Article Preview: As It Was: Built in 1902, Medford Opera House burned down in 1912 - DailyTidings.com - Ashland, OR

Ashland Daily Tidings (Ashland, OR — Wayback)

2015-09-19

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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » NEWS NOW   Herb Rothschild: The year in review       ...       Guest Opinion: Gateway art process failed       ...       International Peace Day: Ashland Culture of Peace event Monday       ...       Herb Rothschild: The year in review       ...       Guest Opinion: Gateway art process failed       ...       International Peace Day: Ashland Culture of Peace event Monday       ...           AS IT WAS As It Was: Built in 1902, Medford Opera House burned down in 1912 By Luana (Loffer) Corbin DailyTidings.com By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Posted Sep. 16, 2015 @ 5:34 pm By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Posted Sep. 16, 2015 @ 5:34 pm »  Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Work began on J.R. Wilson’s new opera house in Medford on May 9, 1902, and a grand opening was held in July. The owners touted the wooden building as one of the finest, best furnished and safest in a fire of any public hall in Southern Oregon. A fuse in the electric lighting system burned out and delayed the evening program at the grand opening. Minstrel shows, moving pictures using Edison’s marvelous machine, musicians and plays soon graced the stage. It also hosted political events, including talks on taxation, prohibition and women’s suffrage. By 1911, the building, located near the intersection of Eighth and Central streets, was too small for the size of the audiences and traveling theater companies. On Oct. 3, 1912, a mysterious fire started outside the building, but was extinguished before causing damage. A few days later an inside fire at 5 o’clock in the afternoon destroyed the building. Ironically, the name of the current play was “Bought And Paid For,” and could be seen through the flames. Insurance covered $1,500 of the estimated $5,000 loss of the building. Source: “Medford Opera House sparks interest,” Since You Asked, Mail Tribune, 29 Sept. 2012. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org . By Luana (Loffer) Corbin DailyTidings.com By Luana (Loffer) Corbin Posted Sep. 16, 2015 @ 5:34 pm » Comment or view comments   /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service  |  Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501