Overview

Maguire's Academy of Music Building stood at 330 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA, between 1864 and 1867. A large and ornate building, its construction caused its owner, Tom Maguire, significant financial hardship, and operated between 1864 and 1867. It was sold to a furniture store, Goodwin and Company, in 1867, and operated as a commercial building until at least 1896. (See San Francisco City Directory, 1876, p. 864 and William C. Disturnell, Strangers' Guide to San Francisco and Vicinity A Complete and Reliable Book of Reference for Tourists and Other Strangers Visiting the Metropolis of the Pacific, with a Map Showing the Distances to Different Points, [San Francisco: W. C. Disurnell, 1883], p. 56.) The Academy Building, as it was known after 1867, stood on the north side of Pine Street, between Montgomery and Sansome Streets. in 1889. (See Langley's San Francisco Directory for the Year Commencing, May 1889, p. 132.)

Building History

As noted on the impressive "San Francisco Theatres" website, the impresario Tom Maguire operated multiple theatrical and musical venues in San Francisco. They included the Jenny Lind Theatres #1, #2 and #3 (the third becoming the San Francisco City Hall on Portsmouth Square); the San Francisco Theatre (616 Washington Street, 1852-1856); Maguire's Opera House #1 (616 Washington Street, built on the same site as the San Francisco Theatre, 1856-1873); Maguire's Academy of Music Building (330 Pine Street, operated by him between 1864 and 1867); Maguire's Opera House #2 (318 Bush Street, 1868- , opened as the Congress Hall in 1865); Maguire's New Theatre (325 Bush Street, managed by him c. 1870, opened as the Alhambra Theatre in 1868); and Baldwin's Theatre (Market Street and Powell Street, opened as "Baldwin's Academy of Music," managed by him 1876- ). (See B. Counter, San Francisco Theatres Blogspot.com, "San Francisco Theatres," published 12/26/2020, accessed 08/24/2024.)

Having sold his Academy of Music Building, Thomas Maguire could afford to travel to Europe during 1868. (See "Dramatic, Musical, Etc," San Francisco Chronicle, 02/08/1868, p. 3.)

Samuel Bugbee and Son, the architectural firm of Maguire's Academy of Music Building, had some experience designing performing arts halls, having created the California Theatre #1 at 414 Bush Street and the Grand Opera House (Mission Street). This firm included father Samuel Bugbee (1811-1877) and sons Charles Lewis Bugbee (1837-1880) and, for a short time, Sumner W. Bugbee (1846-1899).

Building Notes

Soon after its opening on 05/18/1864, Maguire installed four gas lamps in front of his Academy of Music. (See B. Counter, San Francisco Theatres Blogspot.com, "San Francisco Theatres," published 12/26/2020, accessed 08/24/2024.)

In 1876, architects Theodore A. Eisen and William F. Curlett maintained separate offices in the Academy Building. Architect Barnett McDougall also occupied space in the Academy Building in that year.

PCAD id: 19887