The 1884 'Social Manual of San Francisco' noted that this was 'the largest place of dramatic entertainment in the city. In addition, there were 12 proscenium boxes and 22 mezzanine boxes. Lloyd notes that the seating levels at the time were called were orchestra, dress circle, balcony, family circle, and gallery.

Lloyd's 1876 book ' Lights and Shades in San Francisco' says it had a seating capacity of 3,000 but at one time over 4,000 people were in the theatre.

Evidently he had reduced the main floor capacity a bit when he took over in 1894 to create more of a promenade around part of the seating area. Seating: 2,860, not counting standing room, is the number Morosco was using in 1900. The site is now part of the park called Jessie Square, east ofĪrchitects: Samuel Charles Bugbee and Charles Lewis Bugbee of the firm S.C. The theatre was later known as Morosco's Grand Opera House and then was again just the Grand Opera House after Walter Morosco sold his lease in 1901.Ĭlosing: The building was seriously damaged in the April 1906 earthquake and subsequently demolished. He also notes that on Octothe building had been renamed the Andrews & Stockwell's Grand Opera House and the names of that duo can be seen above the entrance. Art Siegel researched the image and calls ourĪttention to the signage in front for 'Youth,' a production that openedĭecember 20, 1882. The photo, despite being labeled 1881, is actually from 1882. Golden Gate National Recreation Area appears on the Open SF History Project website.

AĬopy from the Martin Behrman Negatives Collection of the archives of the One version of this photo is on Calisphereįrom the Museum of Performance and Design Performing Arts Library. The building, on the north sideīy 1880 Wade was out of the picture the theatre was just known as the Grand Opera House. That at the time of its opening that this Production of 'Snowflake!' The theatre was a project of Dr.

San francisco opera house address