The entire south portion of the building was devoted to entertainment and was referred to as the Academy of Music. The Academy of Music was opened Tuesday night, March 7, 1876 under the auspices of John T. Ford, when his company presented "The Big Bonanza."
A significant section of the building was allocated for leisure activities and designated as the Academy of Music. The Academy of Music officially opened on a Tuesday evening in March 1876, courtesy of John T. Ford's organization, which presented "The Big Bonanza" performance.