Taylor Opera House was an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

house in

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. It was the capital of the United States from November 1 to December 24, 1784.John Taylor John Taylor, Johnny Taylor or similar may refer to: Academics *John Taylor (Oxford), Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, 1486–1487 *John Taylor (classical scholar) (1704–1766), English classical scholar *John Taylor (English publisher) (178 ...

, creator of Pork Roll and one of Trenton's leading citizens. The building first opened March 18, 1867 at 18 S. Broad Street. A historical marker was placed on the site after its demolition. The theater presented the major speakers and performers of the day, including

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

Ethel Barrymore Ethel Barrymore (born Ethel Mae Blythe; August 15, 1879 – June 18, 1959) was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors. Barrymore was a stage, screen and radio actress whose career spanned six decades, and was regarde ...

, and

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

, and played host to political conventions, Bible conferences, musical revues and local meetings and events. It hosted the inaugurations of Governor

George B. McClellan George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey. A graduate of West Point, McCl ...

in 1877, and

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

in 1910,

James F. Fielder James Fairman Fielder (February 26, 1867 – December 2, 1954) was an American politician of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic party, who served as the 35th governor of New Jersey, from 1914 to 1917. He had previously served as act ...

in 1914 and

Walter Evans Edge Walter Evans Edge (November 20, 1873October 29, 1956) was an American diplomat and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who served as the 36th governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947, during both ...

in 1917. In 1921, it was converted into a movie and vaudeville palace known as Keith's Capitol Theatre; after later sales it was renamed the RKO International. The theater was razed by its next door neighbor (the Trenton Saving Fund Society) to create a parking lot in 1969. A mural that was originally displayed at the opera house was rediscovered after a search began in 2021. Painted by

George Matthews Harding George Matthews Harding (1882–1959) was an American painter, author-illustrator, and a muralist. He served as an official war artist during World War I and World War II. Life and career George Matthews Harding was born in Philadelphia. At ...

in 1921 titled, "Washington Crossing the Delaware", the 16x10 foot painting was lost after it was put into storage having been deemed too large to display at another museum.

References

{{coord, 40.2196, -74.7638, display=title Music venues completed in 1867 Theatres in New Jersey History of Trenton, New Jersey Buildings and structures in Trenton, New Jersey Buildings and structures demolished in 1969 Theatres completed in 1867 1867 establishments in New Jersey Demolished buildings and structures in New Jersey Former theatres in the United States