Coates Opera House Explained

The Coates Opera House was a prominent performing arts venue and cultural landmark in Kansas City, Missouri^[1] from its founding in 1870 to its destruction in a fire in 1901.^[2] It was built by Kersey Coates, a local hotelier. The House was the first legitimate theater in Kansas City.^[3] It was located on the northwest corner of 10th and Broadway.

Heart and Sword, starring Walker Whiteside and Leilia Wolstan was the last performance in the theatre.^[4]

Playwright and actor John A. Stevens managed the opera house for the 1871–72 and 1872–73 seasons (its second and third seasons).

References

• Book: Bugle Resounding: Music and Musicians of the Civil War Era. National Conference on Music of the Civil War Era. Mark A. Snell . Bruce C. Kelley. 2004. University of Missouri Press. 0-8262-1538-6.
• Music in Kansas City Before the Civil War. Mid-West Notebook. 1. 1. May 1992. Theodore. Albrecht.

39.1027°N -94.5886°W

Notes and References

1. Snell and Kelley, pg. 17, citing Albrecht, pgs. 2-6
2. https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B04EFDC143FE433A25752C0A9649C946097D6CF New York Times: KANSAS CITY THEATRE BURNED.; Coates Opera House a Complete Loss -- "L'Aiglon" Was Booked for Monday.
3. http://kclibrary.org/localhistory/exhibits/theaters/coates.htm Bygone Theaters: Coates Opera House
4. Web site: Last Night at the Opera. Kansas City Public Library. 19 July 2014.