page_title: Riley Center
section_title: Alterations and renovations
hierarchical_section_title: Riley Center / Original Opera House / Alterations and renovations
caption_attribution_description: English: Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts in downtown Meridian, Mississippi; formerly the Grand Opera House; constructed in 1889, renovated in 2006.
context_page_description: The Riley Center, also known as the Grand Opera House and formally as the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, is a performing arts and conference center in Meridian, Mississippi. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
  Renovated in September 2006, it has been restored to its original beauty while incorporating the latest in modern technology and amenities. The Grand Opera House and the adjacent Marks-Rothenberg Department store were built in 1889 by half-brothers Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg. The opera house was a site for entertainment and theatre for decades.
  In addition to the extensive theater renovation, the Riley Center project redeveloped the department store as a state-of-the art conference facility. Together the theater and conference space make up the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, owned and operated by Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus.
context_section_description: The Opera House was remodeled in 1902, reopening on September 17. The original entrance was moved to the left of the former gallery entry. Three marble steps led up to the entrance, which had a metal extension gate that could be closed when the theatre was dark. Electricity upgrades were also added in 1902.
  The Opera House was remodeled again in May 1920, when it was converted in part to a movie theater, the new art form whose popularity was growing rapidly. The renovated theater opened on June 7, introducing the silver screen, which can still be seen in the backstage area of the theater. In this transition the gallery was divided into two areas, allowing a center opening for the film's projection.
caption: Front view
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