[3] The "Opera House" was built by William Henry Baker as a vaudeville theater.

The grand opening was on April 5, 1886, with the Alfa Norman English Opera Company performing The Bobetuian Girl.

In 1906 the theater was thoroughly reconstructed and started showing silent films along with vaudeville performances after it reopened on December 5, 1906.

Stanley Fabian later took over the theater, which showed its first talking picture, On Trial on March 18, 1929.

[4] Stars who have visited the theater or appeared on the stage include Al St. John, Buster Keaton, Pearl White, DeWolf Hopper, Helen Hayes, Lillian Russell, Ethel Barrymore and Abbott and Costello.