Mark Twain and George W. Cable were indeed in Saratoga Springs on February 20, 1885. His lecture was part of a series sponsored by the Saratoga Athenaeum, a private subscription library that was founded in 1885. I believe this was the first lecture and have not been able to determine if there were others.
Scott, a citation in the Saint Paul History and Area Business Index describes Market Hall as being on 7th Street West, at the northeast corner of Saint Peter Street. The index also shows several articles about the Market Hall, at least one of which containing an illustration. However, the articles themselves are on microfilm, so any further investigation would require a $15 service fee as explained in the attached document regarding the library's policy on service and delivery fees.
I don't have documentation that this is where the Twain-Cable speaking engagement occurred but the Twain Speaking Engagements site mentions it occurred in the Methodist Church and Janet C. Olson Assistant University Archivist at Northwestern University Library provided me with the address:
The (Madison) Wisconsin State Journal 1885: January 27 noted that the venue was the M.E. Church and the other reviews referred to it as the Methodist Church. Checking the city directory for 1884 I found listed the First Methodist Episcopal Church at the northwest corner of Wisconsin Ave. and E Dayton. This seems to fit the bill for the Twain Cable shows on January 21 and 27 of 1885.
November 20, 1884
"From the daughter of Francis N. Bain, 1st proprietor, we have the following authentication: Mrs. John Nolle (Francis Bain Nolle) reminds us that the early Opera House on 2nd Street, just east of the hotel and the Academy of Music, on Broadway, west of Grand Street, supported interesting plays and singers. In fact, many of the plays that were to run on Broadway in New York City had try-outs in Newburgh. Also, Newburgh on the circuit of the early producers tours."
January 13, 1885
I have no direct information that the Opera House was the location of the Twain-Cable reading of January 13, 1885, but I found this listing in the Hannibal City Directory 1885-86. Hannibal Opera House Co., cor of 5th and Center, J.B. Price, manager, office at F. & M. bank.
Image: Hannibal, Missouri: Bluff City Memories By Steve Chou
The site of the church that served as venue for Mark Twain and George W. Cable is now the location of the Duquesne Club. The church was sold to the Duquesne Club in 1886. The church bought a lot on the corner of Wylie Ave. and Congress in 1888.
(History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Vol I 1889).
The Club building was built in 1887 and opened in 1890
“A Minstrel Town”, by Marion S. Revett, published by Pageant Press Inc. NY, in 1955. pp 87-97.
Wheeler Opera House, on the other hand, was a fabulous place (The Wheeler narrative is right after another hall called White’s). It became known all over the theatrical world for its modern arrangements, its magnificent decorations and its stage and lighting facilities. Jeff Wheeler, wealthy business man and sportsman, was proud of this monument to his family name.
Powers’ Theatre
A historic timeline of the Powers’:
Opera House Block 1874–1979
Powers’ Opera House (1874),
Powers’ Grand Opera House (1887),
Powers’ Theatre (1902–44),
Foto News (1944–48),
Midtown Theatre (1948–1972),
Civic Theatre (Under Renovation 1975–1977),
Demolished (Jan 1979)
Through the years there were eight theaters in Plainfield. The Stillman Music Hall (216 W. Front Street) was built in 1884. Its entertainments included plays, lectures, concerts, operas, minstrel shows and variety stars until it closed in 1901. http://www.plainfieldlibrary.info/OnlineExhibits/LBNF/Theaters.html
The Twain-Cable appearance was announce in Evening News, Plainfield, New Jersey, November 17, 1884 with a single terse line: "Mark twain and George W. Cable tonight."
November 14, 1884
Mark Twain had complained that there was not enough notice of this event to generate a suitable audience. Here is the text from the notice published in the Brockton Enterprise, November 1, 1884: \
"OPERA HOUSE.--M.W. Hanley's company, presenting Harrigan & Hart's play, "Dan;s Tribulations," will be at this house November 6th. Nov.9th the Flora Myers company return for a season of dramatic representations at popular prices. The 14th Mark Twain, the humorist, and Mr. George W. Cable, the novelist, will appear in a lecture and readings."