Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles)

Orpheum Theatre
	The Orpheum Theatre marquee
	Orpheum Theatre Location within the Los Angeles metropolitan area Orpheum Theatre Orpheum Theatre (California) Orpheum Theatre Orpheum Theatre (the United States)
Address	842 S. Broadway; Los Angeles, California; United States
Owner	Anjac Fashion Buildings
Capacity	2,000
Current use	Concerts, movie premieres, location shoots
Construction
Opened	February 15, 1926
Rebuilt	1989
Architect	G. Albert Lansburgh
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Designated	May 9, 1979
Part of	Broadway Theater and Commercial District
Reference no.	78000687

The Orpheum Theatre at 842 S. Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles opened on February 15, 1926, as the fourth and final Los Angeles venue for the Orpheum vaudeville circuit.^[3] After a $3 million renovation, started in 1989, it is the most restored of the historical movie palaces in the city. Three previous theatres also bore the name Orpheum before the one at 842 Broadway was the final one with that moniker.

The Orpheum has a Beaux Arts facade designed by movie theater architect G. Albert Lansburgh and has a Mighty Wurlitzer organ, installed in 1928, that is one of three pipe organs remaining in Southern California.^[3]

The Orpheum theatres are named for the Greek mythological figure, Orpheus.

Orpheum venues in Los Angeles

The first site for the Orpheum vaudeville circuit was the Grand Opera House, also known as the Grand Theater, 110 S. Main Street (built 1884, closed 1937).^[4]

The second Orpheum venue was the Orpheum Theatre (previously known as the Los Angeles Theatre and later known as the Lyceum Theatre, at 227 S. Spring Street (opened 1888, closed 1941).^[4]

The third venue was the Orpheum Theatre now known as the Palace Theatre, 630 S. Broadway (built 1911, still standing).^[4]

Venue performers

Wurlitzer theatre organ console

Soon after it was opened, it was a popular venue for burlesque queen Sally Rand, the Marx Brothers, Will Rogers, Judy Garland (singing with her family as Frances "Baby" Gumm) and comedian Jack Benny, as well as jazz greats Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.^[5] Vaudeville acts were still playing the Orpheum as late as 1950.^[6]

In the 1960s, the theater held rock 'n' roll concerts featuring Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Little Stevie Wonder. The restored Orpheum Theatre is now a venue for live concerts, movie premieres, and location shoots.^[7] The love metal band HIM played there for their live CD/DVD album Digital Versatile Doom. The 2010 Streamy Awards were live broadcast from the theater.

Location shoots

Television

Julie and the Phantoms
American Idol (Hollywood Week seasons 4, 5, 6, 14, 17, 18, 20)
America's Got Talent
The Apprentice (season 5 finale)
RuPaul's Drag Race (season 7, 8 and 11 finales)
Hollywood (miniseries)
Pretty Little Liars (season 4 finale and season 5 episode 1)
Angel (1999 TV series) (season 3 episode 13)
Glee (season 5 episode 11)
A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote (The West Wing (TV Series 1999-2006) (2020 Special Cast Reunion))
IHOP commercial (2024)

Film

Music Videos

References

^ "Steve Needleman | Los Angeles Business Journal". July 30, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
^ "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.
^ ^a ^b Geffner, David (January–February 2008), "Screen Gems", Westways, 100 (1): 62–65
^ ^a ^b ^c "Orpheum Theatre", Cinema Treasures
^ Lawson, Kristan, & Rufus, Anneli. California Babylon. New York: St. Martins Press (2000), p. 125.
^ Alleman, Richard. Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide. Random House, Inc. (2005), p. 189.
^ "Orpheum Theatre History". Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2008.
^ Rampton, Mike. "A PROBABLY FAR TOO FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF GUNS N' ROSES' NOVEMBER RAIN VIDEO". kerrang.com. Kerrang. Retrieved October 11, 2020.

External links

34°02′34″N 118°15′19″W / 34.04268°N 118.255341°W / 34.04268; -118.255341

[1] "Steve Needleman | Los Angeles Business Journal". July 30, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2018.

[NRHP-2] "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.

[Westways08-3] Geffner, David (January–February 2008), "Screen Gems", Westways, 100 (1): 62–65

[ctre-4] "Orpheum Theatre", Cinema Treasures

[5] Lawson, Kristan, & Rufus, Anneli. California Babylon. New York: St. Martins Press (2000), p. 125.

[6] Alleman, Richard. Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide. Random House, Inc. (2005), p. 189.

[OrpheumWebsite-7] "Orpheum Theatre History". Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2008.

[kerrang-8] Rampton, Mike. "A PROBABLY FAR TOO FORENSIC ANALYSIS OF GUNS N' ROSES' NOVEMBER RAIN VIDEO". kerrang.com. Kerrang. Retrieved October 11, 2020.

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