(Photo from MSU Riley Center)
- The theater itself has certainly seen enough history to inspire a few good stories. It survived the arrival of motion pictures, nearly eight decades behind locked doors, and a restoration that gave Meridian back one of its most beautiful landmarks.
For nearly 80 years, one of Meridian’s grandest theaters sat behind locked doors. The performances had ended, the audiences were gone, and the beautiful Victorian opera house that once attracted entertainers from across the country had become a forgotten piece of downtown history.
Well, forgotten by most people, anyway.
Local legend says someone never left.
Her name, or at least what folks have come to call her, is “The Lady,” and she is said to haunt the historic Grand Opera House in downtown Meridian. Reports of mysterious singing, unexplained cold spots, and even sightings of a woman dressed in white have kept her story alive for decades.
Today, the theater is part of the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, and its history is every bit as interesting as its resident ghost.
In 1889, German-Jewish immigrant half-brothers Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg began constructing an impressive five-story building in downtown Meridian. Their department store occupied the lower floors, while an elaborate theater above offered entertainment usually associated with much larger cities.
Architect Gustavus Maurice Torgerson designed the building, which featured a distinctive Mansard roof and elaborate architectural details.
When the Grand Opera House officially opened on December 17, 1890, it became a destination for opera, touring theatrical companies, vaudeville acts, and other performances. Entertainers traveled from across the country to appear on its stage, bringing big-city entertainment to East Mississippi.
For decades, the Grand Opera House was a source of pride for Meridian. But as motion pictures grew in popularity, audiences began choosing movie houses over traditional theaters. Although it eventually installed a movie screen, the Grand Opera House closed in 1927.
The department store continued operating downstairs until 1990, but the theater remained closed, its ornate balconies, historic wallpaper, and Victorian details hidden from public view.
By the 1990s, plans were underway to save the long-closed theater.
Mississippi State University, which had established its Meridian presence at Meridian Community College before opening its College Park Campus in 1993, became an important partner in the effort.
In January 2000, The Riley Foundation committed $10 million toward restoring the historic theater and adjoining buildings, with the agreement that Mississippi State would own and operate the facility.
The resulting $27 million restoration was an enormous undertaking. Artisans worked to preserve the theater’s original character while preparing it for modern performances.
In September 2006, nearly 80 years after its closure, the Grand Opera House welcomed audiences once again.
Today, the MSU Riley Center features an approximately 950-seat theater, a studio theater, and 30,000 square feet of conference and meeting space.
Mississippi State’s downtown presence continued to grow after the theater reopened.
With additional support from The Riley Foundation, the university transformed the historic Newberry Building into the Deen Building, providing classrooms and offices. The former Kress Building became the Rosenbaum Building, home to health sciences education and Mississippi’s first publicly funded Master of Physician Assistant Studies program.
In 2022, Mississippi State began expanding its downtown campus with a greater emphasis on healthcare education. By 2024, the university had welcomed students into new nursing and psychology programs, with plans for a community mental and behavioral health center.
Of course, the university isn’t the only one claiming the old opera house.
Over the years, stories about The Lady have become part of Meridian folklore. Unlike the frightening spirits associated with some of Mississippi’s haunted places, people generally describe her as friendly, perhaps even protective of the theater.
Some believe she is connected to the image of a beautiful woman associated with the opera house. Others have speculated she might be the famous actress Lillie Langtry, though no one has established her identity.
Former theater director Elliott Street helped popularize the legend after describing an unexplained cold spot on the darkened stage.
Other reported encounters include hearing a woman sing in an empty auditorium, lights flickering for no reason, and the sensation of someone gently touching a shoulder when no one else is around.
One account, reported by The Meridian Star, came from members of the Riley Center’s cleaning staff, who described seeing a woman dressed in white, with her hair arranged in an old-fashioned style.
Whether The Lady is a ghost, an old theater legend, or simply the result of more than a century of storytelling is anyone’s guess. No one has proven the Grand Opera House is haunted, but that hasn’t stopped people from sharing their experiences.
The theater itself has certainly seen enough history to inspire a few good stories. It survived the arrival of motion pictures, nearly eight decades behind locked doors, and a restoration that gave Meridian back one of its most beautiful landmarks.
These days, the Grand Opera House is once again filled with music, performances, and audiences, just as Israel Marks and Levi Rothenberg intended more than 135 years ago.
And somewhere in those balconies, The Lady may still have the best seat in the house.
Meredith Biesinger
