Culture at the Opera House Cost 25 Cents

It was resentment over being treated as hicks by Los Angeles that led to the secession and creation of Orange County in 1889.

This sensitivity persisted among locals, so it was with particular pride that they cherished French’s Opera House, later remodeled and renamed The Grand Opera House, above.

There’s disagreement over whether any opera was performed there, but the Santa Ana Blade in 1897 touted it as “one of the few first-class theaters found in the smaller cities of the Coast.” Touring troupes who played Los Angeles, itself considered off the mainline back then, often would play one night at the opera house in Santa Ana as well.

The Grand had seats for 1,200, including wooden benches at the rear of the balcony, which sold to the common folk for 25 cents and where civility was enforced by a constable.

Helena Modjeska, an international star who had moved to the area, performed at the opening benefits of both French’s in 1890 and the Grand in 1897. But more often, the theater hosted road shows, local plays, commencement exercises and, shown in top photo, a convention of the Grand Army of the Republic, circa 1910.

The popularity of movie theaters sent the Grand into decline. It fell as far as staging amateur boxing before being condemned and demolished.

Nowadays, there’s no question about whether operas are performed in Orange County. They’re regularly scheduled at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, above, which seats 3,000.

*

OC Then and Now calls, (714) 966-5973; e-mail OCthenand [email protected]