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Friday, April 22, 1977
University Daily Kansan
Opera House has solid walls, rich past
By BILL UYEKI Entertainment Editor
This is the third building, since 1854, to occupy the corner of the Seventh and Massachusetts streets in Lawrence. It's been a playhouse, a movie theatre, a dance ball and beer joint, a disco and concert ball.
With its sturdy walls, the federal government once said it was one of two Lawrence buildings that could be used for a military airbase or nuclear radiation. And beneath the building lie a series of blocked-off escape tunnels—some running under downtown and others extending out to the Kaw River—which helped protect the Civil War to help slave slaves.
Yes, this is just part of the history of the Lawrence Opera House, which has been the name of the three-story structure since January. At that time it had changed from a theater in Iowa to Iowa, dico firm that had leased the hall and had operated a business for about a year.
THE TWO buildings that had previously been built at Seventh and Massachusetts streets were both destroyed by fire. The first, a former hardware store and building of the Lawrence Weekly Tribune, was burned during the Civil War, when William Sheriff Cobb led an attack. That was August 21, 1863; 150 persons were killed and 200 buildings were burned.
The second building, built as a meat market and packing plant, was converted into a playhouse by J. D. Bowersock, one of the cofounders of the A.U.S. congressman for eight years.
But the Bowersock Opera House, as it was called, burned to the ground February 18, 1911, possibly due to some faulty wiring. Bowersock, however, was a most determined man. He wanted to build a fireproof building—and he did.
THE BOWERSOCK Theatre opened January 21, 1912, and that same building stands today. Its sturdy construction—some brick walls are two feet thick, and steel reinforced floors are six inches thick—met a test in 1913, when a fire struck the theatre. The fire did was destroy some interior decorations and crack the front glass of the building.
The Bowersock featured plays, but followed a trend and began to show movies. In 1958, he took on Glen W. Dickinson buy it and appropriately naming it the Dickinson; and in 1939, the Commonwealth Theatre bought it, and it was named the Jayhawk.
EMORY SCOTT, 1921 Vermont, who is retired but still chairman of the board of the business he started. Scott Temperature was director of the Bowersock Theatre in 1927 as an usher. He worked his way up to assistant manager and then to Jayhawker Theatre for more than a year.
He recalls the world premiere of the movie "Dark Command" at the Jayhawker in May. The movie, which covered the lives of a former soldier, Wayne, Walter Pidgeon, Roy Rogers and
Gabby Hayes, Most of the stars came to Lawrence for the showing, and a parade was held to celebrate the premiere. It was followed by a celebration in large Massachusetts Street for the parade.
"IT WAS A mob," Scott says about the
four students chosen from the KU student body.
Scott was chairman of a group of businessmen that bought the Jayhawker in 1869. Plans were to use the building as a theater and John Brown had another idea. Out went the theatre screen and seats, and in came a kitchen where Rochelle roll'n' cookin at the Red Dot Inn.
The Red Dog lasted a decade. Sometimes 2,000 persons would pack into it to see Flash Cadillac, the Flippers and Ike and Tina Turner. The softer sounds, like Ago Guthrie, Ry Cooder and Brewer Shipley, would also play at the Red Dog.
IN THE SPRING of 1974, the Red Dog gave way to the Free State Opera House, with its founders Roger Aldis and Robert Masson. The theatre is a venue and urban design. Those who performed in Free State include Jimmy Spheriex, Dave Mason, Buddy Rich, Maynard Ferguson and Nerman Blake. An unsuccessful attack was made to feature dinner theatre there.
Then came Bugsy's, opening last March. Thousands were spent spicing the old building with computerized dance floors, and movie screens for flashing slides. It was riding the crest of the disco wave, and it was a popular place.
SKIP MOON, president and chairman of the board of 7th Spirit, Inc., the building's owner, said recently that it had not been for Bugsy's "poor and ineffective management and internal problems." Bugsy's would still be in business.
"Bugsy's was behind in rent, and I evicted them." Moon said.
Now the place is simply called the Lawrence Opera House. The plexiglas dance floor and much of the glittering lights are gone. Live entertainment and disco are still offered on the main舞 floor, and the private club downstairs and in the balcony.
BOTH MOON AND concert planner Brian McKinney say they are optimistic that the Opera House can thrive on the pulse of the Lawrence community.
Moon said that there's a variety of ways the building can be used, and that he hoped the community would start using the building more often.
"This hall is big enough to start a national music acorn." McKinsey said. "It's a national acorn."
Scott, whose group of local businessmen sold the Opera House to the 7th Spirit Inc., a few years ago, is working on a book about opera history. He will be in Lawrence. The Opera House is one of three
He says he hasn't been in the building in years, but he still has a high impression of
"It's always had the finest acoustics of any modern theater in Lawrence," he said.
Portions of past in bars' present
Rv RARRY MASSEY
Staff Reporter
In two of Lawrence's drinking establishments the old hasn't given way to the new; rather, the colorful history of Sheranigan's 901 Mississippi St., and Sheriff Sam Jones, Seventh and Massachusetts streets, building a spirit and building of the two businesses.
The newer of the two disco-bars, Shenanigan's, opened its doors for business last August. Jo Mandacina, owner, said recently. Housed within the confines of the studio, Lawrence is building a brick building is one of Lawrences's poshest night spots for those 18 years and older.
Yet, part of the spirit of the old Pladium remains in Shenanigan's.
FOR 30 YEARS, the Pladium Lanes, a 12-lane bowling alley, occupied the building that now attracts hundreds of people Friday and Saturday nights. They crowd the circular lighted dance floor—made from the wood of some of the bowling lanes—or press against the long curved wooden bar, also made in part from wood of the lanes.
"The heart of Shenanigan's is the Pladium," Mandacina says, "it was a respectable place where people came to be with good time. That's what I'm trying, to do here."
"I want to give the students a place where they can come and relax, forget about their problems, studies and all the other little things and just have a good time."
AN EVEN later to she Shenangan's past, Mandinaca has kept a close personal relationship with the former owner of the building and his wife, Gladia, 139 Hirstfield Hall.
The Pladium opened for business in September 1946, Griffiths said, one of two bowling alarms in Lawrence at the time. He was born around the old Pladium has remained essentially the same, during the early years of his career. The Ninth Street west of the Pladium was a
gravel road, Griffiths said. There was also a big pasture northwest of the Pladium
GONE ARE THE long wooden benches that bowlers used to occupy for hours on end, the sound of bowling balls crashing into the ivory-skinned pins and the low drone of machines reseting them. Gone also is the faded fashioned soda fountain in Lawrence.
But remnants still remain. If one looks closely at the dance floor the guide marks from the old lanes can be seen; a cold water Coca-Cola cooler stands unobtrusively at one end of the bar. The Pladium still lives.
For those people 21 years and over, who either prefer something stronger than 3.2 beer or a club atmosphere a little more quiet and mellow, Sherif Sam Jones, in the Eldridge House may be their choice of disco-bar.
Formerly the Disco, Sheriff Sam Jones is a Class A private club that requires $ 85
Night people . . .
3:45 a.m. at KLWN-FM radio station.
students may be working with computer programming on any given night.
"I've always preferred the night. The normal people are out during the day," says Bill Lee, Lawrence senior who requested a flight to KLW-NF radio, m disk jockey shift at KLW-NF radio.
"I just find the people that are up this time of the day far more interesting than 8 to p. 5 mpm," he said. "A lot of them are lonely. I just try to be a friend on the radio."
LEE, DRESSED in torn jeans and tennis shoes, revels in his late-night top-40 jaws. He plays with a guitar and plays play quite as much rock as the station door during the day. He is alone in the studio.
5:10 in downtown Lawrence.
To country and western music, "Granry" is whipping up some of Drake Bakey's famous hotcakes and biscuits with gravy. Katherine "Granny" Miller, 867 Lyons, says her regular pre-dawn clientele includes policemen, paper delivery men,
jautiers, nightchub owners, Coora beer men and truck drivers—regular customers for
"USED TO be a time you could see four or five police cars parked in front," she said. "But the department's now told them to eat in the district they patrol so that lightning can't strike in one place and hit all them." Granny works from 1:30 to 9 a.m. Drake's
5:36 at Watkins Memorial Hospital.
annual membership and a $5 minimum
luxurior pool to join, but there is no waiting
period, Jes Santanaulia, owner of the
Eldridge House, said recently.
Amid blazing white light and white-sheeted beds in Watkins Memorial Hospitals all-named emergency clinic sits directly, the building's facade brightly. Tom Edell, Smith Center sonomore.
THEY HAVE just admitted an accident patient to the hospital, a common case for the late-night work. Accidents, fights, insomnia and hysteria over problems are common night cases for the clinic, accused of having had to deal with the cases and comes to the hospital when necessary. For hysteria cases, they call a mental health department person.
DURING SLOW times, Neely and her orderly for the evening help the nurse upstairs tend bed patients, or they run through disaster plan, tornado and fire drills.
"I'm never bored," Neely said. "Every person that comes in is different, with different problems and a different approach to each one."
The two work a 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift.
Effort has been there month; for six
year.
6 a.m. in Lawrence
The club's name was crangen, ooo-
bularia said, when its heavy disco format
had gone.
THE CLUB, which changed its name in August 1976, is in the old Big Rig room of the Mansion. The club's main lobby and dining area. It can accommodate about 100 to 125, San
It is now daylight. Employees at both Kansas Color Press, Inc., (publisher of National Lampoon) and Hallmark Cards, Inc., have two hours left to work in their shifts. A Lawrence Aircraft flight leaves for Kansas City International airport. Milkmen, mMcDonald's workers and machines appear in the streets as a crowd and noise to come. Stoplights quit their methodical blinking at streetlights so off.
And the night people begin to find their way home.
"We wanted something to disassociate the strict disco format that was used at one time in jazz and swing music. We wanted a basic disco-type format, but our music includes a lot of jazz and light music styles."
AS A REMINDER of the heritage of the Ebridge House, the name Sheriff Sam Jensen is inscribed.
The original Eldridge House building was acquired by the New England Emigrant Aid Company in 1853 and was named the Gillis House. It soon became known as the Free State Hotel because of the emigrant company's anti-slavery beliefs.
On May 21, 1856, Douglas County Sheriff Samuel J. Jones, former postmaster of the hotel, guarded the destruction of the hotel. Jones men set the building ablaze along with several Lawrence buildings. Three buildings and property loss was estimated at $200,000.
THE DESTROYED building was bought and renovated by Col. S. W. Eldridge. He called it the American House and until 1883 he built a vaulted a vital part in the city's early history.
But William Quantrill and his runes, Lawrence on Aug. 21, 1863, and the hotel where he worked, the Eldridge rebuilt the hotel once again. The Eldridge house, as he named it, remained there until 1924 when W. G. Hudson had torn down and another built in its place.
Opening on April 8, 1926, the new hotel has remained essentially the same to this day except for minor renovations. At the same location that the Free State Hotel occupied 124 years ago, the Eldridge House embodies a very colorful and interesting past.
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