Historical marker tells of old 'Opera House' in downtown Pensacola, Fla.

'Pensacola Opera House' historical marker. 

This week’s featured historical marker is the “OPERA HOUSE” marker in Pensacola, Fla. This marker is located on Jefferson Street, just south of the Government Street intersection, on the east side of Plaza Ferdinand VII in downtown Pensacola.

This marker was erected by the Pensacola Historical Society in 1955. There’s text on both sides of the marker, but both sides are the same. What follows in the complete text from the marker:

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“Site of Pensacola OPERA HOUSE, 1883-1917: Here appeared Sarah Bernhardt, John Drew, Grace George, Billie Burke, Lillian Russell, Maude Adams, Anna Pavlova, Richard Mansfield, Mrs. Fiske, Mme. Modjeska, Amelia Bingham, Sousa’s Band, etc. Brick and iron balcony rail in present Saenger Theatre. Built by D.F. Sullivan; A.V. Clubbs; contractors: Theodore Weber, artist.”

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While researching the history of the Opera House, I ran across a ton of information. The construction of the Opera House, which could seat 1,400, was financed by Daniel F. Sullivan, a native of Ireland who moved to Pensacola after the Civil War and started a successful timber business. The Opera House officially opened its doors on Jan. 4, 1883, but closed and demolished a little over three decades later due to damage from three hurricanes in 1916 and 1917.

In addition to Sullivan, Alexander Vice “A.V.” Clubbs was also a prominent Pensacola native. Born in Rochester, N.Y. on Aug. 26, 1844, Clubbs moved to Pensacola in 1866 and became a prominent building contractor. He passed away at the age of 71 on Dec. 7, 1915 in Pensacola.

Of the names of the individual performers listed on the historical marker described above, the only one that I can say that I recognized was Sarah Bernhardt. Born in Paris on Oct. 22, 1844, she was one of the most famous actresses in the world during her heyday. She would have been 38 years old when the Pensacola Opera House opened, and she would have been in her 70s when the Opera House closed. Bernhardt passed away at the age of 78 on March 23, 1923 in Paris, France.

Billie Burke will also be known to many readers. She is most famous for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in the 1939 movie, “The Wizard of Oz.” She was born on Aug. 7, 1884 in Washington, D.C., so she would have been in her early 30s when the Pensacola Opera House closed. Burke passed away at the age of 85 on May 14, 1970 in Los Angeles.

As mentioned on the marker, bricks and iron railings from the old Pensacola Opera House where used in the construction of the Saenger Theatre, which still exists today. Opened on April 2, 1925, this theatre is located at 118 South Palafox St., which is about two blocks northwest of the old Pensacola Opera House location. For more information about the Saenger Theatre, visit www.pensacolasaenger.com.

In the end, visit this site next Wednesday to learn about another historical marker. I’m also taking suggestions from the reading audience, so if you know of an interesting historical marker that you’d like me to feature, let me know in the comments section below.