Area’s opera House patrons used to tote along tomatoes
By Bob Cudmore, Focus on History, Daily Gazette, 4-09-05
O’Neil’s Grocery was on the north side of Amsterdam’s Main Street in the late 19th century, opposite the Opera House. According to historian Hugh Donlon, Opera House patrons sometimes loaded up on discarded vegetables before show time and showed disapproval by hurling rotten tomatoes at the stage. In his book “Annals of a Mill Town,” Donlon wrote that the hard to please playgoers in Amsterdam made the city a prime spot to try out Broadway shows.
Amsterdam native Dave Conant, now in California, emailed that he has an 1883 map showing the location of the Opera House on the south side of Main Street.
Coming from a musical family, Conant said he was surprised he never heard of the Opera House: “I'm generally interested in this building type as my firm designs performing arts centers as acoustical consultants to architects.”
According to Donlon, the East Main Street facility was first called the Neff Opera House in 1882. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was seen there, featuring a street parade with real bloodhounds. John Philip Sousa’s band played the house, as did presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan and boxer John L. Sullivan. In 1887, George H. McClumpha took over management of the facility.
Part of the Opera House apparently was transformed into Lurie’s Department Store. Donlon wrote that when Lurie’s was torn down in the 1970s, a chandelier from the Opera House was found along with theatrical posters “still glued to the stairways.”
In more recent years, Amsterdam had several downtown movie theaters, some of which offered stage entertainment. Entrepreneur Edward C. Klapp opened the 1,400-seat Rialto in 1917 at the corner of Market and Grove Streets. In 1933, the Rialto became part of Gloversville’s Schine chain and was known for stage performances by the likes of Jack Benny and Burns and Allen.
In 1939, the Rialto was chosen as one of 27 theaters in the United States for the premier of “Drums Along the Mohawk.” The film also premiered in Gloversville, Schenectady, Utica and Albany. According to a Recorder clipping provided by history fan Sam Vomero, stars of the film such as Lynn Bari, Arleen Whelan and Joan Davis came to Amsterdam for a parade and a welcome from Mayor Arthur Carter. The Market Street crowd apparently got out of control but no injuries were reported. Lynn Bari fell when she got to Albany and had to be hospitalized.
Donlon wrote that Amsterdam boxer “Sailor” Barron directed the Rialto usher corps: “Barron’s ring expertise enabled him to administer fistic anesthesia to potential troublemakers so quietly that there was no awareness of the operation by most patrons.” Bothersome customers were removed to an alleyway north of the theater.
The last traditional movie theater built in Amsterdam was Brant Corporation’s Tryon on East Main Street. The Tryon opened in 1949 on the site of the McGibbon block, which had been leveled by a spectacular fire in 1943. “Champion,” Amsterdam native Kirk Douglas’s breakthrough boxing movie, was the grand opening attraction. Vomero recalled that the line to see “Champion” extended onto Church Street.
Also in 1949, Schine’s new Mohawk Theater opened on East Main Street, a remodeling of a theater known first as the Lyceum and then the Strand. Mayor Burtiss E. Deal cut the ribbon for the opening attraction, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” starring Frank Sinatra. The Fort Johnson Drum Corps played. Tony the performing horse was on hand and there was a motorcade featuring the Amsterdam Rugmakers. Admission was eighty cents for adults and twenty cents for kids.
The Rialto, Tryon and Mohawk eventually succumbed to competition from multiplex theaters, first in the downtown mall and now at the Emerald Cinemas on Route 30.
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Picture Caption
An early 20th century postcard view of the Opera House in Amsterdam, which was located on the south side of East Main Street adjacent to the Warner Hotel. John Philip Sousa played there. Presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan spoke from its stage as did boxer John L. Sullivan. Postcard image is courtesy of Jerry Snyder.
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