In its early days, the Schick Opera House was a premiere entertainment venue.
Levi Schick opened the opera house in October 1909 with the idea that it would attract musical programs, vaudeville acts and plays.
Built with a large stage, an orchestra pit and enough seating for approximately 1,000 patrons, it certainly had space — and good acoustics, according to Herald archives.
It began to decline in popularity in the 1920s with the rise of motion pictures.
The content is very different now.
In 2021, Connie’s Compassionate Care purchased the building at 7th and Ash and started working with renovations with the new idea of creating a business hub.
They plan to take care of some cosmetic damage and create offices for businesses to build.
While the interior has changed somewhat, the exterior still retains its historic former glory as Plainview’s premiere opera house.
The Hale County Historical Commission works to reinvigorate interest in local history and to draw attention to some of the local forgotten places of historical significance. The Herald, in cooperation with the Historical Commission, will highlight places in Plainview and Hale County known as historical landmarks throughout the year. We will share a snippet of their inscription and perhaps more known details.
If you are familiar with these sites and are interested in sharing your own story, please contact The Herald.
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Editor’s Note: Ellysa Harris is a member of the Hale County Historical Commission.
