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's a special place where people can enjoy music, shows, and other exciting events.
Contents
A Look at Its History
The Orpheum Theater was designed by an architect named G. Albert Lansburgh. It was built in 1918 and first opened its doors in 1921.
Early Days and Shows
When it first opened, the Orpheum was a popular spot for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance. Later, the theater showed silent movies and then "talkies" (movies with sound). It also hosted live music and many other kinds of performances.
The building itself is designed in the Beaux Arts style, which means it has a grand and fancy look, often with columns and detailed decorations. It has about 1,500 seats for the audience.
Unique Design for Great Sound
The Orpheum is known for its special "vertical hall" design. This means the theater is built in a way that helps everyone see and hear perfectly, no matter where they are sitting. This was very important for vaudeville shows, which didn't have modern sound systems or bright lights. The design helps the sound travel clearly throughout the whole room.
Saving the Orpheum
In 1983, the Orpheum Theater was almost torn down! But thankfully, the New Orleans Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra bought it. They spent $3 million to fix it up and make it beautiful again. The theater then became the home for this orchestra.
Later, a new group called the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) took over. Their musicians really loved the Orpheum because of its amazing sound quality.
A Historic Landmark and New Beginnings
The Orpheum Theater is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This list includes buildings that are special because of their history or architecture.
Facing Challenges
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage to the theater. Water from the floods badly hurt the building. After the hurricane, the theater was sold a few times, but it was hard to get it fully working again.
A Big Comeback
In 2014, a doctor named Eric George bought the theater. He spent $13 million to make it new and even better!
The renovations included some really cool features:
- A new hydraulic floor that can move up and down. This means the floor can be flat for parties or sloped like a regular theater for concerts.
- A bigger lobby made of marble.
- More comfortable seats and extra bathrooms.
- More places to buy drinks and snacks.
In 2020, another cool spot called the Double Dealer opened in the theater's basement. It's a special bar with a secret, old-fashioned feel.
The Orpheum Theater officially reopened in August 2015. The first show was on September 17, 2015, with a performance by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. The LPO still performs there often and is the main group that uses the theater.
See also
- List of concert halls
- List of music venues
- Theatre in Louisiana
