Biddeford in York County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

The Opera House / La Salle de L'Opéra

Biddeford, Maine

— The Museum in the Streets® —

The Opera House / La Salle de L'Opéra Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 12, 2021

1. The Opera House / La Salle de L'Opéra Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Biddeford, Maine was known for its good theater. It was the second stop on the summer stock route out of Boston. The Opera House shown here is the third on this site. The first was called Beethoven Hall built in 1850 and it could seat 1,500 people. It was lost to fire in 1858. The second was the Biddeford Opera House built in 1860 and lost to fire in 1894. The city built the new hall shown in the photograph in 1896. Architect John Calvin Stevens sloped the floor to the rear of the building to provide emergency exits on the ground floor. The auditorium was richly stenciled and the new stage was equipped with high rigging. Nearly all the great stage names of the 19th century appeared in Biddeford including Artemis Ward and the Booth family. The theater was also known for its vaudeville shows.

La Ville de Biddeford a tourjours été reconnue comme ville de théâtre. C'était le second arrêt sur la route du summer stock de Boston. La Salle de l'Opéra dans la photo est le troisième théâtre construit. La première fut la Salle Beethoven bâtiee en 1850 avec 1,500 siège. Celle-ci fut détruite par un incendie

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en en 1858. La deuxième Salle de l'Opéra fut incendiée en 1894. Mais en 1896, la ville rebâtit à nouveau. Les plan de la nouvelle salle étaient ceux de John Calvin Stevens de Portland qui conserva le foyer au deuxième et qui, par moyen de gaz et d'électricité, fournit l'éclairage la salle. Presque tous les comédiens renommés du 19ème siècle, tels le comédien Artemis Ward et la famille Booth, passèrent en scène à Biddeford. Le théâtre était aussi connu pour ses vaudevilles.

Erected 2006 by The Museum in the Streets®. (Marker Number 18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets®: Biddeford, Maine series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 43° 29.623′ N, 70° 27.378′ W. Marker is in Biddeford, Maine, in York County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street and Lincoln Street, on the left when traveling east on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 192 Main St, Biddeford ME 04005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Biddeford City Hall / L'Hôtel de Ville (here, next to this marker); The Lincoln Street Mill and Clock Tower / La Filature Et Sa Tour Sur La Rue Lincoln (a few steps

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 12, 2021

2. The Opera House / La Salle de L'Opéra Marker

from this marker); Biddeford, Maine (within shouting distance of this marker); The Thacher Hotel / L'Hôtel Thacher (within shouting distance of this marker); Painchaud Band / La Fanfare Painchaud (within shouting distance of this marker); Journal Building in 1916 / Le Bâtiment du Journal Quododien en 1916 (within shouting distance of this marker); John E. Maxson (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Biddeford.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.