Lawrence Opera House

The Lawrence Opera House was a Romanesque-style entertainment venue at 326 Essex St. in Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States. It was built by the Boston & Lowell Railroad between 1878 and 1880, around the same time the railroad constructed a Grand Depot for the Manchester and Lawrence line several blocks west along Essex Street. The railroad's depot occupied the first floor of the building, along with Western Union offices. The opera house itself occupied the top two floors and contained a first-class entertainment hall and a circular balcony; it was considered the most ornamental building in the city. The venue opened on May 26, 1881, with Maggie Mitchell appearing in "Jane Eyre." Its seating chart specified 610 seats on the parquette, 572 in the parquette circle, 614 in the balcony, and 36 in the orchestra, for a total of 1,832 seats. Over its life it hosted a wide range of entertainment, from opera and legitimate theatre to movies and sporting events. A wrestling match held there on July 2, 1884, between Ed Decker and John McMahon ended in a draw; a rematch on September 10 was won by McMahon. The building's railroad context was significant. The Boston & Lowell Railroad was the first common carrier railroad chartered in New England, chartered in 1830 and beginning service in 1835. By 1853 it had acquired the Lowell & Lawrence Railroad, which had opened in 1848, essentially to keep it out of the hands of the Boston & Maine, which would later acquire the Manchester and Lawrence line in 1887. As the rivalry with the B&M intensified, the B&L built its own bridge across the Merrimack River as it built the Opera House, giving it direct access to downtown Lawrence. By 1887 the B&L, unable to compete successfully, was leased to the B&M, which ultimately acquired most of the other smaller area railroads. The Lawrence Opera House is remembered today as a former movie theater in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Its history is documented in a photo gallery by James V. Roy on pbase.com, which also references the Rialto Theater. The venue is defunct, and no active commercial operations are associated with the name.

The Lawrence Opera House was built by the Boston & Lowell Railroad from 1878 to 1880 at 326 Essex St. in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Its construction coincided with the railroad's building of a Grand Depot for the Manchester and Lawrence line several blocks west down Essex Street. The railroad's depot occupied the first floor of the building, along with Western Union offices. The Boston & Lowell Railroad was the first common carrier railroad chartered in New England, chartered in 1830 and beginning service in 1835. By 1853 it had acquired the Lowell & Lawrence Railroad, which had opened in 1848, essentially to keep it out of the hands of the Boston & Maine, which would later acquire the Manchester and Lawrence line in 1887. As the rivalry with the B&M intensified, the B&L built its own bridge across the Merrimack River as it built the Opera House, giving it direct access to downtown Lawrence. The Romanesque-style Opera House contained a first-class entertainment hall and a circular balcony on its top two floors and was considered the most ornamental building in the city. A seating chart specified seating at 610 on the parquette, 572 in the parquette circle, 614 in the balcony, and 36 in the orchestra, totaling 1,832. It opened on May 26, 1881, with Maggie Mitchell appearing in "Jane Eyre." It was used to host a multitude of entertainment, from opera and legitimate theatre to movies and sporting events. On July 2, 1884, a wrestling match there between Ed Decker and John McMahon resulted in a draw. A rematch there on September 10 was won by McMahon. By 1887 the B&L, unable to successfully compete, was leased to the B&M, which ultimately would acquire most of the other smaller area railroads. The venue is now defunct and is remembered as a former movie theater in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

• 1887

  The Boston & Lowell Railroad, unable to compete successfully, is leased to the Boston & Maine.

• 1884

  A wrestling match on July 2 between Ed Decker and John McMahon ends in a draw; a rematch on September 10 is won by McMahon.

• 1881

  The Lawrence Opera House opens on May 26 with Maggie Mitchell appearing in "Jane Eyre."

• 1880

  Construction of the Lawrence Opera House is completed.

• 1878

  Construction of the Lawrence Opera House by the Boston & Lowell Railroad begins.

A first-class entertainment hall and the most ornamental building in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

• Opera performances

• Legitimate theatre

• Movies

• Sporting events

1. 1The Lawrence Opera House / Rialto Theater Photo Gallery by James V. Roy at pbase.compbase.com
2. 2Lawrence Opera House - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3The Lawrence Opera House / Rialto Theater Photo Gallery by James V. Roy at pbase.compbase.com