English Hotel and Opera House

The English Hotel and Opera House was located on the Northwest quadrant of Monument Circle. Open in 1880 the opera house hosted entertainers such as Sarah Bernhardt, the Barrymores and Helen Hayes. The hotel was completed in 1896. Both the hotel and the opera house were demolished in 1948 and a J.C. Penney department store was built in it's place.

During the 20's and 30's, an electronic baseball scoreboard was placed on the portico of the hotel. Fans watched the progress of World Series games from the steps of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.

Gov. of New York and presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke from the balcony of the English Opera House on a campaign stop Oct. 20, 1932.