The history of the Grand Opera House of Chicago, Illinois. (1872-1958)

The Grand Opera House of Chicago was built on the original site of "Bryan Hall and Hooley’s Opera House," at 546 N. Clark Street (119 N. Clark Street today). J.A. Hamlin and brother L.B. Hamlin purchased the property in January 1872 and erected the first building that was completed upon that block after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

In 1873, Hamlin Brothers built on the rear lot what was subsequently known as "Foley’s Billiard Hall," which was at the time the largest billiard hall in the world, containing thirty tables on one floor. In 1874, the billiard hall property was bought by the Hamlin Brothers, and the billiard business was discontinued after a few months.

The hall was reconstructed with an additional building added to the east end, and for two years was occupied as a garden styled after Gilmore’s Garden of New York, with fountains, waterfalls, vocal and instrumental music, and all kinds of refreshments.

Subsequently, the garden, by degrees, was changed to a vaudeville theater, and was continued as such until 1878, when it was again re-constructed as a regular theater, and opened in September 1878, under the name of Hamlins’ Theater. About that time the property passed out of the hands of Hamlin Bros: into those of William C. Reynolds, who sold it to John Borden in 1880.

John Borden shortly afterward sold the property to his son, William Borden, who re-constructed the theater at an additional expense of about $55,000, and it was opened on September 6, 1880, under the name of the Grand Opera House, and under the management of John A. Hamlin. The lot upon which the Grand Opera House buildings are erected contains about thirteen thousand two hundred square feet of ground.

The history of the location as a place of amusement, commencing with the original Bryan Hall, way back in the 1850s, and running through all its various changes, is one of almost continuous success. The original Bryan Hall was one of the most popular amusement resorts in Chicago for many years. The Grand Opera House was opened by Hoey & Hardy’s Company, in their adaptation of the play “A Child of the State,” followed by Tom Keene, in a Shakesperian repertory. Nathaniel Goodwin, Emma Abbott Opera Company, Boston Ideal Opera Company, etc., all performed.

It was the scene of the first production of two huge hit musicals aimed at children. In June of 1902, the original production of The Wizard of Oz had its premiere there. One year later, in June 1903, came the premiere of Victor Herbert’s Babes in Toyland.

The Grand Opera House was built as a legitimate theatre and had seating for 1,750 in an orchestra, balcony, and gallery. The interior was lit by gas and described by the Chicago Daily Tribune as having “the beautiful blending of rich colors and the graceful elegance of the designs charms the eye at every point."

In 1912 George M. Cohan and his partner Sam H. Harris leased the theatre, on March 3rd, the renamed "George M. Cohan’s Grand Opera House" opened its doors. In 1926 the façade and auditorium were reconstructed by Andrew Rebori, and reopened as the Four Cohans. 

"Of Thee I Sing" became the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama (1932), and was the longest-running Gershwin show during George Gershwin's lifetime. Ad c.1933

Later the Shuberts took over and the theatre became the Shubert Grand Opera House, it then returned to its original name Grand Opera House. 

When live theatre left and films came in the theatre was renamed the RKO Grand. In March 1958 the RKO Grand showed its last film and was demolished a month later.

The RKO Grand Theater, 119 N. Clark Street, Chicago. One screen,1200 seats. (1953)

The Chicago Civic Center completed in 1965 was later constructed on the site (renamed the Richard J. Daley Center on December 27, 1976, seven days after his death).

Among the stars who played the Grand Opera House, over the years, were: Lionel Barrymore, Arthur Byron, Mady Christians, George M. Cohan, Constance Collier, Katharine Cornell, Dudley Digges, Robert Edeson, Leon Errol, Douglas Fairbanks, Walter Hampden, Miriam Hopkins, Allan Jones, Bert Lahr, Eva Le Gallienne, Canada Lee, the Marx Brothers, Chester Morris, Mildred Natwick, Effie Shannon, and Ethel Waters.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D. 

The Premature Aging of Abraham Lincoln from 1860 thru 1865.

No face in American history is more recognizable than Abraham Lincoln. His profile appears on the penny, and an engraved portrait appears on the $5 bill. His image was included among the four presidents carved on the cliff face of Mount Rushmore.

A Pen-and-Ink Portrait of Abraham Lincoln by Leopold Grozelier (1860).

Abraham Lincoln’s physical appearance changed dramatically during his tenure as President of the United States, from March 4, 1861 to April 14, 1865. The magnitude of his apparent aging is often demonstrated by showing a photograph from the start of his first term compared to one taken a few months before his death.

NOTE: Abraham Lincoln had malaria at least twice. The first time was in 1830 (21 years old), along with the rest of his family. They had just arrived in Illinois that year. The second episode was in the summer of 1835 (26 years old), while living in New Salem, Illinois. Lincoln was then so ill, he was sent to a neighbor's house to be medicated and cared for. Malaria, during that time period, would often rear its ugly head throughout ones lifetime. 

RUMOR: Lincoln had Marfan syndrome. Today geneticists consider the diagnosis unlikely. 

UNFOUNDED: Lincoln's son, Willie, died from typhoid fever. It is only speculation that Lincoln suffered from typhoid fever at the Gettysburg address. But it is more likely that Lincoln had a mild case of smallpox, as his valet William H. Johnson develop smallpox caring for Lincoln after the Gettysburg address and he died from it.

FACT: Abraham Lincoln used "Blue Mass" (mercury pills) to treat some of his health issues.

These photographs reveal how increasingly careworn he became over the years, especially during the Civil War (April 12, 1861 - April 9, 1865), where he struggled to restore the Union. 

This photographic series from 1860-1865 is illustrative of the quick aging process experienced by Lincoln.

But a simple comparison of those two extreme photographs does not show the evolution of the change nor the stressful events that induced the striking transformation. In particular, note the significant change in the brief interval from November 1863 to February 1864, a part of which may have resulted from Lincoln's smallpox infection during that period. 

Oil painting of Lincoln giving his Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. It's reported that Lincoln had a mild case of smallpox. Lincoln was feeling weaker during the enitre 2 hours he sat on the stage while waiting to be called to speak. Observers called Lincoln's color "ghastly." Lincoln felt so sick that when it was his turn he spoke only 271 words, in ten sentences, in just over two minutes, and immediately got helped off the stage.

Timeline of notable Lincoln events from 1860-1865.

1860
February        Delivers Cooper Union Address
May                Nominated for President of the United States
October         Receives suggestion from a young girl that he should grow a beard
November     Elected President of the United States
December     South Carolina secedes from the Union

1861
February        Confederate States of America is formed
March            Inaugurated as 16th President of the United States
April               Attack on Fort Sumter, SC
May                Family friend Elmer Ellsworth killed in Alexandria, VA
July                Battle of First Bull Run (Manassas) 
November     Trent Affair with Great Britain

1862
February         Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
February         Son William (Willie) dies from typhoid fever
April                 Battle of Shiloh 
May                 Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley
June                Battle of Seven Days’
August            Battle of Second Bull Run (Manassas)
September      Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)
September      Issues Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
December       Battle of Fredericksburg

1863
January           Issues Final Emancipation Proclamation
May                  Battle of Chancellorsville
July                  Battle of Gettysburg
July                  Surrender of Vicksburg, MS 
September      Battle of Chickamauga
November       Delivers Gettysburg Address
November       Contracts mild case of smallpox
November       Battle of Chattanooga

1864
March              Appoints U.S. Grant Commander-in-Chief of Union Army
May                  Battle of the Wilderness
June                 Battle of Cold Harbor
June                 Siege of Petersburg, VA begins
September      Battle of Atlanta
November       Re-elected President of the United States
December       Battle of Nashville
December       Capture of Savannah, GA

1865
January           Congress Passes 13th Amendment to the Constitution
March              Delivers Second Inaugural Address
April                 Robert E. Lee Surrenders to U. S. Grant
April                 Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.