Name/Title
504-510 Francis Tootle Opera House - Pioneer BuildingEntry/Object ID
2020.25.629Description
The building was erected by Mr. Milton Tootle in 1871 at a cost of $150,000
It was the most extravagant structure in St Joseph
The opera house officially opened on December 9, 1872
It seated 1400 and had a 40' x 60' stage
It was regarded as the finest theater west of Chicago
By 1906, it was the Orpheum Vaudeville Theater (see photos #1, 2 & 13)
In 1920, the building was vacant due to overwhelming competition and movie theaters
The Dubinsky Brothers purchased the building in the mid 1920's, having road shows and movies
In 1931, it became the Little Theater
In 1939, the Tootle Opera House was converted into commercial office space and the building was then renamed as the Pioneer Building
In 1939, while the main post office was being built, the post office occupied the bottom floor
Additional alterations to the building were made in 1963
The Morris Plan and St Joseph Chamber of Commerce occupied the building in 1972
THE UNOCCUPIED 145 YEAR OLD BUILDING MET IT'S FATE BY FIRE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2016Photograph Details
Subject
PhotographSubject Person or Organization
Tootle's Opera HouseSubject Place
Location
504-510 Francis StreetCity
St. JosephState/Province
MissouriContext
Circa 1871
TOOTLE'S OPERA HOUSE
504-510 Francis Street
Circa 1906
ORPHEUM VAUDEVILLE THEATER
504-510 Francis Street
Circa Mid 1920's
DUBINSKY BROTHERS
504-510 Francis Street
Circa 1931
LITTLE THEATER
504-510 Francis Street
Circa 1939
PIONEER BUILDING
504-510 Francis Street
Circa 1972
MORRIS PLAN & CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
504-510 Francis Street
THE UNOCCUPIED 145 YEAR OLD BUILDING MET IT'S FATE BY FIRE ON NOVEMBER 21, 2016
Photo #1 - Circa:1906, titled as being Tootle Opera House
Photo #2 - Circa:1906, the marque in both photos shows Orpheum
Photo #3 - 1874 lithograph
Photo #4 - Chandelier from the Tootle Opera House
Photo #5 - Current view of the building
Photo #6 - 1972 newspaper photo, celebrating 100 years of the Tootle Opera House
Photo #7 - 1873 Tootle Opera ticket - currently on display at Patee Museum
Photo #8 - 1925 photo of Tootle Opera House - note the billboard
Photo #9 - Francis street view
Photo #10 - Tootle Theater Auditorium
Photo #11 - Tootle Theater entrance hall
Photo #12 - Tootle Theater stage
Photo #13 - Newspaper ad, Orpheum Silent Theater opened in the Tootle Theater
Photo #14 - Old postcard
Photo #14a - Turn of the century painting
Photo #14b - Trolley turning the corner at 5th & Francis
Photo #16 - Tootle Opera House
Photos #15-24 The devastating fire on November 21, 2016
Photo #1 submitted by Brooke Hickman
Photos #15-24 were taken by Patrick P. Evenson
