Orpheum Theatre (Phoenix, Arizona) facts for kids
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| Former names | The Paramount, Palace West |
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| Address | 203 W. Adams St. Phoenix, Arizona United States |
| Owner | Phoenix Convention Center & Venues |
| Operator | Phoenix Convention Center & Venues |
| Type | Touring Theater |
| Capacity | 1,364 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Closed | 1984 |
| Reopened | 1997 |
| Architect | Lescher & Mahoney, Hugh Gilbert |
| General contractor | McGinty Construction Company |
| Tenants | |
| American Theatre Guild Phoenix Opera |
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| Website | |
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Orpheum Theater Phoenix
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Architect | Lescher & Mahoney; Gilbert, Hugh |
| Architectural style | Spanish Revival/Baroque Revival |
| MPS | Phoenix Commercial MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002067 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1985 |
The Orpheum Theatre is a beautiful old theater in downtown Phoenix. It has 1,364 seats. When it first opened, it was a popular place for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a type of entertainment with many different acts, like singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. The Orpheum was part of a big group of theaters called the Orpheum Circuit.
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History of the Orpheum Theatre
Building the Theater
Work on the Orpheum Theatre started in 1927. It was finished in 1929 and cost about $750,000 to build. Architects Lescher & Mahoney designed the building, with help from Hugh Gilbert. The theater was built for its owners, J.E. Rickards and Harry Nace.
The Orpheum was designed in a special style called Spanish Revival. This style used ideas from old Spanish buildings. It had amazing murals (wall paintings) and detailed moldings. These decorations made people feel like they were watching the shows outdoors, under the sky.
Changing Names and Uses
In the 1940s, a movie company called Paramount Pictures bought the Orpheum. They changed its name to "The Paramount." Later, in the 1960s, another company called Nederlander bought it. They wanted the theater to be a stop for big Broadway shows. During this time, it was renamed "Palace West."
From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, a local family, the Coronas, leased the theater. They showed many Hispanic movies and hosted different events. At one point, all the beautiful murals and moldings were painted black. This was done to hide parts that were in bad shape. People also thought the decorations might distract from the movies.
Bringing the Orpheum Back to Life
The theater became quite run down over the years. So, in 1984, the city of Phoenix bought the Orpheum Theatre. They started a huge project to fix it up. This restoration took 12 years and cost $14 million.
The Conrad Schmitt Studios did the amazing work to bring the theater back to its original beauty. The Orpheum reopened on January 28, 1997. The first show was Hello, Dolly! starring the famous actress Carol Channing. After the show, Ms. Channing thanked the audience. She was happy they didn't turn the beautiful theater into a parking lot!
The Orpheum Today
The Orpheum Theatre is a very important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's recognized as a special place in history.
In 1997, the Phoenix Opera group made the Orpheum their home. Today, the Orpheum Theatre hosts many different events. You can see concerts, Broadway musicals, and performances by Ballet Arizona. It's a busy place for arts and entertainment in Phoenix.
In 2019, a rock band from Arizona called The Maine recorded a live album at the Orpheum Theatre.
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Interior
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Orpheum Theatre ornament.
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Detail of exterior frieze
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See also
