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NIGHT ON THE TOWN: THE GRAND HEARD OPERA HOUSE

by Pat Rogers
t is December of 1884 and a new opera house has opened on the
square in downtown McKinney. It could be in any town or small
Icity during the period of time known as the Victorian Era (1837- He was famous because the prior year he drew national attention when
1901); however, this particular opera house was the new elegant brick
he went to the Wind Cave in South Dakota where he was blindfolded
Heard Opera House in McKinney, Texas, population around 1,500 after a “pin head” had been hidden in the cave. Newspapers record
people. that he found it after 3 days. He then took his great mind reading
You are now on a journey back in time skills on the road. The Democrat said ” Paul Alexander Johnstone, a
celebrated mind reader held forth at Heard Opera house. He performed
to a new place for “pleasure and fun”. There has been a Christmas Ball to some wonderful feats which caused considerable discussion among our
kick off the season. It was beautiful citizens regarding the science.”
with the women exquisitely dressed
and coiffured; the picture of delicate On February 23, 1906, a most
and fashionable elegance. The men memorable event was held at the
were dashing and debonair! Heard Opera. The March King,
John Philip Sousa, appeared with
The 1880’s was a time of elegant his band. World renowned and a
living and lavish entertaining. One superstar of his day, an appearance
story in The McKinney Enquirer by Sousa was a special event.
stated that “Nowhere else can you
find more elegant ladies, nor men of It was an electrifying performance,
such impeccable manners as here.” received with great enthusiasm
by the McKinney audience. The
During this period of time, it was McKinney Courier stated on 17th
unheard of for a young man to ask of February that “The House
a young lady to accompany him was filled to capacity and the
to the Opera House without first program presented bore the stamp
asking her mother to come along of perfection attained by this
and even sit between the couple. It wonderful band master.
was proper and expected that the young woman hold a parasol or fan in
her own hands and the young man hold his own hat. The band itself and the music made by it is nothing less than grand. The
“Stars and Stripes Forever” lives as a local legend in our McKinney
Newspapers recorded a humorous and true story of a young man who history.”
became very emotionally involved in a “tear jerker” melodrama at the
Opera House. He was sitting in the balcony and at the high moment
of the play, just as the villain was about to do in the weepy, helpless
heroine, he was overcome by the situation. He climbed over the railing,
leaped down onto the stage, and yelled, “Don’t you worry, Honey, I’ll
save you from this blackheart!”
Opera Houses across America were similar in design to the Heard
Opera House in McKinney. The first floor would typically have a “set
of elegant business rooms” and above on the second floor would be a
“handsome opera room”. There would be a capacious stage with raised
seats on the sides and end of the room, giving the whole room a neat and
most elegant appearance.
The front of the stage at the Heard Opera was paneled in red velvet with
a circle overhead bearing the Lone Star. The front curtain had a seashore
and a landscape with mountains in the distance.
The years flew by and there were some great performances! The 1890’s
brought the musical comedies and Vaudeville Shows.
In 1892, the Christmas attraction at the Heard was The Barlow Brothers,
featuring Master Eddie Percy, a handsome boy singer who “caught the
house by storm.”
In 1893, “The Merry Comedy, Doctor Bill,” advertised that in
“Act 1-You Laugh, Act 2-You Scream, Act 3-You Roar”. It was
acclaimed an outstanding success.
During the Victorian Period, people were highly interested and believed
in the science of mind reading. Naturally these mind readers were
highly sought after as good entertainment. One of the most famous
mind readers of the day was Paul Alexander Johnstone who came to the
Heard in May of 1894.

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