Pensacola Opera House

The Pensacola Opera House was a 1,400-seat theater at the intersection of Jefferson and Government Streets, across from Plaza Ferdinand VII. It opened in 1883. According to an 1885 city directory, "the stage which is 50 x 60 feet has 15 sets of scenery, foot-lights and four boxes." The building was demolished in 1917 following damage received in a 1916 hurricane. Salvaged bricks and balcony railings were used in the construction of the Saenger Theatre.

Pensacola Opera House
Historical sign marks the site of the old opera house
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 (hurricane)
Size	1,400 seats

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

Guest Performers

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

Pensacola Advertising Company

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.