Oscar Hammerstein I opens the Olympia Theatre on Broadway

Background. Oscar Hammerstein I was a German-born businessman and theater impresario who arrived in New York City in 1864. He received a patent for a cigar-making machine in 1881. His earlier theater ventures included the Harlem Opera House, built on 125th Street in 1889, and the first Manhattan Opera House, built on 34th Street in 1893, setting the stage for his expansion into Longacre Square.

The Olympia Complex. The Olympia Theatre was a complex built by Hammerstein at Longacre Square, later known as Times Square. It consisted of multiple venues including the Music Hall, the Lyric, the Concert Hall, and a rooftop garden. This structure was the first theater built in the district, though it was the second to open in the broader Theater District.

Opening Events. The building officially opened on November 25, 1895, with the Broadway debut of Excelsior, Jr. This production featured over 30 performers from Europe. Hammerstein also presented his own comic opera, Santa Maria, at the venue in 1896, highlighting his role as both impresario and composer.