Orpheum Theatre (Wichita, Kansas) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Orpheum Theatre
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Kansas Show map of Kansas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	200 N. Broadway St., Wichita, Kansas
Built	1922
Architect	John Eberson
Architectural style	Late 19th and 20th century Revivals, Atmospheric
NRHP reference No.	80001473
Added to NRHP	November 28, 1980

The Orpheum Theatre is a historic building in downtown Wichita, Kansas. It was designed by a famous theater architect named John Eberson. The theater first opened its doors on September 4, 1922.

The Orpheum Theatre's Design

Inside the Orpheum Theatre (2016)

The Orpheum Theatre's main lobby (2009)

The Orpheum Theatre was one of the first theaters to use a special design style. This style is known as "atmospheric." It makes you feel like you are sitting outdoors in a beautiful place. The Wichita Orpheum was designed to look like a Spanish garden and courtyard.

The main part of the stage area is a large arch. It is about 42 feet (13 m) tall and 40 feet (12 m) wide. The walls of the theater have special areas with fake tile roofs. There are also wooden arches across the ceiling. These details help create the feeling of being in an outdoor courtyard.

When it first opened, the theater had 1,700 seats. Today, it has 1,286 seats.

A Look at the Orpheum's History

The Orpheum Theatre first opened as a place for vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment. It featured many different acts like singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians. In 1929, the theater also started showing movies. For many years, it showed both films and live performances.

Throughout the 1920s, a famous group called the Orpheum Circuit brought many well-known performers to Wichita. Some of these stars included Al Jolson, Fannie Brice, Jack Benny, George Burns, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Bing Crosby, Mickey Rooney, and Harry Houdini. Tickets for these shows usually cost between $0.40 and $0.75. The Orpheum was also one of the first theaters to show the movie The Birth of a Nation. It also hosted the Kansas premiere of Gone with the Wind in 1940.

During World War II, many people in Wichita worked making airplanes. The Orpheum Theatre stayed open 24 hours a day to entertain these workers.

Closing and Reopening the Theatre

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, new movie theaters with many screens became popular. This caused fewer people to visit the Orpheum. The theater tried different types of films to attract audiences. However, these efforts did not work. The Orpheum Theatre closed its doors in November 1976. The last movie shown was The Bodyguard. After closing, valuable parts of the building, like the seats, were taken out and sold. The theater was then left empty.

Many other old theaters in downtown Wichita were torn down. But some people wanted to save the historic Orpheum Theatre. Two local businesswomen, Meredith "Millie" Hill and Marge Setter, started a group called "Save the Orpheum." With help from a local lawyer, Stan Wisdom, they saved the building just in time. In 1978, the City of Wichita made the Orpheum Theatre a historic landmark. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

A special group that doesn't make money, called the Orpheum Performing Arts Centre LTD, was formed. This group took ownership of the theater in 1992. However, a lot of work was needed to fix it up.

Bringing the Orpheum Back to Life

Before the theater could be used again, it needed a lot of cleaning. The roof leaked, and many walls needed fixing. Paint was peeling, and plaster had fallen from the ceiling and walls. The outside bricks also needed repair. Since the original seats were gone, the Orpheum board used seats from other places in Wichita.

After these basic repairs, they started upgrading the theater's inside. A new heating and air conditioning system was put in in 2001. A new sign outside and updated restrooms were added in 2002. The snack area in the lobby was fixed in 2005. More repairs to the outside and roof happened in 2010. New LED lights were installed in 2010. In 2012, exit areas were fixed, and a new ramp for people with disabilities was added. The projection room was restored in 2013. Most recently, in 2015, the lobby area and a stair tower were fixed. There are still plans to add new flooring, seats, and stage upgrades.

The Orpheum Today

Today, the Orpheum Theatre is still owned by the nonprofit Orpheum Performing Arts Centre LTD. It is managed by a company called ASM Global. This makes it a sister venue to the Intrust Bank Arena in downtown Wichita.

The Orpheum Theatre hosts over 100 shows each year. These shows include many different types of entertainment. Famous performers often come to the historic Orpheum stage. Some recent performers include Dave Chappelle, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Elvis Costello, William Shatner, Lewis Black, Judy Collins, and David Blaine. The theater is also a main location for the yearly Tallgrass Film Festival. It also has its own annual film series.

Other Theaters in Wichita's Past

Regent Theater (1921)

Palace Theater (1922)

Many other theaters once stood in downtown Wichita. The Miller theater was one of the biggest. It had a fancy design with three balconies and 2000 seats. Here is a quick look at some of these old theaters:

See also

• Movie palaces list