The Golden Age of Indianapolis Theaters

5. English’s Opera House and Its Impact

5 English’sOperaHouse andItsImpact When the state’s wealthiest citizen announces he plans to build a deluxe theater in the heart of a city, it attracts attention. This occurred early in 1880, and the city’s more liberal newspaper, the Indianapolis Sentinel, broke the story. William H. English became a key member of the Democratic Party, serving in both the state legislature and Congress before moving to Indianapolis from southern Indiana in the mid-1860s. He then launched a business career in banking that produced considerable revenue. By 1880 English was described as a millionaire, and former state archivist Jerry Handfield called him the state’s number one millionaire. Handfield researched English for a chapter in Gentlemen from Indiana: National Party Candidates, 1836–1940, edited by Ralph Gray. The English family moved into a home located on the northwest quadrant of Monument Circle. By 1880 some key developments occurred. English acquired the entire property on the quadrant, deciding to build a theater and hotel on it. He then moved to a new residence, and he was nominated to run for vice president on the Democratic ticket. His presidential running mate was General Winfield Scott Hancock, who had acquired fame at the Battle of Gettysburg. Since political campaigning in the nineteenth century did not dominate one’s time as it does today, English managed to travel to eastern cities with his architect . He was seeking guidance and ideas that would make his theater a very special facility. He found what he wanted in New York City at the Grand Opera House, using it as a model. The theater would have its auditorium on the ground floor, still not typical at the time. Seating would include a balcony, and total capacity would be 2,000. 31 Not everyone was pleased with English’s idea. The city’s two mainline theaters, the Park and the Grand, continued to be under the same management. In English’s Opera House, author William George Sullivan accuses them of some active opposition: Immediately, the opposition theaters, fearing a new competitor, went into action, enlisting the sympathy of the Saturday Herald [a local newspaper]. The Herald argued that a town of this size could not very well support two legitimate houses, so why jeopardize business by adding another? While Handfield calls English one of the city’s leading citizens, he also points out a further basis for enmity on the part of others . Following the economic panic of 1873, English foreclosed on many mortgage loans andthenturnedaroundandpurchasedwhat Handfield calls “acres of valuable real estate at depressed prices during sheriff’s sales.” Public criticism was not about to stop him from proceeding with his plans, however. English had a personal reason for building a theater in Indianapolis. He wanted his son, William E., to be its manager. Handfield writes that the thirty-year-old bachelor ’s lifestyle concerned his father. Just months before the theater opened, young English had become infatuated with a popular dancer-actress-vocalist, Annie Fox. He could be found in the front row of the Metropolitan during her frequent appearances . He even followed her to some of her appearances in other cities. Mrs. Fox (she was a widow) apparently didn’t share English’s ardor. She suddenly married her stage partner. English was devastated . He traveled to New York City, The city was fortunate to have one of its most prominent citizens, William H. English, build a theater on Monument Circle. Bass Photo Company Collection, Indiana Historical Society. The senior English wanted his son, William E. English (shown here), to manage the new theater. He was hoping that the responsibility would overcome his thirty-year-old son’s philandering. Bass Photo Company Collection , Indiana Historical Society. 32 where he confronted the couple on the street and suddenly aimed a pistol at the bridegroom. Annie bravely grabbed English’s arm, heading off disaster. The bridegroom fled in terror. Three weeks later, the marriage ended, and English resumed his pursuit. This time he was successful. He and the entertainer became husband and wife in June 1880 after the family, no doubt with serious reservations, gave its consent. A honeymoon followed and included efforts to line up bookings for the new theater. There is no evidence that English’s ever had a resident company during its early years as did so many of its contemporaries...