Abbeville Opera House
Court Sq., Abbeville, SCAs well as being a plush reminder of the period when old Abbeville was the center of culture for this entire Piedmont district, the restored Abbeville Opera House provides a historic setting for a modern community theater that involves a wide surrounding area.
Restored and renovated in an exceptionally distinguished manner, the Opera House is a valuable memento of a colorful and typically American era. One of the very few such opera houses remaining in South Carolina, its value is increased both by the integrity of its restoration and its modern usage.
The Abbeville Opera House first opened in 1904 with a production of "The Clansman," and during the heyday of circuit theater, shows like "The Great Divide" and "Ben Hur" (with horses) played continuously. American theater's most prominent attractions -- such as the Ziegfield Follies, George White Scandals, Jimmy Durante, and Fannie Brice -- played here. For the traveling road companies, on the way from Richmond to Atlanta, Abbeville Opera House was a regular one-night stand. It was the only theater in the area which could accommodate elaborate productions. (Its companion, the Opera House in Columbia, was demolished long ago). Theatrical nights in Abbeville were gala, white-tie, and evening gown affairs; the Southern Railroad ran special trains to accommodate the hundreds of patrons who came from surrounding towns.
In addition to the theater, the Abbeville Opera House was a center for other major Abbeville events. According to local sources, William Jennings Bryan spoke from this stage during a campaign for President of the United States.
The Abbeville Opera House is now the home of the Abbeville Community Theater, which produced eight major shows during its first 1968-69 season in the building. Ranging from Shakespeare's "King Lear" to "Sound of Music," the year's roster included two productions from nearby colleges: Lander College in Greenwood and Erskine College in Due West. This indicates its district importance. The newly renovated facilities also enabled the Community Theater to host the American Community Theater Association Festival for the 10 Southeastern States in 1969. The American College Theater, also representing 10 southeastern states, will hold its Drama Festival there in January 1971.
The location of the Opera House on the Town's historic Court Square further solidifies its importance as part of Abbeville's heritage.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.