Most of the information in this section comes from Charlie Stumpf's notes and publications.

Yannes Opera House - Formerly known as Krell's Hall, the Yannes Opera House was acquired and renamed by Austrian immigrant John Yannes in 1890.  He featured both local entertainment and touring shows.  After Yannes' death in 1915 the Opera House was leased to St. Ann's Church for the use of the Young Men's TAB Society and was operated as a source of revenue for the parish.  Moving pictures were now being shown there.  In 1938 the building became an A&P store, which operated until destroyed by fire in 1974. The site is now occupied by the Convenience Mart on Front and Washington.

Grand Opera House - John Yannes built a second opera house on the corner of Ridge and Luzerne, called variously the Freeland Grand Opera House, the Freeland Opera House and the Grand Opera House.  It opened for business in 1896.  Entertainment there included concerts by regional artists, Vaudeville and touring shows, occasional sporting events and even school commencements.  The building was later converted into a factory and is now a senior citizens' apartment building.

In addition to the opera houses, here is a list of theatres from Freeland's past:

The Lyric - At Krell's Hall, later the opera house at Front and Washington, this moving picture theatre opened in 1908.

The Star - In operation by 1910, The Star was located on Centre St. above South St., at a site which later became a pool hall.

The People's Theatre - [Need to find notes on location, management, dates, etc.]

The Refowich Theatre - Built in 1914 by Jake, Ike and Moe Refowich, this building has since been converted to apartments, but it still retains a good deal of its architectural charm. The first 'talking picture' in Freeland was shown here in 1929. In 1974 the building was sold and remodeled for apartments.

The Timony Theatre, The Strand, and the Rialto - Built by Peter Timony, this building on South St. just west of Centre St. was a dance hall and theatre in its early years. Movies were shown there from 1920 and the theatre became The Strand in 1935 and then the Rialto in 1938, where movies were shown until 1957. Later the building was used as a factory and then stood unused for some years until it was torn down in March 2003 as part of a commercial redevelopment project.

Opera House
Freeland Opera House

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1895 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House, John Yannes, prop. - southwest corner Front and Washington

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1897 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House, John Welsh, mgr. - Ridge corner Luzerne
Yannes Opera House, John Yannes, mgr. - Washington corner Front

and in the individual listings in this same directory:
Welsh, J. J., manager, Grand Opera House, 133 Adams, h
Yannes, John, hotel, Washington cor Front, h, w
Yannes Opera House, Front cor Washington, w

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED ON 1900 SANBORN MAP

Freeland Opera House
Opera House

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED IN 1900-1901 CITY DIRECTORY

Freeland Opera House, - Ridge

ENTERTAINMENT VENUES LISTED ON 1905, 1912, 1923 AND 1929 SANBORN MAPS

Opera House