Wheeler Opera House
South elevation and west profile, 2010
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| Address | 320 E. Hyman Avenue Aspen, CO USA |
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| Coordinates | 39°11′21″N 106°49′11″W / 39.18917°N 106.81972°W |
| Owner | City of Aspen |
| Designation | NRHP# 72000276 |
| Capacity | 503 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1889 |
| Closed | 1913–50 |
| Rebuilt | 1950, Herbert Bayer |
| Years active | 1889–1912, 1950–present |
| Architect | Willoughby J. Edbrooke |
| Website | |
| http://www.wheeleroperahouse.com/ | |
 Photo from April 17, 1986 Aspen Times by Devon Meyers, showing "Katie Hudson" at left as Little Alice
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The Wheeler Opera House is located at the corner of East Hyman Avenue and South Mill Street in Aspen, Colorado, United States. It is a stone building erected during the 1890s, from a design by Willoughby J. Edbrooke that blends elements of the Romanesque Revival and Italianate architectural styles. In 1972 it became the first property in the city to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the second in Pitkin County. The upstairs auditorium hosts a number of events every year, ranging from nationally prominent music and comedy acts and some of the Aspen Music Festival's events to productions by local community groups.
It is one of two buildings in town named after early developer Jerome B. Wheeler. Originally, the opera house was located on the third floor, with retail space at street level and professional offices on the second floor. An early 20th-century arson fire damaged the interior, and in its wake the theater fell into disuse. The building became property of the city due to tax default. Later in the century it was renovated several times, twice from designs by Herbert Bayer, to bring it back into full use. For a while the Pitkin County Library was located in the building as well.
Today it houses retail space and a restaurant in addition to the auditorium space, and is one of Aspen's most prominent landmarks. The city funds its operations through a real estate transfer tax that has built up a large surplus over the years. The Comedy Festival, then known as the HBO/US Comedy Arts Festival, was held in the building annually from 1985–2007. Among the performers who have appeared at the Wheeler are Lily Tomlin, Renée Fleming, Phish, John Denver and Bill Maher. Kate Hudson made her debut there as an elementary school student.Michael Hutchence's last official live recording with INXS was also recorded at the Wheeler, within a year of his death.
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