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Clifton Opera House becomes hive of activity

Concert venue that was nearly demolished is abuzz under new management

Springfield singer-songwriter Rick Lee James on stage at the 118-year-old Clifton Opera House. Behind him is a mural depicting various Clifton scenes. James will play the opera house at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Marshall Gorby Springfield singer-songwriter Rick Lee James on stage at the 118-year-old Clifton Opera House. Behind him is a mural depicting various Clifton scenes. James will play the opera house at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Marshall Gorby Brenda Walter at the Clifton Opera House. She started booking the hall’s entertainment two years ago.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Andrew McGinn, Staff Writer 4:49 PM Thursday, November 17, 2011

CLIFTON — Brenda Walter knew better when a jam band from Springfield unloaded enough speakers for what could’ve been a hot set at Bonnaroo.

But at the Clifton Opera House, that’s what you call overkill.

“Your first assumption as a musician,” she explained, “is that you’re going to need all sorts of amplification. The reality is, you don’t need it.

“People don’t realize how this place works.”

Back in 1893, when the opera house originally opened its doors, they had no use for Marshall stacks — “Turkey in the Straw” came through loud and clear no matter where you sat.

In fact, the night the little bat flew in during a performance not long ago, the acoustics are so good that people might’ve feared a giant fruit bat was overhead.

And to think, plans were once afoot in our lifetime to level Clifton’s opera house.

“It was going to be torn down, but they didn’t have enough money to do it,” said Walter, the volunteer who started booking the hall’s entertainment two years ago.

“Thankfully.”

Under her management, the Clifton Opera House has been reborn as a hub of activity, with weekend concerts now year-round.

Aside from the holiday lights at nearby Clifton Mill, it’s not often you get to use the words “Clifton” and “hub of activity” in the same sentence.

After all, the historical marker notes that things started to go downhill for Clifton, pop. 152, when the railroad bypassed town.

Not the interstate — the railroad.

But here we are, 11 years into the 21st century, and the opera house is giving people a reason to visit Clifton even when it’s not Christmas.

“I fell in love with the place,” Springfield singer-songwriter Rick Lee James said.

James saw a show at the opera house last summer and, on Friday, will play the first show of his own there with Champaign County singer-songwriter Daniel Dye and the group Kids Helping Kids as part of a benefit for the Christian relief organization World Vision.

“I like the feel when you walk through the door,” he said.

As cliche as it might be to suggest it’s like stepping back in time, it’s also true.

Brookville keyboard player Lou James has played the opera house numerous times with Ivory Doghouse, The Impossibles and the James and Moore duo.

Back in the ’60s, he even played backup for Lou Christie and others on one of Dick Clark’s “Cavalcade of Stars” tours.

“I haven’t seen any ghosts in there,” Lou James said, “but you can sense that other entertainers have been there.”

The seats in the balcony are original to the building, complete with the wire underneath for easy storage of your top hat.

“I’m contacted every week by musicians,” Walter said. “In the beginning, I found them. Now they’re seeking me out.

“They’re starting to recognize this as a great venue.”

Walter, who lives just outside Clifton, had a career in international sales, selling carpet to airlines, before the economy crashed and burned.

“I went from flying high to flying low with a lot of time on my hands,” she confessed.

Two years ago, she decided to offer that time to the village as a volunteer.

Having escaped the wrecking ball in 1978, the opera house developed a reputation in the ’80s for Saturday night Dixieland concerts from April to November.

Dixieland remains a regular attraction, but you’re now more likely to hear bluegrass, Celtic, blues and rock.

“We’re trying to sell it to a younger group of people,” Walter said. “I’m not saying that in a mean way, but the harsh reality for this opera house is the old Dixieland bands, half of the bands are dead.

“We need young people to come in here and experience this.”

Easier said than done, though.

If you’re 90, admission is free.

“We can’t afford to do 80,” Walter noted. “That would be half the auditorium.”

Contact this reporter at amcginn@coxohio.com.

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