Orpheum Theatre (Memphis) facts for kids
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Orpheum Theatre Group
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| Address | 203 South Main Street Memphis, Tennessee United States |
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| Public transit |  Main Street Line |
| Operator | Orpheum Theatre Group |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 2,308 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Reopened | 1984 |
| Website | |
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Orpheum Theatre
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| Location | 203 South Main Street |
| Architect | C.W. Rapp and George L. Rapp |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001289 |
| Added to NRHP | August 15, 1977 |
The Orpheum Theatre is a beautiful old building in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It has 2,308 seats and is a special place for performances. You can find it at the corner of South Main and Beale streets.
The Orpheum is part of the Orpheum Theatre Group. This group also includes the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education. They work together to run these venues. They also offer many educational programs for the community. The Orpheum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building.
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What Happens at the Orpheum?
Since 1977, the Orpheum has been the main place for Broadway shows in the Mid-South area. Many famous plays and musicals come here.
The Orpheum and the Halloran Centre host many different events. You can see performances by Ballet Memphis. There are also concerts, comedians, and a summer movie series. They have family-friendly educational programs too. Local events like Memphis in May and International Blues Challenge happen here. Special Elvis Week events are also held at the Orpheum. These shows and programs help make downtown Memphis a lively place.
Saving a Historic Building
The Orpheum Theatre first opened in 1928. It amazed people with its beautiful wood designs and gold decorations. It still has its original lights and a huge Wurlitzer organ. The building is known for its stunning architecture.
In 1977, a group called the Memphis Development Foundation (MDF) saved the Orpheum. It was one of the first buildings in Memphis to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Over the past 35 years, the MDF has spent millions of dollars. They have made the Orpheum a world-class performing arts center. They also made sure to keep its original historical look.
A Look Back in Time
The Grand Opera House
In 1890, a theater called the Grand Opera House opened. It was on the same corner where the Orpheum stands today. People said it was the fanciest theater outside New York City. At that time, Vaudeville shows were very popular. These shows had singers, musicians, and magicians.
In 1907, the Grand Opera House joined the Orpheum Circuit. This was a group of theaters across the country. After this, the theater became known as the Orpheum. Vaudeville shows were very successful there for almost 20 years. But in 1923, after a show, a fire broke out. The theater burned completely to the ground.
The New Orpheum
A new Orpheum Theatre was built on the same spot. It opened on November 19, 1928. Architects Rapp and Rapp from Chicago designed it. The new Orpheum could seat over 2,300 people. It cost about $1.6 million to build.
This new theater was twice as big as the old one. It had shiny gold and silver decorations. There was also marble, soft carpets, and old crystal chandeliers. It even had a new Wurlitzer organ.
Over time, vaudeville shows became less popular. In 1940, a movie theater company bought the Orpheum. They changed its name to the Malco. It started showing popular movies. By 1976, the company wanted to sell the building. Smaller movie theaters were making more money. There was talk of tearing down the old theater.
But in 1977, the Memphis Development Foundation bought it. They gave it back its original name, Orpheum. They started bringing Broadway shows and concerts back. In 1980, Pat Halloran became the president and CEO. He led the theater for 35 years.
The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ
The Orpheum Theatre has a special pipe organ called a Wurlitzer. It was built in 1928. Even though movies with sound were new, many theaters still had organs. They were used for vaudeville shows or to play music for silent movies.
This organ has three keyboards and 13 "ranks" of pipes. A rank is a set of pipes that make a certain sound. The pipes are hidden in two rooms behind the stage. One room has eight ranks of pipes, and the other has five. In total, there are over 1,100 pipes. They range from very tall (about 16 feet) to as small as a pencil.
The organ also has percussion instruments like a marimba and drums. It can even make sound effects for silent movies. These include bird whistles and horse hoofs. The organist plays from a console. This console can be raised up for the audience to see. It can also be lowered out of sight.
In the 1950s, a small fire damaged the organ console. It was painted white instead of being repaired. Later, gold trim was added. In the 1980s, more pipes were added to give the organ a stronger bass sound. In 2017, a campaign started to raise money. The goal was to fix parts of the organ that no longer worked.
Bringing the Orpheum Back to Life
1982 Building Restoration
After 54 years, the Orpheum needed a lot of work. It closed on Christmas Day in 1982. A $5 million renovation project began. The goal was to bring back its 1928 beauty. Crews cleaned and redecorated the building. They also improved the heating and air conditioning. Restrooms and dressing rooms were updated.
They also added two loading docks. These help bring in large sets for shows. The orchestra pit was made bigger. A special lift was added to the stage. This lift can make the stage area larger when no orchestra is needed.
The outside of the building was cleaned too. The famous Orpheum sign and marquee were repaired and repainted. A new parlor with restrooms was built. There was also a bigger snack area and a box office. When the work was finished, the Orpheum had 2,491 seats. This included 28 new private suites. The theater reopened with a big celebration in January 1984.
More Renovations
In 1996, the Orpheum started its biggest renovation ever. This $8 million project made the stage and backstage areas much larger. New touring shows needed more space than the theater had. This work lasted from spring 1996 to fall 1997.
When the 1997-98 Broadway season began, the stage was 50 feet deep. The orchestra pit was also bigger. The renovation added 13 new dressing rooms. There was also a special warm-up area for ballet dancers. Two more loading bays were added, doubling the old capacity. More space was created for storage and offices. The theater walls were repainted and decorated with gold leaf. New technical equipment was installed. The theater looked brand new.
These improvements have allowed the Orpheum to host huge Broadway shows. These include Disney's Lion King, Wicked, CATS, and Les Miserables. Many famous entertainers have also performed there. These include Bob Dylan, Jerry Seinfeld, and Tony Bennett.
A third renovation happened at the same time the Halloran Centre was built. This work started in 2014. It included a new sound system and updated seats. Restrooms were expanded. The theater was repainted. Some seats were removed to give people more legroom. This reduced the seating to 2,308. Emergency systems and staff offices were also improved.
Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education
In 2013, the Orpheum started a project to raise $15 million. They wanted to build a new facility. This building would be next to the Orpheum. It would be for their growing educational programs. In March 2014, construction began. They had already raised almost $10 million.
Pat Halloran, the long-time president, announced his retirement in 2014. The board of directors decided to name the new building after him.
The Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education opened on September 23, 2015. It is next to the Orpheum Theatre at 225 South Main Street. This new building is the home for the Orpheum's community and education programs. It has 39,000 square feet of space. There is a 361-seat theater, meeting rooms, and rehearsal space. It hosts concerts, dance shows, and other community events. These include the Indie Memphis Film Festival. The Halloran Centre can also be rented for private parties and business meetings.
While the Halloran Centre was being built, the Orpheum also had more improvements done.
The Orpheum Theatre Group
After Pat Halloran retired in 2015, Brett Batterson became the new president and CEO. The Memphis Development Foundation decided to look at its goals. They changed their name and logo. In May 2016, they became the Orpheum Theatre Group. This is a nonprofit organization.
Growing Programs
As the Orpheum improved its shows, its arts education programs also grew. By 2012, almost 50,000 students, teachers, and families were taking part. These programs help people learn about the arts.
In March 2020, the Orpheum had to cancel shows. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They canceled shows in March and April. This included A Bronx Tale. They did this to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Ghost Stories at the Orpheum
For over 50 years, strange things have happened at the Orpheum. Many people who work there believe the theater is haunted. One of the most famous ghosts is named Mary. She is said to be the spirit of a 12-year-old girl.
There are different stories about how Mary's spirit came to be there. Some say she was hurt in a car accident in 1921. Others say she was hit by a trolley in 1928. They say she was carried inside the theater and died there.
A group of ghost researchers from the University of Memphis studied the Orpheum. They used séances and a Ouija board. They also believe a ghost named Mary lives there. But their story is different. They think Mary died in 1921 from a falling accident somewhere downtown. It had nothing to do with the theater. The researchers believe Mary "wandered into the Orpheum after her death, and she liked it. So she stayed."
People who have seen Mary describe her as having braided brown hair. She wears a white dress and is a little shy. Many times, performers have seen a little girl in a school uniform. She sits in a side box on the mezzanine (a balcony level). Her blank stare and ghostly look have scared some people. But Mary has never caused problems during a show.
A Memphis historian named Vincent Astor believes there are other spirits too. He thinks there are as many as six other ghosts in the Orpheum. One is a male ghost named David. He is waiting to take Mary to the "other side." But since Mary loves the theater and won't leave, he stays there with her. Another spirit is called Eleanor. She is said to be "unhappy" and lives in the balcony foyer. Astor described a cold feeling there. But he doesn't think Eleanor is a bad spirit.
There are many stories about flickering lights and doors swinging open. Tools have even been found in toilets. These events have scared people, even famous actors. Yul Brynner was rehearsing for The King & I in 1982 when he experienced some of these strange things.
Images for kids
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The Orpheum Theatre in Memphis
