Five men, all ushers at the Central City Opera House's first opening in 1878, pose in front of the stone opera house in Central City, Colorado. Standing, from left, are Bud Johnson and Morgan Laird, who was a member of the Central City school board and the editor of the Central City Register-Call Newspaper; seated below them are, from left, Harry Armfield, a miner and clerk of the Gilpin County District Court for about eight years, (?) Morgan and Harry H. Lake, who ; starring Lillian Gish on July 16, 1932. Residents and visitors attended the event in costumes from the mining era and after the production attended a grand ball at the Teller House. The event was a huge success and kicked off the Central City Opera House Association's annual opera festivals.; worked at the First National Bank in Central City for 47 years and was also an avid photographer. The men, all wearing suits, are gathered as part of the celebration for the reopening of the building in 1932. The building was owned by the McFarlane family, who under the suggestion of Ida Kruse McFarlane, donated the historic building to the University of Denver to serve as a theater. The building was completely restored and reopened for a production of "Camille"
Date
[1932?]
Notes
Title from inventory prepared by Western History Department, Denver Public Library; words "Central City Opera House July 1st 1932. The only 5 men living at the time the Opera House Assn. reopened the opera house who had acted as ushers on the night the opera house was first opened in 1876. Standing - Bud Johnson and Morgan Laird. Seated Harry Armfield, - Morgan (many years janitor at High School) Harry H. Lake (Now all deceased) photo source unknown Kemp Collection" ; written on paper stuck to back of print; image also identified as photograph taken by Harry H. Lake.; R7001252032
Description
1 photoprint ; 19 x 25 cm. (7 1/4 x 9 3/4 in.); 1 photonegative ; 7 x 9 cm. (2 3/4 x 3 1/4 in.); 1 photoprint ; 12 x 17 cm. (4 3/4 x 6 3/4 in.)
Subject
Ushers--1930-1940.; Central City (Colo.)--1930-1940.; Opera Houses--Colorado--Central City--1930-1940.; Armfield, Harry.; Johnson, Bud.; Laird, Morgan.; Lake, Harry H. 1860-1952.
Rights Statement
Restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.
Reproduction Available for Purchase
Yes (digital reproduction)
Type of Material
Film negatives.; Group portraits.; Photographic prints.; Imaged.; Image
