The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-09-28, Page 64MORE THAN.A PRIORITY
QUALITY IS JOB ONE
QUALITY RIGHT
DOWN
FORD THE
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• Daffy Renielt
SEMORTH 527-1010 '011
LINE
MOTORS LIMITED
SEAFORTH
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:eine lainttioit for all of Huron County
BY RON WASSDIK
Visitors to Seaforth even long-time residents stand in
awe when1Ooking up at Cardno's Opera Hall. The first lady
Of Seder* was opened in 1875, providing entertainment,
not onlyfer Seaforth residents, but all of Huron County. In a
acute, Cardno's Opera Hall was the hottest night spot in
town.
' Its most striking feature is a large clock tower, with clock
faces on north, south, east and west sides. Time has
weathered the faces. Paint has disappeared as have
numerals and minute and hour hands.
After entering the main doors to the hall, one climbs 22
steps up a four foot wide staircase with oak bannister to the
opera hall. Considering the building is over 100 years old
and has been closed for 31 years, the interior still
maintains a semblance of elegance. The hall has elaborate
woodwork around windows, a wooden balcony and a curved
stage.
The hall was closed in 1952, the same year Queen
Elizabeth 11 was crowned. The future was very dim. It was
the era of television. People had other forms of
entertainment. The grand lady was soon) forgotten after
the curtain closed for the last act of Professor James
Scott's play, "Crossroads'. •
The 1920s was the era for the big band sound. Ed Daly,
lifetime Seaforth resident, remembers when he and his
orchestra played in Cardno's hall? "It was a swing and jazz
era. I playea violin and banjo and my two brothers played
the piano and drums. For awhile we had an orchestra made
,1•1•01•0111inin
We are proud of our association with
SEAFORTH and AREA and wish to
take this opportunity to extend best wishes
for your annual
Oderfest
ERIE & HURON
BEVERAGES LIMITED
STRATFORD
Authorized Bottler of Coca-Cola
4
up of two families, three. Stewart brothers and three Daly
brothers. It Was called the Daly -Stewart Orchestra.
FILLED
"Radio 'was just coming in, so anything that hit the town
pretty well filled Cardno's Hall. It was only one of few
entertainment spots. It always seemed fairly busy. 1 can't
remember too many stage tolays, mainly because I was
musically inclined.
"1 can remember people sat on long benches and chairs. i
The main stage curtainincluded advertising. My father's
advertisement was one of them. He was a jeweller.
"1 can recall that local talent was featured in minstrel
shows. There also used to be a travelling show put on by the
Guy Brothers. It was a variety program which featured
singers, dancers and comedians. My dad used to be what
was called an end man because he used to sit in the end of
the front row. The two end men were dressed in crazy
costumes, had black faces and hands. They supplied the
jokes and wisecracks.
"My most vivid childhood recollection is of an act when a
guy crawled to the stage in an alligator costume. It seemed
so real that 1 was ready to run out of the place."
WINDING THE CLOCK
Mr. Daly is one of a handful of people who climbed the
clock tower on a regular basis. Since his father was a
jeweller. Ed was in charge of Winding the clock every
Saturday.
"It was a job 1 had every week, summer and winter. I had
Please turn to page 25
All
Visitors To
Oderfest