Wild times at the Indianola Opera House

All the towns had one the minute they were able to fund the building an opera house was born. Indianola’s opera house was started in 1883 and the builders were pressed to have it ready for bringing in the New Year, 1884.

Despite a fire caused by heaters attempting to dry the plastered walls faster, a celebration was held in the opera house. From tahe McCook Weekly Tribune, January 3, 1884. “On the occasion of the opening of the Indianola Opera House by Hayden & Co., a freed dance was given which was an unqualified success throughout. The severity of the weather kept the large delegation from the Beaver at home (this would be settlers along Beaver Creek), and likewise the band, which was expected to accompany them. And was also the cause of keeping many others at home toasting their shins. But by 10 o’clock the immense hall, not yet fully completed, was filled well nigh 200 persons being present. A large string band was provided, and dancing was continued until about 24 o’clock, when the jolly party repaired to the Indianola House, over which the affable and obliging Mr. Clark Ward presides, where one of the finest tables which it has ever been our reporter’s luck to strike in this wester country was spread. Fruits, candies, nuts, cakes, meats, and other delicacies, all of which were appreciated to the full. After paying due respect to the cravings of the inner man the light fantastic was resumed and continued until about 3 in the morning.

If you ever thought our ancestors didn’t know how to party, think again. It certainly wasn’t an every night affair, or even an every weekend, but when they had a chance to get together with their neighbors, dance and listen to music they enjoyed themselves to the hilt. Every age came to the party with the little ones at sleep tucked away in the wagon or the corner of the barn, dance hall, etc., until the adults were too tired to dance another step and the family headed home.

It wasn’t always fun and games as this next article covers. Reprinted in the McCook Weekly Tribune taken from the Indianola Courier, January 31, 1884. “The dance at the opera house on Thursday evening last, broke up in a row. It seems during the evening several had imbibed more whisky than was good for their judgment and an altercation took place between a man named Frank Young and E. F. Quigley, in which the latter tried to use a revolver. This move was frustrated by bystanders and Young got in his work on Quigley with a chair, cutting the latter’s head open. Quigley, who was the aggressor, was put out of the house. He returned shortly with a carbine and threatened to shoot everybody. Finally Messrs. A.W. Hamilton and Andy Barber took the gun away from Quigley, and put him to bed as he had grown weak from loss of blood. To say that the affair is simply disgraceful, is drawing it mild. In our opinion the time for such scenes in the county has passed and the sooner owners or managers of public dance halls recognize the fact the better. No man under the influence of liquor should be allowed to enter such a place on any pretext whatsoever, as his presence is an insult to every lady there.”

The more things change, the more they stay the same! Anyway, McCook, 10 years Indianola’s junior, was to have an Opera House also (referred to as an Opera Hall) in the upstairs of the Menard store. Workers were being advertised for in January 1884, the lumber arrived later that month and J. F. Colins began building the store/hall. It was to be a wooden structure with a brick veneer. W.F. Wallace and J.F. Forbes leased the hall in March in anticipation of scheduling entertainment and in May of 1884, the grand opening was announced to be on May 16th.

SWNGS Christmas open house is this weekend, December 10th. It begins at 1 PM and is open to everyone. Join us at 322 Norris Ave. (The Temple Building), rooms 2-7 on the second floor.