The Opera House will always be on the front page of my book "My Favorite Places To Remember". I guess I have thought and talked about this place so much, my enthusiasm has drifted down to my son. He had to do a class project for his eighth grade North Carolina History class. His project was the Albemarle Opera House. He re-constructed the building to scale. With my photos, the internet, and of course my help, (which I was glad to offer) he built it. He wanted Gene Starnes to have his project as a keepsake. We visited Gene to give him the replica, and in return My son wanted to have a private tour of the Grand Place. I think the inside temperature had to be in the high 90's, so I knew it would be a very quick visit.

I showed him around. We walked on the stage and stood where so many wonderful and devoted actors and story tellers had once stood. We toured the offices· where many people were helped to overcome their medical and vision problems. We also went into the place where I am sure many deep down secrets were shared between women while having the hair done. We next went up into the balcony to admire the view so many others had seen. I was explaining what type of seating I had imagined was once there, and in a flash as unexpected as could be, the shadow figure skirted from the left dressing room, across the stage and into the right dressing room. In a matter of a few seconds it was gone. Once more the "Phantom of the Opera" had made his appearance yet again.

Much to the dismay of my son, he did not see a thing, his back was turned to the stage. Our dark friend always seems to come out from his hiding place one time and one time only. He does not make an encore showing, following in the same footsteps as the great entertainers before him.

D.S. - August 2007