Opera House

As the little town grew and developed, the citizens felt the need for a community hall. In 1908 the Selby Development Company was formed to construct the Opera House. Cement sidewalks had been built on several blocks of Main Street and several residential streets.

Selby Original lots 11 and 12 on block 8 were chosen. Records show that lot 11 was owned by F.A. Shaw in 1902 and Lot 12 was owned by Albert and Benjamin Carscalleu.

In 1908 the Walworth County Record stated that contractor CE Webster was in Selby to make a formal contract for the construction of the Opera House. The contract provided for the completion of the building by Sept. 15, 1908. The plans provided for a 40′ x 100′ building, the auditorium to have a 22ft ceiling with a stage loft in the rear. Two office rooms were to be provided for the front of the building. The material is to be brick the front to be pressed brick, and their front elevation of the plans show a very nice exterior which will be a big addition to Main Street. The entire structure was built for $12 000.

The grand opening for the Opera House was Dec.7th and the 8th, 1908 with the “Famous” Dougherty Stock Co. Mon. the 7th was a Quaker Tradgey and Tues. the 8th was a 4 act play, “The Slave Girl” using special scenery. The Opera House was a busy place with many events taking place.

In April 1909, business men of the thriving city called a meeting and organized the first commercial club.

In 1910, the telephone was moved from the Prann Drug Store (Buchanan Drug) into the south room of the Opera House. Telephone office operators had a bedroom right off the switchboard room so the operator could be available in case an important call came during the night. By 1917, there was an increased demand for telephones that necessitated installing a larger switchboard. The telephone office remained there until 1951 when Northwestern Bell brought the good news that Selby’s hand cranking days would soon be over. Dial service was coming and what a blessing that was.  

In 1914 a moving picture machine was purchased by the Opera House company with Albert Schmidt as operator. Shows were held every Saturday night.

In 1919 a bond issue of $9000 was approved 134-39 for the purchase by the city of the Opera House from the Selby Development Company. The city leased the building to many different operators through the years. A.H. Schmidt and Steward Cook were the first to lease it for $500 a year. The next year the Modern Woodmen lodge leased it for $70 a month.

The Mascot Theater Co. of Mobridge took over management of the Opera House in 1923.  A vitaphone, currently on display in the Opera House, was installed and Selby had had its first talking movie. Robert Bauder had the lease for the Opera

House for 16 years beginning in 1933. Ed Hoven and Jake Nechlich purchased the pool hall equipment in 1929 and in 1932 Jack Nehlich took over as sole manager of the pool hall. There was a succession of owners after that, the last to have a business in the basement was Tony Weinzirl.

The citizens voted 75-41 to establish a free public library in 1935. The library was in the north front room until Nov. 19, 1953 when it was moved to the Masonic Hall. The Masons had added an addition 34′ x 34′ which the city bought to house the city library. Mrs. Gertrude Welton was the first librarian.

In Jan 1941 plans and specifications were prepared for remodeling the auditorium. In Oct. work started on enlarging it. A week before the dedication, Mar. 12, 1942, a Triple A (Farm Services Agency now)  birthday was held for 800 people. Thirty four years after the original dedication the refurbished Opera House was rededicated on Mar. 25, 1942.  The Selby Record stated “Selby’s rebuilt Opera House is one of the finest community auditoriums in this part of the state. It fits the community’s needs and will never be supported by taxation”.

In the 1940’s, Max Gutz and John Hoven rented the opera house and dances every week. The Opera House was a popular place once a week when crowds roller skated in the late 1940’s and 50’s. Along with the pleasure came a few aches and pains. Clamp-on skates were rented from the Erlenbushes who came from Bowdle. Leo Kuehl purchased the movie equipment from Bob Bauder in 1949, but modernization made the movie business come to an end at the opera house. Ernest Flemmer started construction in the fall of 1949 for a new theater to be known as the Star Theater.

In 1951, Ernest Hettich, who had been managing the Opera House, announced that he had purchased a number of skates.  The city offices moved into the room vacated by the library and still occupy that space.

In 1959, Mr. and Mrs. Wally Bertand, who came from Idaho, opened a studio for music instruction in the Chesky Shoe Shop building, Instructions were given in all types of instruments including piano, guitar, banjo and accordion. The professional Music Center had four bands made up of pupils from Selby and area towns. Practice sessions for each group were held in the Opera House. In the 1970’s Joachims from Agar had roller skating using shoe skates.

That old building has served our community well. It has been host to dramas, musicals, wedding dances, firemen’s ball, John Deere Day, International Harvester drawings for turkeys and drawings for Wednesday night from the front steps, men’s volleyball, basketball, proms, scout meetings, organizational meetings and dinners. Pancake days began in Oct. 1955.

A ramp and handicap bathroom were added in 1987 to make the Opera House more accessible. The city and many volunteers have invested hours of elbow grease refurbishing the building to preserve history. Much of the credit goes to Walt Zabel, Fred Pfiefle, and Leroy Stieger who spearheaded the renovation.

Broken windows were replaced, heating and electrical systems updated, hardwood floors refinished, walls painted, roof fixed and stage area fixed. A new kitchen was installed. The basement is used for storing the city Christmas decorations all hung neatly on racks.

The Selby Opera House has welcomed visitors to the city for over a hundred years and it will continue to be the heart of our city in the years ahead.