We recently posted a link to a short video profile of Central City and the opera house on Denver’s CBS-4. To kick things off, Emmy-award winning journalist and television anchor Jim Benemann introduces Colorado Getaways producer Doug Whitehead and he quickly dives into the rich history of Central City and the opera house.

Like many opera patrons, I’ve been going to performances in Central City for quite some time now. Well, I was really taken back with all the wonderful background information provided in this short video production.  My hat goes off to the folks that created it.

Select the image above or HERE to see the Colorado Getaways video.

At first, I thought it would be interesting to discuss several talking points from the video, then an underlying theme emerged and the marriage metaphor seemed apropos. From the day (1878) Welsh and Cornish miners cut the rock to erect the structure, to the day (1931) the daughter of then Colorado governor John Evans saved the building by selling seats, community and patron support has played a major role in the opera house’s longevity.

This mining town and this opera house have been married for generations and it may just be time to reaffirm their vows: I, Central City, take you Opera House, to be my partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward.

There are so many little tidbits in this piece to enhance your next journey to Central City. From the boomtown beginnings, the great depression, and finally to today, I know my next visit will be slightly more enchanting. Whether you are a long time subscriber or a newbie, this video is chocked full of intriguing information on the opera house. Thank you for doing this CBS-4 Denver!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at June 3, 2008 and is filed under A Journey To Our Past, BRAVO!!, Education & Community Out Reach, Historic Preservation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.