Local glories: opera houses on main street, where art and community meet

Description

"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"-- Read more... Abstract: "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"