[OPERA] John M. Wieting M.D. (1817-1888) physician and medical lecturer. HHe is perhaps best known for his Wieting Opera House, considered a "world class" cultural institution. Originally, a building called Wieting Hall, which was a lecture hall, was built at 100 West Water Street at the corner of South Salina Street in 1852 and was lost to fire in 1856. The building was rebuilt and reopened in 1870 as the Wieting Opera House and had a seating capacity of 1,017. The first opera that took place in the house, however, did not occur until 1886 when the American Opera Company made a brief appearance. In fact, opera was never intended as the main venue in the theater. At that time, towns throughout America had opera houses where operas were seldom or never performed. The "opera house" designation simply provided a respectable cover for places that presented a variety of popular entertainments. Oftentimes they were called "museums." ALS, Bromfield House, 1854, 1p. Reply to an autograph collector.

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