Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theatre

The Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theatre is a historic entertainment venue in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, United States. It was built in 1914 by Dan Gorby, a wealthy young local entrepreneur, and was originally known as the Gorby Opera House or Gorby Theater. Designed by the prestigious architectural firm Tourtellote and Hummel, the building was constructed during the national era of "movie palaces" and was intended to serve vaudeville stage acts and train passengers who stopped in Glenns Ferry while the train took on water and coal. The theater is historically significant as one of the oldest operating theaters in Idaho, and aesthetically important because its architects also designed the state capitol and the Egyptian Theatre. Over its long life the venue has hosted vaudeville performances, silent films, and later a wide range of community entertainment. Today it operates as a dinner theater and live performance venue, with shows typically staged on Friday and Saturday evenings. Doors open at 7:00 PM for general seating, with shows beginning at 7:30 PM; dinner-and-show reservations allow entry at 6:00 PM. The theater also hosts comedy shows, matinees, costume contests, and seasonal events, and offers free popcorn coupons, gift certificates, and a newsletter to its patrons. The theater is supported by Opera Theater Friends, a nonprofit friends organization, and by sponsors and donors. Restoration work has been an ongoing focus: the Idaho Heritage Trust awarded a $100,000 grant for restoration of the theater parapet, and Cushing Terrell awarded Opera Theater Friends $25,000. These projects aim to restore the theater exterior to its original "proto-deco" design using original architectural drawings, with support from the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the Idaho Heritage Trust. The venue continues to present live programming and events, and its supporters describe it as a legacy to be preserved for the next 100 years.

The Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theatre was built in 1914 by Dan Gorby, a wealthy young man who hired the prestigious architectural firm Tourtellote and Hummel to construct what was then known as the Gorby Theater. It was originally built for vaudeville stage acts and served train passengers who wanted something to do while the train took on water and coal. Gorby died just 11 years later, at age 42; his obituary described him as a 'highly esteemed and beloved citizen' and noted that 'the funeral was the largest ever held in this part of the state.' The theater's history describes him as a rare visionary who saw beyond his time. Gorby's building was constructed during the era of 'movie palaces' that sprang up across the nation. At his theater, vaudeville performers could step off the train and onto the stage, and archives include newspaper clippings and a deteriorated poster advertising the silent film 'The Unwritten Law,' a 'seven-part photo-drama' shown at the Gorby Theater on May 26 (the year of the paper is missing, but the film came out in March 1916). Theater historian John Eickhof noted that in 1916 silent movies of about 8–14 minutes were shown between vaudeville acts with manually operated projectors, and that at 65 minutes 'The Unwritten Law' was epic for the times. The theater is historically important as one of the oldest operating theaters in the state of Idaho, and aesthetically important because its architects also designed the state capitol and the Egyptian Theatre. Over the decades it transitioned from vaudeville and silent film to a broader community entertainment venue. In the 21st century it operates as a dinner theater and live performance space, with shows on Friday and Saturday evenings, comedy shows, matinees, and seasonal events such as costume contests. The venue is supported by Opera Theater Friends, a nonprofit friends organization, and by sponsors and donors. Restoration has been a major ongoing effort. In addition to balcony and entry restoration projects, the Idaho Heritage Trust awarded a $100,000 grant for restoration of the theater parapet. Using original architectural drawings, the project aims to restore the theater exterior to its original 'proto-deco' design. The project is supported through a grant from the Historic Preservation Fund of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and the Idaho Heritage Trust. Cushing Terrell also awarded Opera Theater Friends $25,000. The theater's supporters frame these efforts as preserving the historic building's legacy for the next 100 years.

• 1925

  Dan Gorby dies at age 42; his obituary notes the largest funeral ever held in the region.

• 1916

  Silent film 'The Unwritten Law' advertised at the Gorby Theater on May 26.

• 1914

  Gorby Opera House (Gorby Theater) built by Dan Gorby, designed by Tourtellote and Hummel.

• Idaho Heritage Trust awards $100,000 grant for restoration of the theater parapet.

• Cushing Terrell awards Opera Theater Friends $25,000.

A historic, community-supported opera house and dinner theater offering live entertainment in a restored early-20th-century venue.

• Dinner theater

  Friday and Saturday evening dinner-and-show experiences; doors open at 6:00 PM for dinner reservations.

• Live stage productions

  Theater productions including seasonal shows such as 'Dracula'.

• Comedy shows

  One-night-only comedy events.

• Matinees and costume contests

  Matinee performances and costume contests judged in age groups during intermission.

1. 1Home - Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theatreglennsferrytheatre.org
2. 2History - Glenns Ferry Historic Opera Theatreglennsferrytheatre.org
3. 3Opera Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org