the Temple of Tickle Britches

Davis Opera House is an important Landmark

1875-1916 | Davis Opera House | 212-214 South Main St.

The Davis opera house, one of our landmarks

In the remodeling and rebuilding of what has so long been known as the Davis Opera House, situated on the west side of South Main Street there passes one of the oldest places dedicated to historic art in northwestern Ohio. 

 

The old Playhouse was known far and wide for on its stage appeared many of the most eminent actors of the old time both men and women.

 

Singers, orators, and lectures of national and international reputations have honored the house with their presence. 

 

Many thousands of persons have sat within its walls to watch a play, listen to a concert or hear a lecture or political speech. 

 

The passing of the old “Davis Opera House” will recall many pleasant occasions of amusement to all the older residents of Findlay. 

 

For a number of years it was the only place in Findlay where theatrical entertainment could be given.

 

It always enjoyed a most liberal patronage for the reason that none but FIRST-class entertainments were permitted on the stage. 

 

The decline of the old house came with the building of the Marvin theater now the Gillette. 

 

The opera house was erected in 1876 by William L Davis, John W Davis, and Martin L Detwiler, all of whom have passed away.

as printed in The Hancock Courier, Thursday, February 27, 1907

 

William L and John W Davis were brothers of the were brothers of Isaac Davis, Dr. A L Davis, D T Davis, and H B Davis, of the city. 

 

William L Davis was the father of captain Charles Davis, the grocer. 

 

John W Davis was the first manager of the house.

 

The place was opened on Monday night, November 27, 1876 by the Emma Leland Company of players. 

 

The company played a week’s engagement under the auspices of Findlay Lodge number 85, Knights of Pythias, which organization, had leased the house for its  opening week.

 

The committee of the lodge, having the amusement in charge consisted of Col. Samuel Huber, Charles B Hall, E J Palmer, John C Lindsey, and Willis H Whitley.  

 

The play on the opening night was “Fanchon the Cricket,” in which Miss Emma Leland assumed the title role.

 

Of the initial performances in the David Opera House, the weekly Jeffersonian on December 1, 1876 said:

 

“Monday night last was one that will long be remembered by the amusement loving people at Findlay. It was the occasion of the opening of the new Davis Opera House in the audience was one that must have pleased the management of the excellent troupe now playing in our midst —the Lelands.

“The play was “Fanchon, the Cricket,” and was as well rendered as could be desired by the most critical amusement seeker. The acting of Miss Emma Leland, the star, was without fault.  The scene in the last act was father Barbeau was exquisite. She was well supported by the entire company.”

as printed in The Hancock Courier, Thursday, February 27, 1907.

 

As we said, above many distinguished persons appeared on the old stage among them, Mrs. James Brown Potter, Kyrie, Bellew was, Effie Ellsler, Maude Granger, Clara Morris, the latter in the emotional play of “Miss Multon,” Harry Townshend, Sam Vila, tragedian Robert Downing, Walter Whitesides and other great actors and actresses.

 

Edgar W (Bill) Nye and James Whitcomb Riley once gave an entertainment. Reverend T Dewitt Talmage, the eminent Brooklyn, New York, preacher lectured in the house. 

 

A number of the most eminent political speakers in the country have addressed large audiences from its stage opera in concert. 

 

Singers of note have been heard within the walls.

 

The last theatrical entertainment given it in the house was an 1895 by the Harry Lewis repertoire company. Many amateur theatrical performances were’re giving on the old stage as were concerts by local singers.

 

After the Davis ceased to be used for theatrical purposes, it was given over to political meetings and conventions. 

 

For a time it was used as a gymnasium and a place for holding boxing contests in each career the house was managed by a number of persons who controlled it for longer and shorter periods of time. They were John W Davis, A F Shack, Anderson C Heck, J C Bushong, Rush King, Colonel George Rogers J H Boger, Jacob W Gassman, Captain Charles Davis, Dr Abner L David, Phil Oliver, H E Lee, Frank Andrews and Charles Ruhl.

 

But the Davis opera house has passed as a place of amusement and like Melodeon Hall, on the site of the Carnahan building) Wheeler’s Hall (in the Jones Block) and the old Turner Opera House on West Main Cross Street will soon be but memory.

 

as printed in The Hancock Courier, Thursday, February 27, 1907.

 

Thank you Eric van Renterghem for posting this article back in 2022…and for urging people to READ it! I’ve taken it one step further in having it “read” for them. Cheers!

 

 Historic Highlights by R. L. HEMINGER

 

Davis Opera House, Findlay’s First Entertainment Center, Built in 1876

 

The historical account of Findlay’s theaters, built originally for live entertainment only, really starts with the construction of the old Davis Opera house, on South Main Street. It opened on Thanksgiving evening, in 1876.

 

Over the last few months, we have been telling the story of Findlay’s other three theaters of the live entertainment variety.

 

We started with these because of the extensive data available on them from the records of Don Smith, 326 Osborn Ave., who has read the files of the old Morning Republican to obtains such information, starting with the Republican’s first daily issue in 1886, which was 10 years after the Davis opened its doors.

 

The Davis Opera House was located at 212-214 South Main Street. Store-rooms on South Main at these addresses are now occupied by the Sherwin-Williams Paint Company and the Bindel’s Appliance Center.

 

The opera house was built by William L. Davis, John W. Davis and M. L. Detwiler.

 

* * *

THE OPENING theatrical production was a stage favorite for a good many years. Until the Turner Opera House opened in 1890 on West Main Cross Street, the Davis was Findlay’s only theater. It was the scene of many stage productions.

 “The Davis Opera House had its greatest business in the late 1880s when the oil and gas boom was at its height in the local community. Findlay’s population had almost quadrupled and the Davis Opera House, with its stage attractions, offered the only entertainment of that nature for some time.

“The Davis Opera House had its greatest business in the late 1880s when the oil and gas boom was at its height in the local community. Findlay’s population had almost quadrupled and the Davis Opera House, with its stage attractions, offered the only entertainment of that nature for some time.

 The Davis Opera House continued in business on an active basis down through the remaining years of the 19^th century. The opening of the Marvin in 1893 saw the Davis start downward in popularity as competition made its inroads on its attendance. By early in the 1900s, it was in its last days.

 The auditorium portion of the Davis was eventually transformed into apartments.  Some evidences of the theater are still to be seen within the building.

 The stage was still in existence in the initial decade of the century. Girls of Findlay High School had some gymnasium facilities comparable to what the boys had at the YMCA and the stage was rented and physical culture passes conducted thereon, in charge of the high school, teachers for a few years period.

 ADVERTISEMENT! The attractions that played at the Davis are found in the old Findlay newspapers and prove to be interesting. In 1885, one of the pictures was “Galley Slave.” The newspaper advertisement-described it as “Bart Campbell’s masterwork,” interpreted by his organization of dramatic magnitude. An advertisement also spoke of “beautiful stage settings,” “magnificent wardrobes”, and “Artistic acting.” Popular prices, of an outing to 50 and 35 cents prevailed. “No extra charge for reserved seats, on sale at Frey’s Drug Store” concluded the advertisement.

.A.C. Heck was the manager at the time “Galley Slave” appeared. Mr. Heck in later years became head of the Heck and Marvin Company and later added the name of “Vxxxxc” and constituted the early manufacturers of ditching machines here as the forerunner of the Buckeye Traction Ditcher Company.

 Appearing at the Davis in the early 1880s were some of the players of the well-known exploit of the outlaw Raiders who stole the locomotive on a southern railroad in the Civil War intending to disrupt the railroad transport system of the south. Hancock County furnished more men for the raid than any and they held a reunion at McComb about a decade and a half or so after the event and came together their fascinating stories on the stage of the Davis Opera House before a live audience.

 William L. Davis, one of the builders of the Davis, was the father of the late. Mrs. Ralph D. Cole Sr., and grandfather of Judge Ralph D. Cole Jr.

 NewspaperArchive | Findlay-Republican Courier | October 24, 1970 | page 20 | Findlay, Ohio

 https://newspaperarchive.com/findiay-republican-courier-oct-24-1970-p-20/

Davis Opera House

*These buildings have been altered since the original Davis Opera House was built in 1875.

 Composite Italianate | The building to the left suggests a Composite Italianate style 

• with the circling bay windows which show the influence of the Queen Anne style of architecture. 
• The flat roof and brick corbelling along the upper facade are reminiscent of the Italianate style. 
• The right building has rusticated quoins along its vertical edges 

Owned by the Bindel family, their original store was in the south half. When their business expanded, they acquired the north half

1875 | The block was built as part of a large block of buildings erected by the Davis family. 

 1876 | On Thanksgiving evening, 1876, the new Davis Opera House gave its first performance. 

 Even though an occasional lecturer or troupe was featured, Findlay was not well recognized as a good show town, consequently the owners did not make any money. 

April 6, 1916 | The North (right) portion was purchased by Harry R. Schneider for $9,500. 

 Mr. Schneider tore out the theater facilities and refaced the facade, adding his initials HRS at the top.

 October 4, 1957| This section remained in the Schneider family until it was sold to Bertran Krohgold. 

 October 2, 1985 | It was next owned by Earl Pruitt and Dennis Bishop. Mr. Bishop sold it to Kevin and Anna Bindel October 2, 1985 for $41,000.

 February 16, 1908| Previously, the Bindels had parchased the south part from Lawrence Hosler which had been owned by the Hosler family since the early 1900’s

 

1886-1899 | Geyer & Davis Grocery | 212 South Main

 1892-1907 | Ewing & Alspach | 210 South Main

 1906-1911 | Charles Davis Grocery | 212 South Main

 1968-2007+ | Bindel’s Appliance  | 214 South Main St

 1955-1986 Sherwin Williams Paint | 212 South Main

 1899-1906 | Noah’s Ark  | 214 South Main

 1907-1914 The New Noah’s Ark

 1913-1914 | Shields-Heinz Grocery | 212 South Main