Orpheum Theater (New Orleans) facts for kids
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Orpheum Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Orpheum Theater in 2007
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 Location in East New Orleans
Location in Louisiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 125–129 University Pl., New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1918 |
| Architect | G. Albert Lansburgh |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | New Orleans Lower Central Business District (ID91000825) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002787 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1982 |
| Designated CP | June 24, 1991 |
The Orpheum Theater is a famous building in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a special place where people can enjoy live music, plays, and other performances.
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A Look at the Orpheum's Early Days
The Orpheum Theater was designed by a talented architect named G. Albert Lansburgh. It was built in 1918 and first opened its doors in 1921. Back then, it was known for showing "vaudeville" acts. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different short performances, like comedy, music, and dance.
What Makes the Orpheum Special?
The theater has a beautiful design called "Beaux Arts." It has 1,500 seats, which is a lot of space for an audience! Over the years, the Orpheum has hosted many kinds of shows. It showed silent movies, then movies with sound (called "talkies"), and lots of live music.
The Orpheum is also special because of how it was built. It's an example of "vertical hall" construction. This means the theater was designed to give everyone a perfect view and amazing sound. This was very important for vaudeville shows, which didn't have modern sound systems or bright lights.
Saving the Orpheum Theater
In 1983, the Orpheum Theater was almost torn down. But luckily, the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra bought it. They spent $3 million to fix it up! The theater became their home for a while.
Later, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) took over. Musicians loved the Orpheum because of its amazing sound quality. It was the perfect place for an orchestra to play.
The Orpheum After Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to New Orleans. The Orpheum Theater was badly hurt by the storm and floods. It was closed for many years after that.
In 2014, a doctor named Eric George bought the theater. He spent $13 million to make it new again! The renovations were huge. They added a special floor that can move up and down. This means the theater can change for different events, like concerts or parties. They also made the lobby bigger, added more bathrooms, and put in extra bars.
In 2020, another cool part was added: a secret bar called "The Double Dealer" in the basement. It's like a hidden spot!
The Orpheum Reopens Its Doors
The Orpheum Theater officially reopened in August 2015. The very first show was on September 17, 2015, with a performance by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). Today, the LPO is the main group that performs at the Orpheum. The theater continues to be a beloved place for music and shows in New Orleans.
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of music venues
- Theatre in Louisiana
