Barton Opera House

Barton Opera House

Armory Hall and Barton Opera House, situated at the northeast corner of J (Fulton) and Fresno streets in Fresno, circa 1900. Armory Hall is situated behind the “Barton Opera House” sign on the corner. The Opera House itself is connected to Armory Hall and stands at the image’s far right. Divided back postcard published by the M. Rieder postcard company of Los Angeles, and manufactured in Germany due to the presence of sophisticated lithographic production facilities there. The dual structure was completed in 1890 and built by Robert Barton (1840-1891), a native of Germany who established the Barton Vineyard in Fresno, which became famous worldwide and was sold for $1 million in 1887 to a syndicate of Scottish investors. Armory Hall was the headquarters of Fresno’s National Guard and was sometimes used as a public auditorium. The Opera House was a theatre and, later, motion picture venue. In 1914-1915, Armory Hall was demolished and replaced by the Cory Building, which still stands in remodeled form. The Opera House, through many remodelings and demolitions, was variously known as the Theater Fresno, Hippodrome, State Theater, Esquire Theater, Sequoia Theater and finally as the Towne Cinema. It was demolished circa 1975.

M. Rieder, Publ. - Los Angeles, Cal.

1907

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1 postcard : color ; 8.9 x 14 cm.

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