History of the Smith Opera House

The lights dim and the audience’s voices soften. Frescoes on either side of the house walls slowly transform into the setting sun. As darkness descends, twinkling stars appear overhead creating an "evening sky" and the illusion of being in a garden. The spotlight appears, the performers take center stage, and the magic begins.

Welcome to the historic Smith Opera House, located in Geneva, New York.
For over 100 years, people of all ages have enjoyed performing arts productions at The Smith and have been enriched by their magical power. Built in 1894 by philanthropist William Smith, the theatre has through the years played a variety of roles: opera house, playhouse, vaudeville venue, movie palace, performing arts center, and community cultural center.

Built in 1894 for $39,000 by local philanthropist William Smith, The Smith was designed by well-known architects Joseph Pierce and Henry Bickford. The handsome Richardsonian Romanesque structure is recognized nationally by major preservation organizations including the National Register of Historic Places and the Smithsonian. It is among the oldest operating theatres in the United States. In the early 1930’s Schine’s Amusement Company, Inc. Spent $500,000 gutting and renovating the opera house’s interior with a combination of Art Deco and Baroque motifs. The architect, Victor Rigaumount, also incorporated Victorian and Moorish influences to create grand interior. Currently, fewer than 300 of the nation’s original "movie palaces" remain. Fourteen are in New York State, and only eight are still used for the performing arts. They include Radio City Music Hall, Landmark Theatre in Syracuse and the Smith Opera House In Geneva.

Countless performers have graced The Smith’s stage and silver screen. Performances have included those by notable artists such as: George M. Cohan, Isadora Duncan, Al Jolsen, John Philip Sousa, Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Billy Joel, Jay Leno, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, Bruce Hornsby, and David Grisman.

Smith Opera House — A History in Brief

1894
Geneva’s Smith Opera House, a "jewel in the burgeoning young city’s cultural crown," opened as a site for both operas and plays. In the early 1900’s, it operated as a vaudeville playhouse.

1906
The Opera House was given to Hobart College, which later sold it to endow William Smith College.

1929
Schine Enterprises purchased the building from the last of a series of owners. Major renovations transformed it into a grand "atmospheric" movie palace.

1931
Renamed the Geneva Theatre, it was the flagship of the Schine theatre chain.

1950s
The Geneva Theatre, like other urban movie theatres, suffered from the competition of television and drive-in movies.

1978
The City of Geneva took possession of the once flourishing theatre for back taxes. The "Gang of Five" (Paul Brown, Steve Hastings, Dan Belliveau, Ken Camera and Jeff Rathaus) and attorneys John O’Malley and Murray Heaton worked with major Geneva financial institutions to underwrite the purchase of The Smith.

1979
The Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council, Inc. was established to preserve and operate the theatre as a regional performing arts center.

1982
A $100,000 community campaign restored 500 theatre seats and extended the stage.

1983
The Geneva Theatre was renamed Smith Opera House.

1984-1993
Renovations and studies continued.

1994
The Centennial Campaign raised over $1 million, which has now been invested for Phase I renovation efforts: facade restoration, priority exterior renovations, and mechanical and electrical system upgrades.

1998
The Center Stage Campaign seeks $1.65 million for Phase II interior restorations, site improvements, and ongoing program support.

For additional historical information about The Smith the book "Revels in Hand: The First Century of the Smith Opera House" by Charles McNally is available for purchase at the theatre.

A Star Reborn
Saved from slated destruction by concerned citizens in the late 1970s The Smith has since been undergoing restoration. In 1989, a Historic Structure Report was compiled. Based on this in the early 1990s, a master plan for restoration and renovation was developed detailing over $2.5 million in need projects. To address the most pressing of these, the Centennial Campaign (celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Smith) was organized in 1994. The campaign raised over $1 million, which was used for priority restoration and renovation projects. Included were window and door replacements, facade restoration, electrical and HVAC systems replacements, plumbing upgrades, hazardous waste removal, film projection system upgrade, Dolby surround sound system, and rebuilt fire escapes.

In 1998, to strengthen The Smith’s role as Center Stage of the Finger Lakes, the Center Stage Campaign was launched to fund the remaining $1.65 million renovation. To date over $750,000 has been raised and critical projects were completed: repair of decorative plaster and painting of the balcony and lobby, carpeting of the lobby and auditorium, seat restoration, new concession and ticket areas, plaster repair and painting of the auditorium walls, new stage rigging, restroom expansion, lower-level cabaret construction, and reconstruction of two storefrontsand installation of new side entry doors. Fundraising is ongoing and projects yet to be completed or started include: re-leafing of the rope columns and decorative grilles in the auditorium, stage floor replacement, new exhaust systems, and construction of a stage cross-over with stage-level dressing rooms, rest rooms, loading dock and handicapped accessibility. In addition $250,000 in funds raised by the Center Stage Campaign will be designated for program support and development. The program dollars will be used to help underwrite The Smith’s wide range of activities including Arts-in-Education, family programming, live performances and movies.

The Center Stage Campaign provides a variety of opportunities for individuals, foundations, businesses, corporations and civic and service groups to help provide needed support. Tax-deductible contributions may take the form of cash; pledges over a one to five-year period; donations of securities, tangible personal property or real estate; and bequests and other types of planned giving.