Lodi in San Joaquin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Lodi Opera House

July 30, 2023

1. Lodi Opera House Marker

Inscription. Constructed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style by Ed and Fred Cary the Lodi Opera House was completed October 1904. Financed by businessman Charles Lever Van Buskirk who along with his wife Angie supported temperance and envisioned the venue as a moral alternative to saloons. Located above E. Oppenheim's ground floor store, the 900-seat entertainment space hosted 650 patrons for the January 26, 1905 opening of "King Dodo," performed by San Francisco's Tivoli Opera Company. The Opera House showcased recitals, plays, operas, minstrel shows, concerts, graduations, dances, orations, and hypnotists until 1913 when Lodi's two moving picture houses popularized film over live entertainment. Newfield & Sons occupied the retail space from 1919 to 1988 when Thornton House relocated to Lodi from Stockton.

Dedicated June 1, 2019
Lodi Historical Society

Erected 2019 by Lodi Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1904.

Location. 38° 8.037′ N, 121° 16.41′ W. Marker is in Lodi, California, in San Joaquin County. It is at the intersection of South School Street and West Pine Street on South

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School Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 South School Street, Lodi CA 95240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the San Joaquin Valley

and specifically in the Central Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hotel Lodi (within shouting distance of this marker); The First A&W Root Beer (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Lodi (Mokelumne Station) (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lodi Arch (about 400 feet away); Lodi Mission Arch (about 400 feet away); The Valley Review (approx. 0.2 miles away); Laura de Force Gordon (approx. 0.2 miles away); City Hall, Fire House and Jail (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lodi.

School Street, Looking South image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Wayne Paper Box & Printing Corp., Ft. Wayne, Indiana, circa 1940s

2. School Street, Looking South

The former opera house is visible here on the left as a furniture store.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2023. This page has been viewed 695 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 1, 2023. 2. submitted on August 12, 2023. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.

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