Kansas Opera Houses, Actors, and Community Events 1855-1925

Kansas Opera Houses, Actors & Community Events 1855-1925, selected as a 2009 Notable Kansas Book, highlights the importance of Kansas' opera houses to the cultural and social development of Kansas during the last half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. The types of civic, cultural and dramatic entertainments that occurred in these structures and the actors who graced their stages are discussed. A detailed listing of 900 opera houses located in 400 Kansas communities and the activities that were held there, from high school graduations to political rallies, illustrates how the buildings were a focal point of the town's life.