTHWEST OF COLUMBUS.

IT'S AN HISTORIC TOWN.

RAILROAD CENTER IN THE PAST.

THE SITE OF THE FIRST CONCRETE STREET IN AMERICA.

AND WE ARE GOING TO VISIT A REALLY INTERESTING HISTORIC THEATER THAT WAS ONCE THREATENED WITH DEMOLITION AND IS NOW THRIVING.

A LOCAL THEATER.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY WHO SEES THIS IS GOING TO SAY THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING.

>> HELLO, GREG.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GLAD TO BE IN BELLEFONTAINE.

AT THE HOLLAND THEATER.

WHEN WAS THE THEATER BUILT?

>> IT WAS OPENED ACTUALLY IN 1931.

SO IT'S THE ONLY DUTCH-THEMED THEATER IN THE U.S. >> IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY?

>> YEAH.

>> I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN QUITE A WHILE.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE A TOUR.

>> YEAH, LET'S GO INSIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OH, YEAH THIS IS GREAT.

THE HISTORIC KIND OF POSTER FRAMES AND THE ORIGINAL WOOD BEAMS ACROSS THE ENTRY HALL.

>> YEAH.

>> THE BUILDING'S BUILT IN 1931. WHO BUILT IT?

>> BUILT BY THE SHINE FAMILY.

THEY OWNED ABOUT 160 THEATERS AROUND THE WEST.

THEY HEARD PETER HULSKEN.

HE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM THE NETHERLANDS.

THAT'S WHERE THE DUTCH THEME CAME FROM.

>> THAT WAS HIS OWN CREATION.

IT WASN'T A NATIONAL TREND, WHICH IS WHY IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> CORRECT.

THIS IS THE ONLY THEATER WITH A COPYRIGHTED DESIGN BECAUSE HE CAME UP WITH THE DESIGN AND WANTED TO COPYRIGHT IT, SO NO ONE ELSE COULD MAKE SUCH A THING.

>> COULDN'T BE CREATED SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> YES.

>> GREAT STORY.

>> NOW WE ARE ENTERING THE OUTER LOBBY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE DECORATION GETTING MORE INTENSE WITH THE WOOD PANELLING, MURALS, VAULTED CEILING.

IS THIS AN ORIGINAL LIGHT FIXTURE?

>> IT IS.

WOOD PANELS.

IT'S ALL ORIGINAL.

MOST OF THE DOORS ARE ORIGINAL.

THE PAINTINGS WERE UPDATED BY LOCAL ARTISTS ON THE ENDS HERE.

THE LOBBY DOORS USED TO START RIGHT HERE BECAUSE IT WAS ORIGINALLY A 1,400†FEET THEATER WHEN IT FIRST OPENED AND THE SEATS CAME BACK TO THIS BACK WALL.

WHEN THE RESTORATION WAS DONE, THEY ACTUALLY CREATED A NEW CONCESSION AND MERCHANDISE AREA FOR THE ARTISTS AS WELL.

>> THE THEATER, DOES IT CONTINUE IN OPERATION AFTER IT WAS BUILT, CONTINUOUSLY, OR WAS A TIME IT CLOSED?

>> IT WAS A MOVIE PALACE WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, THEN SOLD TO A DIFFERENT COMPANY.

IT WAS SPLIT UP INTO FIVE DIFFERENT THEATERS.

THEN THE RESTORATION, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2019, ACTUALLY RESTORED IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL WITH A FEW MINOR UPGRADES.

>> HAD IT LOST SOME OF ITS DISTINCT FEATURES THAT MADE IT A GREAT DUTCH THEATER?

>> IT DIDN'T.

THEY KEPT THE ARCHITECTURE INTACT WHEN THEY MADE THE CHANGES FOR THE MOVIEPLEX.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY EASY TO RESTORE.

WE LOOKED AT THE PICTURES FROM HISTORY AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT PRETTY CLOSE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL.

>> YOU HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT OF INFORMATION.

I UNDERSTAND HOW THE THEATER IS LAID OUT, WHAT IS ORIGINAL, WHERE YOU HAD TO MAKE CHANGES.

ACROSS THE AUDITORIUM IS THE MAIN EVENT.

>> YES, IT IS.

I AM GOING TO PASS YOU OFF TO OUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, KRIS SWISHER, WHO IS GOING TO GIVE YOU DETAILS ABOUT THAT.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I'LL GO MEET KRIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OH, MY, WHAT A SPACE.

LOOK AT THOSE CLOUDS MOVING ACROSS THE SKY.

HELLO, KRIS.

>> HELLO.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> DOESN'T FEEL LIKE OHIO IN HERE, DOES IT?

>> IT DOES NOT.

IT FEELS LIKE HOLLAND.

WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE THIS IS.

TELL ME THE STORY.

>> THE ARCHITECT, PETER HULSKEN, GREW UP IN THE NETHERLANDS AND THE SECOND HOUSE ON BOTH SIDES IS A REPLICA OF THE HOME HE GREW UP IN.

THE FIRST TWO BUILDINGS ARE A REPLICA OF THE CITY BUILDING.

>> SO IT'S REALLY INSPIRED BY TRUE DUTCH ARCHITECTURE, TRUE DUTCH COMMUNITY.

>> CORRECT.

>> I NOTICED COMING IN THE CLOUDS ON THE CEILING.

THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE MOVING.

>> THEY ARE.

>> IS THAT THE ESSENCE OF AN ATMOSPHERIC THEATER?

IS THAT WHAT IT MEANS?

>> YES.

WHEN YOU COME IN HERE YOU THINK ALMOST LIKE, WHERE AM I?

THEN YOU START PUTTING THE IMAGES TOGETHER, THE STORKS, WHICH ARE DUTCH BIRDS, AND YOU SEE TULIPS IN OUR TULIP BOXES AND YOU HEAR THE WINDMILLS AND SEE THE WINDMILLS GOING AROUND AND YOU THINK, OH, THIS MUST BE THE NETHERLANDS, AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY FEEL LIKE YOU ARE OUTDOORS BECAUSE OF THE STARS IN THE SKY.

>> THE STARS, THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE STARS, WHICH ARE LITTLE LIGHTS IN THE CEILING, REALLY.

IT WENT INTO A PERIOD OF DISREPAIR.

WAS IT ABANDONED OR JUST NOT FULLY USED?

>> IT WAS CLOSED IN 1998.

>> OKAY.

>> AND IT REMAINED CLOSED FOR ALMOST THREE AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF THE MULTIPLEX THEATERS OUT OF HERE AND MAKE IT SO PEOPLE COULD ACTUALLY COME IN AND SIT DOWN AND ENJOY A SHOW WITHOUT LIGHTS, WITHOUT SOUND.

WE WERE BARE MINIMUM AT THAT POINT AND WE HAD OLD SEATS THAT WERE DUCT-TAPED TOGETHER.

SO WE HAVE ALL NEW SEATS NOW SINCE 2019.

BUT ONE ORIGINAL FEATURE OF THE ENDCAPS, WE TOOK THOSE OFF THE OLD ROWS OF SEATS THAT WERE IN HERE AND HAD THEM RESTORED.

>> SO YOU FORMED A NEW GROUP TO ACQUIRE THE THEATER AND DO THE RESTORATION?

>> CORRECT.

WE HAD A GRANT THROUGH THE STATE OF OHIO ALLOWING US TO PUT LIGHTS IN AND WE JUST DID A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.

THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS A NEW ROOF.

>> OF COURSE.

>> BECAUSE THE RAIN WAS COMING IN, YEAH.

SO THAT HAPPENED.

EVERYTHING GOT REMOVED.

IT WAS THE FIVE MULTIPLEXES, AND THEN WE BEGAN INCH BY INCH, THERE WAS A SMALL COMMUNITY THEATER GROUP FROM HOME-SCHOOL STUDENTS CALLED CENTER STAGE, AND THEY PUT ON A SHOW EVERY YEAR FOR TEN YEARS AND WERE ABLE TO DONATE $100,000 BACK TO THE THEATER IN PROFITS THAT ALLOWED US TO STAY OPEN AND TRY TO DO THE NEXT THING.

I SAY IT'S BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO KEEP IT HERE.

COMPARABLE TO THE OHIO THEATER.

IT WASN'T THE BIGWIGS THAT SAID THE THEATER SHOULD STAY.

IT WAS THE COMMUNITY THAT FELT IT WAS ANCHORED TO THE DOWNTOWN AND COLUMBUS AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAY THE HOLLAND IS.

>> IT'S REMARKABLE WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED HERE.

WHAT SORT OF EVENTS DO YOU HOST JUST KIND OF ON A REGULAR ANNUAL BASIS?

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF MUSICIAN PERFORMANCES THAT COME IN, AND WE ALSO HAVE A LOCAL THEATER GROUP CALLED WINNOW PRODUCTIONS.

WE PUT ON FOUR TO FIVE PRODUCTIONS A YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME THE STORY OF A WONDERFUL RESTORATION PROJECT, A THEATER THAT WAS THREATENED, TO A COMMUNITY RESOURCE.

IT'S GREAT.

IT'S A WONDERFUL PLACE.

THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU TOOK TO VISIT US, AND I WELCOME YOU BACK.

>> THANKS.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >>> WASN'T THAT A UNIQUE THEATER, CHARLENE?

>> IT DEFINITELY WAS.

I'M GLAD THE PEOPLE IN BELLEFONTAINE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BEAUTY.

JAVIER, HAVE YOU NOTICED COMMUNITY SUPPORT IS VERY MUCH A COMMON THEME WITH THESE HISTORIC THEATERS.

>> YOU ARE ON TO SOMETHING, BECAUSE WHAT IS THE CASE AT STUART'S OPERA HOUSE IN NELSONVILLE.

JEFF DARBEE HEADS OVER THERE NOW TO TAKE US ON A TOUR.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> WE ARE IN THE REGION KNOWN AS THE LITTLE CITIES OF BLACK DIAMOND.

THAT NAME WAS GIVEN TO THESE COMMUNITIES AROUND 70 COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO.

THE LITTLE CITIES ARE THE COAL MINING TOWNS THAT WERE THRIVING IN THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.

AFTER 1920, THEY FELL ON HARD TIMES AFTER THE COAL INDUSTRY BEGAN TO DECLINE.

BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY A RECOVERY TAKING PLACE.

YOU HAVE SEEN NEW INVESTMENT, NEW BUSINESSES.

SO WE ARE VISITING NELSONVILLE TODAY AND VISIT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BUILDINGS IN TOWN.

STUART'S OPERA HOUSE, WHICH IS WELL OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT AN OLD-TIME OPERA HOUSE WAS LIKE AND HOW IT THRIVES AND SURVIVES TODAY.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> HELLO, MELISSA.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

WELCOME TO STUART'S OPERA HOUSE.

>> THANK YOU.

GLAD TO SEE IT AND GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS IS QUITE A SPACE.

>> YOU ARE IN THE GRAND LOBBY OF STUART'S OPERA HOUSE.

THIS SPACE IS A MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE, LOBBIES FOR SHOWS THAT HAPPEN IN THE OPERA HOUSE AS WELL AS WEDDINGS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.

>> IT'S A NEW SPACE BUT AN HISTORIC BUILDING.

>> VERY HISTORIC.

STUART'S OPERA HOUSE WAS BUILT BY GEORGE STUART WHO PRIOR TO BUILDING THE OPERA HOUSE RAN A SHOW BOAT IN SOUTHEAST OHIO.

THE SHOW BOAT SANK IN THE ERIE CANAL.

HE CAME BACK TO NELSONVILLE AND WAS MARRIED TO A MEMBER OF A PROMINENT FAMILY HERE IN NELSONVILLE.

THEY OWNED THIS PROPERTY HERE ON THE SQUARE, AND HE BUILT THE OPERA HOUSE IN 1879.

>> WAS OPERA PERFORMED HERE?

>> NO.

THE INTERESTING THING, THE HISTORY OF OPERA HOUSES IN SOUTHEAST OHIO WERE THAT THEY WERE OFTEN STYLED SIMILARLY IN ARCHITECTURAL TERMS AS FAR AS OPERA HOUSES IN EUROPE.

THEY WERE CALLED OPERA HOUSES BECAUSE TO ELEVATED THEM CULTURALLY AND ESTHETICALLY ABOVE THEATER.

OBVIOUSLY, THEATER WAS A MAJOR THING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THOSE SPACES, BUT THEY WERE ALSO COMMUNITY CENTERS.

SO THERE WOULD BE FAMILY REUNIONS, THERE WOULD BE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS, THERE WAS EVEN A BOXING MATCH THAT HAPPENED UP IN STUART'S OPERA HOUSE.

>> NELSONVILLE WAS LUCKY TO HAVE A OPERA HOUSE.

SO MANY COMMUNITIES LOST THEM.

FORTUNATELY FOR YOU.

>> IT OPENED IN 1879, RAN UNTIL ABOUT 1924.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT TIME WAS THE RISE IN MOTION PICTURES.

SO A LOT OF OPERA HOUSES HAD TO SORT OF PIVOT BECAUSE THE DEMAND FOR ENTERTAINMENT WAS CHANGING.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT STUART'S DID ATTEMPT TO BECOME A MOTION PICTURE THEATER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THERE WERE TWO OTHER MOTION PICTURE THEATERS ON THE PUBLIC SQUARE HERE.

SO IT CLOSED ITS DOORS IN 1924 AND LITERALLY THE OWNERS LOCKED THE DOOR AND WALKED AWAY, LEAVING EVERYTHING IN THAT SPACE, WHICH IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR ABOVE US.

>> HOW LONG DID IT SIT UNUSED?

>> UNTIL THE MID '70s.

THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR A COMMUNITY TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUILDINGS ON THEIR PUBLIC SQUARE.

A SMALL GROUP OF CITIZENS IN NELSONVILLE RECOGNIZED ITS VALUE.

THE DECISION WAS MADE TO FORM A NON-PROFIT AROUND THE THEATRICAL HISTORY THAT WAS PRESERVED AND ALSO TO OPEN IT UP AS A VENUE, A PERFORMING VENUE, WHICH THEY FINALLY DID IN THE LATE '70s.

>> GLAD TO LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT THE BUILDING.

I IMAGINE THERE IS MORE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FOLLOW ME.

>> OKAY.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> WOW, WHAT A SPACE.

>> YEAH.

SO WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC GREEN ROOM OF STUART'S OPERA HOUSE.

>> IT'S NOT GREEN, BUT IT'S IMPRESSIVE.

>> YEAH.

A GREEN ROOM IS THE SPACE FOR THE ARTISTS SO THEY CAN GET READY, EAT, SHOWER, DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO BEFORE THEY GET ON STAGE AND PERFORM FOR EVERYONE.

>> I DID SEE SOME OLD POSTERS AS WE CAME IN.

TELL ME ABOUT THOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE.

THOSE ARE ROUGHLY TURN OF THE CENTURY LATE 1800s/EARLY 1900s.

TRAVELING THEATERS GROUPS WOULD TRAVEL FROM TOWN TO TOWN AND PUT UP PLAY BILLS AND FLYERS OF THEIR UPCOMING PERFORMANCES.

SO THESE WOULD HAVE ORIGINALLY ADORNED THE BACK WALL OF THE STAGE, WHICH WE LOST IN A FIRE.

HOWEVER, THIS GREEN ROOM WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE FIRE.

SO WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FEW ORIGINAL PLAY BILLS THAT WE HAVE.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE BALCONY AND THE SLIDING DOORS.

>> THOSE ARE ORIGINAL DRESSING ROOMS.

IF YOU WILL NOTICE, THEY ARE NUMBERED 6 THROUGH 12.

SO THE OTHER SET WOULD HAVE BEEN ALONG THE BACKSTAGE OF THE THEATER.

THOSE SEPARATE†-- SUFFERED A FATE IN THE FIRE.

>> THESE REPRESENT SHOWS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SINCE WE REOPENED, WE HAVE BECOME ONE THE PREMIERE PRESENTING THEATERS IN SOUTHEAST OHIO.

SO THESE ARE POSTERS, THEY ALL REFLECT REALLY THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL, GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING, YOU NAME IT, THAT PERFORMED ON THE STUART'S OPERA HOUSE STAGE.

>> MUSICIANS, TOURING THEATER COMPANIES?

>> WE HAVE OUR OWN GROUP, ABC PLAYERS.

THEY PUT ON FOUR TO SEVEN PRODUCTIONS A YEAR.

>> SO THIS SPACE IS WHERE THE ACTORS GET READY, AND THEN THEY WERE HEADED FOR THE STAGE ITSELF.

THAT'S THE NEXT STOP?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S THE MAIN ATTRACTION.

LET'S GO.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> THIS IS LOOKING FAMILIAR.

BRIEF ACTING CAREER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, AND THAT FEELING OF WHEN YOU GET ON STAGE, THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT.

>> THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT, IS IT?

>> IT'S A MARVELOUS SPACE, THE BALCONY IS BEAUTIFUL.

YOU SAID THIS WAS DAMAGED IN THE FIRE?

>> YEAH.

SO, THE OPERA HOUSE REOPENED IN THE LATE '70s AND WAS REALLY THE COMMUNITY WAS EXCITED, THINGS WERE HAPPENING, AND THEN THERE WAS A FIRE.

AND THE FIRE DESTROYED THE STAGE THAT WE'RE STANDING ON NOW.

THE BOX SEATS AND THE HOUSE FLOOR.

WE STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL SIX SEATING THAT YOU SEE HERE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR RESTORATION.

WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO PRESERVE THAT ASPECT OF HISTORY.

>> SO THE THEATER IS IN ITS ORIGINAL CONFIGURATION AFTER THE RESTORATION?

>> ORIGINALLY, THE HOUSE FLOOR YOU SEE NOW IS RAKED.

BACK IN THE DAY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A FLAT FLOOR WITH NO FIXED SEATING.

AND THE PURPOSE BEHIND THAT, THIS WAS A MULTI-PURPOSE VENUE.

THERE WERE FAMILY REUNIONS HAPPENING, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS.

THEY WANTED TO CONFIGURE THE SPACE AS IT MADE SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THE OTHER INTERESTING FEATURE ARCHITECTURALLY IS THE DOME IN THE HOUSE CEILING, WHICH MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE CONTRIBUTES TO THE GOOD ACOUSTICS IN THE SPACE.

ALSO PROBABLY VENTILATION PRIOR TO ELECTRICITY.

SO WHEN DIFFERENT GASLIGHTING AND THINGS WERE HAPPENING IN THE HOUSE, THE FUMES NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO GO.

>> AND WHAT'S THE CAPACITY HERE?

>> 395 SEATS.

WE SET UNFOLDING CHAIRS IN THE BACK AND A FULL SOLD-OUT SHOW IS ABOUT 450.

>> SAFE TO SAY YOU ARE ON A REASONABLY SOUND FINANCIAL FOOTING.

YOU WONDER ABOUT HISTORIC PLACES LIKE THIS.

>> WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VERY DEDICATED MEMBERSHIP BASE, LOCAL FOUNDATIONS THAT SUPPORT US, AS WELL AS RENTAL ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE.

ALSO, THE NELSONVILLE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS A MULTI-DAY OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVAL THAT STUART'S OPERA HOUSE PRODUCES, AND THAT HAS ALSO BEEN FINANCIALLY VERY IMPORTANT.

>> CLEARLY, YOU ARE A BIG PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO GET PRESERVED FOR A COMMUNITY LIKE NELSONVILLE?

>> ECONOMICALLY, I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO SMALL COMMUNITIES AND A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL IMPACT THAT NELSONVILLE AND STUART'S OPERA HOUSE HAS MADE.

SO IN ADDITION TO THIS, WE HAVE AN ARTS EDUCATION CENTER AND A DYNAMIC ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND OFTENTIMES FREE TO PARTICIPATE FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S A WAY TO GET THEM PACK INTO THE OPERA HOUSE ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

WE ALWAYS TELL THE COMMUNITY THIS IS OUR OPERA HOUSE, THIS IS YOUR SPACE, AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENABLE THEM TO USE IT.

>> WELL, IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT A PLACE LIKE THIS HAS AN ECONOMIC BASE THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE COMMUNITY, ENABLES IT TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION.

THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL TOUR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> YOU THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING RESTORING THESE OLD THEATERS IS SOMETIMES PART OF A BIGGER COMMUNITY PLAN.

>> DO YOU HAVE AN EXAMPLE IN MIND, CHARLENE?

>> OF COURSE.

MOUNT VERNON IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES.

INSTEAD OF TELLING YOU ABOUT IT, WHY DON'T WE HAVE JEFF DARBEE JUST SHOW US?

>> I LOVE THAT IDEA.

LET'S HEAD OVER THERE NOW.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> OHIO HAS 88 COUNTY SEATS, MOST PRETTY HISTORIC COMMUNITIES, AND WE ARE VISITING ONE OF THE MORE HISTORIC TODAY IN MOUNT VERNON.

THE SEAT OF KNOX COUNTY.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RECENT INVESTMENT TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY, TO GET AN HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE UP AND RUNNING IN GOOD CONDITION I HAVEN'T BEEN TO MOUNT VERNON IN A WHILE.

I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON HERE TODAY.

>> HI.

>> HI.

HI, JUSTIN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD.

>> I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO SEE THIS PLACE.

I HAVE HEARD ABOUT FOR YEARS.

FINALLY I AM HERE.

TELL ME ABOUT THE WOODWARD OPERA HOUSE.

>> WELL, WE ARE SEEING AGAIN THE WOODWARD OPERA HOUSE IS ON THIS SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND THE ANNEX IS FROM HERE DOWN TO 111 SOUTH MAIN.

EACH FLOOR HAS A PROMENADE THAT TIES THE TWO BUILDINGS TOGETHER.

ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD DAY YOU CAME BECAUSE THEY ARE HANGING THE REPLICA WALLPAPER TODAY IN THE BUILDING.

IT'S PAPER THAT WAS HERE, THAT WAS STENCILED BEFORE, BUT IS NOW PAPER.

>> IT WAS A PAINTED STENCIL?

>> IT WAS.

>> I NOTICE YOU HAVE THE HISTORIC WOOD CEILING, IRON COLUMNS.

>> WE DO.

THE STAIRWAY IS NOT HISTORIC.

IT HAS BEEN CREATED TO TIE THE BUILDINGS TOGETHER BEFORE THESE TWO BUILDINGS WERE JOINED, THERE WEREN'T FIRE SAFETY ACCESS OR -- >> THOSE WERE DIFFERENT?

>> YES, EXACTLY.

IT'S BEEN ADDED TO THE BUILDING TO CREATE A GRAND STAIRCASE.

>> THE GOOD STUFF IS UPSTAIRS?

>> THE FUN STUFF IS UPSTAIRS.

>> LET'S HAVE A LOOK.

>> OKAY.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> WHAT A GREAT SPACE.

>> YEAH, ITS A VERY RARE VIEW THAT ANYONE GETS TO SEE THIS.

>> YOU DON'T GET TO SEE IT THAT MUCH.

>> COME TO THE OPERA HOUSE.

>> WE ARE ON STAGE.

WE ARE LOOKING OUT INTO THIS HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE.

THE BUILDING WAS 1851?

>> THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS 1851.

ORIGINALLY, YOU WOULD HAVE ONLY HAD UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR.

>> THAT WOULD BE THESE WINDOWS?

>> UP TO THOSE WINDOWS.

>> OKAY.

>> IN THE 1880s, IT WAS RAISED AND THE FOURTH FLOOR AND THE BALCONY LEVEL WAS PUT ON.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS CALLED WOODWARD HALL.

EBENEZER WOODWARD NEVER LIVED TO SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT.

I PASSED BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETED.

>> IT'S A CLASSIC THEATER SPACE.

SO IT'S A LEVEL FLOOR.

THAT WAS TYPICAL.

THEY HAD LEVEL FLOORS IN THOSE DAYS?

>> YES, THIS SPACE DID NOT HAVE A PERMANENTLY RAKED FLOOR.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD PUT ONE IN.

THEN THE CONVERSATION STARTED TO, WELL, WHAT ELSE COULD WE USE THIS SPACE FOR AS OPPOSED TO JUST THEATER PERFORMANCES, ART, AND WE DECIDED THAT HAVING A FLAT FLOOR MADE IT MORE MULTI-PURPOSE.

YOU COULD HAVE A WEDDING OR A CONFERENCE OR A DINNER THEATER.

>> HOW LONG WAS USED AS A THEATER?

WAS IT CONTINUOUS?

>> NO.

WE BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A PERFORMANCE IN OVER 100 YEARS.

>> 100 YEARS?

>> YES.

SOME OF THE FUN THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN HERE THOUGH AT ONE POINT THEY USED IT AS A BASKETBALL COURT.

FOR A WHILE, ONE OF THE LOCAL CLUBS HAD IT AS THEIR LODGE.

A PIGEON REFUGE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> OF COURSE, YES.

SO IT HAD ITS USES.

IT WAS STILL A FUNCTIONAL SPACE, BUT WASN'T A THEATER.

>> YES.

>> SO ONCE YOU ARE OPEN AGAIN, THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME?

>> YES, VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT OPENING AGAIN, WHEN DID SORT OF THE RESCUE OF THE BUILDING BEGIN?

>> THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS PURCHASED IN THE LATE 1990s, AND THEN THE ANNEXED PORTION WAS PURCHASED TWO YEARS LATER BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY YOU COULD OPEN THE OPERA HOUSE WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT SPACE.

>> YOU WERE SMART ABOUT THAT, RECOGNIZING THAT THE NEEDS OF THE THEATER FROM THE 19th CENTURY AND 21st CENTURY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.

YOU ARE LUCKY TO GET THE EXTRA BUILDING T MADE THE WHOLE THING FEASIBLE.

HOW DID THE FUNDRAISING GO?

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR FUNDRAISING?

>> WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY.

WE HAVE HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF LOCAL SUPPORT THAT HELPED PURCHASE THE BUILDING THAT HELPED DO SOME OF THE INITIAL RESTORATION.

WHAT REALLY LED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT IS HISTORIC AND NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE.

>> AS MANY BIG PROJECTS, A HYBRID FUNDING PROGRAM.

THE COMMUNITY SHOWED ITS SERIOUSNESS IN THE BEGINNING BY COMING UP WITH NECESSARY FUNDING TO GET PART WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT GAVE REASSURANCE TO OTHER FUNDERS THAT THEY WERE BUYING INTO SOMETHING THAT REALLY WAS GOING TO LAST.

>> YEAH.

>> WOULD YOU SAY THAT THIS PROJECT IS AN ANCHOR FOR WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON?

>> I DO THINK SO.

THERE IS GOING TO BE FOOD SERVICES ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND THEN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE GOT SOME OFFICE SPACE.

AND WE THINK THAT BRINGING IN PEOPLE, NOT ONLY JUST LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, BUT OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT, IS GOING TO FILL UP THE RESTAURANTS AND THE SHOPS AND ALL OF THE GREAT EATERIES AND ART GALLERIES AND WHATNOT THAT ARE DOWNTOWN.

WE REALLY SEE THIS AS AN ECONOMY BOOSTER.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN SMART ABOUT THAT.

ALSO ABOUT USING SPACES IN THE BUILDING TO GENERATE YOUR OWN REVENUE ON A STEADY BASIS.

THIS IS A GREAT VIEW ON THE STAGE.

IT'S A WONDERFUL THEATER.

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT DONE UP THERE.

I'D LIKE TO GET A LOOK UP THERE AS WELL.

COULD WE DO THAT?

>> I THINK WE CAN GO UP THERE, YEAH.

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> OH, YEAH.

ANOTHER GREAT VIEW.

WE ARE UP ON THE BALCONY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE HISTORIC RAILING.

AND THEN ALL THROUGH HERE, THIS IS ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION.

>> IT IS.

>> SO YOU CHANGED WHAT THE BALCONY ARRANGEMENT WAS.

IT WAS FLAT ORIGINALLY?

>> IT WAS FLAT ORIGINALLY.

THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE AGAIN IS CODE REGULATIONS.

ONE OF THE GREAT FEATURES UP HERE ACTUALLY IS THE CHANDELIER.

THAT SORT OF REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL CHANDELIER.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GAS-LIT.

>> WERE THERE PHOTOS OF THE ORIGINAL YOU WORKED FROM?

>> A COUPLE PHOTOS AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY OLD.

AND REALLY HARD TO SEE.

SO IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO.

>> THEN THE CEILING MEDALLION.

>> A REPLICA AS WELL.

>> FROM AN OLD PHOTO?

>> YEAH.

>> LOOKS LIKE STARS AND FLORAL DESIGNS?

>> THERE IS ACTUALLY INSTRUMENTS IN THE CENTER AREA.

WHERE THE GOLD IS, YEAH.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT VISIT.

I HAVE NOT BEEN HERE BEFORE.

I'M GLAD I HAVE NOW.

YOU ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS WITH A WONDERFUL PRESERVATION PROJECT, DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT MAKES BUSINESS SENSE.

THAT'S HOW YOU SAVE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

SO MANY THANKS.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >>> THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND REMEMBER YOU CAN CATCH ALL OUR EPISODES ON YOUTUBE OR COLUMBUSNEIGHBORHOODS.ORG.

>> AND ON THE WOSU MOBILE APP AND FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK ON "COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS."

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ]