COATES OPERA HOUSE

COATES OPERA HOUSE. The had a single balcony and only two box seats located so close to the stage to make it impossible to see well from either. The seating arrangement was unique. The rows of seats followed around the parquet rail so that a person sitting on the extreme ends of the rows faced a side wall instead of the stage. (3)

The Coates Theater received its name from J. C. Morris, a man with experience as a theatrical manager. Morris came to Dubuque in 1900 and negotiated with the managers of RHOMBERG PARK to allow him to present his vaudeville show. When the opportunity arose in June, he leased the building which had formerly been the site of BARTELL'S DRAMATIC AND VAUDEVILLE THEATER. Morris then convinced the park managers to allow him to move his performers and staging to his Coates Opera House. The show returned to the park for Sunday afternoon and evening shows. Vaudeville continued until September when dramatic productions were scheduled. During the winter, Morris announced that comic opera would be presented. (13)

To encourage attendance, Morris had electric fans installed through the theater to ensure cool temperatures in the summer. On announced days, ladies were admitted to any part of the theater for ten cents. Children could attend for five cents. (14) On December 22, 1902 one lady was admitted free for each paid reserved ticket. (15)

Morris opened the theater to other events as well. In 1901 the Iowa Dairymen Convention was held there in November. (16) However, not even the Military band which drew a crowd outside, could persuade their audience to attend a political debate in November 1902. Better luck attended a performance of the Fays, a group of mindreaders, who performed in January 1903.

The announcement was made in July, 1903 that the Telegraph-Herald Company had signed a lease on the building. It was the intention of the management to move into the building during the fall. Plans called for extensive renovation including additional floors in the four story building and new machinery. Breaking with the tradition of having the presses in the basement, the new office of the newspaper would install the presses on the main floor. (17)

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

The building, however, sat empty until 1904. Jake Rosenthal secured the lease for the building from its owners Harker Brentnal SPENSLEY, Sr., Charles H. EIGHMEY and James WOODWARD and began the process of constructing a vaudeville business. Rosenthal, known nationally for his business success, introduced talking movies to Dubuque, with a movie starring Al Jolson. He was also on a first name basis with such international stars as Joe FRISCO and escape artist Harry Houdini.

In 1908 the DUBUQUE OPERA HOUSE COMPANY was incorporated. It renamed the BIJOU THEATER and after the close of the vaudeville season in 1909 the entire interior was renovated at a cost of $40,000. The theater was lowered from the second floor to the first floor, two balconies were installed, and four boxes were constructed on each side of the stage. Everything was done to modernize the theater which opened for business as the New Bijou on November 12, 1909. (19)

The fifty-year old structure was destroyed by fire on the morning of April 7, 1910. (20) The site then became the location of the MAJESTIC THEATRE.

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Source:

1. "Memories of the Fourth St. Theatre," Telegraph Herald, April 10, 1910, p. 6

2. Oldt, Franklin T. and Patrick J. Quigley, History of Dubuque County, Iowa Chicago: Goodspeed Historical Association, . p. 51

3. "Memories..."

4. "Inns of Yesteryear," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, April 30, 1933, p. 5

5. Memories

6. "Dubuque Before 1880," Telegraph Herald, November 2, 1933. p. 7. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BABCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U6oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1340,4189885&dq=lumber+yard+fires+dubuque&hl=en

7. "Theater At Fourth and Main: A Rich and Vivid Tradition," Online: http://fiveflagscenter.com/AboutUs/History.aspx

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. "Commencement Exercises," Dubuque Daily Herald, June 25, 1886, p. 4

11. "Many Are Coming," Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Nov. 10, 1901, p. 14

12. Ibid.

13. "It is Now Riverside Park," The Dubuque Herald, June 7, 1900, p. 3

14. Ibid.

15. "City in Brief," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 20, 1902, p. 5

16. "The Second Day," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, November 13, 1901, p. 3

17. "Gets a New Home," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, July 2, 1903, p. 3

18. "New Bijou Theatre Building Which Was Destroyed by Fire at Early Hour Thursday Morning," The Telegraph Herald, April 8, 1910, p. 1

19. Ibid.