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 | |
| Theater League Phoenix 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 super cool place in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It has 1,364 seats, which is a lot! This theatre first opened for "vaudeville" shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts, like singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians.
Contents
A Look Back: Its History
Building a Dream Theatre
Work on the Orpheum Theatre started in 1927. It was finished in 1929 and cost about $750,000 to build. That was a huge amount of money back then!
The theatre was designed by architects Lescher & Mahoney with Hugh Gilbert. They built it in a beautiful Spanish Revival style. This style used lots of fancy murals and decorations. The goal was to make people feel like they were watching shows outdoors, under the stars.
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 bought it. They wanted to bring famous Broadway shows to Phoenix. So, they renamed it "Palace West."
For a while in the 1970s and early 1980s, a local family leased the theatre. They showed many Hispanic movies and events. At one point, all the beautiful murals and decorations were painted black. This was done to hide parts that were in bad shape. It also helped people focus on the movies, not the fancy walls.
A Big Comeback: The Restoration
After some years, the theatre started to look old and worn out. So, in 1984, the city of Phoenix bought it. They decided to bring it back to its original glory!
The city spent 12 years and $14 million restoring the theatre. That's a lot of time and money! A company called Conrad Schmitt Studios did the amazing work. The Orpheum Theatre reopened on January 28, 1997. The first show was Hello, Dolly! starring the famous actress Carol Channing. After the show, Carol Channing thanked the audience. She was happy they didn't turn the beautiful theatre into a parking lot!
What's Happening Now?
The Orpheum Theatre is a very important building. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special place that needs to be protected.
Since 1997, the Orpheum has been home to the Phoenix Opera. They perform many wonderful opera shows there.
But it's not just opera! The Orpheum Theatre also hosts many other events. You can see concerts, Broadway musicals, and performances by Ballet Arizona. It's a busy place with lots of different shows for everyone to enjoy.
In 2019, a rock band from Arizona called The Maine recorded a live album at the Orpheum Theatre. How cool is that?
Images for kids
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Interior of the Orpheum Theatre.
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A detailed ornament inside the Orpheum Theatre.
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A close-up of the beautiful exterior frieze.
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See Also
