Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, INC.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE, INC. Interest in constructing a new opera house led around 1889 to the forming of the Grand Opera House Company. Officers included:
President-Jacob RICH Vice-PresidenT William L. BRADLEY, Jr. Secretary-B. M. Harger Treasurer-George Benjamin BURCH Directors-William Harrison DAY,Sr., William L. Bradley, Jr., Jacob Rich, [[RIDER, John Vincent|John Vincent|John Vincent RIDER]], Charles H. MEYER, George Benjamin BURCH Building Committee-W. H. Day. W. L. Bradley, Jacob Rich
Dr. J. H. Lull was one of the most interested individuals at the early stages and it was through his efforts that the needed $75,000 was raised. He served briefly on the board of directors before his death. The company had fifty-one shareholders. (1)
Bradley, who owned 98% of the company, bought out the interests of the other partners within two to three years and reorganized the company to include his three brothers and one sister.
At one time, the company owned the Grand Theatre, STRAND THEATER, AVON THEATER and had a business arrangement about 1960 with the ORPHEUM.
---
Source:
1. "To the Muses," The Herald, August 15, 1890, p. 4
Diane Chalmers, e-mail, February 2, 2018