The Astounding Story of the Grand Opera House
By Alana T. Walking through the door, many visitors are blasted with a sense of nostalgia. Located on Broad Street, the Story Theater’s rich history continues to amaze visitors even 110 years after its opening. To better understand the history and operation of this wonderful theater, I contacted the owner and operator, Todd Thorson. Mr. Thorson gave many interesting insights into the history of the theater, how he runs it, and other aspects of this historical site. The theater first opened its doors on December 18, 1913. Originally called the Grand Opera House, it hosted a variety of stage productions. These productions included motion pictures, stage plays, graduation ceremonies, and vaudeville acts. The first production put on by the theater was the melodrama stage play “The Two Orphans,” complete with an orchestra. At the time of its opening, the theater was the second-largest theater west of the Mississippi. The tickets were sold at $3 a piece, a relatively high price for the ...