Opera House attracts concerts, visitors to Corning, Iowa
Located at the top of a hill overlooking Corning’s downtown, the Opera House serves a population once deemed unlikely when FC Reese envisioned the three-story Italianate design more than 120 years ago.
In the days after Euro-American settlement in the Midwest, an opera house was nothing more than a theater for socialites. Opera rarely, if ever, performed at an opera house.
Today, the Corning Opera House serves as a concert venue and community hall, offering everything from classic rock tribute concerts and holiday shows to author talks. It’s truly a gathering place for the town of about 1,600 people.
Purchasing the corner lots at 8th and Davis Streets, once home to National Bank, Reese didn’t originally consider building an opera house, but after local business owners approached him about the idea in early 1901, he supported the idea.
Currying favor with Corning’s city council, Reese offered to have City Hall located on the first floor, with the Opera House occupying the top two floors.
The Adams County Free Press newspaper urged public support for building the Opera House, noting, “It is highly probable that Corning will [not] have another…opportunity to get an opera house and should not let this opportunity pass.”
Selling stocks for $50 a share to fund the project, the Opera House was built in 1902 for $15,000.
Opened in 1902
Designed to seat 700 people, with enough standing room to increase attendance to 1,000, the Corning Opera House formally opened Sept. 26, 1902, with “The School for Scandal” performed by William Owens’ theater group. A month earlier, shows presented by the Morey Stock company drew large crowds, earning about $1,400 in ticket sales, with $450 going to the Opera House.
The Corning Opera House hosted live stage productions, including vaudeville shows, until 1914, when it transitioned to showing films. The movie theater operated until 1931, when it closed during the Great Depression. It was used for storage.
The Opera House came alive for one more stage production in 1934, presenting several performances of “Blue Heaven.”
The building was then used by the local newspaper for several years, as an office and storage space.
Restoration
The idea to revive the Opera House as a functioning theater started in 2000, when a community group formed a restoration committee, turning to an old-fashioned method of fundraising, hosting bake sales and soup suppers, followed by grant applications.
In 2006, windows were restored and the roof sealed to stop leakages. An elevator from the first to the second floor was installed three years later.
After receiving a state grant of $1.5 million, the final improvements were completed. Altogether, the restoration project totaled $3.5 million.
The Opera House’s grand reopening bowed to the public during the weekend of April 5, 2012, with the Ron Cooley Trio and Jeff Millhollin performing musical acts.
Since reopening, the Corning Opera House hosts at least one monthly production, including the annual Iowa Nebraska Heartland Film Festival. It seats about 250 people, with main floor and balcony seats available.
I’ve attended three classic rock music tribute concerts at the Opera House, beginning with a Credence Clearwater Revival tribute show, along with two of my brothers, in 2024. The band was headlined by Iowa native Jimmy Ryan, who performed as lead guitarist for Carly Simon for more than 20 years.
My next two shows involved an Elton John tribute artist, followed by a 1960s folk music show, featuring William Florian, former lead singer of the New Christy Minstrels.
I also had the honor of being a speaker during the Opera House’s monthly community chats, discussing “Lost Treasures of Omaha,” which includes Johnny Carson, who was born in Corning.
Dining, hotel
A show at the Opera House is an enjoyable cap to a day or weekend in the southwest Iowa community, a 90-minute drive from Omaha. If staying overnight, book a room at the Corning Hotel, a 33-room boutique hotel, which offers a comfortable stay at a reasonable rate.
Consider dinner at Primrose, a casual upscale restaurant owned and led by Joel Mahr, the former chef at Omaha’s Lot 2. Featuring an ever-changing menu of fork-to-table options, the entrees, such as bacon-wrapped meatloaf and steak, are delicious.
Another excellent option is Los Catrines Mexican Kitchen, providing authentic dishes. Opened in 2023, the restaurant features bright colors and Hispanic art.
The following morning, grab some pastries from downtown’s Sweet Desires bakery and enjoy an excellent cup of java at Coffee Trough, which celebrated its first anniversary as a downtown coffee shop in April.
A second coffee option is Backgrounds Coffee Bar and Boutique, located in the rear of a hair salon. You can walk through the salon or access the coffee shop via an alley entrance.
Before leaving town, check out Fire and Salt Co., a renovated bank building offering locally-produced beef and pork products, fresh olive oil and chips and dips. It also has a cigar bar located inside the vault.
Whether you enjoy an overnight trip for dinner and a show or a day trip for shopping or touring, Corning offers a fantastic experience, anchored by the historic Opera House.
