Description
Book SynopsisOpera houses were fixtures of Appalachian life from the end of the Civil War through the 1920s. The only book on opera houses that stresses their cultural context, Condee’s unique study will interest cultural geographers, scholars of Appalachian studies, and all those who appreciate the gaudy diversity of the American scene.
Trade Review“A unique combination of entertainment history and Appalachian history…. Condee demonstrates that the region was not as isolated as often thought and that opera houses increased the region’s exposure to various cultural aspects.” * H-Appalachia *
“One of the most valuable aspects of Condee’s book is the emphasis on the development of the coal industry in Appalachia, the growth in population and diversity, and especially how internal colonialism led to the development of the opera houses.”
“What makes this study of value and also unique is Condee’s approach to the topic. It is a useful analysis of the opera house as a reflector and location of local culture in far more ways than traditional performance. A real attraction is the plentiful illustrations.” * editor of Cambridge Studies in American Theatre & Drama and The Cambridge Guide to American Theatre (2nd ed.) *
