Wright Opera House

50sSNIPES on October 28, 2020 at 7:24 pm

The Wright Opera House Is Known To Be Denton’s Second Opera House. The First One Is Known To Be Located In The Center Of The West Side Of The Square As Early As 1889 Until 1894 When A Lightning Strike During A Severe Thunderstorm Warning Rips Through The Skies At Denton’s First Opera House. The Strike Also Occurred The Courthouse.

The Wright Opera House Is The Second Opera House To Open In Denton, Opened By Donnie Donnahower As Manager On February 2, 1900 With “Murray And Mack” After Being Completed With A Cost Of $25,000. The Upper Floor Contained The Opera House, Commercial Club, And Office Rooms. And The Lower Floor Contains Additional Office Space. The Building Was 120 Feet Square With Handsome Glass Windows. Its Main Stage Is 28 Feet Deep With An Opening Of 25 Feet And Height Of 15 Feet. There Are 4 Dressing Rooms Which Were Both Divided By 2 For Both Genders. The Scenery Was Purchased From The Kansas City Scenic Co.

The Opera House Ceased Operations In 1913 Due To Growing Competition From Ground Level Moving Picture Houses Whose Top Prices Range From Between 10 To 20 Cents And It Began To Decline.

Its Owner, W.C. Wright, Closed The Wright’s Opera House In Early March 1935 And Ended Up Selling His Opera House To Marton Kornblatt, Which Turned Into A Clothing Store, The Boston Store, After Renovating The Building. The Boston Store Operated Until 1972 And Was Sold To An Office Supply.