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California
California Theatre
Monday, April 3, 1882
The Decorative Arts
Newspaper report
San Jose Daily Herald, April 4, 1882
A second lecture in San Jose was announced for April 6, 1882, but no record of it has been found.
California Theatre
c. 81-85 South Second Street, San Jose, CA
Opened: 1879; in the former Central Hall building, the first of three theaters in San Jose to bear the name California Theatre
Destroyed (fire): July 2, 1892
1) The Salt Lake Tribune, July 3, 1892, 1
2) The Daily Review (Decatur, Illinois), July 5, 1892, 7
Auzerais House
North side of Santa Clara Street between Market and First, San Jose, CA
Building commenced: September 1863 (John E. Auzerais)
Opened: March 16, 1865
Later: a store block
Damaged (earthquake): 1906, rebuilt
Later: the Grant Building, subsequently demolished
Credit:
Thanks to Rob Marland for help in identifying Wilde’s hotel in San Jose.
According to Robert D. Pepper [1] there was no north bound train back to San Francisco after Wilde's lecture so he stayed overnight in San Jose.
He lectured the following night in Stockton, and the map opposite shows his possible routes.
[1] Oscar Wilde | Irish Poets and Poetry of the Nineteenth Century, Robert. D. Pepper, 1972.
Oscar Wilde In America | © John Cooper, 2025
