09/01/2026
THE AMAZING HISTORY OF MONTELLO THEATER & FRANK DODGE'S OPERA HOUSE 🎭
Our history tours have been a HUGE success — JOIN us! More below... 👇
Step back into 1893... 🕰️
Attached is an actual historic photo from the Wisconsin Historical Society (credit: Dr. E.A. Bass) of a real performance staged right here: a Japanese Wedding, complete with costume, staging, and live instrumental music. In the 1890s, travel was rare and curiosity about other cultures ran deep- after a mid-1800s diplomatic agreement opened trade between Japan and the U.S. and sparked American fascination with Japanese dress and culture. Montello's Opera House brought that world to its own stage.
We also found this gem- an actual 1890s clipping from the Montello Express, reporting that scenic artist Mr. Geo. Jowett hand-painted a new backdrop curtain for the Opera House, described as "especially handsome and artistic": a sunset view of Nicholas Bridge over the Neva River in St. Petersburg, Russia. That original backdrop is long gone, but we used AI to recreate what it likely looked like on that very stage, based on the newspaper's own description. 🎨🌉
We LOVE this history -and we're sharing it in person.
We've now completed 4 history tours through the Historic Dodge House (Frank Dodge's home, right next door to the Montello Theater- formerly Dodge's Opera House) and the Theater itself. The reviews have been amazing: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60106-d34492228-Reviews-Historic_Montello_Dodge_House-Montello_Wisconsin.html
The full experience runs about 2.5 hours across both buildings, and ends the way audiences did over 100 years ago: with a 15-minute silent film and a bag of warm popcorn. 🍿🎬
Come explore the history of the beautiful victorian era Dodge home and the amazing history of the theater as well.
📍 Historic Dodge House & Montello Theater
🎟️ Tickets available now — https://thedodgehouse.com/history-tours/