City Opera House

The City Opera House is listed under Wooster in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. It was on the ground floor, had 1,000 seats, gas and electric illumination. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents to $1. George Kettler was Mgr. There were 7 members of the house orchestra. The proscenium opening was 32 feet wide X 35 feet high, and the stage was 40 fet deep. There was one daily newspaper and 3 weeklies, and there were 3 hotels for show folk. The 1897 population of Wooster was 8,000. Interestingly, George Kettler was listed as the contact at the Wooster Daily Republican newspaper. Is it possible that he was both the Manager of the theater and the newspaper drama critic??