Pensacola Opera House

Pensacola Opera House
Opera House patrons fill Jefferson Street
Building Information
Location	Jefferson Street at Government
Client	Daniel F. Sullivan
Engineer	A.V. Clubbs, contractor Theodore Weber, artist
Completion Date	1883
Date Demolished	1917
Size	1,400 seats

For the building that houses the current Pensacola Opera company, see Pensacola Opera.

The Pensacola Opera House was a 1,400-seat theater at the intersection of Jefferson and Government Streets, across from Plaza Ferdinand VII. Financed by timber magnate Daniel F. Sullivan, it opened in 1883. The building was heavily damaged in the two 1916 hurricanes and demolished after receiving further damage from the Hurricane of 1917. Salvaged bricks and balcony railings were used in the construction of the Saenger Theatre.

The 1885-1886 Pensacola City Directory says the following of the Opera House:

The Pensacola Opera House, Government cor Jefferson. R. F. McConnell, Manager, Sullivan's Wharf. This Opera House has two tiers above the main floor, is supplied throughout with opera chairs, and has a seating capacity of 1400 people. The stage which is 50 x 60 feet has 15 sets of scenery, foot-lights and four boxes. The rent is $100 per night.

Guest Performers

The opera house as seen from Plaza Ferdinand VII

Some of the performers who graced the Opera House during its existence include:

• Sarah Bernhardt
• John Drew
• Grace George
• Billie Burke
• Lillian Russell
• Maude Adams
• Anna Pavlova
• Richard Mansfield
• Mrs. Fiske
• Madame Modjeska
• Amelia Bingham
• Sousa's Band

Bank

Bank entrance at the northwest corner of the Opera House

American National Bank in the Opera House

In addition to the theater itself, the Opera House also housed the Sullivan brothers' First National Bank, accessible through an entrance at the building's northwest corner. When that bank changed locations, the space was occupied by the American National Bank.

Pensacola Advertising Company

Historical sign marks the site of the old opera house

In 1902 then-owner John M. Coe created the "Pensacola Advertising Company," a small poster business to promote the opera house. He took a business partner, Charles W. Lamar, Sr., in 1905. When the two men dissolved their business relationship in 1908, the poster company went to Lamar and was renamed Lamar Advertising. According to Lamar company lore, "a coin toss was used to divide their assets," and Lamar "lost." Of course, the opera house was destroyed eight years later, while Lamar Advertising went on to become a billion-dollar multinational.