Built in 1883, the Morvilious Opera House in Fort Recovery, Ohio, is an excellent example of small opera houses that can be found scattered across the rural Midwest. Fort Recovery’s opera house had a resident international star. Early in the 20th century, the opera house was owned and operated by Russell Morvilious. His only child, Fay Morvilious Hart, enjoyed a long career as a concert singer, performing at the Morvilious Opera House and across the United States and Europe.
Although rural opera houses seldom hosted an actual opera, they often called themselves an opera house. Popular entertainments were touring productions of plays, musicals, chamber orchestras, string quartets, magicians, barbershop quartets, hypnotists and traveling medicine shows. Opera houses like this one were popular meeting places for organizations, drama clubs, wedding receptions, high school commencements and class plays.
Some of the shows and performances at the Morvilious Opera House from 1890 – 1930
The Beggar Venus by the St. Henry’s Dramatic Circle
Lights and Shadows of the Great Rebellion by the Wendelin Dramatic Company
The Hospital Nurse of Tennessee by the Wendelin Dramatic Company
Old Farmer Hopkins by the Alexander Leonard Company”
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark with actor Edward N. Hoyt
A film presentation of the famous Passion Play from Oberammergau, Germany.
A local group produced Patriot’s Night: another local group produced Poet’s Night
Although very active and popular in its day, the Morvilious Opera House has been dormant for almost 80 years. The Depression brought an end to the discretionary funds families had for entertainment. This opera house has been lovingly preserved and the plaster walls and ceiling still hove their original painted designs. Most unusual is that the walls are painted with faux box seats, and the faces of the leaders of the late 19th and early 20th century are painted in attendance. The stage boasts a sophisticated system of pulleys that enable as many as six scene changes per show. Many actors signed their names to the backstage walls; these names are being archived and researched.
Project Recovery, an active arm of the Fort Recovery Historic Society is advancing the initiative to add the Morvilious Opera House to the National Register of Historic Places. In the early stages of feasibility, the civic leaders of Fort Recovery are reaching out to the community to garner interest and support of renovating and restoring the Opera House. Kaup Pender Associates is thrilled to be involved in this arts-based community development project. After all, Fort Recovery is Joan’s hometown, and most of the Kaup family still lives there!
