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Newspaper Articles Unknown - At
Waldmann's Theatre Waldmann's Theatre (Opera House) was the first theatre erected in Newark (1853). It was owned by Fred Waldmann. The property was occupied in 1835 by the Volunteer Firemen of No. 5 Engine Company. Later it was occupied by Neptune Hose Company in 1849 and then by No. 1 Chemical Engine. The building opened as the Newark Theatre on October 25, 1853. Later the name was changed to Waller's Theatre and then to the Newark Opera House. It became a vaudeville theatre in 1880. Sometime during the 1880's it became known as Fred Waldmann's Opera House and was run as a high-class vaudeville house. The property was bought by William A. Baker in 1902 and remodeled. From: Newark Street Guide 1872 The Newark Opera House is situated on the southeast corner of Market and Church (Halsey) Streets. It is a substantial brick building, two stories in height the front grained and painted in imitation of marble. The entrance and box office is on Market Street, with a neat store on the one side and the hose house of the Neptune Hose Company upon the other. The Theatre proper is in the rear. It is comfortable, commodious and well arranged. It has a large stage, 50 by 40 feet, entirely adequate for performances of all kinds, and is capable of seating twelve hundred persons. The seats in the auditorium slope backward from the orchestra, with roomy and comfortable folding opera chairs in front and a handsome gallery above. For hearing and seeing, there is not a poor seat in the house. The decorations are in good taste, and the scenery, of much artistic merit, is so complete as to be superior to most theatres out of New York. There is no regular dramatic company, but the Opera House is never without a succession of star companies, and in this way the citizens generally enjoy better acting than under a permanent management. New pieces, and new faces, favorite actors, and operatic celebrities, give a ceaseless variety and zest to the entertainments. There are in Newark some very excellent Amateur Dramatic Associations, and many favorite vocalists and instrumental performers whose appearance on the boards of the Opera House are always welcome. Its door are ever open also for entertainments in aid of charitable and other praise worthy objects, and very frequently, through the courtesy and open hearted liberality of the proprietor, Mr. H. B. Kimball, its use on these occasions is gratuitous. The Opera House is in short a favorite resort of the people of Newark, as it deserves to be.
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