Stage Whispers

A century ago, Claremont, New Hampshire was a cultural mecca-a destination which drew performers from as far off as Boston and Montreal-and spectators from everywhere in between. Imagine if the popular bands of today were to make Claremont, New Hampshire, a tour stop, if your favorite A-list actors stopped by the local cinema for an appearance, or your favorite sports stars played right here in town. So it was for a period of time right here in our fair city. The Claremont Opera House was a huge draw to big names, to be sure, but other venues in Claremont drew celebrities as well. A few of these places exist today, in altered form, and many of them are gone. None of these venues stand as tall, as proud, and as well preserved as the Claremont Opera House.