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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1976Local Performers Played The ‘Liberty Opera House’This is the fourth and last article in the series entitled, “The Liberty Opera House, Its Builders and Its Entertainment, by Edward L. Schief-fer.Besides the professional Fon-tinelle Stock Company, other groups did produce plays at the Liberty Opera House in Old Monroe, Two church groups gave plays on several occa-iv/JS.v;'sions. They were the St ..Paul’s Evangelical Church of Christ and St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church. St. Mary’s School gave the play ‘‘Sacks of New York on April 22-23, 1929. They had a total of 407 in the audience for the two night production and made $47.80 in ticket sales, according to record books found at the Liberty Opera House.On September 6, 1930, St. Paul’s Evangelical Church Drama Club presented, “A Poor Married Manor Too Much Mother-In-Law. The two hour comedy, according to an advertisement, consisted of: Albert Rahmeier, Lonene Braun-gardt, Frieda Ortlepp, Rein-hard Ortlepp, George «chem-mer, Josephine Freese, Paul Rahmeier and Ella Goos. •The next record of a play was September 7, 1932, when St. Mary’s Drama Club gave “Aaron Slick From Pumpkin Crick. The three act comedy starred Chris Burkemper as Aaron Slick. Steve Burkemper, who was also in the play, still remembers his lines. The next year St. Mary’s Drama Club presented “Here Comes Patricia” on January 15 and17. St. Mary’s young people even took their plays on tour to St. Clement’s Parish. They donated all the money raised to the St. Clement’s Church. 'Old Monroe even had its ownS3. • ft •' , .band during the early 1930’s. “The Depression Five consisted of Madie Austin at the piano; Chip Burkemper played the saxophone; Melvin Dickher-ber played the banjo and the guitar; Charles Hutt at the drums; and sometimes Genevieve Goellner sang.Throughout the 1930’s, the Liberty Opera House saw some movies, dances and a few plays. She was rentedtovarious groups and for some time civic clubr and organizations met in her theater. Coincidentally, both the Fontinelle Family and the Liberty Opera House retired at approximately the same time. World War II forced most traveling troupes to retire including the Fontinelles in 1942. The last big party was held at the Liberty Opera HousebyJ.J. Connaughton for the servicemen of World War I in 1945 when the local boys returned. Little of anything significant occurred in the Liberty Opera House after that time. The Liberty Opera House remained vacant until 1976 when Robert Phelps bought it. At the present time, he has converted the once beautiful Liberty Opera House into the Midwest Veterinary Supply House.**********JUST HUMANEven the shrewdest of men has at one time purchased a gold brick in the form of experience.
Newspaper Details
Troy free Press And Silex Index
Troy, Missouri, US
Wed, Sep 15, 1976
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Carol R.
USA 01 Jan 2019
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