Early in this century a theatrical production company brought to the Ambler Opera House Harriet Beecher Stowe's beloved "Uncle Tom's Cabin".  Many looked forward each year to seeing the performance, a favorite with  Ambler theatergoers. 

The original Ambler Opera House, built around 1890, had a wide stage, flanked by four boxes  with ornately-decorated curved fronts.  There were two on each side, one above the other. This large stage allowed for band concerts, amateur shows, vaudeville, wrestling and boxing, minstrel shows, political rallies and  graduations. Even a moderate-sized circus could be accommodated here.  Acoustics of the original Opera House were considered second only to those of La Scala Opera in Milan, according to an entry in the autobiography of an opera star who had sung here. Lighting  was considered superb and the seating comfortable.  

A Philadelphia-based opera company often ended their season with performances in Ambler. Their railroad car, containing scenery, costumes and props, was brought out to the freight yard siding, with the company staying in Ambler for several performances. Recognized as the finest on the North Pennsylvania Railroad between Philadelphia and Bethlehem, the popularity of the Opera House was due largely to its location on the railroad.  Arrival in 1902 of the Lehigh Valley trolleys brought even larger crowds into Ambler. 

The "Uncle Tom's Cabin" company had their own car, which carried scenery and props, and provided living quarters for cast and stage crew while in Ambler.  For this performance, they even carried real live bloodhounds.  Coming to Ambler by railroad, their car was moved by a shifter to a siding in the freight yard just across the tracks from the Opera House. 

An advance party had come to town earlier to put up posters and arrange for  the big parade, necessary to ensure a large turnout.  Local paper advertising and posters around town were not enough to guarantee a full house.  Scheduled for the afternoon of the show, the parade consisted of a bass drummer and bugler, followed by the entire cast in costume, parading on every street in Ambler, their sole purpose being to make enough noise to bring out the residents and let them know there was a show tonight.  Bloodhounds used in the play were a popular feature of this parade. 

The afternoon parade was a success, for in the evening the theater was filled to capacity, with standing room only.  As the house lights dimmed and the curtain rose, the play seemed to begin normally.  Before long, though, there was a sense that something on the stage was not right.  Those in the audience familiar with the play were aware that the actors were speaking unfamiliar lines. Before the first act had ended they realized the players were intoxicated, learning afterwards that members of the cast had sent out for an ample supply of beer before the show.  As the play progressed it was quite obvious that this was going to be a surprisingly different version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Lines were forgotten or changed and  the players began to giggle uncontrollably and to trip over props or each other. At one point an actor came precariously close to falling over the footlights into the orchestra pit. 

Before the last act could be completed, the curtain came down abruptly, leaving the astonished audience in a dimmed theater for more than fifteen minutes wondering what was to come next.  Finally, the  staggering manager of the group appeared before the curtain, supporting himself by the ropes, and saying, "Well, what are you waiting for?  You got your money's worth, didn't you?  You know the story.  Uncle Tom's dead and little Eva goes to Heaven, so what more do you want?"  With that, he disappeared behind the curtain leaving more  than 700 stunned theatergoers awestruck at this most unusual performance.