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The [[Pensacola Opera House]] was a 1,400-seat theater at the intersection of [[Jefferson Street|Jefferson]] and [[Government Street]]s, 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."<ref>[http://www.rootsweb.com/~flescamb/1885appendix.htm 1885 Pensacola City Directory Appendix]</ref> The building was destroyed in a [[1916]] [[hurricane]]. Salvaged bricks and balcony railings were used in the construction of the [[Saenger Theatre]].

In [[1902]] manager [[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."<ref>[http://www.lamar.com/main/about/History.cfm Lamar Company History]</ref> Of course, the opera house was destroyed eight years later, while Lamar Advertising went on to become a billion-dollar multinational.