The wood , adobe structure and beautiful flowers around the old house known as California’s First Theatre is located at the corner of Pacific and Scott Streets in Monterey.

This is the probably the most valuable historic old landmark left to State of California and very first public dramatic entertainment given to the people on the Pacific Coast ( File 43 ).

This building was originally built in 1844 by a man named Jack Swan.

He arrived in Monterey on the ship from Mexico in the spring of 1843. He had been a sailor in many parts of the world, but he decided to quit sailing and settle in Monterey .

In the summer of the following year, he purchased the lot on 0.59 acres of land. The lot was in southwest corner of what is now Pacific and Scott street. He built a small, rectangular two-story adobe building typical of the time to be used as sailor boarding house with adjoining apartments (File 43 ).

According to M. L. Bradford, curator of the Monterey State Historic Park Swan constructed the building as the large room in the southern end of the building, which was used as a dining room in the day t

A dressing room for the ladies was in the back stage, and mans’ dressing room was up in the attic ( M. L. Bradford ).

ime and as a dance hall at night. The second story was used as a dormitory. And, at the north end of the smallest room, the barroom, there was a big fireplace.

Between 1859-1875, the building was abandoned, but in the later years it was converted into an apartment house. The same year, Jack Swan was traveling from the Monterey Peninsula to British Columbia and back. He returned to Monterey in 1885 because of his poor health.

“ DAMON AND PYTHIAS”, “ THE GOLDEN FARMER”, “ GRAND FATHER WHITE HEAD”, “ NAN THE GOOD FOR NOTHING” and, at last , the balcony scene from “ ROMEO AND JULIET” ( March, 2000).

The building was empty and ruined from 1896 until 1906.

Some topics in this essay:
Theatre Lumber, Park Swan, Jack Swan, United Navy, British Columbia, Monterey Stevenson’s, IRON SON, Waffles Tamales”, Pacific Scott, Taps Tops”, march 2000, reese 1975, jack swan, file 43, march 2000 , boarding house, 2000 , swan’s building, pacific scott, corner pacific, corner pacific scott, fall 1848,