Page 46 - Galveston Waves - January 2019

1894 Grand Opera House

124 Years Entertaining Galveston

By: Christopher Bergeron
alveston’s thirst for rich entertainment dates
back before its incorporation in 1839. The
earliest documented account of a “formal”
theater environment on the island, (in my
G reach), comes from the author of The Island
and City of Galveston from 1879, when he wrote:

“the tiny settlement of Saccarap (sic) had the city’s first theater as early
as 1838 organized by Isaac G. Brookfield. Brookfield, “an ardent
disciple of Thespis,” engaged a troupe from New Orleans and trans-
formed a “house in Saccarap” (sic) into a theater using primitive stage
paraphernalia. With the attractive Mrs. Brookfield as leading lady, the
troupe “gave representations of the drama and occasionally tragedy”.

Over the next few years, numerous efforts were made to pro-
duce entertainment on the island.

In the mid-1840’s, a hall above J.A. Sauter’s Gothic Saloon on
23rd between Market and Postoffice St. housed the now in-
corporated city of Galveston’s first recorded plays; “The Man
About Town” and “The Miser of Marseilles”.

In the late 1840’s, G.H. Lewis, (Galveston News), refurbished
a wooden building at the corner of 23rd and Market Street to
be used as a playhouse.

In 1853, an icehouse on Postoffice and 24th St. was recon-
structed to host a troupe from New Orleans associated with
Placide’s Varieties, (New Orleans Theater), performing “Piz-
zaro” and “The Two Gregories”.

Neitch’s Theater
In 1854, Theodore Neitch, architect and stockholder, con-
structed the first “bona fide” theater on Market at 24th St.
opening on November 11th with a production of “Honey-
moon” or “Honeydew”. This theater hosted productions
through the late 50’s and early 60’s staging celebrities of the
day such as Eliza Logan and Julia Dean.

During the Civil War (1861-1865), theatrical offerings were
slim, at best, resulting in the Neitch’s Theater building con-
verting to a livery stable, a furniture store and a cabinet mak-
ers shop. In 1866, Mrs. Harry Hunter, (actress), restored the
old Neitch’s Theater building into a well-equipped playhouse,
hosting only legitimate drama after the style of the Varieties
Theater of New Orleans. On April 4th, 1866, Mrs. Hunter’s
house hosted the first production of opera in Galveston;
“Ernani”.
46 | Waves Magazine | January 2019 Issue