The Opera House On Roberts Street

The Ladysmith Leader on January 29, 1902, stated: “The manager for the Clara Mathes Company, now playing in Nanaimo, writes the Leader his regrets that this town [Ladysmith] has not an opera house. If it had, the company would probably play a three-night stand here. This is what Ladysmith is missing for want of a nice comfortable hall large enough to accommodate travelling companies.”

In response, on February 15, the same newspaper reported: “Probably next week the promoters of the Ladysmith Opera House will be able to lay an elaborate plan of the projected building before the people of the town, for their opinion, and it is hoped approval.”

The Ladysmith Opera House was rapidly developed under the Oddfellows Hall on Roberts Street and was managed by an executive committee led by Proprietor Daniel Nicholson, who was also the mayor. It hosted concerts, plays, formal dances, movies, banquets and – to keep the venue occupied – even boxing matches!