This discussion was quite timely. I recieved an email from someone who was interested in one of the theaters. I'm not sure if he was in Italy during or after the war. But here is what he wrote (I removed his name for now). Please excuse the ALL CAPS.
HI:THANK YOU FOR YOUR FINE WEBPAGE.
I WAS IN NAPLES FOR A SHORT AND MINIMALLY INVOLVED IN A MULTINATIONAL PROJECT TO REMORALIZE THIS SEVERELY DESTROYED CITY.
THE LOCALS WERE TOTALLY DEPRESSED, HUNGRY AND SEEMINGLY HOPELESS.
A BUNCH OF THE VARIOUS ALLIED UNITS DECIDED TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING TO LIFT THE SPIRIT OF THE LOCAL POPULATION FROM THE BOMBED OUT BUILDINGS AND RUBBLE.
THE AD HOC GROUP INTERESTED IN THIS PROJECT DECIDED TO REOPEN THE OPERA HOUSE. (THEATRO DI SAN CARLO)
THE AUDITIONS ALL OVER TOWN LITERALLY BLANKED OUT THE RUBBLE AND THE OPENING WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. THIS WAS FOR ME ONE OF THE MOST UPLIFTING EXPERIENCES OF MY MILITARY SERVICE.
UNFORTUNATELY MY MEMORY IS VAGUE AND I HAVE TRIED TO FIND A HISTORIAN, WHO MAY FILL IN THE DETAILS. SO FAR NO LUCK I STRUCK OUT EVEN AT THE US CONSULATE IN NAPLES OR AT THE THEATER ITSELF. NO ONE (K)NEW ANYTHING OR WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THIS STORY.
PERHAPS YOU COULD POINT ME IN A FRUITFUL DIRECTION OR GIVE ME SOME REFERENCE BOOK TITLES.
I WAS IN THE US ARMY SIGNAL CORPS.
THANK YOU AND BEST REGARDS
The San Carlos Theater was located in Naples. The original dated back many years and was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1861, I believe.
Steve