Mineral Point Opera House
139 High Street,
Mineral Point,
WI
53565
139 High Street,
Mineral Point,
WI
53565
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Small town theater built in 1914 as a vaudeville and performing arts house. In later years it strictly showed movies. Extensively restored and reopened in 2003, it now serves as an anchor for picturesque shops and businesses in a former lead mining town, founded by Cornish miners.
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Jack
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
There is a listing in the 1951 Film Daily Yearbook for the Point Theater seating 418 (no address given). In the 1945 Film Daily Yearbook, the Point is given a seating capacity of 350. Is the Point another name for the Mineral Point Opera House?
According to the Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce, this theater did indeed go by the name of Point until the early 1990s. Here’s a little more detail about its early years and restoration.
“Like most communities, many professional entertainment and touring show groups played Mineral Point, along with local theatrical productions. Many of these productions were held at local public halls and probably at the Opera Hall in the old courthouse. As early as 1889, the local newspapers began urging the City of Mineral Point to build a new opera house. There were finally successful when an Opera House was included in the plans for the new Municipal Building. In February 1915, the town dedicated the new Opera House in the the new City Hall (137 High Street). The new Opera House contained boxes holding twenty seats, and a main floor and balcony which seated 703. A stage and screen, protected by an asbestos curtain, extended across the back of the building. It had steam heat and electric lights. In 1963, residents restored the interior of the building and repaired the interior filigree detailing with original molds found in Milwaukee by Robert Neal. In 1988, the city began planning restoration of the theater.”
Please note that as of March 2008 the Mineral Point Opera House URL is www.mpoh.org
Here is an exterior view and this is an interior view.
The Mineral Point Opera House Rehabilitation Project is seeking bids by April 7 on one complete contract for the work.
The owner of record is Lauren Powers, Mineral Point.
The Architect will be Strang Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin.
In general, the project consists of rehabilitation work on the existing theater to include some exterior restoration and repair. The approximate area of work is 7,470 square feet on two floors and a mezzanine.
Here’s a recent article about the renovation with some pictures.
View link
Great renovation photos at this location,
http://gallery.me.com/pjmrozinski#100026
The renovation is now complete. Grand reopening will be on April 30.
View link
We’ve been “re” opened for two years now. Restoration was a total success. Please check out our website at www.mpoh.org for updates and info. We will be hosting the Driftless Film Festival in November for the third year. I’m happy to discuss restoration with any interested party, just gave three tours today. We’ve been known as the Municipal Theater, the Point Theater and now the Opera House.