Editing California, Missouri (section)

===Finke Opera House/Ritz Theatre===
[[File:Finke Opera House 042017.jpg|thumb|Finke Opera House as it appeared in 2017]]
Located at 312 North High Street in downtown California, the '''[[Finke Opera House]]/Ritz Theatre''' was built in 1885. The building was designed by Jerome Bibb "J.B." Legg, a well-known [[St. Louis]] architect. Legg was also responsible for designing many Missouri courthouses, opera houses, theaters, churches, schools, and public buildings, and he remodeled the [[Missouri State Capitol]] in 1887. The theater was named to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] for its significance in the area of entertainment and recreation in 2004.

The two-story brick building was California's only opera house and theater and therefore was the main entertainment center for the community. From 1885 to 1897, it was known as the '''California Opera House''' and then the '''Finke Opera House''' from 1897 to 1922.  While it was the opera house, the building was home to stage shows, plays, musical and school performances. [[Blind Boone]] played the piano at the opera house in 1893. [[Cole Younger]], an associate of [[Jesse James]], lectured at the opera house in 1909.<ref>[http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/nr04_124.htm Missouri State Historic Preservation Office News Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050320061858/http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/nr04_124.htm |date=2005-03-20 }}</ref> From 1922 to 1937, it was known as '''Finke Theater''' and featured vaudeville and motion pictures. In 1937, it was renovated from its Victorian style to an [[Art Deco]] style and became known as the '''Ritz Theatre''', from 1937 to 1978. It has been known as the '''Finke Theater''' since the theater opened for the 2009–10 season on September 26, 2009.

The opera house/theatre was recently renovated by California Progress, Inc., along with the adjacent Finke Building, to save this historical landmark.<ref name="nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com">[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/mo/Moniteau/state.html National Register of Historic Places]</ref>