Tibbits Opera House
The story of Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Mich. can be divided into acts -- not unlike the scenes and acts of the countless productions performed there since its grand opening on Sept. 21, 1882.
Act I
The theater was built in 1882, a $25,000 gift from local resident Barton S. Tibbits. He literally gave his all to finance construction of the opulent theatre, with "elegant red Brussels carpet, 'grand opera chairs' upholstered in 'dark Cardinal plush,' under a "dome resplendent with painted cherubs, a large chandelier (that) scattered sparkles of reflected light over all.'"
In 1885, Tibbits sold his theater to a German saloon keeper for $13,000, a pittance of the original cost, and died broke, in August 1899. Tibbits' funeral was held on stage.
A wide variety of entertainment was offered in the early years. There was high-brow: plays like "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Shakespeare's "Richard the III," poetry read by James Whitcomb Riley and a lecture by Clarence Darrow, plus musical entertainment by John Phillips Sousa and his band and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Then there was the common: wrestling and boxing matches, camel rides, and a circus side show.
Act II
In 1919, Tibbits had new owners, and a new offering: movies. July 1929 marked a milestone, when the first "talking" picture was shown at Tibbits, "The Wild Party," with Clara Bow.
With new ownership in 1934, Tibbits was "modernized" into a movie theater, which included a costume change: an Art Deco style flat front was constructed, covering the original "gingerbread" facade.
Intermission
By 1954, the theater was vacant, worn down by years of visitors and lack of upkeep. Demolition seemed inevitable, but for the efforts and vision of "determined local thespians" and Sweet Adelines, who "came to the rescue in the late 1950s." After several years of work - begging for donations and working to clean and reclaim the space -- a live show was again staged. There were holes in the curtain and a "temporary" protective facade was installed on the exterior, but Tibbits was back.
Act III
Formal organization of Tibbits Opera Foundation in 1963 was the beginning of an intensive renovation effort and the "house" was given a make-over: ceiling replastered and painted, walls re-papered, new seats installed, and that holey curtain was replaced.
Programming took on a similar made-over tone, with appearances by Bob Newhart, Joseph Cotton and Agnes Moorhead, and the introduction of professional summer stock theater.
Forty-seven years later, Tibbits is now one of the oldest operating theaters in Michigan and the oldest still in its original location. A new capital campaign has been launched to restore its facade to the original 1882 French Second Empire design. The most visible step to date in that process was installation of a re-built cupola, done in February of this year.
Act IV
In 2005 Tibbits garnered USA Today's accolade as one of "10 great places to see the lights way off Broadway."
"There's just so many other things going on," said Christine Delaney, Tibbits' executive director. "Our reputation is basically built on summer theater, and we're recognized nationally for that. But we do an entertainment series the rest of the year, we are a community facility - all the (local) groups use the theater, we have an art gallery, which is newly refurbished and has rotating exhibits, we do educational programs for the kids - everything from the shows that they perform on stage to entertainers and artists we bring into the schools," Delaney said.
Tibbits' offerings include four productions in the Professional Summer Theatre line-up, an ongoing, year-round schedule for Tibbits' Entertainment Series, and four live productions for young audiences through the ever-popular summer Popcorn Theatre.
Tibbits' tagline rightly proclaims "so much more than a theatre."
Act I
The theater was built in 1882, a $25,000 gift from local resident Barton S. Tibbits. He literally gave his all to finance construction of the opulent theatre, with "elegant red Brussels carpet, 'grand opera chairs' upholstered in 'dark Cardinal plush,' under a "dome resplendent with painted cherubs, a large chandelier (that) scattered sparkles of reflected light over all.'"
In 1885, Tibbits sold his theater to a German saloon keeper for $13,000, a pittance of the original cost, and died broke, in August 1899. Tibbits' funeral was held on stage.
A wide variety of entertainment was offered in the early years. There was high-brow: plays like "Uncle Tom's Cabin," Shakespeare's "Richard the III," poetry read by James Whitcomb Riley and a lecture by Clarence Darrow, plus musical entertainment by John Phillips Sousa and his band and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Then there was the common: wrestling and boxing matches, camel rides, and a circus side show.
Act II
In 1919, Tibbits had new owners, and a new offering: movies. July 1929 marked a milestone, when the first "talking" picture was shown at Tibbits, "The Wild Party," with Clara Bow.
With new ownership in 1934, Tibbits was "modernized" into a movie theater, which included a costume change: an Art Deco style flat front was constructed, covering the original "gingerbread" facade.
Intermission
By 1954, the theater was vacant, worn down by years of visitors and lack of upkeep. Demolition seemed inevitable, but for the efforts and vision of "determined local thespians" and Sweet Adelines, who "came to the rescue in the late 1950s." After several years of work - begging for donations and working to clean and reclaim the space -- a live show was again staged. There were holes in the curtain and a "temporary" protective facade was installed on the exterior, but Tibbits was back.
Act III
Formal organization of Tibbits Opera Foundation in 1963 was the beginning of an intensive renovation effort and the "house" was given a make-over: ceiling replastered and painted, walls re-papered, new seats installed, and that holey curtain was replaced.
Programming took on a similar made-over tone, with appearances by Bob Newhart, Joseph Cotton and Agnes Moorhead, and the introduction of professional summer stock theater.
Forty-seven years later, Tibbits is now one of the oldest operating theaters in Michigan and the oldest still in its original location. A new capital campaign has been launched to restore its facade to the original 1882 French Second Empire design. The most visible step to date in that process was installation of a re-built cupola, done in February of this year.
Act IV
In 2005 Tibbits garnered USA Today's accolade as one of "10 great places to see the lights way off Broadway."
"There's just so many other things going on," said Christine Delaney, Tibbits' executive director. "Our reputation is basically built on summer theater, and we're recognized nationally for that. But we do an entertainment series the rest of the year, we are a community facility - all the (local) groups use the theater, we have an art gallery, which is newly refurbished and has rotating exhibits, we do educational programs for the kids - everything from the shows that they perform on stage to entertainers and artists we bring into the schools," Delaney said.
Tibbits' offerings include four productions in the Professional Summer Theatre line-up, an ongoing, year-round schedule for Tibbits' Entertainment Series, and four live productions for young audiences through the ever-popular summer Popcorn Theatre.
Tibbits' tagline rightly proclaims "so much more than a theatre."