Elks Opera House

For over 100 years, the Elks Opera House has been a landmark of the cultural scene in Prescott, Arizona, and the western United States. In 1904, the people of Prescott raised $15,000 toward a performance hall to be included in the Elks Building. The original structure featured opera boxes that were later removed to adapt to the demands of motion pictures, and the entire proscenium arch was covered with wood paneling. In 2010, the Elks Opera House Foundation completed major renovations to restore the original 1905 grandeur of the theater and the 1928 marquee, which was paid for by grants from local charitable foundations, Arizona historic preservation funds, and generous participation by businesses and individuals. The Elks Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Within these pages, historian Parker Anderson and the Elks Opera House Foundation present the history of this grand theater. Anderson is the official Elks Opera House historian, an actor, playwright, and published author. The foundation is represented by founding secretary Elisabeth Ruffner, who is an award-winning historian and writer. Photograph preparation, layout, and graphic arts are by Terry Berrett, an Elks Opera House Foundation board member.