The Orpheum Theater is an old theatre and movie house located at 1005 Water Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts USA, originally named the Majestic Opera House.
La Salle Francs Tireurs | |
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| Address | 1005 Water Street New Bedford United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Performing Arts Center |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Current use | Vacant |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1912 |
| Years active | 1912-1962 |
| Architect | Louis E. Destremps |
| Website | |
| http://www.orphinc.org/ | |
History
editThe building, designed by Louis E. Destremps, was constructed by the French Sharpshooter's Club of New Bedford to house both a ballroom and armed shooting range. It opened on April 15, 1912 (the same day the Titanic sank).[1]
The Sharpshooters Club leased the theatre to the Orpheum Circuit of Boston, which brought a series of vaudeville and variety performers to New Bedford. By the 1920s the theatre showed motion pictures, as well.[1]
This Orpheum theatre is believed to be the second oldest "Orpheum" in the nation (it was built a year after the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles).[2]
When the theatre opened, it seated 1,500 people. The theatre closed in 1958–59, and was only opened for special events. The sharpshooters club sold it in 1962, and it was used as storage by a tobacco company. The back of the theatre currently houses a supermarket, but the rest of the space is still empty. The building is currently privately owned.[3]
In 2004 a non-profit company, O.R.P.H. (Orpheum Rising Project Helpers) Inc, announced plans to bring back the theatre and revitalize New Bedford economy. [2][4][5] However, the group was unable to raise the necessary funds, and the theater was placed for sale in 2012.[5] The building was sold in 2017, then placed for sale again in 2019.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Orpheum Theater: a Brief History". Orpheum Rising Project Helpers. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-09-22. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Matt (2011-03-09). "Orpheum Theatre". Afterthefinalcurtain.net. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
- ^ Matt (2011-03-15). "Q&A with Lance Gunberg, President of O.R.P.H, Inc". Afterthefinalcurtain.net. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
- ^ a b WITTENBERG, ARIEL (23 October 2012). "Orpheum owner puts building up for sale in New Bedford's South End". New Bedford, MA: The Standard Times. South Coast TODAY. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
Since it was founded in 2004, O.R.P.H. Inc. has been working to raise funds to restore the theatre, which has remained virtually untouched since it closed in 1959.
- ^ Silvia, Michael (23 September 2019). "New Bedford's Orpheum Theater for sale … again". New Bedford Guide. Archived from the original on 17 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
According to the New Bedford Assessor's office, the building was sold to Walter Moniz of New Bedford for $70,000 in 2017 and has an assessed 2019 value of $424,000.
External links
edit- Orph Inc.
- Pics of theatre
- "The Beauty & Abandoned Orpheum Theater". Abandoned Spaces. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
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