Nacogdoches in Nacogdoches County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Old Nacogdoches Opera House

Photographed by James Hulse, November 20, 2022

1. Old Nacogdoches Opera House Marker

Inscription. On 1889 John Schmidt purchase this lot. Before that time, the Mitchell Hotel (c. 1831), an early Nacogdoches stagecoach inn, stood on the site. Schmidt wanted a place for theatrical companies to stop over as they traveled between engagement in Shreveport and Houston. He commissioned architect D. Rulfs to build an opera house. The Nacogdoches Opera House had a ticket office and other businesses (at first general merchandise and a confectionery) on the ground floor. A wide staircase led to the second floor theater. The high ceiling of the second floor permitted the existence of a gallery. At the rear of the floor, the stage was flanked by dressing rooms and had an outside stairway providing access for actors and scenery. From early accounts, the stage was very small and could not accommodate all productions.

While the theater did host opera performances, most of the touring shows were plays, melodramas, occasional burlesques, and magic shows. After the touring season, the theater became a favorite site for community recitals, benefits, town meetings, and dances frequently reviewed by the Daily Sentinel. In 1907 the paper

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reported, "a large crowd of dancers and several chaperones enjoyed a pleasant dance at the opera house.... The weather was cool, the music good, floor in good condition and everything was favorable for good dancing." At this site in 1907, the Nacogdoches Civic League and the Nacogdoches Fire Department were both organized. The Marx Brothers first developed their improvisational style of comedy in the Nacogdoches Opera House. During their act around 1907, a disturbance on Main Street caused most of the audience to run to see what was happening. Accounts differ, but either a runaway horse or a mule kicked a cart to pieces and dragged it down the street. The Marx Brothers, angered by the loss of their audience, began to race about the stage in a frenzy of comic behavior. Their parody of their own burlesque and their antics on stage brought the audience back and launched a new direction in their comic careers. According to Groucho Marx, this performance even spawned the first Groucho- ism: "Nacogdoches is full of roaches." He and his brothers were also arrested shortly thereafter for playing euchre, a popular card game, on the porch of

The Old Nacogdoches Opera House Marker is the marker on the left of the two markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, November 20, 2022

2. The Old Nacogdoches Opera House Marker is the marker on the left of the two markers

their hotel.

The building ceased to be a theater in 1923. Sometime after that, the new owner, D.K. Cason replaced the original red brick facade with one with less ornamentation and renamed the building the Cason Building. Later tenants included Cason-Monk Furniture, Mize Department Store, Architect Hal Tucker's office, and Hooper-Barr Art Gallery. In 2001, the D.K. Cason Estate gave this building to Stephen F. Austin State University's Real Estate Foundation for an arts center.

Erected by The Heritage Club of Nacogdoches and the City of Nacogdoches Main Street Advisory Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1889.

Location. 31° 36.164′ N, 94° 39.201′ W. Marker is in Nacogdoches, Texas, in Nacogdoches County. It is at the intersection of North Church Street and East Main Street, on the left when traveling north on North Church Street. The marker is located on the east wall of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 329 East Main Street, Nacogdoches TX

The Old Nacogdoches Opera House and Marker (left marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, November 20, 2022

3. The Old Nacogdoches Opera House and Marker (left marker)

75961, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Diedrich Anton Wilhelm Rulfs (a few steps from this marker); Church Street (a few steps from this marker); The Redland Hotel, 1906-1907 (within shouting distance of this marker); The M.G. Hazel Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of the Home of Antonio Gil y Barbo (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of "Old Soledad" (within shouting distance of this marker); Woodmen of the World Building (within shouting distance of this marker); "Running to the Fight" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nacogdoches.

The Old Nacogdoches Opera House with the marker around the right corner image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, November 20, 2022

4. The Old Nacogdoches Opera House with the marker around the right corner

Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,414 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.