Palmo's Opera House, designed by John M. Trimble,[1] opened on February 3, 1844[2][3] with a production of Bellini's I puritani with Euphrasie Borghèse as Elvira, Emma Albertazzi as Henrietta, and Michael Rapetti conducting.

The company's first presentation there was the United States premiere of Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix on January 4, 1847, with Clotilda Barili in the title role and Sesto Benedetti as the Vicomte de Serval.

The company went on to present the first opera by Giuseppe Verdi ever staged in the United States, I Lombardi alla prima crociata on March 3, 1847.

Faced with strong competition and mounting losses, Palmo ceased presenting opera at the house and the theater was leased in 1848 to William Evans Burton.

The theatre also staged several plays by Burton, including the comedy Romance and Reality, the burlesque Pocahontas, and an adaptation of The Duke's Motto.

Burton assembled several notable performers of the era in his troupe at the theatre, including Rosa Bennett, William R. Blake, W. Humphrey Bland, Julis Daly, Edward Loomis Davenport, Jane Hill (later Mrs W. E. Burton), Josephine Shaw Russell Hoey, Mrs. Hughes, Mrs. George Jordan, John Sefton, Emma Skerret, Mary Cecilia Taylor, John Lester Wallack, and Lizzie Weston among others.