Orpheum (Vancouver) facts for kids
Interior of the theatre
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| Former names | New Orpheum |
|---|---|
| Location | 601 Smithe Street Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 3L4 |
| Owner | The City of Vancouver (formerly owned by Famous Players) |
| Type | Music venue (former movie palace) |
| Capacity | 2,672 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 8, 1927 |
| Closed | November 23, 1975 and |
| Reopened | April 2, 1977 |
| Official name: Orpheum Theatre National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1979 |
The Orpheum is a famous theatre and music hall in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the main places for live shows in the city. It is part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group. The Orpheum is also the permanent home for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, a group of musicians who play classical music.
You can find this beautiful theatre in downtown Vancouver, on Granville Street. The inside of the Orpheum has even been used in TV shows. For example, in the show Battlestar Galactica, it was made to look like a fancy opera house.
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A Look Back: The Orpheum's Story
The Orpheum Theatre was designed by a Scottish architect named Marcus Priteca. It officially opened its doors on November 8, 1927. However, it hosted its very first shows the day before!
When it first opened, the Orpheum was a "vaudeville" house. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It featured many different acts like singing, dancing, comedy, and magic all on one stage. The Orpheum was called the "New Orpheum" because there was an older Orpheum theatre nearby.
At the time, the New Orpheum was the biggest theatre in Canada. It had three thousand seats! Building this grand theatre cost $1.25 million. The first person to manage the theatre was William A. Barnes.
From Vaudeville to Movies
In the early 1930s, vaudeville shows became less popular. Because of this, the Orpheum mostly became a movie theatre. It was owned by a company called Famous Players. Even though it showed movies, the theatre still hosted live events sometimes.
A man named Ivan Ackery managed the Orpheum for a long time. He was the manager from 1935 until he retired in 1969.
Saving the Orpheum
In 1973, Famous Players wanted to change the Orpheum. They planned to remove the inside and turn it into several smaller movie rooms. This would have completely changed the historic theatre.
But people in Vancouver loved the Orpheum! A public protest and fundraising campaign started to "Save the Orpheum." Even famous comedian Jack Benny flew in to help raise money. Thanks to these efforts, the Orpheum was saved!
On March 19, 1974, the City of Vancouver bought the theatre. They paid $7.1 million for it. The city paid $3.1 million, and the provincial and federal governments each gave $1.5 million.
Renovations and Reopening
The Orpheum closed for renovations on November 23, 1975. An architectural company called Thomson, Berwick, Pratt and Partners worked on restoring it. They wanted to make it look beautiful again.
The theatre re-opened on April 2, 1977. Since then, it has been the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Tony Heinsbergen, a designer from the U.S., had chosen the original colors for the inside. Fifty years later, he was brought back to help with the renovation. In 1983, a new entrance was added on Smithe Street.
In 1979, the Orpheum was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is a very important place in Canadian history. The theatre's bright neon sign was put up in the 1970s. It was a gift from Jim Pattison.
The Orpheum and its neon sign have appeared in several science-fiction TV shows. These include Battlestar Galactica, Fringe, and Highlander: The Series. It was also used for filming the Dan Mangan documentary What Happens Next?.
Future Plans
In 2006, a new building project was planned next to the Orpheum. This project was called Capitol Residences. The City of Vancouver allowed the builders to make their building taller. In return, the Orpheum would get a big expansion. This included a much-needed backstage area. This deal was the largest of its kind in the city's history. It will make the Orpheum even better for shows and performances.
See also
- List of heritage buildings in Vancouver
- List of concert halls
- Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
