1838-1938
| West Liberty History 1838-1938 | |
Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
FROM HORSE OPERA to MOVIES There are probably very few people living who remember that our first home talent plays were held on the second floor of the building now occupied by Irey and Nichols (S. E. Cor. Calhoun and 3rd streets, 2nd door.) Those were the days when gatherings of this kind were anticipated several weeks in advance, there being no telephones over which to extend invitations on a moment's notice. Instead of the honk of a horn about 10 p.m. and a masculine voice yelling " hop in Toots, let's shag along " to almost any place within a radius of a hundred miles, a swain of the 60's was obliged to hitch up old Nell and start for his lady shortly after his chores were done, in order to be at the meeting place on time. Oh, yes, they had refreshments after the dances, too, but quite different from our customary menu of today---just oysters, crackers, pickles and COFFEE.
As this small room, with its dark narrow hallway soon proved inadequate for the needs of the community, the members of the Occidental Band ( Harry Shipman, Frank Sheets, Joe Westland, Joe Rogers, Bob Clark, Joe Clark, Will Chase, S. B. Windus, Will Nichols, Dick phillips, E. H. M. Hounslow, Ett Chase, John Wiley, and Grant Nichols ) agreed to sign a ten year lease on the second floor of the building on the North west corner of Calhoun and 3rd Sts., built by Ed Manfull and C. M. Nichols, provided it could be suitably arranged to accomodate road shows and town gatherings of all kinds. The ceiling of the hall was calcimined, the walls painted, the woodwork grained and the room equipped with comfortable chairs, the cost of which amounted to $500. A clipping from the paper published at that time describes the drop-curtain as " a German sketch---St. Goar, on the Rhine---a magnificent painting that cannot fail to win the admiration of every lover of art, and which is a credit to the artist." Remember ? In that year, planks were laid for what was known as " peanut gallery" and this of course, was usually occupied by the younger set.
From this time on, Liberty Hall, under the management of John Wiley, was considered the civic and social center of the town. It was here that the high school graduation exercises were held---until such time as the school could accomodate them. The Unitarian Society also used it for their meetings. Road shows ( good ones too ) made regular one and two week stands. Remember : The presentation of " The Mikado " and " A pair of Kids?" The undignified reception given the Cherry Sisters during their performances? The stock company which provided the movie machines--- the ones with the hand crank? The museum ? The Hypnotist who placed the sleeping body in one of the store windows where it was allowed to remain that the skeptical public might be impressed?
The various dramatic groups who presented their bit toward the art of acting---"The Woven Web", "Over the Hill to the Poor House", "Ole Olson", "Strife", "Crawfords Claim", "Charleys Aunt", "My Friend from India", "Old Maid's Convention", "Because She Loved Him So", All Girl Minstrel, in Ebony Warblers", ending with a grand cake walk---all produced by the West Liberty Dramatic Club? Dr. Jayne's superior characterization in the " District School ?" Clark Wheeler as the snake charmer? Art Mead, Roy Mead and Robert Boise as acrobats? The mid-winter picnic arranged by Mr. Wiley, the stage being equipped with trees and real swings for the kiddies? The elaborate parties and dances given by the various groups of young people, and the Prince Alberts and high hats donned for the occasions by some of the town's most dashing young men?
In spite of the fact that there seems to have been no end to the festivities held within the halls of old Liberty Hall, they were not staged on a paying basis, and as Mr. Nichols desired his half of the space for storing rugs, etc., a partition was erected and the community organizations were obliged to look elsewhere for space in which to continue operations.
A temporary stage was then built in the rear of the old skating rink, standing on the Maurice Whitacre property ( 4th St. N. E. of Calhoun ) and there dances and shows were continued until such time as the building was moved to the present opera house location.
After a time, this old rink was torn down and, with the aid of the Pythian organization, the new building was financed---now the property of the West Liberty Opera House Company. Activities were carried on here the same as before, road shows continuing to make regular engagements and home talents putting in their bid for recognition. The music shows put on by the American Legion were among the top ranking attractions, packing the house for two nights. With the exception of the West Liberty Community Players, a newly organized group whose members feel the urge to express their art now and then, there has been very little call these last few years for moving the silver screen to the rear of the stage.
This brings us up to the more modern method of producing plays---the movies. About 1908 the Wright Brothers operated the first movie show on the N. E. Corner of Spencer and 3rd Sts., the first pictures being imported and bearing French captions. Meyers was the next proprietor who, in a short time, opened up in the present opera house. Then came John Miller with road shows and moving pictures, then Glenn Miller. During this change, there was a time when we were provided with a choice of shows, Middleton managing a second show in the Burkart building (Calhoun near 4th St.) It was subsequently sold to John Heath.
The Old road shows and home talents have died a hard death, but West Liberty is to be congratulated on the high standard of its moving picture theater. It owes a debt of gratitude to the manager, Paul Tobias.