Silurian Casino

The late eighteen hundreds were famous for indulgence in the theater. Waukesha, being the summer resort for thousands of famous and wealthy patrons, was no different. Plays opened on a regular basis at the various resorts and parks.

Perhaps the most ambitious theater was the Silurian Casino, built by the Silurian Mineral Spring Co. On June 5, 1893, the Silurian Casino opened for the first time. The building was described as ultramodern and extravagant.

The Casino sat 1400 people on the lower floor with box seats and a balcony. The building contained 9 dressing rooms and over 400 electric lights. The auditorium was lit by an ornate electric brass chandelier that could even be dimmed to signal the beginning of a performance. The stage had 4 trap doors and 1000 feet of rope was required to work the extensive curtains.

"The stage and furnishings are all that could be desired and far handsomer than most had anticipated" - A "Freeman" reviewer

Located on the spot where the Waukesha Post Office currently stands, it was both elegant as well as functional and remained Waukesha's top rate theater until it went out of business in 1910. After four years of sitting empty, the Casino was bought, demolished and rebuilt into the Colonial Theater.