Orpheum Theatre (Madison, Wisconsin) facts for kids
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The theater's bright sign, seen from State Street
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| Address | 216 State St Madison, WI 53703-2215 |
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| Owner | Gus Paras |
| Operator | Live Nation |
| Capacity | 1,727 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | March 21, 1927 |
| Construction cost | $750,000 ($12.5 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Rapp & Rapp |
| Website | |
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Orpheum Theatre
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| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001460 |
| Added to NRHP | January 23, 2008 |
The Orpheum Theatre is a historic theater in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. It was built in the 1920s as a "movie palace," a very large and fancy movie theater. It's located just one block from the Wisconsin State Capitol.
Today, the Orpheum is used for live performances and musicals. In 2008, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places because it is the best example of a classic movie palace left in Madison.
Contents
History of the Theater
The First Movie Theaters
Before the year 1900, theaters were places for live shows like vaudeville (variety shows with comedy and music) or opera. When movies were invented around 1900, they were first shown in simple storefronts. These early theaters were often called "nickelodeons" because a ticket only cost a nickel (five cents).
Movies quickly became very popular. By 1913, Madison had eight theaters that only showed movies. So many people went to see them that it was like one-tenth of the city's population went to the movies every single day!
What is a Movie Palace?
To stand out from the competition, some theaters were built to be extra special. These were called "movie palaces." They were huge and had amazing decorations inside. The goal was to make you feel like you were in a faraway, magical place, like ancient Egypt or a fancy French palace.
The Orpheum Theatre in Madison is a perfect example of a movie palace. It's the most well-preserved one in the city.
Building the Orpheum
The Orpheum was designed in 1925 by the famous architects C.W. and George L. Rapp. They were known for designing some of the best theaters in the country.
The outside of the building is made of limestone in an Art Deco style. It has a giant vertical sign that says "NEW ORPHEUM," which has become a famous landmark on State Street.
Inside, the lobby has its original terrazzo floors. The Grand Lobby is two stories high and decorated in a French Renaissance style. It was inspired by the beautiful French palaces of Versailles and Fontainebleu. It has fancy decorations, special wall lights, and sparkling chandeliers.
The theater cost $750,000 to build, which was a huge amount of money back then. The builders paid a lot of attention to making guests comfortable. It had a modern climate control system, great lighting, a "cosmetique salon" for ladies, and smoking lounges.
Opening Day
The Orpheum Theatre opened on March 31, 1927. The first show included a newsreel, a silent movie called Nobody's Widow with live organ music, and some vaudeville acts. The show was repeated three times that day. Over 7,000 people came to see it, and many more had to be turned away because the lines were so long!
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Changes Over Time
Theater attendance was highest around 1946. After that, things began to change. In the 1950s and 1960s, television became popular, offering free entertainment at home. Also, as more people moved to the suburbs, new theaters were built there, and fewer people came to the downtown theaters.
Over the years, the Orpheum adapted. It went from showing movies to hosting live artists and special events like weddings.
Fun Facts About the Orpheum
- The Orpheum was the first building in all of Wisconsin to have air conditioning. The air conditioner is so big that it takes up an entire room in the basement!
- When it first opened, the theater could seat 2,400 people. In the 1960s, it was renovated, and a smaller theater called "The Stage Door" was added. This reduced the number of seats to 1,700.
- The theater faced a serious fire on December 19, 2004. It was one of several incidents at famous Madison music venues around that time.
Cool Facts About the Orpheum
- The Orpheum Theatre was the very first building in Wisconsin to have air conditioning! The air conditioner itself was so big it took up an entire room in the basement.
- When it first opened, the Orpheum Theatre could seat 2,400 people. After some changes in the 1960s, about 700 seats were removed. Now, it can hold around 1,700 people.
- The Orpheum nearly burned down on December 19, 2004, due to a fire.
See also
- House Of Blues
