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Gerold Opera House celebrates centennial with swing band

The Gerold Opera House is celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year.

Among the highlights of the year-long celebration is a spring dance on Saturday, April 18.

At 7:30 p.m., Swing Time Big Band, a 20-piece orchestra featuring swing music from the 1930s through the 1950s, bwill perform.

Now in its fourth year, the band performs at the Outer Edge in Appleton and other venues in the area.

The doors to the opera house are opening at 7 p.m. for the April 18 concert, and the event includes a full cash bar and concessions.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and students age 17 and under.

To purchase tickets, visit wegaarts.org, the Coffee Klatsch in Weyauwega or The Bookcellar in Waupaca.

In 2007 Wega Arts purchased the historic opera house.

Since then, the nonprofit organization has made numerous updates to the opera house, while maintaining the building’s historic charm.

Wega Arts is dedicated to bringing the arts to Weyauwgega. The organization hosts concerts, plays, dances, the Weyauwega International Film Festival and the Wega Arts One Act Play Festival.

When the Gerold Opera House was built in 1915, popular songs included “

Foolish Questions,” “They Didn’t Believe Me” and “Along the Rocky Road to Dublin.”

Thomas Edison’s discs were becoming popular.

Vaudeville was the entertainment of the day, and groups of all sorts made their way through town.

When Wega Arts started renovating the building and going through the old flats, many little notes from performers were found written on the back, including comments such as “The Spencer Sisters: played here three days. Nice place.”

They have pictures of a Wisconsin governor hosting 400 people (all men) at long tables.

Through the years, there were many dances at the Gerold, from Ragtime to Swing.

The seats were not put in until the talkies came along, and Wega Arts took them out, making room to dance.

They invite all to join in the 100-year anniversary and to dance on April 18.

The Gerold Opera House is located at 136 E. Main St., in downtown Weyauwega.

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