Opera House History

Built in the mid 1880s, the Lohman Opera House has proudly
weathered the changes in downtown Jefferson City with dignity.
This historic landmark was constructed by merchant Louis C.
Lohman, next to his father's mercantile store at 100 E. High St. Born
on October 31, 1850, Louis was one of 4 children fathered by Charles
W. Lohman, original founder of Lohman, MO. In 1879, the year of
his father's death, Louis bought the store from his father, and five
years later began construction on the Opera House next door.

Following the grand opening, the newspaper reported, "'The
opening of Lohman's opera house was truly an auspicious one.'
The paper referred to those gathered as 'One of the finest audiences
ever assembled in Jefferson city [...]' The opera house held 600
people, although it was not full on the first night, 'Owing to a delay
in the arrival of the opera chairs. . .' This problem aside, the paper
pronounced the opera house "a perfect jewel, and is perhaps the
finest in the interior of the state,' and assured readers that the
'managers' of the house were 'alive to the wants of the better
class of play-goers."
Credit: Gary Kremer, "Southside'Lohman House' a reminder of Lohman family",
Sunday, May 20, 2001, Jefferson City News Tribune

Following the opening, the Opera House hosted travelling
performance companies, which became popular after the railroads
made it possible for troupes to migrate between community
theaters. Shows reportedly included pantomimes, ballet,
vaudeville spectacles and comic operas. Jefferson City resident,
Paul Schmidt, once told a reporter that he remembered "watching
dogs and ponies in a traveling show being taken up the back
stairway into the opera house." Even the high school graduation
ceremonies were held in the building from 1889-1891. By 1913, the
Opera House became known as the Jefferson Theater, a
nickelodeon which ran until 1935.

The building has been renovated several times since then, and the
facade has been renovated to its original look. During a recent
renovation, original play programs, "magical elixer" brochures, and
even a bullet casing (a prop, we hope!) were found between the
floors. The original balconies were destroyed many years ago,
however the proscenium arch and architectural molding along the
20 ft high ceilings is plainly visible. In addition, a new balcony
with a spiral staircase has been added to complement
the grandeur of the space.

Louis C. Lohman died February 12, 1921, leaving behind a legacy
of big business from the early 20th century in central Missouri.