The Orpheum Theatre

1926-1927

The Orpheum Theatre was part of a circuit of theatres that was based out of Chicago that toured high-class vaudeville acts, short films and even feature-length movies. The theatre was built to house 2,800 people. The vaudeville programming collapsed after four years due to the Great Depression. The theatre still hosted live shows from the 1930’s to the 1970’s having famous faces such as Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong come to perform. In 1973 the theatre was under threat of demolition. Fund raising saved the building and restoration could resume in 1975. The doors opened in 1977 to what is known as the current day Orpheum Theatre.

Present Day

Acoustically upgraded in 1995 and refurbished in 2009 The Orpheum Theatre is home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Chamber Choir and Vancouver Cantata Singers. The seating has decreased to 2,688 as a result of an upgrade in comfort for the guests. The deceptively narrow entrance and coarse brick exterior throws off people walking by. The interior is “richly ornamented with its sweeping carpeted staircases, past opulent wall decorations and tall columns and into the great domed auditorium”.  You can book a show today at Vancouver Opera.

Work Cited

  • Brissenden, C., Loyie, L., & MacKinnon, D. J. (2011). 1906. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from The History of Metropolitan Vancouver : http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology5.htm
  • City of Vancouver. (2011, November 3). Welcome to the Orpheum! Retrieved December 1, 2011, from Civic Theatres: http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/cultural/theatres/orpheum/index.htm
  • Mattie, J. (2011). Orpheum Theatre. Retrieved December 1, 2011, from The Canadian Encyclopedia: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0012108