September 3, 1975

The Community Press

From 1902 to about 1930, the Guyer Opera House, just a couple of doors west of the intersection of the National Road (U. S. 40) and Indiana 103, was the social and cultural center of this southern Henry County community.

Since the 1940s, however, the second-floor theater has not been used.

The Bicentennial dream of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Willis and others of the community is to restore the Opera House to the grand style of the early years of this century.

To promote the dream, the Raintree Opera House guild has been organized. It’s estimated that about $55,000 will be needed to purchase and renovate the property, now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tony Petyon.

"We have had authorities examine the Opera House, and they tell us the building is structurally sound," Willis said.

The original gaslight fixtures, the painted asbestos curtain, dressing rooms, ticket window, wench, trap door and other furnishings of a typical early twentieth century theater are still on the premises. Most of the 400 seats, however, have been removed for use elsewhere in the town. The auditorium is about 50 by 75 feet.

Willis, who has researched the Opera House’s history, said that a local physician, Dr. O. K. Guyer, built the theater, which opened in 1902.

Stock companies, primarily from Indianapolis, performed such plays as "The Convict’s Child," "Uncle Tom’s Cabin," "Old Maids Made Over," "Uncle Hez," and "A Royal Slave" during the first season.

Minstrel shows, Civil War regiment reunions, farmers institutes, high school commencements, dances and even Sunday school activities were held in the building.

Along with various forms of entertainment and memorable school occasions, the old theater was the scene of scandal and tragedy, too.

An elderly resident of the town related to Willis the story of the appearance at the Opera House of "Fanny Hill’s Girls." It seems the Opera House was running into financial problems and an appearance of "sensational" dancing girls in pink tights was scheduled with the hope that good attendance would bolster the sagging gate receipts.

The show was closed in the first act by authorities, and when the local hotel manager’s wife found one of the showgirls sitting on her husband’s lap later in the evening, the town really buzzed with excitement.