Bardavon 1869 Opera House
|
Collingwood Opera House and
Office Building |
|
 |
|
| Location | 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°42′10.72″N 73°55′45.35″W / 41.7029778°N 73.9292639°WCoordinates: 41°42′10.72″N 73°55′45.35″W / 41.7029778°N 73.9292639°W |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | J.A. Wood |
| NRHP Reference # | 77000939 |
| Added to NRHP | October 20, 1977 |
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House /ˈbɑːrdəvɒn/, in the downtown district of Poughkeepsie, New York, United States, is the oldest continuously-operating theater in New York State. Designed by J.A. Wood, it was built in 1869 and served as a venue for various performing arts, community meetings, and celebrations until 1923; it largely resumed this heritage by becoming a general performing-arts facility in 1976. In the interlude period from 1923 to 1975, it served as a cinema, although there were some live performances, especially vaudeville, during this period. Originally called the Collingwood Opera House after its owner and operator James Collingwood, the theater featured an unusual two-stage dome. Between 1869 and 1921, many notable figures of the day graced the Bardavon's stage, including Sarah Bernhardt and John Barrymore.
The Bardavon was designed by prominent Poughkeepsie architect J. A. Wood and built by James S. Post, the latter notable for designing or erecting architectural structures in the Poughkeepsie central business district and Vassar College. An extensive renovation was undertaken in 1905 and supervised by architect William Beardsley, who also designed the Dutchess County Court House and Attica state prison. The theater was not reopened until January 1, 1923, when it was opened under the new name The Bardavon Theater.
At that time, it was bought by Paramount, and in 1928 a Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ was added. It is most likely the theater where cult film director Edward D. Wood, Jr. served as an usher in his youth, although sources don't often specify the Bardavon by name. In 1947, the theater was further modernized and a movie marquee added. The style of the interior after the renovation has been described as neo-classic.
...
Wikipedia