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Similar memories and thoughts of the opera house were expressed by other senior citizens Tuesday. They said the Goodspeed Opera House’s move is a loss for the community.
"I think they really are going to lose something by going to Middletown," Smith said. "I just think it is so much prettier here, so picturesque."
Jacqueline Michael, a Haddam resident, said she will follow the Goodspeed Opera House. Although the main stage -- a projected Broadway-sized 700-seat theater -- is scheduled to be built in Middletown by spring 2008, Goodspeed will still hold one show during the summer in East Haddam.
The Board of Trustees voted at the end of June to move the opera house to Middletown, ending the city’s competition with East Haddam which involved offers of money, parking, zoning changes and location.
"I go there a lot," Michael, an usher at the theater, said. "I just think it’s sad."
She said all the memories of the theater are wonderful and that it won’t be the same in Middletown, because the ambiance of East Haddam would be missing. Her mother and sister, she said, saw the first showing of "Oh, Lady! Lady!" in 1963. "Oh, Lady! Lady!" is a Jerome Kern-Guy Bolton-P.G. Wodehouse Musical.
Goodspeed Musicals put on "Oh, Lady! Lady" in 1963 after they restored the building in 1959. The opera house was saved from a 1958 demolition.
After William Goodspeed’s death, the opera house was used as a militia base during World War I, a general store and a storage depot for the state’s Highway Department. Goodspeed, a shipping and banking businessman, built the theater in 1876.
Gene Kalet moved from New Jersey 12 years ago with his wife, Marilyn, to be next to the opera house. Both are retired, and Gene now volunteers at the opera house as an usher. Kalet said he is sad to see the opera house move to Middletown and would hate to see it become a summer theater.
"One of the purposes to move here to East Haddam is the fact that Goodspeed is here and we wanted to get involved here as volunteers," Kalet, who stopped in to see his wife, said. "We knew we loved the town and as a bonus Goodspeed was here."
Volunteering at the opera house also fulfills one of his loves -- theater. He and his wife have always gone to the theater.
They came up from New Jersey to see three shows a year at the opera house and often went to New York City to catch matinees.
He thinks the town still has a lot to offer even though the opera house was the linchpin of its economy. He thinks there needs to be more to the town’s economy.
"There is a certain sadness," Kalet said. "It’s like losing a brother and sister that’s gone elsewhere."
He said he will go to Middletown to watch shows.
Dolores Newman, who now lives in Old Saybrook, used to come up to watch shows at the theater, following its reputation. She said many people that she knew did the same.
"I’m sure that a lot of people that travel from down there and up will be sorry to see it go," Newman said.
She said she will go to Middletown to watch shows.
Angie Borginine, from East Haddam, and Leah Pear, from Moodus, speculated as to why the opera house is leaving. Although their views were different, they agreed that the situation is disappointing.
"East Haddam is going to be missing this because this is where it started from," Pear said.
To contact Josh Mrozinski, call (860) 347-3331, ext. 222 or email jmrozinski@middletownpress.com.
