Orpheum (Vancouver) facts for kids
The inside of the theatre
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| Location | 884 Granville Street Vancouver, British Columbia |
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| Owner | The City of Vancouver (used to be owned by Famous Players) |
| Type | Music venue (used to be a movie palace) |
| Capacity | 2,780 |
| Opened | November 7, 1927 |
| Closed | November, 1975 Reopened: April 2, 1977 |
The Orpheum is a theatre and music venue. It is located on 884 Granville Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Orpheum is a part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group of live performance venues along with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Vancouver Playhouse. It was opened on November 7, 1927 as a vaudeville house although they had their first show the day before. When it opened in 1927, The Orpheum was the biggest theatre in Canada, had three thousand seats and cost $1.25 million to build. When vaudeville was slowing down from its popularity, the Orpheum found new owners in Famous Players and became mainly a movie house but hosted live events every now and then.
In 1973, Famous Players wanted to turn the place into a multiplex because of economic reasons. There was a "Save the Orpheum" public protest that was launched, which Jack Benny flew in to help with. The Orpheum was then saved.
It is the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Orpheum was designated a National Historic Site of Canada on November 15, 1979.
Images for kids
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The Orpheum Theatre with advertising for the movie Lady Luck, circa 1946.
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The Orpheum's present neon sign was installed in the 1970s.
