After the destruction by fire of an earlier Opera House (built in 1872) in December 1892, this scrumptious Richardsonian-Romanesque replacement rendered in Cumberland Bluff stone was built from 1893-1895. The 100-foot clock tower has been the focal point of downtown Sumter ever since. In 1936 the Opera House was renovated into a movie theater to the tune of $120,000. The very first film shown at the Opera House was Earthworm Tractors; tickets to the first movie were 35 cents for adults and 10 cents for children. In 1982, after several interior renovations, none to the better, the Opera House closed its door after 46 years of operation as a movie theater.
The City of Sumter, in need of additional office space and hoping to attract more visitors to the downtown area, purchased the building in 1984 and began a painstaking restoration of the Opera House. The Opera House still houses City Hall and many of the City’s departments and offices, including City Council’s chambers. The first floor auditorium is once again an entertainment showcase.
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