Lyric Theatre
In 1914, some years after the Gray Front restaurant closed, the Lyric Theatre opened in the south side area of 1019 Main Street.  The Gray Front business building opened in 1907, and housed a furniture store on the north, an elegant cafe on the south, and a first class hotel on the second floor.  The theatre remained in operation, complete with an orchestra pit, until 1926.

Crystal Theater
No history available at this time.

Since then, the Opera House has been "home" to various retail businesses-a doctor's office, a harness shop, hardware store, furniture store, print shop, private school, a Ford dealership, tire shop, and a plumbing and electrical business.  The last store closed its doors nearly 30 years ago.  Since then, the Opera House has stood empty.

When the owner of the Opera House, Joan Dingworth of Texas, was approached with the idea of renovating the building, she deeded it over to the Grainfield Lions Club.  Presently, the Grainfield Lions Club and other interested individuals of Grainfield and northwest Kansas have begun Phase I of the project -- weatherizing the building and cleaning up the facade and outside of the building.  The renovation project is funded by a grant and donations from interested persons.

Students from the Department of Interior Architecture at K-State under associate professor Jim Dubois have worked up design proposals and ideas for the Opera House which include a brewery, ice cream shop, youth center, conference rooms, displays of art and antiques, and restoring the theater. Currently, there has been no decision made as to what the renovated Opera House will house.

As you drive along I-70 west of Hays and east of Colby, look for Grainfield--the Home of the Opera House-currently under renovation.