History of The Grand Opera House

History of the Grand Opera House

The Grand Opera House is the oldest theater in Dubuque, Iowa. It was built in 1889-1890 at an estimated cost of $65,000. Done in the Richardsonian architectural style, the original facade consists of St. Louis brick facing with Bayfield red sandstone trim.

The opening night performance was on August 14, 1890, when 800 people came to see the famous opera "Carmen." They paid $5 for a ticket, a great deal of money in those days!

Some very famous actors and actresses have performed on the Grand stage over the years. Theater legends like George M. Cohen, Lillian Russell, Ethel Barrymore, and Sara Bernhardt all graced the early Grand's stage.

One of the most elaborate productions ever put on at the Grand Opera House was "Ben Hur". There were chariots and horses along with elephants on the stage.

In the 1920s, the owners of the theater closed it for three months for remodeling. During this time, they removed the second balcony and all of the box seats, recovered the seats, covered over the orchestra pit, straightened the front of the stage (it had been a semi-circle), and replaced the gas fixtures with electric lights. They also installed a big screen and a projector. For the next 58 years the Grand Opera House became a movie theater and was known simply as The Grand.


The Grand Opera House as it looked shortly after construction.	In 1926, the Grand maintains its original appearance; however, it is now a movie theater currently starring Norma Shearer in The Waning Sex.	The interior of the Grand as it looked around 1940 from the balcony.

This 1943 photograph of the northwest corner of the lobby advertises Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon in Madame Curie. Another poster features a tie-in between the movie Lassie Come Home and Friskies dog food.	A view of the Grand from 1963. While the facade is original, the rounded window at the top has been replaced with brick veneer. In 1963 the Grand was showing Bye Bye Birdie starring Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke. Note the marquee from the 1930s.	In 1964, the Grand featured Man In The Middle starring Robert Mitchum. The original brick facade has been covered with enameled steel and the familiar marquee from the 1930s and 1940s has been replaced in an attempt to be more modern. The metal covering was installed between 1963-1964.

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