| Built in 1891, the Grand Opera House was the last standing of the nineteenth-century theatre buildings in Kansas City, Missouri. The Grand had years of great success due to the effort of its manager, Abraham Judah. The building was converted into a parking garage in 1926, but its brick Greco-Roman shell remained. With parking ramps installed, the theatre served as a public garage until the early 2000s when it fell into disrepair. There were many attempts to save and restore the Grand to its original glory. Not enough money was found and it was demolished in the spring of 2009.;The intention of this thesis is to present a comprehensive history of the Grand Opera House's initial building and wonderful stories through its transformations and its disappointing destruction. This distinctive piece of Kansas City history can tell us much about our past, our present, and our future. |
