A Square Celebration: 150 Years of History June 22-26, 1994, Page 11

Opera House honing their stage skills each evening. Functions decreased in the 1950s due to structural decline of the building. The Woodstock Public Library moved to a new building on Judd Street in 1959 and city offices were moved into the former library. The Woodstock Fine Arts Association, Inc., was formed in 1961, providing programming contributions, volunteer services and support. The city government moved its offices to the current location on Calhoun Street, a restored 1906 schoolhouse, in the mid-1970s. After two years of interior restoration work, the former "city hall" opened its doors as the Woodstock Opera House Community Center in February, 1977. The most noticeable restoration feature is the return of the unique cupola atop the building which was missing for many years. The cupola you see in 1994 is a reconstruction of the original; it was craned onto the top of the tower it one piece. The highlight of the restoration is the meticulous reproduction of the stenciled auditorium ceiling. Additional interior restoration or reproduction has included woodwork, lighting fixtures, hardware, flooring, wall surfaces, stained glass windows and furnishings. The restoration work has received an award from the Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and the building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Woodstock Opera House currently hosts professional theatre, two community theatre groups, concert series, special events, children's activities, and more—serving the community as a cultural, recreational and meeting center. Now appearing... Orson Welles Best known for his masterpiece Citizen Kane (1941), a film in which he played the title role as well as directed, Orson Welles attended the Todd School for Boys in Woodstock. He performed in Shakespearian plays at the Woodstock Opera House only a few years before gaining fame for his dramatization of H.G. Wells5 The War of the Worlds on Halloween in 1938. A tale of an alien invasion illustrated with fake newscasts and interviews, the broadcast was thought to be true by many and a great panic ensued.