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Overview

Joseph and William Kreling owned this wood-frame, opera house that began operations in 1879. This location closed in 1903 and reopened in a renovated building at Eddy and Mason Streets where it continued until the Earthquake and Fire of 04/18-19/1906. In 1882, the Tivoli Opera House #1 competed with at least five other venues offering operas or other serious musical fare, including Haverly's California Theatre, Grand Opera House, Baldwin Theatre, Platt's Hall and Seaside Garden. (See classified ads, San Francisco Examiner, 07/18/1882, p. 2.)

Building History

The Kreling Brothers, Joseph (1855-1887) and William (1850-1893), came to California in 1875 with their parents, Frederick (1820-1900) and Theresa (1822-1888). All family members had been born in Prussia. They arrived in New York, NY, via Antwerp, Belgium, on 10/26/1857 aboard the ship Roger A. Hiern. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1857; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Line: 26; List Number: 1247, accessed 07/01/2021.)

Frederick Kreling worked as a carpenter in 1860, and had had four sons, Martin (born c. 1843 in Prussia), William, John (born .c 1852 in Prussia) and Joseph. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: New York Ward 17 District 5, New York, New York; Page: 234, accessed 07/01/2021.) In 1870, the Krelings continued to reside in New York, with three sons, William, John and Joseph all working as apprentice carpenters, probably with their father. During that ten-year span, the family moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn and Frederick's wealth had gone from a savings of $300 to $1,000. (See Ancestry.con, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: New York Ward 17 District 10, New York, New York; Page: 141, accessed 07/01/2021.)

Joseph and William opened their Tivoli Opera House #1 on 1879. Prior to this the Krelings had owned the Tivoli Gardens, a beer garden that they discontinued c. 1878. (in some sources, this venue was also referred to as "Tivoli Garden.") This beer garden was very poipular for about two years, 1876-1878, and became a popular spot to drink and listen to musical production, particularly among women. Perhaps due to the presence of many women, the San Francisco police, however, tried to shut the facility in a raid in 1877. It is not clear what the alleged improprieties going on here may have been, but it could have involved the number of women patronizing an establishment selling alcohol. The police, however, made the mistake of pushing and improperly touching women customers during its crackdown, triggering a minor scandal in the city in 02/1877. (See “The Police Force. Investigation into the Tivoli Garden Outrage,” San Francisco Examiner, 02/09/1877, p. 3.) Perhaps this police harrassment impelled the Krelings to try to legitimize their business by constructing a opera house in which to stage musical entertainment.

Their new opera house carried with it some of the characteristics of the former eating and drinking establishment, most notably tables for patrons who dined while they viewed musical productions. They decided to merge a beer hall with an opera house, a novel combination that worked for many years in the city. Advertisements for the venue referred to it as "Tivoli Gardens" in 1880, although it would quickly become renamed the "Tivoli Opera House."

Following Joseph's death on 06/26/1887, his wife Ernestine Krause Kreling Leahy (1862-1947), married his elder brother William. (See “Joseph Kreling” San Francisco Examiner, 06/27/1887, p. 6.)William lasted until 1893, when he passed away, leaving the operation of the opera house to Ernestine. Frederick Kreling challenged Ernestine's fitness to run the opera house, but he failed in his attempt to wrest control of it from her before he died in 1900. Ernestine went on to marry William Henry "Doc" Leahy, (1863-1936). the one-time manager of the Tivoli Opera House.

Building Notes

The theatre consisted of a large rectangular room with a raised stage at the north end, positioned between two narrow niches containing sculpture. Garlands were strung along the top of the proscenium. Along the long ends of the rectangle, side aisles accommodated additional tables on the first floor and loge seating above. At least two round chandeliers of gaslights hung above the main space to illuminate the diners. Curved iron brackets supported a flat ceiling that spanned the space.

In 1882, W.C. Floyd served as the manager, with George Loesch the musical director.

Alteration

Joseph Kreling planned an addition to the Tivoli Opera House #1 in 1885. A neighbor, James McCloskey, filed suit to stop the construction, claiming it would darken his property significantly. The San Francisco Examiner posted a brief note on the case: “In the case of James McCloskey against Joseph Kreling to prevent the latter from erecting an addition to the Tivoli, which would shut off the light from the plaintiff’s property, Judge Rearden yesterday rendered a decision for the defendant, with costs.” (See “Kreling Wins,” San Francisco Examiner, 05/22/1885, p. 3.) The alteration may have proceeded after this decision.

PCAD id: 23871